The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-25
REPORT OF A DEBATE.
BY REV. W. r. ROBINSON,
Waco, Tex

DEAR BROTHER About the first
of this month | received note from
R.v.J X. Street, of Fort Worth, stating
that he had been challenged by Rev.
Mr.. Nelson, of the Baptist church at
Blue Ridge, Tex, to discuss the follow
ing propositions, viz
l. 1.-The scriptures teach that the
world of mankind will be eventually
and eternally saved" Br. Street af-
firmed.
2. THE scriptures teach that the
punishment of the wicked will be eter-
nal, or everlasting" Mr.. Nelson af-
firmed.
Accepting an invitation to accom-
pany Br. Street, 1 joined him at Fort
Worth, and we proceeded thence to the
place appointed for the discussion. We
found upon arrival, notwithstanding
the very inclement weather, large
crowd assembled and waiting. The
interest of the community steadily in
creased until the close of the debate,
and even gave a crowded house to hear
me preach on the night following. AT
every service the house was literally
packed. The people seem anxious and
ready to hear the truth.
|.
Br. Streets first argument was based
upon the mission of Christ, in which he
showed:
What is salvation? Showing by
the scriptures that Christ is the sinless
son of God; the perfect revelation of
God to man; the representative spir-
itual man, in whom all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily dwelt; the spirit
ual Father of all men-the life, the
truth and the way. Salvation is by
him-by a re- creation" Created anew
in Christ Jesus" This truth, he
showed, was fully taught and confirmed
in the 5th chapter of Romans.
2. The mission Of Christ was to rec
oncile man to God and not God to man,
as taught by Orthodoxy; that he was
the tangible expression of God to man.
God was in Christ reconciling the
world unto himself"
8. The mission of Christ was to
bring life and Immortality to light
through the gospel, by which all men
are to be resurrected from the death of
sin to one of life, purity and immortal
ity, of which he cited scores Of strong
and pointed scriptures in proof. Mr..
Nelson met this by citing the proof
texts usually relied upon by the defend
ers of the dark dogma of endless dam
nation, and by denouncing the doctrine
of universal salvation as false doc
trine of hell.
Mr.. Streets second argument was
based upon the Fatherhood of God, and
his plan and purpose to restore all men
to holiness and happiness, through the
saving work of Christ.
l. He cited in proof of the Father
hood of God, commenting briefly on
each passage, the universal prayer,
"Our Father" Matt. v. 16; v. g., vii.
IL; xviii. IA; xiv. l; LIST Cor, viii. 5-6.
2. His second argument in proof of
the plan of God to save all men was
based upon Eph. iv. s. 1.-The stone
which you builders rejected has become
the head of the corner"
8. Gods plan is further shown in
Heb. i. 2, in which it is taught that he
is appointed heir of all things.
Paul shows in Eph. i. 8, 10, that
is the plan and purpose of God to
gather together under one head all
things in Christ.
5. That in Eph. iii. s, IL, it is shown
to be the eternal purpose of God to
save all men through faith in Christ.
6. He proved by citing John iii. So,
that the Father had so loved the Son
that he had given him all things.
7. He proved by John V. 37-39, that
of all which the Father had given him
he should lose nothing-that they shall
come to Him, and that Christ came to
do the will of the Father.
s. He cited Ps. ii. s, in which it is
shown that the heather and the utter
most parts of the earth are to be given
to Christ for possession.
8. To Nicodemus Christ declared, in
John iii. II, that the purpose of his
coming was not to condemn the world,
but that the world through him might
be saved and he declared further, in
John xii. 80, that he would draw all
men unto him.
10. Christ was not lacking either in
power or authority to accomplish the
glorious work of the redemption of all
men, for it is expressly said in Col. i.
10, 20, that it had pleased the Father
that in Christ should all fullness dwell,
that he might reconcile all things to
God.
In his comments Br. Street wrought
these scriptures into perfect and I'M
answerable statement and defense of
the truth of our glorious doctrine.
III