greetings from so california

[Deena]

Tentmaker has blessed me and helped to liberate me from years of confusion and self condemnation. Finally i see the God i know who is worthy of love and adoration. Im looking for a "church" or fellowship with similar beliefs. I live in the inland empire of so california. Got any suggestions?

[WhiteWings]

  Deena,

Occupy Tentmaker 

[Deena]

Wow, I am a newbie to this blog and as I read, I feel this incredible sense of relief--I'm not crazy.  There are not just a few out there that think like this (God will reconcile ALL).  There is an entire community.  Thank you, Jesus.  I've found "my people".

[jabcat]

Blessings Deena, and welcome.   

[WhiteWings]

Wow, I am a newbie to this blog and as I read, I feel this incredible sense of relief--I'm not crazy.  There are not just a few out there that think like this (God will reconcile ALL).  There is an entire community.  Thank you, Jesus.  I've found "my people".

Deena, do you know this site is part of a ministry?
http://www.tentmaker.org/
http://www.tentmaker.org/ScholarsCorner.html ==> Lot's of good stuff. My personal favorite is Hanson's four enlighting works.
http://www.youtube.com/user/tentmaker777
List with other UR websites: http://home.online.nl/spamfree/index.html?page=Websites.htm
Bible translations can vary a lot: http://www.tentmaker.org/forum/christian_life/list_useful_links_9060.msg112440.html#msg112440

[Deena]

Thank you for the links. Yes, I am aware this is a ministry, and grateful for it. I came across tentmaker by "accident" when trying to find more books by Hanna Whital Smith. She was the first to introduce me to the concept of universal salvation and a God who is mighty to save all. When I first read her book I questioned if it could possibly be true, and tentmaker has proven it to me. I am overjoyed and no longer look at myself and others with a spirit of condemnation. What a relief to know God will not stop short, but will save even the most wayward sheep, for he knows our need of Him.

[Beloved Servant]

Thank you, Jesus.  I've found "my people".

Amen.

[Deena]

I don't know much about blogging and I am relatively new to UR, but I sincerely need a question answered. I used to think this life on earth was an opportunity to come to Christ, that was the whole purpose for it. Now that I know God will draw all men to Himself, I am confused about the purpose of this life on earth which to me seems most futile. Please help.

[jabcat]

Deena, the explanation that makes the most sense to me is that God is bringing mankind through an experience - much of it an experience of evil - to teach us; mainly to teach us the difference between goodness and evil, darkness and Light.  Those that teach this explanation say that without this, we would not be able to fully appreciate God and His goodness and glory, once He has completely brought us back to Him.  If we had only always known perfection, our view would be limited.

I wonder about all this myself, but again, this is one explanation I've sort of settled on for now.  I am sure there's more to it, but that this is a piece of one view. 

Before you make sudden decisions on what I've just said, this good man explains it much better, and I highly recommend you please take a few minutes and read the following;

http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/savior-of-the-world/circularity.htm

That's my limited current view.  Blessings, James.

[jabcat]

Also, there is a group who will be saved in this lifetime, the ekklesia (called out ones) who I believe are set aside for a purpose - to help bring the rest in during the next age.  So that's another purpose for this life - that some will go through "death and Life" now, for a greater purpose.  One thing in our limited view is, we don't see the end, how God's plan is actually perfect.  All this is for a reason, most of which we probably won't be able to comprehend until later.  IMO, that's where trust and remembering to "walk humbly before our God" comes in.

My son recently said that God doesn't look at things in a linear fashion as we attempt to do;  He sees the whole thing as looking at one page.  It's all there before Him and He knows the end is good, through this process He's established.  He knows the end from the beginning.   "Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';  Isaiah 46:10.  So He not only knows the future, He DECLARES it!

[jabcat]

and we were meant to praise Him!  Blessings, and take comfort that He knows....James.

[WhiteWings]

Also, there is a group who will be saved in this lifetime,

All are saved before this lifetime. It's just that most don't know it yet.
Isn' that what UR teaches? The plan of the ages.

[jabcat]

depends on definition, i guess.  if you look at God's "timelessness", yes, it's the "same as done", because if He says it will happen, it will.

however, i personally part from many other UR believers who flat out say everyone's already saved.  taken to its fullest extent, i see that as the deceptive doctrine of "inclusion" (Carleton Pearson).  no, buddists, muslims, and non-believing folks brought up in Christian families are not yet spiritually reborn.   i believe being spiritually reborn is a personal experience, that when it's one's time to be given faith to believe, it's an event - just what Jesus said, a new birth, born again.  my personal definition would be, everyone's salvation is provided for, and will be experienced one by one, each in his own order.  they'll know when it happens.

[Deena]

James, thank you for Eby's article. The circularity of us returning to Him from which we came is comforting. Perhaps I am experiencing the groaning that Paul speaks of. I long for my God and at times think it is too much to bear--dear God, how long must we wait? At times it almost seems cruel. All I can do is trust in Him who has the plan.

[WhiteWings]

I think we wrote the same thing James.

WW: All are saved before this lifetime.
JC: who flat out say everyone's already saved.

WW: most don't know it yet.
JC: they'll know when it happens


BTW JC=Jabcat 

[jabcat]

Deena, you're welcome, and I'm glad it helped.  Yes, I'm certainly not saying I don't struggle with this too.  Sometimes I just have to surrender and humble before Him, because my thoughts and attitudes are often MUCH too carnal to see it clearly.  Yes, He has the plan, and no matter what our eyes see now, or our thoughts, attitudes and feelings are in this old flesh, He has promised it will all have a good purpose, will result in a perfect end, and that the troubles now cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed IN us!   

[jabcat]

I think we wrote the same thing James.

WW: All are saved before this lifetime.
JC: who flat out say everyone's already saved.

WW: most don't know it yet.
JC: they'll know when it happens


BTW JC=Jabcat 

Oh good!!! 

[Deena]

Thank you so much.  I think without romans 8 I would lose my mind. Thank you for your time for I am most sincere. I could never have come up with UR on my own because I was n't looking for it.. I believe it was totally God inspired because it came to me in such an unsolicited manner. What now? God has blown my mind and I'm still reeling--it feels like I'm freefalling. Thanks to everuone because I thought I was  alone. Oh, so much to learn!

[redhotmagma]

welcome to freedom and truth

[Apoc]

My son recently said that God doesn't look at things in a linear fashion as we attempt to do;  He sees the whole thing as looking at one page.

It's that great advantage one has from viewing things from the most high place!  You can see the roads beginning and end.