This really helped me better understand universalism.

[ghost kid]

I got all this right here:

https://tentmaker.org/books/150reasons.html

One Hundred and Fifty Reasons For Believing in the Final Salvation of All Mankind

122. All God?s works shall praise him. ?All thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord.? Psalm 145:10 Can ALL God?s works PRAISE HIM if a part are doomed to suffer, sin and blaspheme forever?

[Ross]

All means all literally.  :thumbsup:

[ghost kid]

I got all this right here:

https://tentmaker.org/books/150reasons.html

One Hundred and Fifty Reasons For Believing in the Final Salvation of All Mankind

122. All God?s works shall praise him. ?All thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord.? Psalm 145:10 Can ALL God?s works PRAISE HIM if a part are doomed to suffer, sin and blaspheme forever?

What do you think about the part in bold? :bigGrin:

[Ross]

That little word "if".
If part are doomed then no:
But Christ did more than Adam.
Interesting how many see the sin of Adam as greater than the sacrifice of  Christ that covers ALL sin

[Ross]

1 Timothy 1:13-16
Paul was a bad man.
He had no decision in his conversion.
Yet he was there as a prime example of the magnitude of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. For ALL.

[GodSavesAll]

1 Timothy 1:13-16
Paul was a bad man.
He had no decision in his conversion.
Yet he was there as a prime example of the magnitude of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. For ALL.

I realize there are divisions amongst the: 'free will'/'no free will' groups - and I don't agree with either side.

In the interests of covering both sides (since both are actually, legitimately revelevant (scriptural)); I just wanted to add:-

Someone said to me a few months back...
"Where was Pauls' free will on the road to Damascus?"
Pauls' free will was perfectly in-tact, because Paul was ZEALOUS concerning God... He just had the wrong one, and The True God graciously revealed Himself to Paul.
"Who are you Lord?"  Paul asked surprised (because he: 'thought' he had been serving God).
Then Jesus explained to Paul he was kicking against the goads (etc).
And thus; Paul was happy to follow... calling everything else in comparsion to knowing Christ: 'dung'.

Scripture is concerned with 'co-working' with God. - God in man, man in God.
God hardens heart, man hardens heart (in the same verse)  :laughing7: (etc).

Much misunderstanding seems to come from what man: 'thinks' he requires to complete him, to what he: 'actually' requires to complete him. 
When people see the work God did in them; all creation will praise God, since (ultimately) our will IS God's, since we walk in Him and He walks in us... The mystery of Christ in us - our expectation of glory!  Everyone wants perfection.  :HeartThrob:

[Ross]

Paul being happy due to divine revelation.
Made him appreciate the work of Christ and indeed happy about that.
1 Corinthians 15: 10 ".... yet not I  but the grace of God which was with me "
1 Corinthians 3:7" ....but God causes the growth. "
The truth literally sets us free so that there is no longer the wavering to distract the objective of life.

[Ross]

What man thinks and what God thinks are not the same.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
Particularly that no flesh should glory in His presence.
Isaiah 53:6 everyone has turned to his own way...
Isaiah 42:16,17
Isaiah 43:13
Isaiah 43:25
Isaiah 44:25-26
Isaiah through chapters 40 to 49 highlights the work of God as greater than the lifestyle man attempts.
Could be looked at as why bother- I prefer this to highlight the love of God through Christ for all as being an incredibly powerful and detailed process for a glorious future.

[GodSavesAll]

As I said:- I just like to demonstrate that Scripture shows BOTH sides - that I may be fair and impartial to the Word. 
I don't have a dog in this fight.  (An: 'opinion').

1 Corinthians 3:7" ....but God causes the growth. "

You did not include the previous verse (which clearly demonstrates co-creation)...

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, indeed; God has been making it grow".

Nevertheless - ultimately it is up to each person to study these matters for themselves, and I prefer to spend my time focusing on what unites rather than divides, and this subject tends to cause division for many, so I will bow out of this one now.   :HeartThrob:

[Ross]

Apologies: just trying to emphasise the importance of Christ, not detracting from our own role.
We are all part of the plan.

[rosered]

Agreed , The Word cuts both ways .  without divisions.
  We cannot do a thing without Him and He uses us to do His will .  When we come to the end of ourselves   and ask for His Holy help .:HeartThrob:

Love this Psalm 40 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40&version=NIV

[GodSavesAll]

He uses us to do His will . 

we ask for His Holy help

Both then!

:HeartThrob:

[GodSavesAll]

Apologies: just trying to emphasise the importance of Christ, not detracting from our own role.
We are all part of the plan.

Certainly no need to apologize brother, you did nothing wrong.
I would just rather spend my time focusing on the million things we probably agree on. 

You sent me many scriptures - scriptures which I am well-aware of. 
I'm generalizing here and not being personal...
...With forums/debates:- people tend to pick and choose scriptures which 'seem' to support their side.
I don't use scripture in that way. - I believe what the scriptures say in context and in their entirety (understood as a whole).

I could have replied by doing what most do... quoting scriptures which apparently prove free will, OR/AND scriptures which apparently prove we don't have a free will (both are there)... But that wouldn't lead anywhere, - it would just end up a game of: 'scripture ping-pong'.
What matters is coming to an understanding of all scriptures and how they all compliment each-other (i'm sure you would agree), - and that part is up to individuals and not for anyone else to do on their behalf, and that is why I don't feel there is any more to say on this issue. 

I believe the reason there is any divison at all - is due to incapability in reconciling the two (seeming) 'contradictions'. 
To me there is no contradiction at all that (for example):- Pharaoh hardened his own heart and God hardened it also, because I understand who man is in God and Who God is in man.

As we are all aware:- spiritual concepts are only grasped by the spiritual, and are indeed:- 'foolishness' otherwise, (because to the physical (un-spiritual) ;they 'are' contradictory often-times by nature).
For example; the end of a book/movie/piece of string (etc) (physically) is not it's beginning, (yet God is end AND beginning (and both at the same time))!
Someone could say: 'God is the beginning'.
Someone could say: 'God is the end'.
But scripture says both.  The answer is both:- 'God is the beginning and end'.

I believe people 'miss' much in scripture due to taking a side, instead of considering the scriptures in their entirety... That's really the only point I wanted to make here. - The rest is up to individuals. 

I do believe that if we were all chatting face-to-face, we would probably discover we believe the same things regarding these issues.  I think we individually come to a personal understanding/interpretation of things which can be difficult to articulate, and these spiritual matters are made all the more difficult in being understood by 'text' I find.

[Ross]

Well said. :thumbsup:
The coming ages are looking pretty different to the current.
Changes to management practices will be like a system upgrade to a superior system.
The removal of the viruses will change everything.

[rosered]

  Amen , Well said !  :dsunny:   :HeartThrob:    I have noted that all point to Jesus , the Fathers heart and mercy and great grace on all mankind especially those that believe and desire more and
 
more of Him .  Whom is Life itself .

[GodSavesAll]

  Amen , Well said !  :dsunny:   :HeartThrob:    I have noted that all point to Jesus , the Fathers heart and mercy and great grace on all mankind especially those that believe and desire more and
 
more of Him .  Whom is Life itself .

EXACTLY Rose.
The mystery of: 'Christ in us - our EXPECTATION of glory'.
They call Him: 'Immanuel' which means:- 'God in us'.  (IN - MAN - YOU - EL).  ('El' being a Hebrew word for: 'God').

:HeartThrob:

[Ross]

Indeed chatting face-to-face is a great experience.
Can also give an indication of the depth of the question someone asks: do they really want an answer or are they just making conversation.
Could be one of the reasons the Jews answered a question with a question.

[GodSavesAll]

Indeed chatting face-to-face is a great experience.
Can also give an indication of the depth of the question someone asks: do they really want an answer or are they just making conversation.
Could be one of the reasons the Jews answered a question with a question.

Yes that's how I like to do things.
Or let people answer their own questions. 
Because the ungodly are contradictory - it's not long before they start tripping themselves up, and that's often the best way to get them to realize where they err. (Though getting them to admit they err is often the next hurdle).