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angelapardie

Embarking on the Path of Belief in God | Eastern Lightning - 1 views

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started by angelapardie on 01 Jul 18 no follow-up yet
J. B.

God Is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School Is Still True: A Review of "Lov... - 0 views

thegospelcoalition.org/...rob-bell-love-wins-review

Hell Universalism Rob Bell Love Wins

shared by J. B. on 14 Mar 11 - Cached
  • Bell asks a lot of questions (350 by one count), we should not write off the provocative theology as mere question-raising. Bell did not write an entire book because he was looking for some good resources on heaven and hell.
  • As Bell himself writes, “But this isn’t a book of questions. It’s a book of responses to these questions” (19).
  • Bad theology usually sneaks in under the guise of familiar language.
  • ...24 more annotations...
  • Judgmentalism is not the same as making judgments. The same Jesus who said “do not judge” in Matthew 7:1 calls his opponents dogs and pigs in Matthew 7:6. Paul pronounces an anathema on those who preach a false gospel (Gal. 1:8). Disagreement among professing Christians is not a plague on the church. In fact, it is sometimes necessary.
  • This is a book for people like Bell, people who grew up in an evangelical environment and don’t want to leave it completely, but want to change it, grow up out of it, and transcend it. The emerging church is not an evangelistic strategy. It is the last rung for evangelicals falling off the ladder into liberalism or unbelief. Over and over, Bell refers to the “staggering number” of people just like him, people who can’t believe the message they used to believe, people who want nothing to do with traditional Christianity, people who don’t want to leave the faith but can’t live in the faith they once embraced.
  • Others—and they are in the worse position—will opt for liberalism, which has always seen itself as a halfway house between conservative orthodoxy and secular disbelief.
  • This is misguided, toxic, and ultimately subverts
    • J. B.
      J. B. on 14 Mar 11
       
      Clearly Bell thinks this must be a very important issue. If Bell is right, then the vast majority of Christians throughout Christian history have been teaching a misguided, toxic, and subverting gospel.... in effect, it looks like we are teaching a different gospel altogether.
  • It’s a cheap view of the world because it’s a cheap view of God. It’s a shriveled imagination
  • This bold claim flies in the face of Richard Bauckham’s historical survey: Until the nineteenth century almost all Christian theologians taught the reality of eternal torment in hell. Here and there, outside the theological mainstream, were some who believed that the wicked would be finally annihilated. . . . Even fewer were the advocates of universal salvation, though these few included some major theologians of the early church. Eternal punishment was firmly asserted in official creeds and confessions of the churches. It must have seemed as indispensable a part of the universal Christian belief as the doctrines of the Trinity and the incarnation. (“Universalism: A Historical Survey,” Themelios 4.2 [September 1978]: 47–54)
  • Universalism has been around a long time. But so has every other heresy. Arius rejected the full deity of Christ and many people followed him. This hardly makes Arianism part of the wide, diverse stream of Christian orthodoxy. Every point of Christian doctrine has been contested, but some have been deemed heterodox. Universalism, traditionally, was considered one of those points. True, many recent liberal theologians have argued for versions of universalism—and this is where Bell stands, not in the center of the historic Christian tradition.
  • Universalism (though in a different form than Bell’s and for different reasons) has been present in the church since Origen, but it was never in the center of the tradition.
  • some of these are promises to God’s people, some are general promises about the nations coming to God, and others are about the universal acknowledgement (not to be equated with saving faith) on the last day that Jesus Christ is Lord. Not one of his texts supports his conclusion.
  • Even a cursory glance at John 14 shows that the through in verse 16 refers to faith. The chapter begins by saying, “Believe in God; believe also in me.” Verse seven talks about knowing the Father. Verse nine and ten explain that we see and know the Father by believing that Jesus is in the Father and the Father in him. Verses 11 and 12 touch on belief yet again. Coming to the Father through Christ means through faith in Christ. This is in keeping with the overall purpose of John’s gospel (John 20:31).
  • Bell cites Jesus’ words in John 3:17 that he “did not come to judge the world but to save it” (160). This Jesus, Bell says, is a “vast, expansive, generous mystery” leading us to conclude hopefully that “Heaven is, after all, full of surprises.” Bell’s lean into universalism here would be significantly muted had he gone on to Jesus’ words in verse 18: “Whoever believes in him [i.e., the Son] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Likewise, according to John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
  • The Greek word for “unite” is a long one: anakephalaiōsasthai. It means to sum up, to bring together to a main point, to gather together. It is like an author finishing the last chapter of his book or a conductor bringing the symphony from cacophony to harmony. It’s a glorious promise, already begun in some ways by the word of Christ.
  • The uniting of all things does not entail the salvation of all people. It means that everything in the universe, heaven and earth, the spiritual world and the physical world, will finally submit to the lordship of Christ, some in joyful worship of their beloved Savior and others in just punishment for their wretched treason. In the end, God wins.
  • If you don’t accept God’s story about the world and resist his love, heaven will be hell for you, a hell you create for yourself. We are supposed to see this in Luke 15 where both brothers are invited to the same feast but one can’t enjoy it. Heaven and hell at the same party (176).
  • The result is a simplistic formula: “God wants all people to be saved. God gets what he wants. Therefore, all people will eventually be saved.” This is a case of poor theologizing beholden to mistaken logic. If it is “the will of God” that Christians “abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thess. 4:3), does that mean God’s greatness is diminished by our impurity?
  • If he’s right, most of church history has been wrong. If he’s wrong, a staggering number of people are hearing “peace, peace” where there is no peace.
  • Bell figures God won’t say “sorry, too late” to those in hell who are humble and broken for their sins. But where does the Bible teach the damned are truly humble or penitent? For that matter, where does the Bible talk about growing and maturing in the afterlife or getting a second chance after death? Why does the Bible make such a big deal about repenting “today” (Heb. 3:13), about being found blameless on the day of Christ (2 Pet. 3:14), about not neglecting such a great salvation (Heb. 2:3) if we have all sorts of time to figure things out in the next life? Why warn about not inheriting the kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9–10), about what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31), or about the vengeance of our coming King (2 Thess. 1:5–12) if hell is just what we make of heaven? Bell does nothing to answer these questions, or even ask them in the first place.
  • Some Jesuses should be rejected, Bell says, like the ones that are “anti-science” and “anti-gay” and use bullhorns on the street (8). But wherever we find “grace, peace, love, acceptance, healing, forgiveness” we’ve found the creative life source that we call Jesus (156, 159).
  • At the very heart of this controversy, and one of the reasons the blogosphere exploded over this book, is that we really do have two different Gods. The stakes are that high. If Bell is right, then historic orthodoxy is toxic and terrible. But if the traditional view of heaven and hell are right, Bell is blaspheming. I do not use the word lightly, just like Bell probably chose “toxic” quite deliberately. Both sides cannot be right. As much as some voices in evangelicalism will suggest that we should all get along and learn from each other and listen for the Spirit speaking in our midst, the fact is we have two irreconcilable views of God.
  • Bell’s god may be all love, but it is a love rooted in our modern Western sensibilities more than careful biblical reflection. It is a love that threatens to swallow up God’s glory and holiness. But, you may reply, the Bible says God is love (1 John 4:16). True, but if you want to weigh divine attributes by sentence construction, you have to mention God is spirit (John 4:24), God is light (1 John 1:5), and God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29). The verb “is” does not establish a priority of attributes. If anything, one might mention that the only thrice-repeated attribute is “holy, holy, holy.” And yet this is the one thing Bell’s god is not.
  • What’s missing is not only a full-orbed view of sins, but a deeper understanding of sin itself. In Bell’s telling of the story, there is no sense of the vertical dimension of our evil. Yes, Bell admits several times that we can resist or reject God’s love. But there’s never any discussion of the way we’ve offended God, no suggestion that ultimately all our failings are a failure to worship God as we should. God is not simply disappointed with our choices or angry for the way we judge others. He is angry at the way we judge him. He cannot stand to look upon our uncleanness. His nostrils flare at iniquity. He hates our ingratitude, our impurity, our God-complexes, our self-centeredness, our disobedience, our despising of his holy law. Only when we see God’s eye-covering holiness will we grasp the magnitude of our traitorous rebellion, and only then will we marvel at the incomprehensible love that purchased our deliverance on the cross.
  • The pain of hell is our fault. But it’s also God’s doing. Hell is not what we make for ourselves or gladly choose. It’s what a holy God justly gives to those who exchange the truth of God for a lie. The bowls of wrath in Revelation are poured out by God; they are not swum in by sinners. The ten plagues were sent by God, they were not the product of some Egyptian spell gone wrong. God’s wrath burns against the impenitent and unbelieving; they do not walk into the fire by themselves. Bell’s god is wholly passive toward sin. He hates some of it and says no to it in the next life, but he does not actively judge it. There’s no way to make sense of Nadab and Abihu or Perrez-Uzzah or Gehazi or Achan’s or Korah’s rebellion or the flood or the exodus or the Babylonian captivity or the preaching of John the Baptist or the visions of Revelation or the admonitions of Paul or the warnings of Hebrews or Calvary’s cross apart from a God who hates sin, judges sin, and pour out his wrath—sometimes now, always later—on the accursed things and peoples of this world.
  • Love Wins assures people that everyone’s eternity ends up as heaven eventually. The second chances are good not just for this life, but for the next. And what if they aren’t? What if Jesus says on the day of judgment, “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23)? What if at the end of the age the wicked and unbelieving cry out, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. 6:16)? What if outside the walls of the New Jerusalem “are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Rev. 22:15)? What if there really is only one name “under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)? And what if the wrath of God really remains on those who do not believe in the Son (John 3:18, 36)?
  • Bad theology hurts real people.
  • J. B. on 14 Mar 11
     
    A thorough critical review of Rob Bell's book "Love Wins" by Kevin Deyoung. MUST READ.
angelapardie

The significance of God taking the name Jesus in the Age of Grace - 0 views

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started by angelapardie on 08 Jul 18 no follow-up yet
angelapardie

The Relationship Between Each of the Three Stages of God's Work - 0 views

The Relationship Between Each of the Three Stages of God’s Work  Relevant Words of God: From the work of Jehovah to that of Jesus, and from the work of Jesus to th...

started by angelapardie on 03 Jul 18 no follow-up yet
IN Too

The Parable of the Talents: "We are NOT saved by works, BUT we are saved to d... - 0 views

reflectionsintheword.org/...but-we-are-saved-to-do-works-2

Faith Perspective Salvation Servant Service Work Works Blog Religion Inspiration Bible-Study Bible-Teaching Jesus Worship Spirituality parable bible Christianity Ministries

shared by IN Too on 11 Jul 10 - Cached
  • IN Too on 11 Jul 10
     
    Salvation is NOT gained by works.. But works testify that salvation HAS taken place… "Faith without works is dead".
angelapardie

During an Experience I Saw the Protection of God | The Church of Almighty God - 0 views

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started by angelapardie on 02 Jul 18 no follow-up yet
C L

All of Grace - 0 views

www.spurgeon.org/all_of_g.htm

grace evangelistic Jesus Christ

shared by C L on 01 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • C L on 01 Oct 12
     
    Best text to save the reader and give him understanding with the grace of God.
anonymous

Discouragement! - How To Fight It! - 0 views

freebiblestudiesonline.wordpress.com/discouragement-how-to-fight-it

blog articles christian christianity bible jesus love faith god prayer god's word

shared by anonymous on 09 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • anonymous on 09 Feb 12
     
    One of the Devil's favourite "devices", or tools that he uses with Christians, is DISCOURAGEMENT! If he can't keep you from getting SAVED and giving your life to Jesus, then he will do his best to try to DISCOURAGE you so you give up and QUIT serving the Lord or telling others about Him!-And his favourite way of trying to discourage most of us is by getting us to look at our own mistakes, sins, weakness and failures, looking at OURSELVES instead of the LORD!
Gary Plumley

Cheapest Limo Luxury Car Provider | Limo hire in Slough - 0 views

www.pinterest.com/...499969996109836540

Limo hire in slough

shared by Gary Plumley on 04 Jun 15 - No Cached
  • Gary Plumley on 04 Jun 15
     
    Our cheapestlimo.co.uk services provide limo hire Slough for access to all the top night clubs. We save your time and money, offering unbeatable prices to hire a limo in Slough and across the UK.
Gary Plumley

Cheapest Limo hire in Slough - Imgur - 0 views

imgur.com/XPfZo66

Limo hire in Slough

shared by Gary Plumley on 02 Jul 15 - No Cached
  • Gary Plumley on 02 Jul 15
     
    We save your time and money, offering unbeatable prices to hire a limo in Slough and across the UK.
IN Too

One Bible = One Belief: The Dilemma of Biblical Authenticity « Reflections in... - 0 views

reflectionsintheword.org/...lemma-of-biblical-authenticity

Faith Salvation Bible Christianity The-Word The-Word-of-God Scripture Inspiration Religion Blog Commentary Bible-Study Bible-Teaching Ministries Spirituality

shared by IN Too on 13 Sep 10 - No Cached
  • IN Too on 13 Sep 10
     
    Salvation requires faith in the true God, the God described by the authentic Scripture. If we do not believe in the God of the Scripture, then we are not saved by the God of the Scripture. Every god defines his/her/its own terms of salvation. The God of the pure unabridged Scriptures defines His terms too. If we do not like His salvation plan, we are free to construct our own god from the parts of the scripture we find convenient to our lifestyle and philosophy. But, make no mistake, that god is NOT the God of the Bible.
alexis sullivan

Mercy - Associated Content - 0 views

www.associatedcontent.com/...mercy.html

god's inspiration love mercy salvation

shared by alexis sullivan on 14 Jul 08 - Cached
  • alexis sullivan on 14 Jul 08
     
    This is a religious short story written by Alexis Sullivan. In this story a man has lived an incomplete life and after years of searching for meaning he waits in the Room of Despair when he is saved by Christ.
alexis sullivan

Saved - Associated Content - 0 views

www.associatedcontent.com/...saved.html

god's inspiration love mercy salvation

shared by alexis sullivan on 14 Jul 08 - Cached
  • alexis sullivan on 14 Jul 08
     
    This is a religious short story written by Alexis Sullivan. In this story a man's spirit is being tormented by Satan in the Room of Hopelessness until He is rescued from Satan's grasp by Christ.
alexis sullivan

The Desert - Associated Content - 0 views

www.associatedcontent.com/...the_desert.html

forgiveness god's inspiration love mercy salvation

shared by alexis sullivan on 14 Jul 08 - Cached
  • alexis sullivan on 14 Jul 08
     
    This is a religious short story written by Alexis Sullivan. In this story an ordinary man is living his life but in the "spirit realm" his spirit is aimlessly wandering a barren desert until he saved by Christ.
Pastor Jeff Lilley

Daily Word of God: Daily Word for Tues 8/25/2009 "A Savings Account in Heaven?" - 0 views

jjlmblog.typepad.com/...savings-account-in-heaven.html

Bible Jesus Religion and Spirituality Christianity Saint Peter Evangelism Lord Heaven

shared by Pastor Jeff Lilley on 25 Aug 09 - Cached
  • Pastor Jeff Lilley on 25 Aug 09
     
    Daily Word of God Devotionals are Powerful, Motivating, Practical and Inspiring. Written to Turbo-charge your day and stimulate your spiritual appetite and do "Whatever it Takes" to focus on Christ. Remember, "A cheerful heart is good medicine..." (Prov 17:22a) For Reservations at Our Fathers House, Please Enter John 3:16
Pastor Jeff Lilley

Daily Word of God: Daily Word for Mon 9/14/2009 "He Came to Save, Not Condemn" - 0 views

jjlmblog.typepad.com/...-came-to-save-not-condemn.html

Bible Christianity for Seekers Evangelism Hell Jesus JJL Ministries John 3:16 Pastor Jeff Lilley Religion and Spirituality

shared by Pastor Jeff Lilley on 14 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Pastor Jeff Lilley on 14 Sep 09
     
    Daily Word of God Devotionals are Powerful, Motivating, Practical and Inspiring. Written to Turbo-charge your day and stimulate your spiritual appetite and do "Whatever it Takes" to focus on Christ. Remember, "A cheerful heart is good medicine..." (Prov 17:22a) For Reservations at Our Fathers House, Please Enter John 3:16
peter link

Inspirational Music Album: Brooke Fraser | Albertine - 0 views

www.squidoo.com/BrookeFraserAlbertine

Brooke Fraser albertine Watchfire Music Inspirational Music Inspirational Sheet Music Inspirational Music Downloads Digital Sheet Music Sheet Music Inspirational Christian Music Inspirational Composer "Inspirational Music Artist"

shared by peter link on 06 May 10 - Cached
  • peter link on 06 May 10
     
    24 year old Brooke Fraser is a pop phenomenon in New Zealand and Australia where sales of her latest album, 'Albertine' and debut 'What To Do With Daylight' have together sold over 225,000 units. Now WatchfireMusic.com welcomes Brooke to the Watchfire Family of Inspirational Artists music.Albertine is the 2007 sophomore album from Brooke Fraser, one of New Zealand's great young singer/songwriter's. Recorded in LA with producer Marshall Altman, engineer Joe Zook and a stellar line-up of the world's finest musicians, Albertine delivers 12 gorgeous gems stamped with an air of new found maturity and worldliness.Much of the inspiration for the album came after a 2005 trip to Rwanda when she met Albertine, a young orphan girl who was heroically saved from genocide by a fellow Rwandan. Brooke stated, 'Albertine is alive today because of the selfless, sacrificial love of another. Funny thing is, so am I [referring to Jesus]. And I know I want to know what it's like to love other people like that, so have decided to spend my whole life on the experiment.'Her solo album songs appeal just as much to fans of mainstream artists like Sarah McLachlan, Ingrid Michaelson and KT Tunstall. Featuring the singles 'Shadowfeet', 'Deciphering Me', 'Albertine' and 'C.S. Lewis Song' , this is immaculately crafted pop that will stand the test of time for all the right reasons.
IN Too

SAVED, SANCTIFIED and SINGLE: When God's Plan Excludes Marriage « Reflections... - 0 views

reflectionsintheword.org/...%80%99s-plan-excludes-marriage

Bachelor Bachelorhood Dating God's-Plan God's-Will Marriage Married-Life Obedience Single Single-hood Singles Spinster Spinsterhood Unmarried Unwed Christianity Blog Religion Inspiration Bible-Study Commentary Bible-Teaching

shared by IN Too on 31 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • IN Too on 31 Jan 11
     
    I was never going to get married. No amount of wanting it on my end would make it happen, no amount of trying could undo this truth. I was simply not ever going to get married.
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