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Escape from punishment?
Recall that there is Salvation of ALL through the blood of Jesus Christ and that all will be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, by the will of God the Father. God’s will is stronger than all the armies in heaven and on earth. Those who are part of the body have been predestine beforehand, not of their own choosing.
At the Great White Throne Judgement those that go to the Lake of Fire do NOT go there by their own Choice.
One of the arguments against this teaching is that the wicked and ungodly escape any form of punishment. It is not just those who you would think of as wicked, it is family and friends that have or will die as unbelievers.
There is judgment and actual punishments mentioned in the Bible for unbelievers, they do not escape punishment. Actual punishments and judgments are no argument against Christian Universalism. Punishments are based on acts and knowledge.
Based on our Acts: Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:5-10, 16; Revelation 20:11-15
In Luke 12:37-48 the Lord has gone away, and the slaves do not know when He will return. Those who watch will be happy. However the slave that beats the boys and the maids and gets drunk will be cut asunder and appoint his part with the unfaithful {Luke 12:45-46}.
In Luke 12:47-48 the punishment is in the form of lashes. This does not mean actual lashes, this is to show the severity of the punishment. The one who knows the will of the Lord and does not make ready or does aught will receive many lashes. Yet the one that does not know, but does that which deserves lashes, shall have few. That is lesser punishment.
Luke 12:47-48 Now that slave who knows the will of his lord and does not make ready, nor yet does aught with a view to his will, shall have many lashes." Now he who does not know, yet does what deserves blows, shall have few lashes. Now to everyone to whom much was given, from him much will be sought, and to whom they committed much, more excessively will they be requesting of him." {CLV}
That is the slave receives many lashes compared to a few lashes, not ongoing never-ending lashes. The judgement is limited to few or many lashes. That is the punishment is not never-ending punishment it does come to an end.
Severe judgement on religious hypocrisy and wickedness {Luke 20:46-47; Matthew 12:36-37}.
Greater Judgement for some cities than other cities {Matthew 11:20-24}. That is when the inhabitants of these cities are resurrected, the inhabitants of one city will receive greater judgement than that of another city.
“Others take refuge in the vain assertion that the larger hope implies the escape of the wicked from all punishment, and places the sinner on a level with the saint. Let me once for all reply that no statement can be more unfounded. For the very method of healing the finally impenitent, as taught by the larger hope, is the severity of the divine judgement, is that consuming fire, which must burn up all iniquity. Thus the larger hope is especially bound to teach for the obstinate sinner the certainty of retribution, for in God's judgements it sees the mode of cure (see chap. vi.), the mode in which the grace of the Atonement often reaches the touched heart.
True Universalism deters from sin, because it preaches a righteous retribution with unequalled force and certainty: on this its creed largely hinges. Restoration is taught because of retribution, a fact on which too much stress cannot be laid. "Thou, Lord, art merciful for Thou renders to every man according to his work."- Ps. lxii. 12”
from Christ Triumphant”, by Thomas Allin
“Forgiveness, like salvation, is always through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. God’s standard remains the same. The loving and righteous judgment of God for all sinners will ensure that all people, in God’s time, will come to repentance and accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, by faith.” From http://www.godoftheages.com/site/1351515/page/686506
Copyright © M J Farquharson 2006 & 2021
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