Follow Up -- HoG
Hope of Glory said:
Well, at the GWT, works still don't determine saved/unsaved, but they are judged for their works, but at least you don't lie about what we are saying.
Good! "Book of Life" (who's saved) and "book of works" (what they did) 2 different things.
Just like the JSOC, where works are judged, whether good or bad. The JSOC doesn't determine whether one is saved or unsaved, that's determined beforehand.
The JSOC in heaven post-rapture CONCERNING US obviously does not divide saved from unsaved. As you suggest, you can't even get there unless you are saved.
You do believe in and know about the rapture, right? You know that we would appear there in our FINAL glorified bodies, right? These are not some "trash" that God has to get rid of -- they are Christ's bride!
And the "works" judged there are your basic 1Cor 3:9-15 works -- those built on the foundation of Christ and the apostles -- YOUR materials with which YOU built
(or better, what you "learned" and "taught," turth or error) "gold, silver, precious stones" or "wood, hay, stubble."
No matter what, the sheep and goats represent two types of saved individuals: Both are clean animals, their works are being judged (whether good or bad), and the fire is temporal.
Goats are "clean" but goats are leaders in OT symbology. In fact, the Jews used to let the goats lead the sheep out to graze (much as the Phairsees were supposed to do with the people). Certainly the Pharisees and any like them would be in view here -- 1) unsaved, 2) misguiding, 3) headed for ETERNAL hell/separation.
And where do you make this "outer darkness" out to be temporal hell? Did you mean "temporary?" or "Gehenna" temporal -- outside Jerusalem for 1000 years?
Don't ignore the rest of the parable, HoG. They are cast into outer darkness because they did not give a child nor stranger (the least of these) water, food, clothing, and visitation (witness to them) during the tribulation (Mt 25:40).
BTW, the gehenna warnings that are given to saved individuals, I do think has to do with the tribulation period because of the focus on the right hand and right eye.
I think AC could use that little tidbit of information, don't you? That appears to be AC's injury (Zech 11:15). That could be part of his deception -- that it has happened
so that he and his "followers" with him may enter into the kingdom. And we further suspect that he shows up at the postrib "wedding feast" (Mt 22:12-13)! Perhaps he convinces his followers to take his own "marks" in their hand and head.
But God's OT concept of it was for NEW Jerusalem of the MK -- gehenna outside it, Isa 66:24. It is interesting to note that in OT parlance, "new heavens and new earth" are the MK of Christ whereas in the NT, "New Heavens and New Earth" are God's ETERNAL kingdom on earth.
Oh, and all 10 virgins had oil, it's just that 5 of them had extra oil.
That is the CONSTANT objection of the "traditional church" you despise and outright denies what GOD has said, HoG. "Re-manufacture" it however you will, Mt 25:3 says "They that were foolish took their lamps, and took NO oil with them:..." Now if you've figured out a better way to tell it than Christ, then perhaps you have, what for YOU is, a better religion than He was offering. But I'm gonna say that what He said is pretty clear to me and it ain't "works" in view here but "Holy Spirit." It's not works that gets you "out to meet" the Groom Who is coming for us, it's the Holy Spirit.
FWIW, it's much better to have discussions/debates with other Baptist brethren without the vituperation and slander that is so common today. I would much rather have discussions with someone with whom I could enjoy a good cup or three of coffee than someone who is incapable of being honest and truthful.
Double AMEN to that. I tried once to get the jackals to back off but they smell for blood rather than for the nature of the misuderstanding. But we are aware of Satan's devices, aren't we? We try instead to make all the Bible agree with itself when it appears to teach divergent truths. What might help is for you to "picture" things as you imagine we do, study our assertions, and see where our "nugget of truth" comes from.
Oh, and I agree that there are two groups presented in the church. However, most people these days look at them as those who are really, really, really saved, and those who didn't quite make it. This eliminates any accountability for the saved person, and IMO makes a lot of people much more comfortable.
I think the focus needs to be on WHO we are accountable to. We are accountable to God for sins against Him and man. These, we confess/agree with God. That is the beginning of making ourselves right. It is God that gives us the power to escape sin and God has a process for that which you are trying to subvert. His process is to
1) convict our conscience of sin (that our actions displease God and/or others). YOU are not likely to get a saved African to quit his adulterous life that is tribal custom without getting that into his conscience where he communes with God -- so don't spue out warnings of a future loss, tell him about the impact it has on this life so he can prove it for himself.
2) He sends a witness confirming what He convicted us of (which IS where you come in -- but not with condemnation, friend [remember to be careful with what you build on Christ's foundation], but with practical testimony of the harm of sin in this life and the possible ostracism from the fellowship, THIS kingdom, 1Cor 5:5.
3) He sends loss -- loss of health, honor, or wealth. As Solomon said, "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life." Prov 22:4 Or Prov 3:16 -- "Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour."
4) Calls the wayward "ambassador" home, "sins unto death."
You know where men got involved in condemning men? When one man laid another down in his gutter to see who was the tallest (old Adrian Rogers-ism). Man comparing himself to man and not to God is all that is. Taking the mote out of another's eye without taking the log out of your own. Listen to me, HoG, find out more about God's program before you hold your millennial exclusion with too stiff a neck to turn and see the truth. I've been praying for you.
skypair