The SALVATION of ALL... how did GOD reveal it to you?

[urpilgrim]

I highly recommend Wayne's Book "He Loves Me".... It's a wonderful resource for those who are trapped in religious traditions that do not really fill the heart with Father's love.

Checkout www.lifestream.org for other great resources 

[WhiteWings]

I highly recommend Wayne's Book "He Loves Me".... It's a wonderful resource for those who are trapped in religious traditions that do not really fill the heart with Father's love.

Checkout www.lifestream.org for other great resources 

From the same site:
"This book is an unabashed invitation to stop trying to make God fit into our lives, and make our lives fit God's unearthly scheme." -- Marshall Shelley, Senior Editor, Leadership Journal
Book DescriptionAre you confused? Burned out? Disillusioned by your church experience? Discover how intimacy with the Living God and his family can fulfill your deepest hungers.

The words of Jesus area as timely today as they were then... "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

THE NAKED CHURCH is an invitation for believers to forsake superficial Christianity and discover true intimacy with God. This compelling book will challenge you to look beyond the externals of contemporary church life with its glittering buildings, extensive programs, beloved celebrities and political muscle and find a relationship with God that will bring his powerful, life-changing presence into everyday circumstances.

At a time when it's popular to be "spiritual" and easy to be "religious," Wayne Jacobsen sounds the call back to the joy and freedom of a dynamic relationship with the living God.

Download the 256 page book for free

[urpilgrim]

You can download "He Loves Me" too. It's the first edition, not much difference from other editions.

Just the last part of chap 22 in the first has been extended into its own chap (23) in the newer editions. And some wording changes in the newer editions.

Still a must read 

[WhiteWings]

Thanks URP,

I overlooked that download.

[Aleax]

Who's the author of this "The Shack" book? I think there are several books with that name.

[Aleax]

For another good testimony, click this link: http://www.kingdomgospel.net/newsletter/issue227.pdf

Go to page 3 and read "Is Jesus The Savior of All?"

(I'm not able to copy-paste)

Okay, now that I'm on a PC with a better pdf reader (I don't have an internet access at home atm) I'll copy-paste, for the sake of convenience.

--

IS JESUS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL? Elaine--I feel the Spirit dealing with me to address this controversial issue. I find that most of those who are called to the high calling of God have re-ceived the truth of this doctrine from the Holy Spirit Himself. In our travels we met many who wanted us to believe that Jesus is the Saviour of all mankind. I couldn't say "Amen" to anything they told me, for I had to hear it from the Lord Himself. I set myself to seek the Lord concerning this, and, in time, He confirmed to me that it was true. Bill wasn't yet sure so didn't want me to tell others about it until it would be confirmed to him. I agreed that I wouldn't bring it up unless they did. After that, I swear they started sharing this truth after we were barely in their door! That prompted Bill to earnest prayer and the Lord made it very real to him also.

The Lord knows how to encourage His ser-vants. Someone came to the door from a church in town and said, "Our pastor heard that there was someone here who is preaching that the Lord is going to save all men. Would you come and min-ister at our church and tell us about that?" So, he ministered this good word to 100 people!
Then, came the weekend we spent with Larry and Betty Hodges. Larry said he had been coming against this message recently in his writings. I kept silent, so he asked, "You don't believe that, do you?" This really put me on the spot, for I really wanted to be friends with them, and if I dis-agreed on this subject, that might spoil our bud-ding friendship. I had a little mental battle and then admitted, "Yes, I do."
The challenge was right there: "Tell me why you believe it."
I refused to do this. I said, "I sought the Lord until He told me the truth of the matter. Why don't you ask Him to show you? I'm not going to try to convince you!"
Larry admitted, "I never thought of praying about it! I don't know why! I've asked Him about other things and He's told me about them." Yet, all weekend he tried to get me to talk about it and I refused to do so!
The end of the matter was that the Lord made it very real to his heart from the Word. I was sur-prised when he even wrote a book about it! When it came to his ministry, it presented problems be-cause none of those to whom he ministered be-lieved in this doctrine. He was invited to minister at a house meeting of a dozen or so close friends who did not give him a very friendly reception. They made it clear they did not want him to come again if that was what he was going to talk about!
Yet, Larry still had to wage a private battle concerning this doctrine. He prayed, "Lord, I re-joice to know that You died to save all men and shall, in Your appointed time, bring them all. But, is it necessary to preach it? Wouldn't it be all right if I believed it for myself but didn't share it with others? Is there any real reason why I should ruin my ministry by telling others about it?"
I shall never forget the answer the Lord gave him! "If My people are to be conformed to My image as you teach, how shall they, unless they see Me as I truly am and not as tradition has taught?" Larry recognized that this was a direct reference to one of his favorite scriptures—I John 3:1,2 which says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we 3

"I instantly knew that I was required to teach this message to those of Israel who are "of the captivity" (of Babylon) Ezek. 3:11.It is a fact that the entire teaching of eternal torment rests upon the translation of the single word aion or aeon. Aeon means "age." I discovered that the words "everlasting" and "eternal" were the same Greek word, aionios." (unquote)
Hannah Whitall Smith, a well-known evangeli-cal writer, was 'caught up' in the spirit and God revealed His purposes to her. In reconciliation, "Christ is to be satisfied." And through that satis-faction He is to make all mankind "alive." After her death, these portions were removed from her book by her publishers, so that this truth was lost from her anointed pen. We have a copy of this lost chapter called My Unexpected Discovery. Ask for it if you are interested.

[micah7:9]

 

[Cardinal]

 

[micah7:9]

Who's the author of this "The Shack" book? I think there are several books with that name.

Wm. Paul Young... I just pulled the book off the shelf the other day, heard about it some time ago. I found it very good in places, very enlightening on somethings. You just gotta love the love tho

[WhiteWings]

I really like the bold part. I even made a poll about a similar question a while back.

"I instantly knew that I was required to teach this message to those of Israel who are "of the captivity" (of Babylon) Ezek. 3:11.It is a fact that the entire teaching of eternal torment rests upon the translation of the single word aion or aeon. Aeon means "age." I discovered that the words "everlasting" and "eternal" were the same Greek word, aionios." (unquote)

I think the other problem is the translation/understanding of fire.
UR doesn't mean that instead of eternally God only uses a blowtorch on your for only a year...

[pollypinks]

My husband attends a men's breakfast bible study at our presbyterian church.  The first book he brought home was very confusing, but there was a footnote about a book called, "If Grace Is True", by Philip Gulley and James McHolland.  I read it and for the first time in decades something made perfect sense.  I had walked out of a women's bible study after the teacher declared ,"God only hears the prayers of Christians."  I couldn't believe a perfect God could not hear all of his children, and this book, 8 years after my walk out, was like manna from heaven.  The peace I feel is real, not driven from fear, not being assured by others that I am saved because I said the right words.

[lightningfrommymouth]

I'm glad this thread was bumped up. I've enjoyed reading all of this. Inspiring!

I'll try to explain as best I can my experiences-and try to make it short, because the story is as old as I am. :)

I remember feeling free to speak to Jesus at a very young age. Even that young, part of my day was spent in prayer. I was a curious kid, and was always questioning Jesus and felt he answered me. At 7 my family went to church the first time. It was a typical baptist church. We were there for a year when I got a nasty case of scarlet fever. I was sick for a couple of weeks before it was decided they would ask the pastor to do a laying on of hands. I remember everything about this day. The smell of the olive oil, and the pastors words. He told me to pray, and believe God would heal me. I had a vision during this prayer, and remember seeing a figure-I didn't see a mouth move but heard a voice. Just as I'd always done, I conversed as if I had every right to and it was a casual conversation. The only difference being that this time my entire body felt tingly and warm, . I didn't hear the other people in the room after a while. After asking a few questions, it came to me that I was unsure about all the hellfire preaching I'd been hearing. So I asked what would happen to every one and heard the words over and over,  "ALL are saved."

I did receive a healing that day, I was completely well. I was very casual about it as if it was my due-it was the adults who seemed a little nervous and excited about what happened. I told the pastor I had a message for everyone, but could not tell them until the next service. In front of the whole congregation one morning, the pastor called me up. I gave everyone the great news....only it wasn't received like I thought. I was quickly ushered away and given counseling on how I was trying to be a false prophet. Oh boy.

I had a few more experiences that year but I kept them to myself. :)

I felt a calling to the church from that year. I was in a lot of conflict though even then. I thought I would have to be a nun-and wondered how I could become Catholic without anyone knowing. It was the only role I could conceive of from my limited experience. Because I could not possibly see how I could obey this calling, I instead over the years stopped seeking though biblical scripture and church. I did continue to pray a lot, but didn't feel the need to study or learn more. There were family issues too that were a distraction.

So, after many years-and at the age of 35 I started hearing that calling, loud and clear. There was no more excuses, it was time. But after studying and trying to learn I became more and more frustrated. I didn't know then that I should search beyond the translation of ET. A year later I finally had the time to start using the internet as a learning tool. I can't remember where but I came across the words "Universal Reconciliation." I was so excited at the possibility that there could possibly be others who knew this message that I clicked on the first website that showed up, which was the Christian Universalist Association. I read every article there-it lead me to reading Hope Beyond Hell, led me to tentmaker, and then Gary's videos on universal salvation. I instantly knew I'd found the way to finally obey. 

[Cardinal]

 

[Nathan]

My path is connected to Molly's . . .mine was also dealing with the lake of fire.  But mine wasn't about the fact that the lake has edges/banks/boundaries.  mine as about the fact that hell was thrown into it . . .which meant that hell was not an eternal place.  It contradicted the entire doctrine of hell.  They tell you that you're going to hell forever . . .but if you press the issue about the lake of fire, you'll get an eye roll and an admission that hell "is" thrown into the lake which then I guess the assumption is that hell and the lake cooincide with one another.

But the idea that the lake of fire "consumed" the very place where eternal torment was supposedly at opened the door just long enough that my doctrine leaked out before I could even realize what was happening. 

in the beginning, I wouldn't let go of "one" thing without first replacing it with something else.  like, okay if hell isn't "this" then what is it?  Give me something to believe.  But since then, if I feel a tug to let go of something, I let go first, then wait to see what happens later.  Some things take longer to develop in my understanding than others, but in the process of that development, I'm not worried about current state of understanding because I know life is in my womb and as long as life is living, it will birth in my understanding.  So, I let it be until the time of maturity comes to where I can either "see" it, or accept it.

Many people see glimpses of things of God but aren't able to accept them yet.  Then you have those that are ready to accept something, they just can't see it.  We're the midwives that nudge here, assist there . . .just help others get through the birthing process of God's kingdom in our lives.

[eaglesway]

And of course, if hell is thrown into it(the lake of fire), it can't be hell. And if the hell that is thrown into it is Sheol, not hell, cause there is no hell and never was.... well that really upsets the apple cart. And if death is thrown in with Sheol(the reservoir of the dead) there will be no more death either and since the last adversary is death then all the adversaries who were in deaths grip previously must have been reconciled so what do you know! Maybe all things are United in Life, just like Eph 1:9-11 & Col 1:16-21 & all them other verses say :o)

Behold I make all things new :o)

[Nathan]

Exactly . . .and that was just the beginning of realizing ALL my apples were no longer staying in the cart . . .everything I thought I knew, understood and preached came crumbling down . . .THANK GOD!!!

[Aleax]

I was Googling for lyrics of my favorite band. I just accidently found a Christian ET site.

That band would be either Iron Maiden or Helloween, right?

'Cos if I don't remember it all wrong, the exact same thing happened to me years ago.

[WhiteWings]

Iron Maiden. The number of the beast. (funny clip btw)

Up the Irons