Hello, er1001
Originally posted by er1001:
Every time I run across a group which teach we can do something which will add to the finished work of Christ I get nervous!!!!!!!
Everyone thinks we can add to Jesus' work on the cross. Did Jesus go and change my next-door neighbour's light bulb? Did he go and talk to that student all alone at the dinner table? Did he go and tell the gospel to tourists in London? No. We're supposed to do lots of things as Christians, but Jesus didn't do them on the cross. However, if you mean you get worried when people try to add something
to eternal salvation other than what Jesus did on the cross,
then I totally agree with you!
An individual is saved in all eternity just by
believing that Jesus is the only way to put him right with God. That's it! It doesn't matter if he goes and kills someone every day for the rest of his life; Jesus paid for his sin on the cross, and he will be raised up to live forever on the last day.
HOWEVER, God can and will punish such an individual for such disobedience
before the last day. Most people teach that such punishment is limited to this life. However, the Bible ascribes such punihment to the millennial kingdom as well. As for adding to Christ's work, most agree that Christians can be rewarded for good works; and it is my belief that millennial reign is simply an example of this.
I believe that God in his wisdom saw it necessary to send his Son to pay the price for ALL Sin.
I agree. But God punishes believers:
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth... As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Rev 3:14-16,19)
So, God must be able to see our bad deeds and punish them in this life,
before the last day. That being so, there is no reason why he cannot punish them during the millennium, too. On the contrary, scripture specifically ascribes Chrsitian punishment to the millennial kingdom.
The thought that some believers might be worthy to serve with Him in the kingdom and some in need of hell's torture flies in the face of all i've ever been taught
.
That is the problem: so many either do not or will not know and teach this truth - I know exactly how hard it is to abandon all we've ever been taught on this subject. But let God be true, and every man a liar...
All our works done on this earth while we wait for Him to return will be reviewed at the judgment seat of Christ to see if they be gold,silver or precious stones or wood,hay and stubble,1st Cor 3/12.
Exaclty! But what happens to those whose works were stubble? A Christian can recieve "bad" at the judgement seat as well as "good"; and Paul gave this as the reason for being terrified of God! (2 Cor 5:10&11).
Those who preach that sin done while the church waits for Christ's coming worthy of hell's torture,even if only for a short time,no matter what denomination or group,use it as a way to keep thier followers under a law and in line
TOO BAD Why not let the Holy Spirit do that.
1. Although this could be true for some that teach this (though I would ask what evidence you have for this accusation?), it doesn't make it wrong.
2. Jesus used this teaching to keep John in line in Mark 9.
3. Isn't this one of the methods the Holy Spirit can use? Doesn't the Holy Spirit communicate to us via the Bible? And what did Jesus say in Luke 12:4&5?
"And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."
I ask that you "search the scriptures", to see whether these things are so.
Your friend and brother,
Bartholomew
