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And there you have the greatest mystery of all.....many who claim to be branches of branches....and all believe that their ‘branch of the branch’ is the correct one.....who says? What if all the branches get lopped off because the branch they were attached to was the wrong one and it gets cut off?To be clear, I am a Christian Universalist, not a Unitarian Universalist.
Two different things. FYI
Christian Universalism, Universal Restoration, Universal Reconciliation, Ultimate Redemption. (UR)
Not Unitarian Universalism. (UU) You, you. - LOL
Since the Jews had no belief in an immortal soul (it was borrowed from the pagan Greeks) there was no “realm of the dead”.....”sheol” is translated as “the grave” in the Jewish Tanakh. Those “under the earth” are those buried in their graves awaiting the promised resurrection. There is no conscious existence in that place. (Eccl 9:5, 10) There is nothing but silence in the grave.I agree that the Jesus must be acknowledged as Lord. Every knee will bow and tongue confess...
Notice where and when the acknowledgement (confession) happens.
Under the earth? (in the realm of the dead)
Philippians 2:10-11 NIV
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
I make no such claim. (their ‘branch of the branch’ is the correct one)And there you have the greatest mystery of all.....many who claim to be branches of branches....and all believe that their ‘branch of the branch’ is the correct one.....who says?
If A&E had not eaten thereof, would they have died?There is no immortal soul......the devil invented that lie to get Eve to disobey God.....he told she would “surely not die”, but God said they would.....so, who lied?
I agree whole heartedly.....taking the elevated view, what does God see? Branches of other branches all contending that they alone have it right, but will readily admit that all “Christians” are saved because they are somehow attached to the tree. Amid all that bickering, where will we find Christ?....existing in literally thousands of ‘branches’ yet remaining who he is....will the real Jesus please put up his hand....I make no such claim. (their ‘branch of the branch’ is the correct one)
Though I agree that many do.
I thought you did. Am I wrong?
Best to not get out on a limb. - LOL
According to Genesis, the first humans had the opportunity to “live forever” in mortal flesh here on planet earth.....the means was already provided, but continuing life was conditional upon their continued obedience to God’s commands. At that time, there was only one rule.....but they were tempted to disobey by an outside influence, and lost their opportunity because they were evicted from the garden and all its bountiful provisions....and their means of gaining “everlasting life” (not immortality) was now, off limits. (Gen 3:22-24)If A&E had not eaten thereof, would they have died?
It happens every time.Should I get my πάντας in a wad?
The question of how God gets his first purpose for material creation back on track after a serious derailment? But first we have to know what his first purpose was….and why a derailment was even possible in God’s perfect creation.What question(s) does Jesus answer by BEING the answer?
He is the solution….not really the answer.Is Jesus a complete answer?
I have no unanswered questions….if you have unanswered questions, then you don’t have the truth.Or does this leave us with MORE questions?
You don’t get answers unless you ask questions.Are the questions more important than the answers?
This conclusion is either bold arrogance or an awareness so short, tripping over oneself becomes standard fare, yet being unaware of it.I have no unanswered questions….if you have unanswered questions, then you don’t have the truth.
If you say so QT….you obviously have unanswered questions….that is not my problem. Bold arrogance in my case is simply confidence after a long history of Bible study where I got to answer all those questions through my own research.…the ones other people find frustrating because their doctrines get in the way.This conclusion is either bold arrogance or an awareness so short, tripping over oneself becomes standard fare, yet being unaware of it.
I guess your reply here is none other than reinforcing your bold arrogance.....a long cry from humility!If you say so QT….you obviously have unanswered questions….that is not my problem. Bold arrogance in my case is simply confidence after a long history of Bible study where I got to answer all those questions through my own research.…the ones other people find frustrating because their doctrines get in the way.
What question(s) does Jesus answer by BEING the answer?
In the Atonement, the death penalty for sin was paid in full.The quesion is.......... How does God remove a Sinners sin for eternity, so that the Sinner can become a "Son-Daughter" of God for eternity.
In the Atonement, the death penalty for sin was paid in full.
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Here's how I see it. It's not about us, it never was. Only God can save.Yes.
It was "paid in full" for the sin of the World...... = One Believer at a time.
Who is that one ?
Jesus answered.......>"You must be born again"........."or you will die in your sins"......and that means.......on THIS EARTH, you have the opportunity to Trust in Christ.
Here's how I see it. It's not about us, it never was. Only God can save.
Romans 5:18-19 NIV
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,
so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners,
so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.