They say, 'Accept Jesus as your saviour before it's too late'

[Joanna]

They say in church and in Christian literature, 'If you haven't accepted Jesus as your saviour do it now/do it before you die [if you want to spend eternity with God/if you want to go to heaven (and not hell)].'  They say it even to all those who attend church regularly and those from Christian homes (children, teenagers and adults) who haven't committed themselves to follow Jesus.  Christians even raise their children to tell them they won't go to heaven unless they go through a process to be saved, to accept Jesus and to follow him.  I find this unsettling that 'people have to do this to become a Christian'.

Universal Salvation says we don't have to do this as all Christians and non-Christians will be saved.

[eaglesway]

Actually, the salvation of all, or unviversal reconciliation, teaches that all people will eventually be saved because they will all be made one under the beneficent Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gospel assures that everyone will be saved, not that there is no imperative to be saved..."Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart"..."Today is the day of salvation". I believe the early church held out salvation as hope to a lost world, not as a threat for avoiding eternal torment.

9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phillipians 2)

19For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (Colossians 1)

The issue with time is that there are things that will face the unrepentant sinner that Jesus suggests rather strongly are to be avoided, so we proclaim the gospel and the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ Savior and Lord because the judgment of God is real. However,mercy triumphs over judgment as whatever awaits the unbeliever in the next world or next age will be exactly what that individual needs, and no one knows all the details of that, but we do understand the principles involved, and we do trust that all will be gathered into Christ because He said so, "If I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me."(John 12:32)..."And the one who sits on the throne says, "Behold, I am making all things new. Write down these words for they are faithful and true."(Revelation 21:5)

Paul teaches in Ephesians chapter 1 that God's plan is to gather everything in heaven and earth into Christ.

With all wisdom and understanding, 9he d made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 15 he teaches that after all the enemies are subjected, (when every knee has bowed and every tongue confessed), Jesus will return all things to the Father so that God maay be "all in all" or, to present another equally valid translation- "everything in everyone"

[jabcat]

Actually, the salvation of all, or unviversal reconciliation, teaches that all people will eventually be saved because they will all be made one under the beneficent Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gospel assures that everyone will be saved, not that there is no imperative to be saved.

:thumbsup:

Peace for today, hope for tomorrow.

Those called and chosen, those who receive Him now,  the "wrath of God no longer remains upon them" (John 3:36).  Peace.

And there's an escape from the review/discipline process that will bring everyone to what's inevitable anyway - every knee bowing and every tongue confessing Jesus.  Hope.    :dsunny: 

[marie glen]

Amen brothers.. and I read a while back, and looked it up for myself, that a closer translation of the word translated hope, would be expectation..

[marie glen]

They say in church and in Christian literature, 'If you haven't accepted Jesus as your saviour do it now/do it before you die [if you want to spend eternity with God/if you want to go to heaven (and not hell)].'  They say it even to all those who attend church regularly and those from Christian homes (children, teenagers and adults) who haven't committed themselves to follow Jesus.  Christians even raise their children to tell them they won't go to heaven unless they go through a process to be saved, to accept Jesus and to follow him.  I find this unsettling that 'people have to do this to become a Christian'.

Universal Salvation says we don't have to do this as all Christians and non-Christians will be saved.

I think the only verse which could thought to refer to someone being forever lost is when Jesus told the Pharisees that unless they repented they would die in their sins. But really, all that implies is they will rise still - initially(!) - in their sins..

But there is an age of "correction" coming.. ("after the thousand years"/millennium, but before Rev.21:1-5 - His making ALL things new, when God will now tabernacle with mankind upon Earth made anew..)
:Peace2: :girlheart: :cloud9:

[rosered]

  I believe JESUS  come to heal the  blind and cause the  seeing to be made blind , [what they think they have will be taken away from them ] because it is faith   that saves   us ,   blind faith ,  you do not see the results of it till the end  process ,    faith keeps  resting in  hope and Love is never going to fail because it is Gods   LOVE that is going to save us   all.

  For God so loved the world .....    :HeartThrob:

[darryl]

They say in church and in Christian literature, 'If you haven't accepted Jesus as your saviour do it now/do it before you die [if you want to spend eternity with God/if you want to go to heaven (and not hell)].'  They say it even to all those who attend church regularly and those from Christian homes (children, teenagers and adults) who haven't committed themselves to follow Jesus.  Christians even raise their children to tell them they won't go to heaven unless they go through a process to be saved, to accept Jesus and to follow him.  I find this unsettling that 'people have to do this to become a Christian'.

Universal Salvation says we don't have to do this as all Christians and non-Christians will be saved.

I think the only verse which could thought to refer to someone being forever lost is when Jesus told the Pharisees that unless they repented they would die in their sins. But really, all that implies is they will rise still - initially(!) - in their sins..

But there is an age of "correction" coming.. ("after the thousand years"/millennium, but before Rev.21:1-5 - His making ALL things new, when God will now tabernacle with mankind upon Earth made anew..)
:Peace2: :girlheart: :cloud9:

yep..die in sin but NO mention of eternal damnation after that...very telling, imo

[Song]

To Joanna. Those who say "do it now before you die" are taking advantage of something in business we call "FoMO", which is "Fear of Missing Out"

It's the same tactic they use in shopping malls when they say "Last chance! Buy our Boxing Day discount or you'll never see it again!"

I like to think that Jesus is above mere marketing tricks like this  :laughing7:

1 John 4:18 says "There is no fear in love."

Christ is the God of love, not the god of fear! 1 Cor 13:8 Love never fails

And further it says "But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

As in, the one who fears missing out has not yet realized that there's NOTHING to miss out on! Like, God doesn't just save people on Boxing Day, or I guess... Boxing WEEK as it's called now LOL. Gotta get those consumers to buy buy buy XD
God saves people every day! Every week, there's tons of people who believe in Jesus Christ with faith alone and are saved!

Yes, even those who die and go to Sheol will still be saved by Christ!

Psalm 16:10 You will not leave my soul in Sheol.

AMAZING!

Many literary scholars have also agreed that FoMO is suffering. Like this one:

https://www.academia.edu/download/44832931/1-s2.0-S1550830713003479-main.pdf

"They may be suffering from FOMO. FOMO is considered a form of social anxiety?a compulsive concern." - Academia.edu

Or this one:

https://www.scielo.br/j/rbp/a/tPdLwLwPBSBssVP5DcC779S/abstract/?lang=en

Or "Fear of missing out (FOMO): overview, theoretical underpinnings, and literature review on relations with severity of negative affectivity and problematic technology use"

And well... hmm... it might be best just to show the whole Google Scholars search result list (trust me there's a lotta them) XD
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=FOMO&btnG=

But, for me, it's clear that this whole "missing out" concept is just a false doctrine of man. The true doctrine of Christ tells us that Christ will save all 100% of His lost sheep, everybody!

[WhiteWings]

Hebrews 9: 27 And inasmuch as it is reserved to men once to die, and after this, judgment,
---> The classic verse to prove there is no chance for salvation after death.

Romans 14:11 For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
---> Maybe they make fake confessions to escape hell?
---> That can only be true if the Holy Spirit inspires lies and fake confessions....

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God says, Jesus is accursed, and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, except by Holy Spirit.
---> That's very clear; all who kneel do so because the Holy Spirit dwells within them. So the kneeling is a genuine confession...
---> Note that this is also the case before death.
---> But maybe it's to late anyway?

Romans 10:9 that if thou will confess with thy mouth, Lord Jesus, and will believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou will be saved.
---> Short recap: Everyone will make a true confession and at that point they will be saved. Obviously mrs muslim and mr. satanist never confesed in this life. Yet they are part of "everyone".
---> Ergo there is a chance after death. Ergo salvation after death is a Holy Spirit enforced fact for those groups.

---> Finally all the above are unconditional statements. But if there is still doubt....
Isaiah 45: 23 By myself I have sworn, the word has gone forth from my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue will confess to God