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Sure. Because I've been studying Conditional Immortality for about 8 years or so (and was introduced to it quite a bit before then), it's easy to forget that not everyone knows what I mean by Conditional Immortality. The positive side, which is not really controversial, is that those who truly...

Aaron, You asked me the following question: “Tell me what the first death is?” (see comment #43) To my knowledge the Bible never uses the phrase “first death”. However, it does use the phrase “second death”. I tried to answer your question in relation to the phrase “second death”. Here are...

I don't doubt that you are correct. I thank God for the opportunity to interact on a forum with many people who are better educated than I am and who have experiences that I don't. I'm glad for the opportunity to share my ideas and thoughts and to receive feedback from such men and women. But...

Martin, thanks for asking about the New Birth. New Birth is essential and vital and central to the task of completing the Great Commission. Although I did not use the phrase "New Birth" in the OP, I did refer to the importance of justification from sins, which is necessary for New Birth and...

First, let me say that I really like your forum name “in the light”. That’s how we all want to live! Second, many true doctrines seems “strange”, especially when we first study them. God sending His Son to die in our place seems very strange to many people, but praise God, it’s true! A...

In terms of "eternal life" meaning "living forever", before I give another Biblical reference, I think it helps to keep in mind that the Bible uses normal human language in order to teach God's truths. This doesn't mean the Bible can't take a normal word and give it a specialized meaning or...

The Great Commission is truly great, but it is not easy! What do you view as some of the main challenges to fulfilling the Great Commission, either in your own local ministry, or globally?

Do we understand how truly great the Great Commission is? The Great Commission is not a new idea which springs up suddenly in the New Testament like spring flowers with shallow roots. No, the Great Commission has deep roots, strong roots. These roots reach down through the prophets and the...

Note: If you are not TCassidy, you may need to go back and look at comment #36 to understand this comment. TCassidy, when we respond to a comment, we keep in mind that not only the person we are responding to, but potentially many others as well, may be reading it. This even includes some who...

Yes, in Ephesians 2:1 Paul does speak to physically alive people are "dead" in another sense: ESV Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins I believe that the metaphorical meaning of death here in Ephesians 2:1 is basically the same as in Romans 8:6, where Paul also speaks of...

James, thanks for asking about the assertion that immortality = eternal life. Since immortality means living forever, and eternal life means living forever, I think most people would just assume that immortality = eternal life. But it always helps to have clear, explicit Biblical support, so...

Aaron, thanks for asking! James helps us with this: ESV James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. At the first death, only our body is dead. Our body is no longer able to feel or think anything. Thus, the first death involves the...

Many Christians have been taught your definition of death, but actually your definition is not supported by a careful study of the word death in the Bible. I presented the results of my study of how the Bible uses the word death in a post on my on blog, here. I give an edited excerpt here: A...

Aaron, I've been reading and communicating with people who believe in Conditional Immortality rather extensively for around 8 years. I have never heard a single one deny that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In fact, we readily affirm that. I certainly expect that judgment will...

As far as Matthew 25:46, I addressed this from the Conditional Immortality point of view in comment #8. I certainly don't expect people to read all the previous comments before raising a new point, but in this case if you want to discuss this verse further with me it would help if you explain...

Martin, In this post I will attempt to explain how I reconcile the 3rd of 6 Bible passages you listed which appear to many people to be contrary to Conditional Immortality: Luke 12:4-5. "My friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will...

Here, I'll attempt to reply to the first two of the 5 (+1 in a follow up comment) passages you listed. Matthew 5:26. "Assuredly I say to you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny." I think we both agree that Jesus was not teaching that people would...

No, but in my understanding a correct explanation of the doctrine of Conditional Immortality entails annihilationism. The two are connected. Annihilationism narrowly focuses on the final fate of the unrighteous. Conditional Immortality is a broader and more fundamental doctrine which...

Martin, Thanks for taking the time to look up and post these verses. Before I begin to address them one by one, I want to make sure I understand why you posted them. I think it is very likely that you see these verses as providing prima facie (obvious at first glance) evidence against...

Martin, I'm not ignoring your list of verses. If someone else does not reply to them, Lord willing I will, but probably not tonight. But for now I want to reply to something we have in common. We both want your friend, and everyone else, to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Evangelical...