From: pub@riscee.pko.dec.com (Publius)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: *I* am THE way.
Date: 20 Aug 92 20:20:05 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard MA

In article <1992Aug19.170723.25800@oclc.org> jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff) writes:
>
>You say that what happens to unbelievers is moot.  What if your God
>condemns them to hell where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth?

The Scripture mentions no such things.  It does say that when the Lord
comes back, His unfaithful servants (presummabily believers) will be
shut out in the outer darkness (for how long?  I don't know), and there
there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth (I guess this is passage
where this phrase 'wailing and gnashing of teeth' comes from)..
That passage is about how God will discipline His unfaithful servants.
It is NOT about the unbelievers.

The term "hell", in its Calvinistic sense, simply means the state
of separation from God.  And in this sense, everyone who is not
living in God's will is in "hell".  As I have shown in the past,
in this newsgroup, that this interpretation of "hell" is crucial
to Calvin's entire theological system.  Take away this interpretation
of "hell" and replace it with the literal "hell fire", as preferred by
some, and you would crush Calvin's entire theological system.
In other words, you can not interprete "hell" as literal "hell fire"
while you are claiming to be a Calvinist at the same time.  But
I guess this is not really of your interest, and I will just stop
here on this subject unless there is further interest from the
readers of this group.

Make no mistake, I am not an RC, and I do believe salvation through
Jesus Christ.  But, 'salvation' in the Biblical sense has nothing to do
with the avoidance of "hell fire" - it is not the 'fire insurance policy',
despite whatever you might have heard from the televangegelists.
Any good concordance can tell you that the word 'salvation', as used
in the Bible, means 'being made whole, made complete'.  A human being
without God is not complete, for we were created by God for the
purpose of containing Him and expressing Him, for His glory. 
To be 'born again' simply means to receive Jesus Christ into your being
and have Him as your life.  As His life, which is also called
'Eternal Life' in the Bible, grows in you and brings you into a
mature Christian life, you come to express the glory of this
'Eternal Life' in your daily living.  This is how your human human life
can be 'made whole and made complete', in other words, this is how
you are 'saved'.

Let me summarize my points here.  First, we have to realize that
God's purpose for us is to contain Him, express Him, and glorify Him.
But, we, in our own nature, have nothing but total deprivation (also
known as 'Original Sin') and live in the state of separation from God
(the state known as "hell").  God, in order to bring us back to
His purpose, gives us something which brings us out of the
state of total deprivation, out of the state of separation from Him.
This 'something' which can do all of these is called 'Eternal Life'
in the Bible, and this 'Life' is in Jesus Christ.  When you receive
Jesus Christ, you receive this new Life, and you are 'born again',
and now you are on the right tract back to God's purpose.  As you
live in God's purpose, you life is made whole and made complete.
This is salvation.

Many hundred years ago, some Christians put forth the following
meanful question and wonderful answer:

	Q: What is the purpose of human beings?
	A: The purpose of human beings is to glorify God, and
	   to enjoy Him forever.


Regards,
-- 
For Christ and His Kingdom
-- Publius
Disclaimer: These opinions are mine, all mine, mine alone.
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc