Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.
You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Jesus will not force you against your willHow about this?
The U.S. Navy remains on location waiting for those who rejected their help to come to their senses and, eventually, all choose to go to the boats.
That's what Jesus does. He waits. That's why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus MUST rule until ALL of his "enemies" are "under his feet". In other words, the U.S. Navy must remain on location until ALL of those in the water have gotten into the boats.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, [l]sexual immorality, wickedness, [m]covetousness, [n]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 [o]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, [p]unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.St. SteVen said:
Has everyone had the opportunity? (throughout history)
It says that a creator is revealed in creation. There is no excuse to deny this fact.
Which has nothing to do with my question. You used the standard bogus apologetic.
No one gets a pass,No, not everybody has been permitted to hear, let alone believe, in the word of God and in Jesus. I believe that, for most, they will not know Jesus until they pass away and are greeted by him and that they will immediately embrace him. The truly wicked, however, will have a different experience, or so I believe.
Correct, and that's why he patiently waits. He wouldn't need to wait if he was simply sending them off to spend forever in a Nazi-style torture chamber. He waits for them to repent and go to him. Jesus heals. Sometimes the healing process is unpleasant but it's ultimately corrective and rehabilitative in nature. Jesus saves. He is the Savior of ALL people.Jesus will not force you against your will
He only waits for so long..Correct, and that's why he patiently waits. He wouldn't need to wait if he was simply sending them off to spend forever in a Nazi-style torture chamber. He waits for them to repent and go to him. Jesus heals. Sometimes the healing process is unpleasant but it's ultimately corrective and rehabilitative in nature. Jesus saves. He is the Savior of ALL people.
No one gets a pass,
everyone comes to God consciousness, It is how they respond to that.
People have come to christ who never even heard of him, We have example after example of missionaries who went into uncharted land, and when they Got their the people said God would send them
God prepairs the hearts of those who WILL repent. Those he knows will never repent. He has no obligation to send his children into that area to teach them what they will hear
So... at least half the people attending church these days?28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, [l]sexual immorality, wickedness, [m]covetousness, [n]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 [o]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, [p]unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
and the rest of the world. who reject God.So... at least half the people attending church these days?
I don't know, I know spirit prison awaits souls that won't come around and commit crimes against others and also deny Christ.There are the fallen angels chained in hell, and certainly some demons. But there are still demons roaming the earth. I expect that guardian angels are responsible for protecting defenseless humans against direct attack from the demons.
But when someone sins in such a way as to submit to the demon, the guardian angel is limited on how much they may interfere in accordance with some unclear set of rules.
A lot of scriptures states it. Here's one.
1 Timothy 4:10 ESV
“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. . . ”
Has everyone had the opportunity? (throughout history)
Well we are not entitled to have our own interpretation! IN Peter we are told Scripture is not of any persons "opinion". We must accept as written according to the rules of Grammar God created so we can under4stand each other correctly.That's my interpretation pretty much.
How about this?
The U.S. Navy remains on location waiting for those who rejected their help to come to their senses and, eventually, all choose to go to the boats.
That's what Jesus does. He waits. That's why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus MUST rule until ALL of his "enemies" are "under his feet". In other words, the U.S. Navy must remain on location until ALL of those in the water have gotten into the boats.
Again you forget who the enemy is, and his fate, and those of those who are his.
Bad translations result in Bibles that contradict themselves. That's the problem with the KJV and most other English Bible translations and that's why you and many others believe in forever punishment. Properly translated versions don't contradict themselves.You are violating context against many other scriptures that say just the opposite.
I think we mistake, or redirect, the rejection of the institutional church as the rejection of God.and the rest of the world. who reject God.
they reject the institutional church.. which many are. Not God.. thats the point I did the same at one timeI think we mistake, or redirect, the rejection of the institutional church as the rejection of God.
Most of those who have left the church tell me they still believe in God.
And many times, that is what led them away from the institutional church.
They still accept God but aren't ready to be institutionalized again. - LOL
@Nancy (thought you might like this, and/or have an awesome comment)
Hell is death. Jesus was saying that Death will not prevail. But, most Christians are taught (and believe) that the majority (vast majority) of people are going to "eternal" damnation.
Of course, that is a false doctrine taught by Christian leaders that lack discernment and understanding.
The Gates of Hell will NOT prevail because, in the end, Jesus will defeat death and then ALL people who have ever lived will be "under his feet" and then ALL will be given to God the Father, according to 1 Corinthians 15.