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I've heard it asked:
"If there's no such thing as hell, why bother?"
You may be asking yourself the same question.
Why bother with salvation, and why not just "eat, drink, and be merry" in this life if we're all going to be saved in the end anyway?
Well, for one - this should be a quick enough answer for most:
1 Th 5:9-10 For God hath not
appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we
should live together with Him.
1 Th 1:10 And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Saved from the wrath. What wrath?
The wrath of the terrible Day of the Lord.
Blessed Paul himself most richly deserved God's wrath, but he received God's Grace
instead.
Paul didn't ask for that Grace... but he got it anyway. God's plans are much higher than our plans.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Paul is the pattern case (we've discussed Paul in other blogs).
1 Tim 1:13-16 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in ME [Paul] first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering [patience], for a PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting [G166 - aionion].
Salvation does not depend on the puny, broken will of man, but rather on the Sovereign Will of an ALL-Powerful God.
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Justification & Reconciliation
Why do we want to "obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Th 5:9)?
Rom 5:10-11 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled [G2644 - katallasso, to change mutually] to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement.
You'll recall that in other blogs we've discussed how carnality is enmity with God. We're to strive for His perfection Spiritually and attempt to dissolve our carnality in this life.
Unless we are "reconciled to God" by the death and resurrection to life of Jesus, we are estranged from God. We are not on friendly terms with God.
Col 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet NOW has He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you Holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:
Justification is glorious, but justification PLUS reconciliation is moreso!
A Judge may acquit the one on trial, but this does not mean that the justified is received into his friendship and fellowship by justification alone. Enmity and estrangement may still exist between them.
God does not only justify us through Christ, but He brings us into an intimate friendship and fellowship with Himself through reconciliation.
The peace which results in reconciliation is based on the righteousness which justification provides!
_____________________
I want any and all readers to understand... just because there's no such thing as an "eternal" hell-hole doesn't mean that there are no consequences.
Luk 12:47-48 And that servant, which KNEW his lord's will, and prepared NOT himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with MANY stripes.
But he that KNEW NOT, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with FEW stripes.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
This is a principle that God commanded in the Old Testament - for His judges to judge righteously:
Deu 25:2-3 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number [a certain number pertaining to the seriousness of the crime].
Forty stripes [maximum] he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.
Again, is this a standard that God would command of His earthly judges, but not adhere to Himself? No - God will judge righteously.
These blogs are only meant to point out that there will be no "unending" suffering, no "eternal" torturing, no "eternal" conscious pain and no "eternal" gnashing of teeth "forever and ever"!
Paul didn't ask for that Grace... but he got it anyway. God's plans are much higher than our plans.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Paul is the pattern case (we've discussed Paul in other blogs).
1 Tim 1:13-16 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in ME [Paul] first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering [patience], for a PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting [G166 - aionion].
Salvation does not depend on the puny, broken will of man, but rather on the Sovereign Will of an ALL-Powerful God.
___________________________
Justification & Reconciliation
Why do we want to "obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Th 5:9)?
Rom 5:10-11 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled [G2644 - katallasso, to change mutually] to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement.
You'll recall that in other blogs we've discussed how carnality is enmity with God. We're to strive for His perfection Spiritually and attempt to dissolve our carnality in this life.
Unless we are "reconciled to God" by the death and resurrection to life of Jesus, we are estranged from God. We are not on friendly terms with God.
Col 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet NOW has He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you Holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:
Justification is glorious, but justification PLUS reconciliation is moreso!
A Judge may acquit the one on trial, but this does not mean that the justified is received into his friendship and fellowship by justification alone. Enmity and estrangement may still exist between them.
God does not only justify us through Christ, but He brings us into an intimate friendship and fellowship with Himself through reconciliation.
The peace which results in reconciliation is based on the righteousness which justification provides!
_____________________
I want any and all readers to understand... just because there's no such thing as an "eternal" hell-hole doesn't mean that there are no consequences.
Luk 12:47-48 And that servant, which KNEW his lord's will, and prepared NOT himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with MANY stripes.
But he that KNEW NOT, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with FEW stripes.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
This is a principle that God commanded in the Old Testament - for His judges to judge righteously:
Deu 25:2-3 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number [a certain number pertaining to the seriousness of the crime].
Forty stripes [maximum] he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.
Again, is this a standard that God would command of His earthly judges, but not adhere to Himself? No - God will judge righteously.
These blogs are only meant to point out that there will be no "unending" suffering, no "eternal" torturing, no "eternal" conscious pain and no "eternal" gnashing of teeth "forever and ever"!
Not for any of your unsaved loved ones, or for any of His children... hopefully, someone can find peace in that statement!
No - there is NO HELL as defined by Christendom - according to Scripture!
That DOES NOT mean that there won't be a price to pay.
There's definitely a price to pay - in this life, and when those stand before their Creator at the Great White Throne Judgment.
Heb 10:30-31 For we know Him that hath said, VENGEANCE belongs unto Me, I WILL recompense [repay], saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a FEARFUL THING to fall into the hands of the Living God.
First notice... God will judge "His" people. All of mankind IS "His people". God's Judgment at the Great White Throne, including The Lake of Fire (second death) is not going to be pleasant, but it is NECESSARY to bring about righteousness.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which IS the second death.
I'm not trying to scare anyone into salvation. I believe you should come to salvation because God loves you and gave His Son, Jesus for you.
I just don't want anyone thinking that this life is a free-ride because there's no such thing as an "eternal hell". That would be nonsense.
God nowhere in Scripture says that one must be saved in this life only or he can never be a part of His family. NOT ONE Scripture!
That's a nasty little piece of heresy that is taught by the "ministers of righteousness" (see 2 Cor 11:15) found throughout Christendom.
It's a way to keep people in fear so that they keep "praying and paying".
In fact,
Scripture says the exact opposite many times.
Covered in other blogs, but Scripture makes it very clear that unbelievers "WILL learn RIGHTEOUSNESS", and "EVERY knee WILL bend", "EVERY tongue WILL confess" that Jesus is LORD.
Some of us do it the easy way... others will, unfortunately, learn the hard way. In fact, most of humanity, throughout history, has died "unsaved" and will learn the hard way!
Even believers don't often realize that it's not even "us" that is "doing" any of it.
It is God that works in us. It's ALL about Him, His Son Jesus, His Grace, and His Mercy - not us (I'll cover this in more detail in another blog).
Php 2:13 For it is God which works in you both to will [desire] and to do of HIS good pleasure [not your good pleasure, HIS].
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Besides the above, there are many other reasons to seek salvation.
Salvation means being "saved."
We are "saved" from SIN... we are to be no longer "slaves" to sin. No, we're not perfect, but Christ working in our lives should bring about change towards becoming perfect (Christ-like). It's a life-long process.
Rom 6:15-18 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under Grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants [slaves] to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey...
... whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that you WERE the servants of sin, BUT you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.
All of those so-called "rules and regulations" found throughout Scripture are not recorded because God wants to keep us from enjoying this life.
They are recorded for our benefit.
Do you really think God doesn't understand what will harm us, and keep us from living the type of life He wants us to enjoy?
I've struggled with alcohol for years... it has tried to KILL ME!
Satan doesn't want me to get away from alcohol... he wants to destroy me and he knows that alcohol is a weakness of mine.
Satan knows that if I choose to listen to his whispering in my ear, and he knows that if I choose alcohol over Jesus... he knows that he can DESTROY me, he can KILL ME with it!
1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may DEVOUR:
He was "created to destroy"!
He was a "murderer from the beginning"!
Does Scripture warn me about alcohol? You bet it does.
Does that mean nobody can drink any alcohol? Of course not.
1 Cor 6:12 ALL things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient [not to my advantage, not profitable]: ALL things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Alcohol has had power over me. I can't allow it to have power over me.
You may have something in your life that you've struggled with. That's why God warns us against those things throughout Scripture.
A life of sin is not good for us.
Life without sin... is good for us.
Our Father knows... that's why Scripture warns us.
Wouldn't you try to warn your own children?
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We find Scripturally that we HAVE BEEN saved, are BEING saved, and SHALL BE saved.
We find Scripturally that we HAVE BEEN saved, are BEING saved, and SHALL BE saved.
Salvation is a PROCESS - at the point of accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we begin to experience the life altering effects of salvation.
Salvation is REST (like the Sabbath foreshadowed) from the works and frustrations of the flesh and the carnal mind.
Through faith, we believe all that God has said and promised.
We are saved by His GRACE through the channel of FAITH (which He imparts to each and every believer), so that we can become the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation toward those IN Christ.
We are not yet perfect, but we are viewed as perfect by God because He now views us through His Son Jesus, the Christ Who is perfect.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
In Spirit, we have Christ and we have the Father in us, and as such we are ONE!
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My Words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.
The flesh is to take on a highly subordinate role.
It is the temple of God's Spirit, but the pulls of the flesh, and the lusts of the carnal mind have been crucified with Christ.
We have been set FREE!
We are now part of the BODY of Christ. We ARE the sons of God:
Rom 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they ARE the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we ARE the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
The whole of creation is groaning and awaiting our full unveiling,
Rom 8:19 For the premonition [anticipation] of the creating is AWAITING THE UNVEILING OF THE SONS OF GOD.
Here is where we really get to what OUR salvation is all about.
We, the Body of Christ, who are the sons of God will be used to lead the rest of the world and the rest of the entire universe to salvation!
1 Cor 6:2-3 Or are you not aware that the SAINTS shall judge the WORLD?... Are you not aware that we shall be JUDGING ANGELS...
Through salvation we shall swallow up death in victory! We will be given immortality! We shall be glorified!
Rom 8:29-30 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate [predetermine] to be conformed to the Image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.
In the bigger picture OUR salvation is used to bring salvation to the rest of God's creation!
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Why bother?
There are plenty of reasons to "bother".
I've only touched on a few for now.
More later...
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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