Nineveh said:The worst thing about doctrines made by men are they offer false hope and comfort instead of Truth.
The worst things about the doctrines of men are the limitations that they place on the love and power of God
Nineveh said:The worst thing about doctrines made by men are they offer false hope and comfort instead of Truth.
red77 said:The worst things about the doctrines of men are the limitations that they place on the love and power of God
logos_x said:Eternal torment is simply the first lie ("You shall not surely die") repackaged.
So God cannot overcome doctrines of men? God isn't big enough to do that? Universalists show thier true colors when they demonize orthodox Christians, by making them out as worse enemies of God than those who seek to subvert everything that is called good. It's funny how that happens, when you stray from the direction that God gives with His Word.red77 said:The worst things about the doctrines of men are the limitations that they place on the love and power of God
Balder said:Christianity. At the time, I hadn't heard any strong arguments for Universalism that were Biblically supported.
red77 said:The worst things about the doctrines of men are the limitations that they place on the love and power of God
If you are right, Pastor, then the "gospel" rests on a horror story of infinite proportions.PastorKevin said:And you never will. Not when the verses are examined in context and with the entire rest of the Bible in mind.
Balder said:If you are right, Pastor, then the "gospel" rests on a horror story of infinite proportions.
logos_x said:Deal.
Again it was unitentional, I even made a note to myself to reference those items and still failed to do so.
(Actually I edited the references in.. but failed to save the additions in my editor before pasting it in to post :doh: )
At any rate...thank you for your understanding.
Aimiel said:So God cannot overcome doctrines of men? God isn't big enough to do that? Universalists show thier true colors when they demonize orthodox Christians, by making them out as worse enemies of God than those who seek to subvert everything that is called good. It's funny how that happens, when you stray from the direction that God gives with His Word.
Very succinct and it reveals where your heart is. Great post. You inspired me to award you my P. O. T. D. :first:PastorKevin said:But you are so mistaken. The gospel doesn't rest on that. The gospel rests on the fact that Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God came to this earth and humbled Himself to become a man. He came as God in the flesh and walked upon the earth. He lived a sinless life and died to take the sins of mankind. He rose again three days later to prove that He has the power over death.
The gospel message simply rests in putting your faith and trust in this Jesus Christ and allowing Him to be the Lord of your life.
As He clearly demonstrated, by describing the rich man in hell, destroying universalist doctrine before it could sprout.red77 said:Of COURSE God can overcome the doctrines of men!
Quite the contrary, His will is accomplished, by giving men the greatest freedom a creator can, complete freedom, including his choice of ultimate end.That was the point, whatever limiting doctrines that men might place on God isnt going to stop God achieving his purposes, and you are hardly being 'demonized' either, its just being pointed out to you that in your belief God CANNOT achieve his will in restoring his entire world, in fact in your belief God is incapable of restoring even half of it...
You're limiting His creative freedom, and don't even see it.Like it or not ET limits God's power, his own will, and his love, even though God has already worked everything out within the counsel of his own will God cant achieve what he wants...
Wisdom of universalism: God can achieve His Own Will, but only if He does as I've imagined.Wisdom of man: God can achieve his own will but only to a certain extent :doh:
Aimiel said:As He clearly demonstrated, by describing the rich man in hell, destroying universalist doctrine before it could sprout.Quite the contrary, His will is accomplished, by giving men the greatest freedom a creator can, complete freedom, including his choice of ultimate end.You're limiting His creative freedom, and don't even see it.Wisdom of universalism: God can achieve His Own Will, but only if He does as I've imagined.
He knows his fate. He knows that he isn't allowed any relief from the suffering. He knows he would't be granted the wish for the fire to be put out, even though you believe that it will be. He knows he can't have a shower or a bucket of water, and simply wants just a drop, thinking maybe he can convince Abraham to bend the rules, just that much. He also knows about his limitations. He knows that the 'great gulf' which has obviously been 'breached' for the sake of The Word of God so that Abraham and Lazarus might visit, to illustrate the point for Jesus' sake and all those who might believe upon Him for salvation due to the illustration is still so great that no one can cross it or have any form of communication with those who are damned. As for your question about him being able to speak coherently, The Lord is capable of doing as He wills, and giving a man enough relief from suffering to be able to answer Him is certainly within His Abilities, no matter how small your imagainary god might be.red77 said:Oh good grief.....the "rich man" is a parable - a story! Can you please explain to me - if this was a literal event especially at the time of telling- how a man can speak coherently if he's on fire? And that even if he could he would ask for a DROP OF WATER FOR HIS TONGUE! He wouldnt think to ask for the whole fire to be put out?
Didn't you try to refute my comments about bodhisattvas ministering to people in hell by saying that that breach can never be crossed? Because here you are saying it is possible after all.Aimiel said:He knows his fate. He knows that he isn't allowed any relief from the suffering. He knows he would't be granted the wish for the fire to be put out, even though you believe that it will be. He knows he can't have a shower or a bucket of water, and simply wants just a drop, thinking maybe he can convince Abraham to bend the rules, just that much. He also knows about his limitations. He knows that the 'great gulf' which has obviously been 'breached' for the sake of The Word of God so that Abraham and Lazarus might visit, to illustrate the point for Jesus' sake and all those who might believe upon Him for salvation due to the illustration is still so great that no one can cross it or have any form of communication with those who are damned. As for your question about him being able to speak coherently, The Lord is capable of doing as He wills, and giving a man enough relief from suffering to be able to answer Him is certainly within His Abilities, no matter how small your imagainary god might be.
Aimiel said:He knows his fate. He knows that he isn't allowed any relief from the suffering. He knows he would't be granted the wish for the fire to be put out, even though you believe that it will be. He knows he can't have a shower or a bucket of water, and simply wants just a drop, thinking maybe he can convince Abraham to bend the rules, just that much. He also knows about his limitations. He knows that the 'great gulf' which has obviously been 'breached' for the sake of The Word of God so that Abraham and Lazarus might visit, to illustrate the point for Jesus' sake and all those who might believe upon Him for salvation due to the illustration is still so great that no one can cross it or have any form of communication with those who are damned. As for your question about him being able to speak coherently, The Lord is capable of doing as He wills, and giving a man enough relief from suffering to be able to answer Him is certainly within His Abilities, no matter how small your imagainary god might be.
PastorKevin said:But you are so mistaken. The gospel doesn't rest on that. The gospel rests on the fact that Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God came to this earth and humbled Himself to become a man. He came as God in the flesh and walked upon the earth. He lived a sinless life and died to take the sins of mankind. He rose again three days later to prove that He has the power over death.
The gospel message simply rests in putting your faith and trust in this Jesus Christ and allowing Him to be the Lord of your life.
Balder said:Didn't you try to refute my comments about bodhisattvas ministering to people in hell by saying that that breach can never be crossed? Because here you are saying it is possible after all.
Yes, it was; but for one thing bodhisattvas don't exist, and for another, that breach cannot be crossed; but with God all things are possible. He isn't subject to any restrictions, except those of His Own Character.Balder said:Didn't you try to refute my comments about bodhisattvas ministering to people in hell by saying that that breach can never be crossed? Because here you are saying it is possible after all.