From: c9037544@cc.newcastle.edu.au (David Williams)
Subject: Re: Universalism
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, University of Newcastle
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 03:31:59 GMT

In <7510@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au> paulh@cs.uq.oz.au (Paul Henman) writes:
> 
>				   Universalism is the concept that God's
>love is SO great that God is unable to send anyone to damnation.  Indeed,
>God's love and mercy saves ALL, even though God would want all people to
>live a life of God.  THERE IS GOOD BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSALISM!
>
>I just wish some of you would take an in-depth and studied look at the bible,
>prefarably through a distinguished theological college.  Questions such as
>universalism would be discussed in theological subjects such as the Christianty
>and its relationship with other faiths.

 I doubt that any distinguished theological college would teach such a thing
(at least not in its favour - from my studies at Rhema Bible College in
Townsville I know about Universalism).
 It seems to be a recurring argument - "How can a God of love send people to
hell". However, this is not the question to ask, but "How can a just and holy
God allow sin in His presence" for we are already hell-bound and God does not
send us there but rather has given us His only son that we do not have to.
 Consider the allegory of the Judge who had a case presented before him where
the person in question was his son. The boy was obviously guilty. Being a Judge
the man had to show no partiality, and sentence his son as he would anyone
else. However, being the boy's father, he then paid the amount himself. As a
Judge he had to be just, as a father he demonstrated love. So it is with God -
the wages of sin is death, but yet God has taken this punishment upon Himself
through His Son, and thus reconciling us to Himself.
 Some people say, "But why can't God just forgive?" giving the example of the
employer who forgives his staff for taking money from the till. But consider
this also - the employer may forgive, but he has been hurt by the actions of
his employees - someone has had to pay for the money stolen. And again, so it
is with God - someone has been hurt by mans sinful actions - God. In Psalm 51
David writes that against God only has he sinned. However, God has then given
us His Son to take our punishment for us.
 Psalm 103:10 tells us that God has not dealt with us after our sins, nor
rewarded us according to our iniquities. This is a good thing!!!
 In fact, for those who do go to Hell, having rejected God's grace for so long
this is really where they have all along wanted to be - away from God's
presence. Eternally. And this it is that makes Hell such an awful place.

Regards,
  David Williams
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| David Williams                      | University of Newcastle, Australia    |
|                                     | Department of Computer Science        |
| c9037544@{cc,cs}.newcastle.edu.au   |                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    "Amazing love! How could it be that thou oh God shouldst die for me!"    |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: aus.religion