You may know you are saved, because God says so in His Word.

Hello Tuor,
I Also Have Universal Reconciliation proponents within my baptist beliefs....
I Have Been Raised SBC from SS and VBS as a Child..3 times a week regular..saved at 25..
IFB for 15+ yrs and SBC til Now... although the Creeds have somewhat changed...from church to church...Baptist Churches were quiet until Eschatology Started to Be "Lerned"..:sleep"

Been there, Done That....Now, you might be hearing some new things from my way of thinking.....:eek!:
Everybody does Get saved..Christ Blood Atones for his entire creation...or did he Ask your opinion before the foundation of the Earth?..He Promised He Would Die For All Sin
TO HIMSELF..Just Like He Created Me...The Nerve...He Didnt Ask Me If I Wanted To Be Created First...Geez...(thats goblygook)

What I See Differently is The Plan Of God That He Wants To Live Through Man as Individuals.

Like In Our Lifetime..God Draws Us..Unveils Our Eyes and Ears, Introduces Us To The Law and His Propitiation..Justified Through nothing That We Do..But What He Is Doing.
Further within His Plans For Our Lives..Sanctification..Regeneration of The Mind..Right?
At This Point we Trudge along..wisdom/understanding...wisdom/understanding....
Living By Faith We Progress..We See Gods Sovereignty as Well As His Personal Love For Us As Individuals..We Release Sin and Harmful Habits..Were Tried By Fire... (Fill In The Blanks)

or...We Refuse by alternating truths we want to hold..Sins..Crutches.People,Things...
Intellectualism.....Religious Doctrines...Other Peoples opinions..making our lives non-Responsible..Safe..so we think?...

Jesus Saved Us..Now.,Our Lives are made by Agreements of What We As Individuals Wish To Hold and Follow..We Can Make It Up Or Follow ONE SET OF STANDARDS..
Its Us Agreeing With God..Pretty Simple..Good, Bad, or Ugly...Its The Only Game In Town..

Anyhow..Only A Small Number Of Choices Are Available To Us....
In The Case You've Mentioned..Eternal Torment..and the literal Throwing Hell Into The Lake Of Fire...or Universal Salvation..God Gets To Love His Entire Creation....

I Chose Universal Salvation Many, Many Years Ago..To Relieve Your Deeper Inquisitions..

Jesus Chose You And Me To Be The Physical Reconciliators Of His Creation.
"Ambassadors of Christ" or Members of The "Ministry of Reconciliation"..
Many are Called...Few Are Chosen..Between these Two Groups of People..Thats Right..
Carnal Christians and Spirit Filled Christians..We Are Chosen For A Task..The Sanctification of The Christian Introduces Us To Gods Mercy and His Sovereignty to Allow Us To Comprehend His Plan For His Creation....To Reconcile All...To Cover Over All Defilement That Has Occurred.

So Whats The Big Deal..Sanctification...Try To Forgive your Enemies..Or Try To Comprehend God Loving The Vilest Of His Creation.....

Always Look At Gods Big Picture....Religion Wants You To Strain At A Gnat While overlooking The Camel...God Is Not Going To Punish People For "Sins" That Jesus Christ Has Already Paid The Penalty For...Thats Finished..Paid For..Thats The Thread Right...God Said It.."Its Finished".

Ambassadors Of Christ Are The Embodiment Of Christ To His Creation. They Inherite All That Is Christs. His Inheritance. His Nature. To Know That You Are A Part Of This Activity Of God. To Know That You Are A Part Of This Reconciliation Of Gods Creation...WOW...Thats His Mission And It Is Not Over. My Beliefs are That In Heaven All Things Are To Be Reconciled. To Become Made Pure..By Choice..Through Understanding..Each Individual Will Come To An Understanding Of Who They Are.
God Living Through Us, Being Examples To His Creation...One Person At A Time.

And By The By..We Are Human Beings..Ten Fingers, Ten Toes..Forever
Two Natures..Physical and Spiritual.. So There Will Be A Physical Environment.....Earth?

The Only Memories Of This Lifetime of "Death" Is In The "Body Of Christ"..Their Lives,Their Memories,Their Experiences while in The Spirit..All Others Are To Be Covered Over. Chosen To Be Forever Forgotten As They Are Not Glorifying To God....

Your Life Is In Record Mode..Every Memory and Experience That Glorifies God..Your Understanding..Your Knowledge of Who You Understand God To Be Will Be Yours Forever..
See The Difference..Carnal Christians Are Not Glorifying God and Christ..Their Memories Are To Be Forever Forgotten..What Will Be Left Of Their Lives? What Will God Allow?

About The General Population..Memories That Glorify God ? Sorry..

Only Those Who Are The Body Of Christ..The Overcomers..The Sons Of God..The Reconcilers
will Inherit Those Experiences "First Hand". and Be A Living Testament of What God Has Done Through Mankind Towards His Creation.......That Makes Everything That Much More Important.

So How About Satan? ....His Job Is To Steal Your Joy In Christ....That Your An Overcomer and The Future is Waiting For You As A Child Of The Living God....

Everybody Gets Atoned..
Some Get Sanctified..
Some Lose Rewards...

Nobody Is "Lost"..

Oh By The By...First Shall Be Last..Older Serve The Younger..
You Serve The General Public By Allowing God To Witness To Them, Through You...
..In The Kingdom of Heaven. That What Your Becoming...A Witness.

Me2

 

Good Morning Helen,

You wrote:

I recognize all those things as Biblical. What I'm not sure about is that orge can be translated as a positive longing for, rather than a passionate anger against.

I reply and repeat:

I believe that God has a wrath; Scripture is quite evident that He has wrath and it is seen all throughout the OT. His wrath can be anger and is represented by words that mean "quickly blowing air thru the nostrils" (somewhat like bulls snorting in anger).

Other words in the OT represent pure old anger. However, man must "imply" that this anger is forever; which, BTW, Scripture teaches does end at some point.

As you look into the word "wrath", especially when Jesus used the word, do a search (yes, even in a Strong's Concordance) and find Strong's # 3709.

3709 orge or-gay' from 3713; PROPERLY, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy), violent passion (ire, or (justifiable) abhorrence); by implication punishment:--anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath. see GREEK for 3713

What I find so very interesting is that "PROPERLY", this word means "desire" (and perhaps a very strong desire).

Now look to its root word:

3713 oregomai or-eg'-om-ahee middle voice of apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary (compare 3735); to stretch oneself, i.e. reach out after (long for):--covet after, desire. see GREEK for 3735

The root word means to "reach out after" or to "long for".

What we have here is something that really has nothing to do with anger and retribution, much less any eternal punishment.

This "wrath" is an immensely strong desire or "strongly longing for".

I wonder what God really, strongly desires or "longs for"?

HIS WILL IS THAT ALL ARE SAVED.

He who has faith in the Son has eternal life; but he who has not faith in the Son will not see life; God's wrath is resting on him. (John 3:36)

Those that have faith in Him will "know the Father and the Son, whom the Father sent", but those that don't will not know them and God's very strong desire is upon them.

Helen, am I trying to "find" a way to 'explain away' God's anger? No.

I see God much differently because of what He has revealed to me. It simply takes an open mind to see something other than the fear and scare tactics the church-world burdens others with.

HIS PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR (I'm not shouting at you. lol Just emphasizing.

Is it not strange to you that a word description contains things like "PROPERLY" (means) so & so", but then tries to tell us what is "implied". Well, who's implication is it? God's or the translator's?

Yes, this UR (Universal Reconciliation) believer sees God's "wrath" in Scripture, but is it forever and ever; or is it even the "anger" that preachers want to control the masses with?

Perhaps an angry and vindictive God is so, but the One that revealed Himself to me isn't.

Me2 is correct. A study of the character of God is revealing.

You wrote:

Ah, I recognize that too...but I don't want to end up with a limp!!!

(Gen 32:26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." )

I reply:

We are weak, but He is strong. His strength is made perfect in weakness. His grace is sufficient. Wounded healers have great limps.

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come."

In His Love,

Diane

 

Diane, if His anger doesn't last then why here is Jesus sending the unrighteous to eternal punishment?

Matt 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

(Excuse me if someone already asked you that and you said you didn't know - I haven't followed the whole thread carefully)

Regarding the perfect love verse and fear tactics - yes, I understand. Believe me, I really really do.

So I can relate to what you are saying and how you read Scripture. But I see significant textual problems with your perspective even though I grant that your reasoning is very Biblical, in some ways...

AITB

 

Hi Again Helen,

I'm at work, so I can't go in to detail.

Helen - I didn't mean to imply that you didn't understand. His love drives us to yearn for the meaning of His Word.

Suggestion: Do a search for the Concordant Bible. This bible translation is the closest to the orginal manuscripts.

Also, somewhere above is a post from me about the translation of the words forever and eternal.

Happy hunting,

Diane

 

Originally posted by GH:

Hi Again Helen,

I'm at work, so I can't go in to detail.

Helen - I didn't mean to imply that you didn't understand.

That's ok - I didn't assume you did mean to imply that. But I just wanted to emphasize that I do in case you didn't know whether I did or not

His love drives us to yearn for the meaning of His Word.

I understand that too.

Suggestion: Do a search for the Concordant Bible. This bible translation is the closest to the orginal manuscripts.

Thanks for the info!

Also, somewhere above is a post from me about the translation of the words forever and eternal.

Happy hunting,

Happy hunting? I might be looking for that post forever in a thread this long!!!



But, I guess I'll try. Feel free to reiterate what you said about 'forever' - briefly - if work gets boring

Personally I find the argument that eternal is used for the righteous - of life - and the unrighteous - for punishment - rather a tricky one to get around. How do you reinterpret the eternality of the punishment without losing eternal life along with that?

But I'll try to find what you said already...

yours in Him
Helen/AITB

p.s. I can't find it - sorry

[ September 18, 2002, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: AITB ]

 

Everybody does Get saved..Christ Blood Atones for his entire creation...or did he Ask your opinion before the foundation of the Earth?

No, God did not ask for my opinion. God's plan is God's plan. Jesus is the one who said that only those who believe in him will have eternal life. Jesus is the one who said that there are two different plants on earth, God's and Satan's. God's seed will have eternal life, Satan's seed will not.

Just because this concept doesn't agree with the voice that you hear, doesn't mean it is not true. It just means that you hear another voice than Jesus'.

 

Hi AITB,
The Passage is a parable right?..Not To Be Literally Interpreted...
(or maybe its intentions are to be?...hhmm)...within Jesus's Parables are time based stories and eternally spritual based lessons...and the two stories are not to be confused.

One Literal..which jesus tells us..NOT TO TAKE LITERALLY...hint..hint..hint..hint..
and the other Spiritual. We Know that The Holy Spirit Tells Us Personally The Interpretation...

Lots Of People Say That Jesus Teaches Us About "HELL" The Most...Yea, but do you notice that in all His Lessons....He Speaks in parables.

Or Another Grouping Of Revered "Literal" Teachings..Revelation of Jesus Christ..
AAhhh Thats a Vision..A Dream..can anyone interpret this vision?....anybody?

God Reveals, What He Desires, To Whom He Choses....
To Everyone Whom God Choses NOT To Reveal Himself To.....
They Wrongly Interpret The Bible...

Ask The Right Question..What Do Those Darn Parables Mean?
If Someone Gives You A Literal interpretation..is That The Way It Was Intended To Be Revealed ?..and Who Revealed It To You ?....God Personally or Man.

You Can Bet The Farm..If Someone Cant Interpret The Parables Spiritually..They Arnt Talking To The Living God...Their Talking To Themselves

Theres Only One Right Spiritual Interpretation....
and does It Fit With Everything Else.

God Is Infinite Love

Me2

 

Helen - try this.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Concordant+Publishing

Talk to you later.

Diane

 

Howdy Tuor,

Another Voice.....Sounds spooky

Heres A cool Muse..When God Was Dreaming Up This Creation Thingy..Can You Actually Imagine A God Whose Nature Is INFINITE LOVE....Saying To Himself....

"Well Of Course Ill Make Man Stupid..Well Of Course Satan Will Rebell..Well Of Course, Ill Have To "Visit" Him On Terra Firma and "Sacrifice" Myself..Of Course Ill Have To Prove That My Scheme Of Giving Them A Set Of Rules That They Cant Follow..and then Later..Ill Shame Them By Proving That "I" Could...those Idiots.....
Maybe Ill Spice Up A version Of Myself By Saying "I Came To Save All Of Um"..But ONLY If I Draw Them..and If They Follow My Advice Perfectly.

or...How About A Riddle of Life..Lets See..What Does "I Am That I Am" Really Mean...?
Just What Does "That" Mean?......yea thats the ticket....

Lets see..Ill Make Them Beg For Mercy By Slowly Introducing Myself Through Dreams and visions and parables to only a select few..of Course From those of whom I Deem Worthy..and then, when they shed that "cursed" Skin and want to see me "In Person"..Ill Reject That Idea Because Im Holy and Their Not...Of Course There Has To Be A Trial...Lets See..I Saved This Bunch..I Guess Ill Have To Torture The Rest Cause Im Infinite Justice.....I Guess Forever and ever will just be about enough time..Maybe Ill Torture Them Infinitely....Oohh Flames and worms and darkness.."

*Even Mankind Cant Believe In A God Like That..although This Guy Does Sound Familiar*

Sometimes Taking What Someone Says Literally Gets you Into Trouble.......
We Walk By FAITH....Whos Faith...of A Book ....or A Living Person.

If I Dont Understand Something..I Usually Ask For Further Information and keep the subject open until i can hold the answer in my hand....

The Bible Doesnt Save You and Its Not The Whole Story About God
Its Just His Way Of Introducing Himself.

To Some..Its A Pleasure..To Others...Well, Its Not A Pleasure.

Heres another question answered, Tuor..Theres Only One Plan and One Result..
Both Are From God...always was and always will be. He's Sovereign

So... Agree To Disagree

and of Course..

God Is Big Enough to Love Both Of Us...Right

Me2

 

The Bible Doesnt Save You and Its Not The Whole Story About God. Its Just His Way Of Introducing Himself

Here is the basic difference between your views and mine. I wouldn't say that the Bible saves you, although as I understand it, this is what you believe I am saying.

I agree that the Bible is not the "Whole Story About God", but it is sufficient. It is more than just His way of "Introduding Himself" to us. The Bible instructs about what ways are His and what ways are not.

From there we may discern what is of God and what is not. As Jesus said, a bad tree can't produce good fruit and a good tree can't produce bad fruit. If you want to know if a tree is good or bad, judge it by its fruits.

 

Thanks for your comments, Me2

Helen/AITB

 

OK Tuor,

Fruit..hmm....

In The Garden Of Eden..Tree Of Life...Tree Of Knowledge of Good and Evil represents...

Tree of Life..The Nature of Jesus Christ...infinite Mercy, infinite Forgiveness, Infinite Love
Tree Of Knowledge of Good and Evil...Infinite Justice

Infinite Mercy, Forgiveness, Love Can Coexist eternally alongside Infinite Justice
The Soul That Sins Shall Die.....Introduce Imperfection in a Holy Environment.

Infinite Mercy will Infinitly compete with Infinite Justice over The Conclusion Of What To with The Imperfection..they Cant Co-exist.
Infinite Mercy Will Always want to Offer Infinite mercy and infinite Justice Will Always Want To Judge Infinitly.

Theres The Eternal Problem..God Cant Be All In All. He Cant Even Co-Exist With His Own Nature which was represented by the Two Trees..Infinite Mercy and Infinite Justice.

What We As Mankind Must Understand That Contained within The Tree Of Infinite Mercy, infinite Forgiveness, and Infinite Love...Is Self Sacrifice. (Infinite Love is Giving Yourself Away to Others Who Cant Help Themselves..Agape Love)

For God So Loved The World.....The Lamb Slain BEFORE The Foundation Of The World.

All Sin Of The World Has Been Paid For..Promised To Himself...Lord Jesus Christ Promising To Himself.... The Representative for Mankind...The Representative For All Of His Creation That He Would Sacrifice Himself For Others..And The Father and The Holy Spirit Agreed.... Sin Is Not The Problem...Its Faith..Its Mankind Believing Himself To Be GOD
Instead Of Following A Lord....Dying To Self..Submission To God.

The Idea Of Eternal Torment In An Eternal Environment of Punishment Means That All Sins Havent Been Paid For And Can Never Be Justified or Vindicated..Infinite Justice Demands Infinite Punishment..Its Never Satisfied..

Jesus Had To Die For The Sins Of The World....To Completly Eradicate Evil..Death


Now The Tree Of Life and The Tree Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil Can Once Again Co-Exist Eternally..Sin Has Been Eradicated..It Has Been Covered . Infinite Mercy, Infinite Forgiveness, Infinite Love, and Infinite Justice Can Once Again Be United.
That Is God Being All In All..
That Is God Uniting His Creation With Himself Eternally

All The Things Ive Previously Posted About Reconciliation Is The Plan That Combines Mankind With God In Re-Creating Gods Expression Of Love To Himself...It Includes Us..

Thats God Eternally Loving His Creation. Expressing Love... Means Dying For It.

Not Punishing It .

Everything That Is Valued In Life Is Worth Something....
In The Process Of Santification..God Is Simply Asking You..What Is Your Value Worth?
God Says..Your Life Is Infinitely Valuable
and He Sets Out To Prove It To You So That You Will Believe By Faith
You Are Infinitely Loved By Him......

As is All Of His Creation Is To Him...He Loves It Infinitely....

You Are Becoming A Witness To The World..To Others To Prove To Them That God Loves Them Also..Its Just Your Turn, That He Showing His Love, To You Now. Knowing That Worth Will Propell You On A Journey That Will, Within Your Being......Demand Justification For All.

For God So Loved The World...

Me2

 

Me2,

You are definitely ignoring alot of scripture in order to come up with the theology you are coming up with. You are also making alot of assumptions that are not Biblical.

In short, your post reflects alot of half-truths.

[ September 18, 2002, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Tuor ]

 

Hello Tuor,

Might I Suggest A Little Solitude With God,
He Will Tell You The Other Half of What Your Not Comprehending.

Thats Whats the Things Of God Are All about...Believing The Impossible


Until Then Might We Agree To Disagree

Me2

 

He Will Tell You The Other Half of What Your Not Comprehending.

I comprehend what you are saying and it doesn't agree with what Jesus said. We have been warned to beware of those who bring teachings that are different than the message brought in the Bible.

I don't doubt that there is something that is telling this is true. I just don't believe this voice should be listened to.

Of course we can agree to disagree.

[ September 18, 2002, 06:25 PM: Message edited by: Tuor ]

 

Dear Helen,

Here’s the link and also I reposted:

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=001082;p=2

Forever and forever?

Various quotes by scholars:

Aeonios rendered by our translators "everlasting" and "for ever and ever" upon which eternal torment is based, is "without hesitation, misleading and incorrect; for "aion" means "an age", a limited period of time, whether long or short, though often of indefinite length; and the adjective "aeonios" means "of the age," "age-long" "aeonian," and never everlasting, it is true that it may be applied as an epithet to things that are endless, but the idea of endlessness in all such cases comes not from the epithet, but only because it is inherent in the object to which the epithet is applied, as in the case of God..." Thomas Allin (Christ Triumphant)

"The word aion is never used in Scripture, or anywhere else, in the sense of endlessness (vulgarly called eternity), it always meant, both in Scripture and out, a period of time; else how could it have a plural--how could you talk of the aeons and aeons of aeons as the Scripture does?" C. Kingley

Rev. J.S. Blunt in his Dictionary of Theology

"The conception of eternity, in the Semitic languages, is that of a long duration and series of ages."

Bishop Rust declares, "Tis notoriously known, that the Jews, whether writing in Hebrew or Greek, do by 'olam' (the Hebrew word corresponding to "aion'), and aion mean any remarkable period or duration, whether it be of life, or dispensation, or polity."

Canon Farrar and G. Campbell Morgan and Dr. Lammenois and Dr. N. Turner are not alone in their scholarship. You may not agree with them, but they stand as strong witnesses!

Let's consider the Aaronic priesthood which is described as being "everlasting" in Numbers 25:13 and a few other "for ever and ever (s) in the Old Covenant next.

"The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts." A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit Of God)

Helen, there's also another post on the word "eternal" being applied only to God Himself. I'll try to find it for you.

Peace in Him,

Diane

 

Hello Again Helen,

Here’s the second post:

Below is a study on the words forever and eternal based on information found in G. Campbell Morgan's book, "God's Methods With Man" (pages 185-186) and Christ Triumphant by Thomas Allin I did not write it. It has been modified and paraphrased in the course of various discussions and studies I’ve had with other believers. It is information free and open to the general public and is widely believed many people. My only reason for posting this information is to lift up the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ at Calvary and for God’s glory and honor – blessed by His Holy Name. His grace superabounds!

The true meaning of the words "aion" and "aionios” which are the originals of the terms rendered by our translators "everlasting," for ever and ever:" and on this translation, which is so misleading, so much of the popular dogma of endless torment is taught. This is misleading and incorrect; for "aion" means "an age," a limited period, whether long or short, though often of indefinite length; and the adjective "aionios" means "of the age," "age-long," "aeonian," and NEVER "everlasting", but it can be truly applied to things that are endless.

In the Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint)—which was in common use among the Jews in our Lord's time, from which He and the Apostles usually quoted, and whose authority, therefore, should be decisive on this point--these terms are repeatedly applied to things that have long ceased to exist. For example: the Aaronic priesthood is said to be "everlasting," (Numb.25:13). And we know that this priesthood does not exist any more. Another is: The land of Canaan is given as an "everlasting" possession, and "for ever", (Gen. 17:8...Gen. 18:15). In Deut. 23:3, "for ever" = "even to the tenth generation." In Lamentations 5:19, "for ever and ever" = from "generation to generation." In Jude 7, Sodom and Gomorrah are said to be suffering the vengeance of eternal (aeonian) fire, i.e., their temporal overthrow by fire, for they have a definite promise of final restoration.--(Ezek. 16:55) And Christ's kingdom is to last "for ever," yet we are distinctly told that this very kingdom is to end.--(I Cor. 15:24)

Aion Either Means Endless Duration Or It Does Not

Also if aionios is translated as "eternal," in the sense of endless, then aion must mean eternity, i.e., endless duration. This would surely change many Scripture verses by speaking of the “eternities” (there is more than one eternity?). We know what "eternity" is, but what are the "eternities?" You cannot have more than one eternity. The doxology would be: "Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, 'unto the eternities.'" In the case of the sin against the Holy Spirit, the translation would then be, "it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this eternity nor in that to come." Our Lord's words, (Matt. 13:39), would then be, "the harvest is the end of the eternity," i.e., the end of the endless, which is to make our Lord talk nonsense. Again, in Mark 4:19, the translation should be, "the cares," not of "this world," but "the cares of this eternity choke the word." In Luke 16:8, "The children of this world," should be "the children of this eternity." In 1 Cor. 10:11, the words, "upon whom the ends of the world are come," should be: "the ends of the eternities." Take next, Gal. 1:4: "That He might deliver us from this present evil world," should run thus: "from this present evil eternity." In 2 Tim. 4:10, the translation should be: "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present eternity." And "Now once at the end of the ages hath He been manifested," should read "at the end of the eternities."

1. How, if it means an endless period, can aion have a plural?

2. How come such phrases to be used as those repeatedly occurring in Scripture, where aion is added to aion, if aion is of itself infinite?

3. How is it that we repeatedly read of the end of the aion?--Matt. 13:39-40-49;...Matt. 24:3...Matt. 28:20...1 Cor. 10:11...Hebr. 9:26.

4. If aion be infinite, why is it applied over and over to what is strictly finite? e.g. Mark 4:19...Acts 3:21...Rom. 12:2...1 Cor. 1:20...1 Cor. 2:6...1 Cor. 3:18, 10:11, etc. etc.

Aionios in the Greek is a mystery; there is only one person to whom it may properly be applied, and that one person is God. ETERNAL LIFE IS NOTHING OTHER THAN THE LIFE OF GOD. The gift of Jesus Christ here is a foretaste of the life divine."

May the Spirit bring a greater enjoyment of HIS LIFE to you, Helen.

Diane

 

Tuor,

How much faith does it take to believe in an all-mighty, all-knowing, all-loving God? Though YOU make YOUR bed in hell, ((((((I))))))) will be there – thus saith the LORD GOD OF HOSTS.

It took the faith of Jesus Christ to accomplish what the Father had planned. It is finished.

Lord lead us all to where the "still waters flow."

In Him, Diane

 

There is a friendship - a relationship -that can be embraced with our precious Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. No longer will He call us servants - but He calls us His friends.

The Word Of Jesus On Prayer By George MacDonald

"What if He knows prayer to be the thing we need first and most? What if the main object in God’s idea of prayer be the supplying of our great, our endless need—the need of himself? What if the good of all our smaller and lower needs lies in this, that they help to drive us to God?

Hunger may drive the runaway child home, and he may or may not be fed at once, but he needs his mother more than his dinner. Communion with God is the one need of the soul beyond all other need; prayer is the beginning of that communion, and some need is the motive of that prayer. Our wants are for the sake of our coming into communion with God, our eternal need. If gratitude and love immediately followed the supply of our needs, if God our Saviour was the one thought of our hearts, then it might be unnecessary that we should ask for anything we need. But seeing we take our supplies as a matter of course, feeling as if they came out of nothing, or from the earth, or our own thoughts, instead of out of a heart of love and a will which alone is force, it is needful that we should be made feel some at least of our wants, that we may seek him who alone supplies all of them, and find his every gift a window to his heart of truth. So begins a communion, a talking with God, a coming-to-one with him, which is the sole end of prayer, yea, of existence itself in its infinite phases. We must ask that we may receive; but that we should receive what we ask in respect of our lower needs, is not God’s end in making us pray, for he could give us everything without that: to bring his child to his knee, God withholds that man may ask."

 

Me2,

Heart singing words there, my friend.

...HE was born to become sin, to be a "scape goat", taking all our sins past, present and future on HIMSELF...it had to be HIM. By HIM we are priests whereby we can now enter into the HOLY OF HOLIES....and come out "alive". There's bells ringing all over the place!!! He's ALIVE! No more missing the mark, Me2.

Praise to Father, God, and to Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Di