Does All mean ALL?

[thetruthprospector]

Hello Brothers ans Sisters!
I am still seeking answers to some deep questions concerning my faith. First of all, I was a Biblical Unitarian that is I do not believe in the doctrine of the trinity.
I am labeled a heretic. I do not believe in man made Corporate "churches" That makes me more of a heretic. But I know my Father God and the  Lord Jesus love me, so who cares.

I am leaning more and more toward "Christians Universalism" in my study of the scripture. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I am married in my second marriage to a wonderful lady who is not interested in learning about the Bible or going to any Church. She is from a French Catholic back ground. I am spending months and years in motels and going home to her on the week end. Because of my immigration status in Canada and my Career as a consultant. I cannot yet work for a Canadian company but I have been consulting here for over ten years. So I am forced to be alone. I have my ups and downs but I have to go it alone for now.

Which may be a blessing. But it is tough believe me.

I have been reading with the help of strongs concordance through the Bible. Little by little and lately I have arrived at Philippiand and Colossians.

I have questioned and searched the scriptures with the aid of the holy spirit and some different voices on the internet (try all spirits) and I am at this time convinced of my arianism.  SO I am even more alone.

A real heretic beleiver who does not want to start his own church, but trying to get it right before the curtains fall on this life.

One big doubt I have about universalism is does ALL always mean literally ALL?

I recently heard an example that if I was at home and I asked "hey did you drink all the orange juice?" It would be assumed you did not drink ALL the orange juice in the world.

I would like to think that every time I see all in the Bible it is ALL with no exceptions but is that really true?

[dougj7]

Yes, All means All.

Here is a link to a short exposition "God All in All" by A. E. Knoch that should be of help regarding your question.

http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/HumanDestiny/allinall.html

and a whole book on the subject by the same author can be found here in pdf format.

http://www.concordant.org/online/All_in_all-A.E.KNOCH.pdf

[Seth]

One big doubt I have about universalism is does ALL always mean literally ALL?

I recently heard an example that if I was at home and I asked "hey did you drink all the orange juice?" It would be assumed you did not drink ALL the orange juice in the world.

I would like to think that every time I see all in the Bible it is ALL with no exceptions but is that really true?

It all depends on context, as it is with your example. All the orange juice does not mean all the orange juice in the world. Context shapes the meaning of the usage of "all."

It just happens that the NT writers are fairly clear within their context of which "all" they are referring to. For example, in 1 Cor 15:28, where it says that God will be "all in all" the context just so happens to be "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, all shall be made alive." from verse 22.

When you follow the prophecy all the way down to verse 28, you see that God will be all in all. Where in the context is the limitation? Nowhere. It's talking about everyone who ever lived, everyone who was dead in Adam.

[WhiteWings]

I recently heard an example that if I was at home and I asked "hey did you drink all the orange juice?" It would be assumed you did not drink ALL the orange juice in the world.

I would like to think that every time I see all in the Bible it is ALL with no exceptions but is that really true?

I think I know which verse you are referring to. The answer is that the group of saved people is exactly the same size as the group of saved people.

[thetruthprospector]

Seth
Yes I can see in I Corinthians that ALL will be made alive, but in this context it does not say all will be saved. What Am I missing here. I believe the Scriptures teach that there will be a ressurection at the Day of Christ and the goats will go into the lake of fire. The other group are welcomed.  If the lake of fire is temporary for purifying, who is good enough to avoid that? (Once saved always?) Those who have received the Lord and have received the incorruptable seed of Eternal life?   I hope so, because I want to help people avoid that fate.  I just don;t want to see myself or any of my friends end up in the Lake in they can avoid it. Honestly it sounds real BAD!

[micah7:9]

ALL means ALL or the word itself needs a re definition. All is  ALL. I personally have been corrected that I split hairs too many times when I offer my position, but in this case, A L L is A L L.

[Seth]

Seth
Yes I can see in I Corinthians that ALL will be made alive, but in this context it does not say all will be saved. What Am I missing here. I believe the Scriptures teach that there will be a ressurection at the Day of Christ and the goats will go into the lake of fire.

All will be made alive, but how?

1 Cor 15
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Notice how it does not say, even so "BY Christ" all will be made alive. Not so. For as in Adam all die, even so (meaning in the same manner) IN CHRIST all will be made alive. Do you consider yourself to be "in Christ?" What does it mean to be in Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What does it mean to be "in Adam?" Doesn't that mean to be spiritually dead, carnally minded? Were we not once dead in Adam before becoming believers and transferring from Adam to Christ? Well this scripture is not only talking about resurrection but life. Resurrection gives consciousness to the once unconsciousness, but LIFE is to know Jesus Christ, and to be within him. That's why Jesus said "I am the resurrection AND the life."

As in Adam ALL die, even so IN CHRIST.....ALL....shall be made alive.