For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified
Paul to the Corinthians (1) 15: 22, Concordant New Testament
I was listening to another radio sermon the other night when the topic turned once again to one of the misconceptions of the mainstream church. That is, the issue of salvation. Notably, who is to be saved and who will be left in the dust. Traditional church theology speaks to the point that those who accept Christ Jesus as their Lord and savior will indeed be saved {Paul to the Romans 10:13}. But what about the remainder of Gods creation? Doesn't God care about them enough to save them as well? The answer that we find in scripture is...yes He does. However, the theology and teaching of the church speaks to the fact that the "Good" will be rewarded with salvation while the "Wicked" shall be punished with an eternity in hell {Matthews Account 13:49-50}. Indeed, through the centuries the church has latched onto the idea that Gods salvation is a black and white issue. You're either good or wicked. Nowhere in the teachings of the mainstream church is leeway given for the grace and mercy of the Lord. You are either good or wicked. But what if God does not see tings this way? What if it is the desire of the Father that ALL be saved and spend eternity with Him? Indeed, there are also plenty of scriptures which speak to this truth as well. The apostle Paul, in his evangel, speaks that as in Adam "All are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified" {Paul to the Corinthians (1) 15:22}. Paul speaks to the truth that, through the work of Christ Jesus, all shall find life. And what is life but salvation? Do we believe that Jesus gave Himself for the sins of all the world {First Epistle of John 2:2}? Or, as the church preaches, that the free gift of Gods salvation is one reserved for a fortunate few? Which scriptures do we believe and which do we toss aside as unbelievable? For there are scriptures which speak to each side of this issue. If we are to believe that all scripture is given to us to reveal the truth of Christ Jesus and the freedom brought about by His death, then we are to believe that it has always been the Lords desire that all of His children shall be saved.
"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, is not leaving the ninety-nine in the wilderness and is going after the lost one, till he may be finding it?"
Lukes Account 15: 4, Concordant New Testament
Another deeper question I have posed to more than a few people who trust in the church view of salvation is this, does God indeed love and cherish all of His children? The scriptures confirm this truth for us {First Epistle of John 3:1}. Jesus Himself speaks to this truth in His parable of the one lost sheep {Lukes Account 15:4}. The church gets it right when they speak to the fact that God so loved the world that He would dispatch His only Son for us {Johns Account 3:16-17}. Yet at the same time that preach the false belief that the Father, despite His own love for us, will turn His back on His those created in His likeness {Genesis 1:27} and send them to that place of eternal punishment apart from his presence. Is this the love of God? I would suggest that for anyone adhering to this belief, that they really do not know the Father at all. For most of my life, I believed that my salvation was related to how well I behaved. That if I did good, that I would be rewarded with salvation. However, I was also taught that this salvation is conditional, that I somehow needed to "Maintain" my own salvation. There continues to be those within the mainstream church who adhere to this false teaching. I have spoken many times to a gym friend of mine who adamantly holds to the belief that we need to maintain that salvation which has been freely given us. To this I ask, what about Jesus? If he is indeed the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, would that not reveal the truth that through Him all are saved? Not if you're a pastor it doesn't.
~Scott~
