Re: [TruthTalk] Eternal Judgment

[Bill Taylor]

If everyone is included in salvation, regardless of anything, to whom are the scriptures referring when they speak of the lost and the damned�can Bill tell us that? Izzy   The "lost" are those who have yet to hear the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation. The "damned" are also lost, but they are lost in a different way and to a much greater degree. They are religious zealots who think they are saved not by Christ but their own works of righteousness; they have cognizantly rejected Christ. These are those to whom the strongest warnings are given.   Bill     ----- Original Message ----- From: ShieldsFamily To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:25 PM Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] Eternal Judgment     From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Terry Clifton Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 7:54 PM To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Eternal Judgment   Bill Taylor wrote: Terry writes  >  I do not understand you very well, so I have no idea as to whether this will sink in, ...  Hi Terry. I'm sorry you have such difficulty understanding me. I try to be a good communicator, but obviously fall short of that task. My question was this: Why do you see reconciliation and forgiveness as something which is "offered" to humanity, but is not a reality until individual humans do something (repentance, evidently) to activate it? Col 1.19-20 -- For it pleased the Father that in [his Son, Jesus Christ,] all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Col 2.13-14 -- And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. As I understand it, both reconciliation and the forgiveness of sins were made a reality for all humanity by Christ Jesus at the cross. They are already fully accomplished, made actual and true in him. It is therefore not our repentance that makes these things real. What repentance does is align our thinking and actions with that which is already real and true in Christ. Repentance is thus first of all a change of mind, as we let go of false beliefs and begin to believe the word of truth, the good news of our salvation; it is secondly a change of behavior, as our newly established belief in Christ Jesus, who is now Christ in us through the Holy Spirit, begins to produce fruit in our lives. Anyway, thanks for your response. I will try to do a better job of communication in the future. Bill ===================================================== John, the Baptist said repent.  Jesus said repent.  Peter said repent.  It seems like a whole bunch of people then and now, say repent.  If there is nothing you need to do, if Christ has done it all, if you have no say as to whether you are saved or lost then everyone is saved.  Otherwise, Christ is to blame for those who go to Hell. We both know better than that, so your logic escapes me. Terry     And Bill seems to not understand that the scriptures he quoted were regarding those who have repented and received Christ as Lord & Savior�not those who have not.  Everyone is included (�made a reality�) in Christ�s sacrificial death who chooses to receive Him on His terms. He chose to reconcile and make peace thru His Blood.  We choose whether or not to enter into that.  If everyone is included in salvation, regardless of anything, to whom are the scriptures referring when they speak of the lost and the damned�can Bill tell us that? Izzy