Shalom from Germany

[anti_nietzsche]

Hi there,

I'm a 30 year old lutheran christian man from Germany.

I used to be an atheist/agnostic for the first 22 years of my life, after which, one day, I simply found that God could exist. I found no compelling argument against this. However, my journey to acceptance of the christian faith was very turbulent. I also got sick in the meantime, I developed schizophrenia which often gives me spiritual trouble. I believe that sometimes I am attacked by demons. It's not easy, but by God's grace I manage.

I would love to believe in universalism. Indeed, the doctrine of limited salvation is something that really troubles me. Somehow I cannot fully praise God unless He saves everyone. I can't stand the idea that some may be left behind, or rather put into eternal suffering, even if it comes to people like Hitler. God saved murderers like Paul, why can't He save others? This is a serious question for me. Most of mainstream christianity simply says God is God, and I am not. But, to accept this in this circumstance feels like a cop out. We have a creator who designed everything with a purpose, and so I think I am justified in thinking that God always has reasons. But I do not believe in pettiness.

However, as much as I like universalism, I am not entirely certain whether it's true. That is, I think there are (many) bible verses that speak against it. I read a bit on the website and found universalist interpretations of many of such verses which do make sense. I'm not through with the essays yet though, so I am not sure.

One in particular seems to trouble me. Jesus said that those that blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither now nor in the age to come. Without forgiveness, there cannot be salvation.

Verses like this really trouble me, and that is also where my schizophrenia with all the lack of control over my mind, comes in to bother me much. It's like someone says, if you think of a blue bird you will be damned. Naturally, I feel driven to think of the blue bird, and I can't live anymore because of this. So I tend to think there must be another explanation for this verse. Would really like to know it.

I think I'm gonna discuss on this forum a bit. Would love it if time and study could persuade me to believe in universalism. Like the writer of an essay here said, anything less than universal salvation would not be the most worthy result of Jesus' sacrifice.

Greetings and much blessings!

Daniel

[jabcat]

Greetings Daniel, and welcome!  Regarding the "unpardonable sin, one thing that may help you is to look at the ages in which God works...scripture apparently actually states "in this age, or the age to come"...others may have more to say, or even a different take altogether on this, but stay tuned, keep reading.  There is a thread in the discussion board about this as well.  There are many good answers on here, and you've come to the right place. 

God is much bigger and much better than I had given him credit for.  Reassurance; His eye is on the sparrow, so He's watching (lovingly, protectively) you;  He knows what you need even before you ask; when you don't know how to pray, the Holy Spirit is praying for you!  God's blessing, James. 

[moss92g]

Hi Daniel,

What part of Germany to you live in?  I have spend a good amount of time in the Stuttgart area over the years, and I'm also working on my German.

Terry

[fullarmor2]

   Welcome!   I lived in Germany for about a year or so.   In the city of Zirndorf.  I loved it.   Germany is a beautiful country.

[Paul Hazelwood]

One in particular seems to trouble me. Jesus said that those that blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither now nor in the age to come. Without forgiveness, there cannot be salvation.

The main problem with how this verse is viewed is the main explanation has never been true to begin with.

Lets look at just the description of this sin. 

"Unpardonable"  This word does not appear in the text of the verse in any translation.  So, the description of this sin is incorrect.

The definition of unpardonable

unpardonable

adjective
not admitting of pardon; "unpardonable behavior"

The verse states a time frame in which the sin is not pardoned, it does not suggest the lack of a pardon forever.



Now, to prove this assertion lets take the verse itself from several translations.

KJV
32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.


NASB
32"Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.


CLV
(Matthew 12:32)  And whosoever may be saying a word against the Son of Mankind, it will be pardoned him, yet whoever may be saying aught against the holy spirit, it shall not be pardoned him, neither in this eon nor in that which is impending.


I'm not sure if any translation  uses the word forever or NEVER in this verse, of the ones I use and the ones I searched, it did not.  I did not check every single one,  but I think I drew upon a good cross section to not be neglectful in my study.

Verse 31 could be taken out of context and used alone, but verse 32 qualifies and gives real scriptural context and not opinionated context to the true meaning.

The wording shows it will not be forgiven for two ages of time,  what about after those two ages of time,  does everything just cease?  No, there is no ceasing of existance, so,  it has to be forgiven after the age that is impending.

[firstborn888]

Hi Daniel, and welcome!
- Byron