A KISSed History of Beliefs
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Now that we have reached the end of the HOB and constructed a pneumonic framework, let us consider the implications for our Christian faith.
For starters, we noted that secular histories of mankind commonly begin by describing polytheistic civilization in Mesopotamia the and Egypt. The first notable individual was Sargon c. 2270, who promulgated laws, some of which were similar to those of Moses. It was out of this culture that Abram was called to worship the one true God (monotheism) in Canaan (according to GN 12:1-2).
The question we should ask at this point is something like this: How (per Scripture, especially the NT) does God's POS apply to the rest of humanity other than a few people mentioned in Genesis account, including A&E, Noah's family and Abraham?
For starters, we noted that secular histories of mankind commonly begin by describing polytheistic civilization in Mesopotamia the and Egypt. The first notable individual was Sargon c. 2270, who promulgated laws, some of which were similar to those of Moses. It was out of this culture that Abram was called to worship the one true God (monotheism) in Canaan (according to GN 12:1-2).
The question we should ask at this point is something like this: How (per Scripture, especially the NT) does God's POS apply to the rest of humanity other than a few people mentioned in Genesis account, including A&E, Noah's family and Abraham?
Well, for starters we can begin with LAFTA worldwide. This way GPOFS is understood easier.
People will also feel more comfortable not being treated like they in the army barracks as well.
I am glad we agree that they were not SOL, so perhaps RM 1:20 is a good place to start--as it was in your case?
Well, UA is achieved one 50% agreement at a time if we look at the glass as half full, so I will suggest that the inner conscience is a natural or “common” sense (RM 2:14-16), which manifests morality or a moral Authority in every culture, including those existing around the world from A&E to Abraham. Was this also part of your reason for believing in God in Albania?
Okay, and meditating on the natural world or God’s supernatural work/creation per RM 1:20 combined with conscience per RM 2:14-16 comprise what is called general revelation, which reveals God’s eternal power and divine nature (love), serving as a provisional or proto-gospel proclaimed to everyone under heaven implicitly (CL 1:23, RM 10:13-18, GL 3:8), so that Paul says men are without excuse for choosing not to seek God.
Okay then, gen rev explains the basis of the POS with regard to souls having access only to that mode of GW throughout history including in our era possibly.
The next questions regarding GRFS for those familiar with the teachings of Moses and of Jesus and the Apostles have obvious answers: the basis of divine salvation and judgment is whether or not such souls chose to believe them or rejected them.
Is there Scriptural warrant for saying this?
Okay and I was thinking that the Parable of the Talents is applicable to this question.
With you I am happy with 1% more agreement today than yesterday!
Yes, which is why I repeatedly post the kerygma.
The POT indicates that God will judge people fairly/justly. Because perfect justice is not attained during this earthly existence, there is a resurrection and judgment (HB 9:27-28), when those who serve the Spirit of love (although imperfectly, PHP 3:12) are separated from demonic souls who do not even want to try to cooperate with the Holy Spirit (MT 25:31-46). Otherwise, there would be no ultimate justice and the entire biblical revelation would make no sense (1CR 15:14&19). If atheists/evil-doers remained unconscious after death, such ignorance would be relative bliss and morality would be nullified (ECC 2:12-17). Thus, hell (as a potential destiny) as well as heaven is good!
The horror of self-condemnation for serving Satan is this: apparently the misery of hell does not motivate genuine repentance. Thus, after just punishment has been meted out (cf. GL 6:7), God abandons people assigned to hell or second death (RV 20:6, RM 1:28-32), because they are hopelessly corrupt (JN 6:44). This destiny is eternal for anyone whose sins are infinite. For the rest, hell will end in destruction or non-existence per the following passages:
JN 17:12, “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”
RM 9:22, “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?”
GL 6:8a, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.”
PHP 3:19a, “Their destiny is destruction.”
2THS 1:9a, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction.”
2PT 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
We are reviewing the KISSed HOB in order to see what truths we can glean from it having to do with the history of God's POS.
We have gleaned that "gen rev" or creation & conscience (C&C) explains the basis of the POS with regard to souls who only had--or now have in some remote corner of the planet--that mode available and were/are unfamiliar with GRFS either per the teachings of Moses during the OT era or/and of Jesus and the Apostles as the NT became available--with C&C and the OT being understood in light of the NT canon of Scripture as serving as a provisional or proto gospel leading to the full Gospel of Christ.
The NT indicates that souls who sought God found Him through one or more of these three modes of revelation (MT 7:7), but what about those who did not qualify for salvation? What happens to those souls?
The gift of salvation may be rejected by not seeking Truth but rather believing lies or their father (JN 8:44-47). The latter decision is called “the spirit of the antichrist” (1JN 4:2-3), and Jesus said (in MT 12:30), “He who is not with me is against me.” It should be understood that although God’s love is universal and unconditional, receiving His grace or gift of salvation is conditional upon repentance or choosing to accept it by means of non-meritorious faith or cooperating with GRFS.
The purpose of evangelism or teaching everyone on earth the full Gospel (MT 28:18-20) is to fulfill God’s desire for those truthseekers who are saved either on the basis of C&C or on the basis of belief in the OT to learn the whole truth and be one spiritual body or church united by faith in Christ (CL 1:15-23) Regardless of how a person behaved while alive, the fact they did not seek God and believe the Gospel would make them evil for rejecting the only One who is good (MT 19:17), the source and Spirit of good, and its Rationale. God initiates; we cooperate--or not. Apart from God all accountable humans are sinners in need of God’s salvation from selfishness (RM 3:23, 6:23).
The command of Jesus to be perfect (MT 5:48) means to become like God morally (PHP 3:7-9, EPH 5:1-3), or as Paul says, to be imitators of God and “live a life of love, just as Christ loved us.” (EPH 5:1-2) Paul calls this goal the “fullness” of God/Christ (EPH 3:19, 4:13). It signifies the reason for creation, the purpose of salvation and Believers’ blessings in heaven. Although God views believers in Christ as sharing His perfect righteousness (sometimes called imputed or positional perfection), practical perfection or continual loving behavior as an immortal being in heaven will begin when life’s test on earth is finished (PHP 3:12, 1JN 1:8, 1CR 15:42-50). How long this earthly history will continue only God knows, but some scriptures (MT 24:14, 2PT 3:9-15 RM 11:25) indicate that it will be until everyone living in the world at the time of the end has the opportunity to hear the Gospel, while others stress the need to be ready for it to occur at any moment (MT 24:44, 1THS 5:2, RV 3:3).
Because perfect justice is not attained during this earthly existence, there is a resurrection and judgment (HB 9:27-28), when those who serve the Spirit of love (although imperfectly, PHP 3:12) are separated from demonic souls who do not even want to try to cooperate with the Holy Spirit (MT 25:31-46). Otherwise, there would be no ultimate justice and the entire biblical revelation would make no sense (1CR 15:14&19). If atheists/evil-doers remained unconscious after death, such ignorance would be relative bliss and morality would be nullified (ECC 2:12-17). Thus, hell (as a potential destiny) as well as heaven is good (part of the DOD)!
The horror of self-condemnation for serving Satan is this: apparently the misery of hell does not motivate genuine repentance. Thus, God abandons people assigned to hell or second death (RV 20:6, RM 1:28-32), because they are hopelessly corrupt (JN 6:44). This destiny is eternal for anyone whose sins are infinite. For the rest, hell will end in destruction or non-existence per the following passages:
JN 17:12, “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”
RM 9:22, “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?”
GL 6:8a, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.”
PHP 3:19a, “Their destiny is destruction.”
2THS 1:9a, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction.”
2PT 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
The good news (Gospel) is that God has provided a Way for sinners to be saved from suffering and destruction and to be resurrected to eternal life in heaven. The desire for eternal joy is not selfish but rather the proper motivation for attaining immortality the right way. What hope is more credible than the Christian Gospel? None! And who is a better candidate for Christ/Messiah than Jesus of Nazareth? No one! (CL 1:15-20)
We have gleaned that "gen rev" or creation & conscience (C&C) explains the basis of the POS with regard to souls who only had--or now have in some remote corner of the planet--that mode available and were/are unfamiliar with GRFS either per the teachings of Moses during the OT era or/and of Jesus and the Apostles as the NT became available--with C&C and the OT being understood in light of the NT canon of Scripture as serving as a provisional or proto gospel leading to the full Gospel of Christ.
The NT indicates that souls who sought God found Him through one or more of these three modes of revelation (MT 7:7), but what about those who did not qualify for salvation? What happens to those souls?
The gift of salvation may be rejected by not seeking Truth but rather believing lies or their father (JN 8:44-47). The latter decision is called “the spirit of the antichrist” (1JN 4:2-3), and Jesus said (in MT 12:30), “He who is not with me is against me.” It should be understood that although God’s love is universal and unconditional, receiving His grace or gift of salvation is conditional upon repentance or choosing to accept it by means of non-meritorious faith or cooperating with GRFS.
The purpose of evangelism or teaching everyone on earth the full Gospel (MT 28:18-20) is to fulfill God’s desire for those truthseekers who are saved either on the basis of C&C or on the basis of belief in the OT to learn the whole truth and be one spiritual body or church united by faith in Christ (CL 1:15-23) Regardless of how a person behaved while alive, the fact they did not seek God and believe the Gospel would make them evil for rejecting the only One who is good (MT 19:17), the source and Spirit of good, and its Rationale. God initiates; we cooperate--or not. Apart from God all accountable humans are sinners in need of God’s salvation from selfishness (RM 3:23, 6:23).
The command of Jesus to be perfect (MT 5:48) means to become like God morally (PHP 3:7-9, EPH 5:1-3), or as Paul says, to be imitators of God and “live a life of love, just as Christ loved us.” (EPH 5:1-2) Paul calls this goal the “fullness” of God/Christ (EPH 3:19, 4:13). It signifies the reason for creation, the purpose of salvation and Believers’ blessings in heaven. Although God views believers in Christ as sharing His perfect righteousness (sometimes called imputed or positional perfection), practical perfection or continual loving behavior as an immortal being in heaven will begin when life’s test on earth is finished (PHP 3:12, 1JN 1:8, 1CR 15:42-50). How long this earthly history will continue only God knows, but some scriptures (MT 24:14, 2PT 3:9-15 RM 11:25) indicate that it will be until everyone living in the world at the time of the end has the opportunity to hear the Gospel, while others stress the need to be ready for it to occur at any moment (MT 24:44, 1THS 5:2, RV 3:3).
Because perfect justice is not attained during this earthly existence, there is a resurrection and judgment (HB 9:27-28), when those who serve the Spirit of love (although imperfectly, PHP 3:12) are separated from demonic souls who do not even want to try to cooperate with the Holy Spirit (MT 25:31-46). Otherwise, there would be no ultimate justice and the entire biblical revelation would make no sense (1CR 15:14&19). If atheists/evil-doers remained unconscious after death, such ignorance would be relative bliss and morality would be nullified (ECC 2:12-17). Thus, hell (as a potential destiny) as well as heaven is good (part of the DOD)!
The horror of self-condemnation for serving Satan is this: apparently the misery of hell does not motivate genuine repentance. Thus, God abandons people assigned to hell or second death (RV 20:6, RM 1:28-32), because they are hopelessly corrupt (JN 6:44). This destiny is eternal for anyone whose sins are infinite. For the rest, hell will end in destruction or non-existence per the following passages:
JN 17:12, “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”
RM 9:22, “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?”
GL 6:8a, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.”
PHP 3:19a, “Their destiny is destruction.”
2THS 1:9a, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction.”
2PT 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
The good news (Gospel) is that God has provided a Way for sinners to be saved from suffering and destruction and to be resurrected to eternal life in heaven. The desire for eternal joy is not selfish but rather the proper motivation for attaining immortality the right way. What hope is more credible than the Christian Gospel? None! And who is a better candidate for Christ/Messiah than Jesus of Nazareth? No one! (CL 1:15-20)