Monday, 7 March 2016

The Abomination of Desolation: A response to Walid Shoebat 7

And here we go into Roman Catholic fantasy.

"Ezekiel mentions the eastern gate; but it was shut; and the Lord confirms to him: “This gate shall be shut; It shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut. As for the prince, because He is the prince, he may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way”(Ez 44:2-3). What is the shut gate, through which the Lord entered, and goes out, and will stay shut, but the undefiled virginal womb of St. Mary; in which the Lord came to incarnate from her by the Holy Spirit? She gave birth to Him, proving that her virginity remained sealed and is why St. Mary could be a mother and a virgin at the same time and she even returns as the “Ark of the Temple”:
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a womanclothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (Revelation 11:19-12:1)
Here we have an “ark” coming from this temple, who is a “woman” “crowned” as a Queen stomping the devil and the red dragon. If this woman is strictly Israel or the church, as they say, how can the dragon be angry at the woman [the Church] and then makes war on her offspring who are also the Church? The woman and her offspring are separate individuals of mother and Son. It is here that we must apply the “two senses” and even “three senses” since it is also the church and redeemed Israel in metaphor."

I cringe at the idea that somehow the shut gate of the temple is somehow Mary's womb. I am sorry but I don't know how you could read that into Ezekiel.

The woman in context is not a reference to Mary, It is a reference to the church and redeemed Israel.

I would recommend seeing Keith Thompson's video on Revelation 12 for more information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAM_7nEaMB0

"Ezekiel first talked about the gate through which the Lord entered; then about those who minister in the new temple; introducing a special law for them, that fits their work and their priestly mission.
Besides the issues regarding Mary, and I am familiar with all the objections, we must now return to our original case study: the abomination of desolation. It is what defiles the believer’s temple as sin cannot be cleansed without confession and Eucharist (grain offering) both together."

Again, grain offering and drink offering are not a reference to the Eucharist, I need not comment on this again.

"This then relates to the forgiveness of sin. How else must the prophecy of John 20 be fulfilled:
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
There is that “breath” this “wind” again and then the institution of the absolution of sin is granted. It shuns the argument of non-apostolics who can never answer unless they twist: how can mere men forgive sin?
It is not mere men who forgive, but Christ being one with His church whom He authorized to give the daily grain sacrifice and the absolution of sin. It is not the Church itself that forgives (yet it does), but Christ forgiving through the Church.
The whole story of Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel, Malachi with the “grain offering” is definitely the Eucharist, which defies what non-apostolics say, that according to the words of Christ in the gospel, is to be strictly taken with only a remembrance of Him. This can never be just for remembrance only, but it is also his body and blood as it is stated in Daniel 9 “he will stop the sacrifice and grain offering” altogether which is done daily, not only once a month or every other Sunday as non-apostolics do."

The grain offering does not refer to the Eucharist at all, I refer to the previous article regarding Malachi, Daniel and the grain offering: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/the-abomination-of-desolation-response.html

But what does John 20:23 mean? Does it refer to a priests authority to forgive one of their sins? Or is it a declaration that the person has been forgiven of their sins? It is the latter.

There are some other links I recommend written by others on this issue:
http://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/5673/what-did-jesus-mean-in-john-2023-when-he-talked-about-his-followers-forgiving-s
https://carm.org/John2023-priests-forgive-sins
http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_apostles_forgive_sins.htm

(More may be added if the Lord Wills).

"Daniel here uses the term “sacrifice” not “remembrance”. This is the same sacrificewhich was offered by the apostles, and in all Christian ages; and is this same sacrifice, according to the prophecy of Malachi 1:11 shall be offered in “all nations to the end of the world“. This doctrine and practice was witnessed by as far back as the ancient Fathers and interpreters. (1)
The Jesus-style question is this: was the church doing all this in error for fifteen centuries and Christ failed to implement “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” especially when in Matthew 28:20 Jesus said “I am with you always, even to the end of the age“?
This is impossible to answer unless we accept an apostolic succession view where Christ will continue this institution “even to the end of the age”."

Just go to the article above because I refuse to repeat my point about the grain offering, as well as Daniel and Malachi, it's getting tiresome. for that matter, The early Christian believers did not hold to transubstantiation and it is anachronistic to try to shoehorn that doctrine into the New Testament: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/john-6-does-it-teach-transubstantiation.html

Answering Judaism.

Saturday, 5 March 2016

Addendum Universalism IS a damnable heresy: Response to Answering Abraham

Before we begin, let us nip in the bud the idea that people can be saved by Jesus Christ beyond the grave, namely be freed from hell if they repent and trust him in. There is no evidence for a post mortem salvation in either the Old or New Testament, such an idea is foreign to the Bible. Let us dive in.

"
If out of God's boundless love mercy flows to the most unrepentant and stubborn sinners, they must then be reconciled to God in the same way an elect creature would be the object of the exact same kind of love and mercy. If God's love and mercy are literally boundless, and his desire to save obstinate unrepentant sinners is unrelenting, this leaves God with no lack of intent to save these very sinners with his full range of divine mercy."
  1. "If God has the intention to save someone he will indeed save that someone (desire, will and intention: Ezekiel 33:11; power, ability, sovereignty and accomplishment: John 6:35-40)
  2. But God has the intention to save everyone (John 3:16-17)
  3. Therefore God will indeed save everyone. (see section on Biblical Proof for Universal Reconciliation)
  4. Conclussion: Universalism is true"
"My view is that God's intention to save someone means that it will be done. If God intends something we are talking about a guaranteed outcome."
"In conclusion, then there is no question. God has the desire, the power and the will and intention to save all people, everywhere. And so our omnipotent sovereign savior without questionwill.
"

Let's take a look first of all at John 3:16-17.

"16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

In John 3:16, What you have is a continuous present tense, which means to go on doing something. It means to GO ON believing in Jesus. The text itself makes it clear obviously that only those who trust in Jesus will be saved and those who don't will be destroyed. However, the text in context can't be misconstrued into some form of universalist claim of Jesus saving people from hell post mortem. Jesus (Or John because it is debated as to whether Jesus said John 3:16 or John is making a comment) do not either implicitly or explicitly make the claim that the possibility of being born again extends beyond the grave.

Now for John 6:
"35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”"

To argue that this text also opens the door to universalism is utterly absurd. Putting aside the John 6 debate, Is Jesus' statement pertaining to this life or beyond the grave or both? Well though he mentions the resurrection of the dead, it is not trying to imply that somehow there is a universalistic form of salvation, one that occurs after death. Out of context, one could shoehorn in such words into Jesus' mouth, but elsewhere through out the Gospel, he gives no hint of a second chance after death, even implicitly. The context of John 6 does nothing to prove universalism, it only would serve demonstrating that the key to eternal life is believing in the Son NOW and not after your death occurs. One cannot assume universalism is taught here.

Now for Ezekiel 33:11:
"11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’"

This is not a proof text for universalism, this is an exhortation to the Israelites to turn from their evil ways and saying Jesus will save someone post mortem is nothing more than a cop out, so no one should dare try to go that route. Ezekiel in the context of the passage is functioning as a watchman for the people.

"33 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.

10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of[b] them. How then can we live?”’"

God is responding to what the Israelites were claiming in the context of the passage, they were claiming essentially that there was no hope for them and no chance for redemption, But God puts them in their place and is getting them to realize that they are not beyond salvation and that they can repent toward him. He goes on to say this:

"12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’ 13 If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. 14 And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— 15 if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. 16 None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.

17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. 18 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. 19 And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. 20 Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”"

The Israelites are also accusing God of being unjust to which God turns the objection against them and points out that they are being unjust themselves, not him.

I need not repeat my comments about the fact that God is under no obligation to save anyone so I'll just link to the previous paper:
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/universalism-is-damnable-heresy.html

See also my previous article on the Biblical texts often cited by Universalists, for more information: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/universalism-ancient-heresy.html

Answering Judaism.

Friday, 4 March 2016

Universalism IS a damnable heresy: Response to Answering Abraham

I had left this article for a while but now came back to it.

Whether or not this is is multipart I don't know, but this will respond to Answering Abraham in an article he wrote which can be found here: http://answeringabraham.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/is-universalism-damnable-heresy.html

"Bobo aka the owner of the "Answering Judaism" blog, has persistently attempted to undermine my Exclusivitic/Inclusivitic (but non-pluralistic) Biblical Trinitarian Universalist position since the publishing of an older post of mine defending the position as a possible Christian Trinitarian view (1). Bobo does not appear to be happy with my debate on the subject which can be found on his YouTube Channel (2) but also available on my Blog/YouTube Channel (3), (thanks Bobo). In this post, I will not be addressing the Patristic or Ecclesiastical resources, definitions or proclamations but strictly speaking from my perspective of the Bible along with sound reasoning as is so common in our post-modern society. "

As I have said in the past, I don't care who won the debate or not, I honestly don't care. But enough of that.

"Throughout his blog he has published multiple posts responding to me and addressing Universalism in general. In this post I would like to address his latest in a series of these types of posts. (4,5,6). But I will start off addressing an older comment in our debate commentary exchange (7). 

Bobo asserts the following: 


"No, Calvinism isn't on trial and never has been in our conversation, not the article I wrote, Universalism is on trial. You are the one who months ago wrote an article on it and I refuse to repeat what I have told you about my criterion since you refuse to take it on boardYou are misusing and abusing my criterionConsistency is important, I am not going to dispute that. Again, your argument is akin to someone saying that if the Trinity is true, Roman Catholicism must also be true, It's an absurd argument."

Bobo alleges I abuse and misuse his criterion, even candidly reject it, however is this true? 

In a comment made from the same post Bobo asserts:

"If Universalism is true, Then we can happily embrace it and those who teach such, but if it can be shown that Universalism is in fact false and that the scriptures teach to the contrary, then those who teach it are teaching a doctrine of demons and those who believe in the heresy of universalism need to repent and shun it."

I responded:


"The ONLY CRITERION Bobo specifies is that something is in fact false if it is contrary to ScriptureTHEN it's demonic. Well, Bobo, is Calvinism contrary to Scripture or not? According to Bobo it is, hence it's a doctrine of demons."

Again (as I previously stated), Bobo makes his criterion clear:


"Addendum: If Universalism CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE, IT IS FALSE, period, ERGO,condemned as FALSE TEACHING and A FALSE GOSPEL."

As I pointed out:


"Does limited atonement contradict the Scriptures or not? Does unconditional election contradict the Scriptures or not?"

And:


"In context you are referring to Universalism, however I am extracting the criterion you use to judge Universalism. The very standard you use to reckon Universalism as a demonic-non-Christian heresy. The only criterion you give to show that universalism is unbiblical was that it is a doctrine contrary to scripture and/or that it contradicts Scripture. However this is as equally as applicable to Calvinism since according to you Calvinism is contrary to the Scripture, yet you say one is a heresy but not the other. It's time to be consistent"
"

We'll get to the Calvinism briefly in a minute and WHY it was brought up in the first place.

"Now Bobo thinks he has an answer to this by asserting that one is a "disputable matter of faith" and one is not. However, that is not (I repeat not) what I can infer from Bobo's comments about his criterion to determine what constitutes heresy. 

Heresy according to Bobo is anything (or something, meaning "a doctrine") which contradictsand/or is contrary to Scripture, and Calvinism fulfills this criterion since it is not taught in the Scripture according to Bobo. If Bobo wishes to make an exception for Calvinism, then he must provide a definition of heresy that would logically exclude Calvinism from meeting the very parameters of heresy, so far I have nothing, squat to work with. We cannot beg the question. That is; make a logical fallacy and assume both doctrines are disputable (or non-disputable) matters of faith without sound justification, as this would violate consistency, and according to Bobo: "Consistency is important, I am not going to dispute that". 

If anything that opposes or is contrary to Scripture is heresy (and Bobo clarifies he uses this word as "damnable" heresy) then Calvinism must fit into this category. So what Bobo has to do, is to argue: "Anything that opposes or is contrary to Scripture is heresy unless it isCalvinism". Now without begging the question: why should anyone make an exception for Calvinism but not Universalism? They are both unbiblical according to Bobo, they are bothcontrary and contradictory to Scripture. Ah but one is allegedly "disputable" while one isn't. Yet how do we know this without assuming our conclusion instead of arguing for it? "

The reason I brought up Calvinism in the first place was because you had brought it up first:

"Further more Bobo has never specified whether Universalism is a damnable heresy (putting one outside the faith) or whether it is merely a heresy in the sense of religious error. Now since Bobo thinks Calvinism is heresy in the latter sense (as in it's not biblical and contains some error), but not the former sense (damnable doctrine). But if he thinks Universalism is not a damnable heresy then why is he now calling me to repent, but not Keith Thompson? And why hasn't Bobo explained any of this to me if he is calling me to repent? "

To which I said:
"Calvinism and Arminianism are not a salvation issue. I don't use the word heresy lightly, I NEVER even use the word when referring to a non damnable error. Despite disagreements with Keith, I don't believe it is heresy. Keith is my brother in Christ despite our differences. Calvinism and Arminianism are not an issue of salvation. Universalism on the other hand, IS an issue of salvation and one who holds to it is outside the faith."

So you were the one who brought Calvinism to the table. Again, the criterion you "extract" from me, Doesn't apply to a disputable matter. Calvinism isn't part of the debate, it's Universalism that is on trial as I have mentioned earlier.

"Finally I must point out his representation of my argument is nothing other than a strawman, since it does not represent the reality of what I propose. I do not argue that if the Trinity is true, Universalism must also be true. No I argue if Arminianism is true, Calvinism (and Universalism) are both false, and therefore both can be defined as heresies.   "

No, I said was that your argument was AKIN to Saying the Trinity is true, therefore Roman Catholicism is true.

You said:

"Again, no one questions you were referring to if Universalism contradicts Scripture then it results in condemnation. Yet Bobo's double standards are glaring, if Calvinism contradicts Scripture it does not result in condemnation, yet if Universalism contradicts Scripture it does result in condemnation? Based on what? Where did you get this from? Stop saying that a doctrine contradicting Scripture is your criterion to determine heresy, because it's not! If Universalism contradicts the Bible clearly that does not make it a heresy, since you can't say the same about Calvinism, you need to find consistent standards. Does Calvinism contradict Scripture or not? If so it results in condemnation and you should be calling Keith Thompson to repent. Simply asserting one is a disputable matter of faith and one is not is begging the question. But not only do you relentlessly beg the question, you fail to address the positive case from Matt Slick."

And I said:

"I am just going to say this, Calvinism and Arminianism are not on trial, Universalism is on trial, not them. Your argument is like if someone tried to argue "Since the Trinity is true, You must accept Roman Catholicism as true". I can safely say that the Trinity is true and Roman Catholicism isn't. The same applies to Universalism, I can reject that without rejecting Calvinism. Once again, my statement in context is not applicable to disputable matters"

I never said YOU argued that the Trinity is true, therefore Universalism is true, I said your argument was akin to the argument I mentioned.

"However recently in my assessment, Bobo has finally come up with something that at leastattempts to give an explanation for the previous dilemma in his most recent posts. He tries to explain why Arminianism can still be true, whilst Calvinism is not heresy, but Universalism is. Confusing? That's because it is.   

Bobo makes the following points:
  1. Genuine Calvinism carries out evangelism
  2. Genuine Calvinism teaches evangelism is a divine mandate 
  3. Genuine Calvinism asserts a regenerated person must hear the Gospel 
  4. Genuine Calvinism teaches holiness, 
  5. Genuine Calvinism teaches repentance from idolatry and sin
  6. Genuine Calvinism has concern for lost souls/fallen men and desires repentance
  7. Genuine Calvinism believes sin itself cuts you off from having a relationship with God
  8. Genuine Calvinism says sin as a serious problem that needs to be rectified.
Bobo has therefore construed a possible criterion for what is to be deemed heretical versus adisputable matter of faith. Allegedly because Universalism fails to successfullyachieve these conditions (albeit unintentionally for the most part) or affirm these propositions in the correct manner as expressed by God, then it must fall into the domain of heresy, where as Arminianism and Calvinism successfuly achieve these conditions (and affirm them as revelatory propositions) and therefore the differences between these last two can be considered merely disputable

Bobo makes other interesting objections towards Universalism (which I will address later on, Lord Willing), but first I will address his objections to how Universalism fails to carry out these 8 bullet points. 

Now i'm not exactly sure how many of these propositions Bobo is expressing Universalism manages to fail to conceptually assert or appropriately (successfully) execute. Possibly he thinks Universalism at-least asserts these ideas in words but not in practice (given the Universalist framework). But I suspect ultimately Universalists fail to "achieve" all of them (possibly excluding 3 and/or 6). I will now therefore go ahead and quote his prime objections. "

Regardless of whether or not a universalist preaches those things, they still are condemned for affirming a post mortem salvation position, the idea that there is a an allowance for repentance after death*. Even if the Universalist fulfills the criteria, they still fall short.

"He says:
  
"Universalists cannot consistently preach holiness and evangelism despite that claim. Whether or not a universalist believes that all paths lead to God or they believe that hell is a cleansing process that purifies a person so they can go to heaven, they are not presenting a true Gospel at all and they are presenting a Gospel that essentially says to the person "You can believe in idolatry and live in sin and still be saved" (not the Universalists intention but that is a conclusion the unbeliever could draw) "

Firstly, I'm not exactly sure how what an unbeliever thinks about or construes a doctrine is pertinent to how the Bible defines heresy or what constitutes heresy. For example many Muslims relentlessly misconstrue the doctrine of the Trinity, that does not mean Trinitarians are affirming tri-theism or modalism (a common false dichotomy). Origen made it clear that Universalism was not for laity either (meaning non-believers or babes), but rather for when a babe in Christ becomes spiritually mature over-time and realizes the profound deeper spiritual mysteries and insight contained within Scripture. Hence "Universalism" is not part and parcelwith the Gospel according to our view, it's not a necessary Christian belief. Bobo himself concedes this is not what we are advocating conceptually (perhaps excluding the pluralist), so we certainly can't be advocating explicit heresy in this way. This leaves us with a kind offunctional discrepancy, Universalists say one thing but the practical implications cannot be achieved due to an overall insufficient framework. Some responses are in order."

The problem is, the point I made is what the unbeliever could draw when the Universalist is in the evangelising field, A Muslim misunderstanding of the Trinity isn't really the same as an unbeliever's conclusions on Universalism and sin, because the reason the Muslims misconstrue the Trinity is due of the Quran and the fact that Muhammad was ignorant of said doctrine.

It is commonly said by many unbelievers that Christianity as a whole teaches you can live in sin and still be saved and while this can be clarified to the individual, a Universalist (unitentionally) leaves ammunition for the unbeliever to grasp. It's a doctrine that can be abused.

"I am not personally convinced that heresy is about sinners failing to adhere to and/or practice doctrines. Rather heresy is about doctrinal error. Meaning certain conceptual formulae and propositions must be affirmed or negated by Orthodox Creeds that are Biblically sound. This would mean even if Bobo is correct and we fail in this regard, we would still not be affirming heresy. "

And this let's Universalists of the hook, Why?

"Additionally I think there are Universalists who repent, reject idolatry and accept salvation and affirm these are necessary conditions for entry into God's kingdom. Remember there are many Universalists who accept free will, so these Universalists would understand that belief and repentance are two perpetual and necessary conditions, but they would also extend those conditions to the sinners in the after-life. There are also Universalists who accept E.S. or Calvinistic type positions and so they would accept the doctrine of Lordship-Salvation, that by "faith alone" a proposition according to them including both "belief and repentance" meaning Jesus is Savior (the God-man who died for and paid for our sins and rose again!) and Lord (we must submit to him as Lord of our entire life via the power of the Holy Spirit and regeneration). So how would any of these Arminian/Calvinist type Universalists who affirm and practice repentance be considered heretics?"

By teaching that all are saved through Jesus Christ in the sense of allowing for post mortem salvation, they are preaching heresy regardless of their affirmation of repentance, regardless of if they shift more toward a Calvinist or Arminian soteriology.

The Calvinist and the Arminian soteriology agree that after death, there is no second chance, The Universalist soteriology however hold to second chance after death, something that Jesus and the apostles never held to.

Answering Abraham links to a video of Kent Hovind which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=403&v=GbxbxSciuV8*2

The reason why it was linked to, We'll see here below.

"This also raises another question for Bobo. If a Christian accepts the Free Grace doctrine, often called by it's detractors "hyper-Grace" (this position advocates "once saved always saved" meaning: no matter how much idolatry/sin is committed by a person who had received Christ (they) remain saved by the initial confession of belief. However "repentance" is viewed as an altogether different matter. Meaning a Christian can be faithful/repentant or an unrepentant sinner, e.g. Solomon but still remain in God's family despite deviation). Now as an example of this, I will present to Bobo, Kent Hovind's critique of Ray Comfort. Ray appears to be an Arminian who appears to advocate a doctrine almost identical with "Lordship-Salvation", meaning faith and repentance are both viewed as prerequisites for salvation. The Arminian/Calvinist view appear to be very similar in this regard hence the over-lap of the term "Lordship-Salvation" with an Arminian (this is however, formally/technically though a Calvinist conception).

Now would Bobo say that Kent Hovind is an explicit heretic since he seems to suggest Christians can practice idolatry and live in sin and yet still be saved because of a one time salfivic confession that made them recipients of eternal life? Obviously what Hovind is proposing is incompatible with Arminianism and Calvinism, but is it truly damnable heresy to believe that Christ's righteousness is not only imputed to us (justification) but also his righteousness is our very possession and sanctification. That is that we cannot vindicate our salvation through our own sanctification since our own deeds are filthy rags, where as Christ's sanctification is pure and perfect. 

Now personally I don't think Kent is a heretic, I think he has a different conceptual framework of the Bible. But my question for Bobo would be this. If a Universalist condemned and explicitly rejected Kent's "free ticket to sinning and still enter paradise", would Bobo then denounce that Universalist or admit that the Universalist rejects heresy and therefore could potentially be saved? And how is the explicit Universalist proposition "all men will be reconciled to God in Christ" necessarily advocating free-license to sin like Hovind's view is?"

Regarding a brief comment regarding Lordship Salvation, Lordship Salvation is NOT saying you are saved by works. It recognizes that a Christian is under the Lordship of Christ once he or she has been taken under his wing. I would recommend reading this particular article on the subject: http://www.gty.org.uk/resources/articles/A114/an-introduction-to-lordship-salvation?Term=lordship%20salvation

If Hovind was saying someone backslides and repents, that is one thing, but if he said that someone can persistently live in sin and enter paradise with no repentance, then what he is saying is a problem and is skewed and heretical. Comfort's position isn't works salvation and when most use the term "Lordship Salvation", its often skewed into something derogatory, which isn't the intention of the doctrine.

If a Universalist condemned what Hovind was saying (assuming Hovind advocates a repentanceless gospel), that is commendable. However, a post mortem salvation leaves the door open unintentionally for the unbeliever to pursue their sins. A post mortem salvation is not even considered to be an option by the Bible to begin with.

"Bobo's next objection is:

"Universalism does NOT seem to take into consideration how righteousness will impact our relationship with God. Sin itself cuts man off from salvation and the severity of sin is there."

I think all positions would affirm this view including the Universalist (even the extreme hyper-Grace adherents would accept this). Basically righteousness would effect our relationship with God, he wouldn't be pleased with us, but according to the O.S.A.S "Hovindian" (coined ~ MB) view this wouldn't mean we have not been adopted into God's family, because our deeds don't determine the adoption into God's kingdom, rather Christ's righteousness does and our historical confession and belief in his finished work on the cross. According to this view this is a one time transaction for all time. signed, contracted with the deal being sealed. We can be bad kids or good kids, but we are still God's kids according to Hovind (and many other evangelicals who accept the "Free-Grace" view).

The Universalists however would have a broader spectrum than that of Hovind. Universalists usually take the Arminian/Calvinist stance that indeed righteousness does separate us from God, which is why it is necessary that God sends Christ and we conform to his image. Nothing within Universalism necessarily entails a hyper-grace view because regeneration and repentance are fundamentals of the Gospel accepted by Universalists."

It's all well and good to point out we are not saved by works, I don't think that needs to be disputed. But here is the thing, How long is that chance for redemption given? Does the chance of repentance only exist while we are alive, or does it include it being extended into the afterlife?

"Bobo also says:

"Universalism doesn't provide that in this life, it doesn't provide hope or liberation of sin, it unintentionally encourages it. Notice I said unintentionally, because there are Universalists that teach repentance from sin, though even then that is rather inconsistent to hold to."

I'm not really aware (given the above analysis) that Universalists would under-rate sin in the sense that Bobo wants to attribute to them. I don't really know of Universalists who accept the Free-Grace view (perhaps other than the pluralists, who think all roads lead to rome). Hence the implication then is that Universalists not only preach repentance from sin but also continual fellowship and communion with God and sanctification by God's Holy Spirit. This would not necessarily be inconsistent, because I don't think Trinitarian Universalists think you just get a free ticket/pass to paradise. Rather even those disbelievers (on earth) and even in the after-life, must repent from sin and believe on the Lord Jesus to be recipients of God's salvation.

Bobo also brings to our attention some other Universalist related issues. Firstly I will comment on the use of "eternal" in time Lord willing, so I will skip that for now (I need to read the articles cited by Bobo)."

Fair enough, a Universalist would teach holiness and repentance, The point is, they cannot CONSISTENTLY preach those things. Plus, there is no evidence from scripture to suggest that those who are dead will be able to receive Jesus and repent of their sins after their death. Once dead, it is a done deal. I won't go into detail here as I have written elsewhere on this:
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/universalism-ancient-heresy.html

"But regarding these questions:


"Does a denial of Universalism mean that God is weak and powerless? No. As I have said previously, He could save all if he so choosebut the question is, Why should he?"

I think I answered this question sufficiently in my original post that began this entire controversy. I will provide several citations:

"But just how does a sovereign omnipotent savior who intends to save every lost soul fail to accomplish just that which he sets out to do? That is to save every last and lost soul? I will let the libertarian explain that one."
"But then why would Christ die for the whole world if God did not intend to save everyone? This might as-well be a rhetorical question, which means the answer is indisputable. The answer is clear. Christ intends to save everyone, the most magnificent omni-benevolent God we could possibly conceive of actually exists. Christ loves everyone equally as his own and God shows no partiality between any lost sinner."
"
Does man deserve salvation? No, The only reason salvation is offered to the human race to begin with is due to grace. God is under NO obligation to save anyone. The sending of his Son Jesus is a demonstration of his love. Even though God has the capacity to save everyone, that doesn't automatically entail that he will bring about universal salvation, because he is not bound to do that. Furthermore, every sinner deserves eternal (not merely a lengthy time of purification) conscious hell, something that is overlooked by the Universalist camp.

"
"If out of God's boundless love mercy flows to the most unrepentant and stubborn sinners, they must then be reconciled to God in the same way an elect creature would be the object of the exact same kind of love and mercy. If God's love and mercy are literally boundless, and his desire to save obstinate unrepentant sinners is unrelenting, this leaves God with no lack of intent to save these very sinners with his full range of divine mercy."
  1. "If God has the intention to save someone he will indeed save that someone (desire, will and intention: Ezekiel 33:11; power, ability, sovereignty and accomplishment: John 6:35-40)
  2. But God has the intention to save everyone (John 3:16-17)
  3. Therefore God will indeed save everyone. (see section on Biblical Proof for Universal Reconciliation)
  4. Conclussion: Universalism is true"
"My view is that God's intention to save someone means that it will be done. If God intends something we are talking about a guaranteed outcome."
"In conclusion, then there is no question. God has the desire, the power and the will and intention to save all people, everywhere. And so our omnipotent sovereign savior without questionwill."
"

Again, the capacity to save someone doesn't mean one will necessarily exercise it. If the Lord wills I may look at these 4 points individually.

"To add to this splendid view, Universalism is most consistent with a God-centered theology, one of the most magnificent possible conceptions of God that could conceivably exist: 

"Christianity today is man-centered, not God-centered. God is made to wait patiently, even respectfully, on the whims of men. The image of God currently popular is that of a distracted Father, struggling in heartbroken desperation to get people to accept a Savior of whom they feel no need and in whom they have very little interest.

To persuade these self-sufficient souls to respond to His generous offers God will do almost anything, even using salesmanship methods and talking down to them in the chummiest way imaginable. This view of things is, of course, a kind of religious romanticism which, while it often uses flattering and sometimes embarrassing terms in praise of God, manages nevertheless to make man the star of the show." - A. W. Tozer Man: The Dwelling Place of God, P 27

To God belongs salvation, and hence he is sovereign over all souls. "

I am pretty sure A W Tozer will not accept any Universalist view, even Dk's own view, but I digress. Again, God is under NO obligation to bring salvation to people. Whether he does or not is his prerogative.

"Finally Bobo raises another interesting point:

"Can heresy be condemned? Despite the varying views of universalism, they all have the consistent point that all will eventually be saved, whether a person is saved after death via Jesus Christ or believe all paths lead to God, How can they contest doctrines to be false? There is a level of inconsistency here that is often not taken into consideration. A charge of heresy cannot be made from their tongues consistently and it baffles me if and when someone in the universalist camp does that. How does it even work? A question to the Universalists, Why do you believe non-universalists are wrong when in the end it doesn't matter? Or does it matter?"

Bobo proposes a really interesting thought experiment, if everyone turns out to be saved, that is to inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God and his Christ, then why does anything matter? We are all going to reach eternal salvation in God's kingdom, so nothing we do here matters in the end. And on what basis can a Universalist declare someone or some position to be heretical? I suppose my answer to this is similar to what I stated in my original post:

"If Christian Universalism is true: why be a Christian? 
The first part almost answers itself. If Universalism is true, and you whom possess a truth seeking and truth bearing property have no choice but to value and desire truth (the contrary is impossible), then you will participate in the truth and be a Christian UniversalistThis reason alone is sufficient but what are some other factors? If Christian Universalism is true, then the Triune God created you to be loved by him with his image bearing property inferred on you to love others, to love your Creator and seek and desire God’s love, this nature you possess then is inescapable and only fulfilled by the Triune Lord of the CreationYour spiritual and emotional needs would be best met in full abundance by your CreatorThe unique Christian Triune God exists and no other uncreated Creator existshence all other religions are incomplete, inadequate or incompatible with reality, aka: false.
"

If anyone is a seeker of truth and is convinced of it, They will not become a Universalist of any sort. Still, all other religions are false and there isn't much to say about that particular point. It was God's intention in the garden of Eden for man to be in fellowship with him forever. Sin broke that intimate
relationship with God and it needed to be dealt with and restored. Not even sure how the entire statement above by Dk even forces people to a Universalist position, it doesn't. The entire statement could be used by anyone who calls themselves Christians.
"
But if there is no eternal hell fire, or eternal hell in any other sense, then why be a Christian? Why not sin and live like a hedonist?

Other than the above reasons that apply to the same question I would like to add some additions. I believe there is an immediate and fundamental compulsory obligation and requirement on all humanity to return and reconcile with God. Sinners must repent, all humans are required to repent. If you do not repent you are already condemned. If you are already condemned you are leading yourself to hell, you only perpetuate your own suffering by persistently rejecting God. In short: sin and death lead to suffering (and separation from God - MB), suffering leads to anger and misery, sadness, depression, the depravity existence without being alive. (partaking of God's full divine abundance of living being - MB)"

Unfortunately this doesn't come close to adequately giving a comprehensive answer to this question, but it's a start. I will have to do justice at a later date, Lord willing. In conclusion, while I am perhaps not as certain of Universalism as Bobo may perhaps be of Arminianism, or Keith Thompson is of Calvinism, I do find it to be within the realm of Christian Orthodoxy. This means it is not a belief that makes me or any other Universalist a formal heretic. And in this way I agree with Sam Shamoun, Jai Habor, Vladimir Susic, Dr Chris Claus, Matt Slick and Jose Joesph (CTW24) who also see no apparent explicit discrepancy between fundamentals, (the Trinity, Hypo-Static Union, Gospel) and some Christian forms of Universalism. 

All glory to our God and Father, his Logos and his Ruach Ha Kodesh"

If one is dead, They don't have the option to repent or fall away. A death seals you into either everlasting life or everlasting contempt. People in hell will be all the things mentioned above, anger, sadness, depression etc, all of which is their attitude due to their rejection of God and failure to accept him while they had the chance.

There is no second chance after death, that's purely wishful thinking. Sinners only get this life to repent, the Bible does not give credence to any post mortem salvation.

I see no reason biblically or even from Church Fathers, to even take Universalism as a viable apostolic teaching.

Also, I could point out as well that there are others who see Universalism as false teaching, such would include Jacob Prasch, David Pawson, John MacArthur, Paul Washer etc. I sincerely hope they would share my perspective. Even if they knew of Dk's form of Universalism, they would see it as something that is incompatible with Biblical Christianity.

What does saying "I agree with such and such who also see no apparent explicit discrepancy between fundementals and some forms of Universalism" prove?

Answering Judaism.

*8th of March 2016, I meant to say repentance after death in that sentence.

*2 19th of June 2016. I came across a comment in the video Dk man used. Believe it or not, it's actually a comment from one of the people who works with Ray Comfort at Living Waters. This is what the fellow in question says regarding the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbxbxSciuV8.

This should be an interesting piece of info for you guys to look at.

Monday, 29 February 2016

The Abomination of Desolation: A response to Walid Shoebat 6

More to look at.

"From the beginning of the Book of Ezekiel in chapter one, we read of the same theme regarding the four creatures and the chariot resembling the Holy Spirit. We ought not to ignore that “When the Living Creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the Living Creatures were lifted up …” Ezekiel even explains it “Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the Spirit went; …” (Ez. 1:15-20)
This is exactly what Christ spoke of the Holy Spirit describing Him as the wind: “where the wind blows”. This “storm wind,” is the same fiery wind is brought to the shore – namely to the great day of the Lord, the whirlwind which will segregate sheep from goats, just as it was in the day of the Pentecost, as the whirlwind blew, it granted the Church the Spirit of discernment, not to condemn the wicked outside it, but to spiritually judge those inside it. Such wind is what Christ spoke of “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). It is no wonder why in the Semitic language “wind” and “spirit” sound the same: Ruah (Hebrew) Riyah/Rouh (Arabic)."

This particular point I would need to look into before a comment can be made.


"Ezekiel even ends his book by a description of the coming temple that came as a symbolic image of the heavenly temple or the higher Jerusalem, similar to the way it came in the book of Revelation.
If this is a literal temple, then this “fiery chariot” and “wheels” is a literal UFO, and the “four living creatures” are actual man, ox, eagle and lion. Why not also insist on the construction of wheels the color of Beryl, and all four must be the same likeness were a wheel must be in the middle of a wheel with rims were full of eyes and when the Living Creatures were lifted up from the earth, the man, ox, eagle and lion, that the wheels are also lifted up?
It was Christ, not some temple institute, who builds Ezekiel’s temple: “He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in His hand, and He stood in the gateway” (Ez 40:3) and in John’s Revelations “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace” (Rev 1:15) standing in the gateway, proclaims that there is no entry into that holy city except by Him; as He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He cries out: “I am the Door, if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). “There is no salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12)."

Two different passages, you don't have to interpret a literal chariot, wheels or creatures and come up with a literal temple. My take on the temple being built, I don't think it would be built by an institution, who it is built by I don't know, all I can say is, it has no backing from the Anti-Christ and will be defiled by Anti-Christ and then cleansed by Jesus Christ, used later in the Millenial reign. Regardless of who builds it, the claim of a literal temple stands.

"This temple has three gates which symbolize the Trinity, the main gate, entrance facing east (Christ) as it is the one leading to the sanctuary and the Holy of the Holies. The other two, one facing north and another facing south; with the same measurements like the one facing east; all three are equal. Ezekiel’s book symbolize the Holy Trinity; Father (His throne), Son, and the Holy Spirit. God’s throne is described in metaphor: “And above the firmament over their heads, was the likeness of a throne …” (we ought to start at chapter 1 and not 40) to end in His heavenly temple and tabernacle. This is the holy city – the higher Jerusalem, man finally uniting with God the Father in His Son through His Holy Spirit. These gates are twelve and are the same twelve gates of the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21:13) even in Matthew “Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 8:11).
This settles this whole issue, especially when we connect the consecration of the altar, a daily sacrifice should be offered for 7 days (Ez 43:25) just as Malachi prophesied “from the rising of the sun to its setting”. This is what apostolic-succession churches do where communion is offered as a “sacrifice” daily."

While I defend the Trinity as biblical and I think many should defend it as such, it is a stretch to say that the temple symbolizes the Trinity. Furthermore, communion is not what Ezekiel had in mind in Ezekiel 43:25:

"25 “For seven days you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect. 26 For seven days they are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; thus they will dedicate it. 27 At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord.”"

This refers to what it says, burnt offerings, sin offerings etc, there is nothing about communion or the Eucharist even foretold. Since Jesus comes and there will be a 1000* year reign, communion will no longer be practiced, not because Anti-Christ removes it, but because we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). See this previous paper regarding Communion and the grain offering: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/the-abomination-of-desolation-response.html

Answering Judaism.
*24th of July 2024. Mistakenly said 100 year not 1000.