Hello

[JSM]

Hi, I am JSM. I have spent years posting on forums, and was warned through scripture a while ago that I needed to stop: Revelations 2 "I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place". I could see from where I had fallen, and knew I had lost the love I had at first. But, here I am posting on Tentmaker, because Universal Salvation is something I once believed in (for a while) and I am interested in learning more.

[eaglesway]

There is a time and a purpose for every season under heaven. :o) welcome.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Welcome....

[mplsfitter539]

Welcome back brother. I personally know its the correct path because it is the most difficult path in many ways especially on all of the pagan holidays.  I refuse to name which ones there are so many but most of us here know.

[JSM]

There is a time and a purpose for every season under heaven. :o) welcome.

Hi Eaglesway, I completely agree, thank you.

[JSM]

:cloud9: Welcome....

Thank you Cardinal.

[JSM]

Welcome back brother. I personally know its the correct path because it is the most difficult path in many ways especially on all of the pagan holidays.  I refuse to name which ones there are so many but most of us here know.

Thank you Mplsfitter. I'm sure there is much to learn here. I know that Eastern Orthodox believe in Universal Salvation, did you know that? I remember coming across a site years ago, I think it may have been linked to this forum, I'm not sure, but it had a picture of Jesus with His arms around a man, and the words on the site brought peace to me, and it just felt right.

Anyway thanks for the welcomes peoples, and will talk later :)

[Seth]

Hi JSM, welcome  :friendstu:

[JSM]

Hi JSM, welcome  :friendstu:

Hi Seth thanks.

[saintwalee]

JSM,

I have a special place in my heart for the Ephesian church.

For it was in Ephesians 2:8-9 that I fell away from Truth, and through which I was brought back.

We must always remember that "it" is always and foremost about Love :HeartThrob:

"thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy might" and "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself", on these two hang all the law and prophets! :dsunny:

[WhiteWings]

Welcome to the place of lampstands  :laugh:

[eaglesway]

Thestory of the Ephesian church, if one follows it from Acts(its inception in Paul's first missionary journey through His departure to Rome), then through the epistle to the Ephesians(imo the clearest blueprint to the functioning, overcoming body of gathered out ones) and then into Revelations is just amazing.

The last thing Paul says to the Ephesian elders as he leaves for Rome is, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock."

Then is Revelation, the one who walks among the Lampstands(churches) says to Ephesus, "You have tried those who claimed to be apostles and exposed the false ones."

They had taken Paul's exhortation to heart :o)

Yet he says, But this i hav against you, you have left your first love. Be zealous therefore and repent unless I remove your Lampstand from its place.

The Ephesian chhurch was a city set on a hill, a lamp upon the lampstand for many years.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: That is really amazing. I never noticed that before.  :thumbsup:

[eaglesway]

I have had the desire to write a book on it, a historical treatment accompanied by a commentary, for many years. The time hasnt been full in the past, but I think it may come into fulness soon :o)

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: I'd say the desire came from Him.  :winkgrin:

[eaglesway]

Sometimes I see the wheel around a hub. I think maybe each epistle is such a hub, presenting a perspective at the core of a particular aspect of the "whole counsel of God"

I (personally) see Ephesians as the hub of the wheel of the revelation of the ecclesia/body/church.

I see Romans as the hub of the wheel of the revelation of the judgment of God.

wheels within wheels, lol and of course Jesus Christ, Lord and Logos, at the center of them ALL!  :banana:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Sounds sort of like the Bible wheel.....

[JSM]

JSM,

I have a special place in my heart for the Ephesian church.

For it was in Ephesians 2:8-9 that I fell away from Truth, and through which I was brought back.

We must always remember that "it" is always and foremost about Love :HeartThrob:

"thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy might" and "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself", on these two hang all the law and prophets! :dsunny:

Hi Saintwalee. Yes, you are right, it IS all about love. Love for God and love for neighbor. I think many Christians have fallen away at some stage and have been brought back. I look forward to being brought back. I know I will be.

[JSM]

Welcome to the place of lampstands  :laugh:

Thank you Whitewings.

[JSM]

Thestory of the Ephesian church, if one follows it from Acts(its inception in Paul's first missionary journey through His departure to Rome), then through the epistle to the Ephesians(imo the clearest blueprint to the functioning, overcoming body of gathered out ones) and then into Revelations is just amazing.

The last thing Paul says to the Ephesian elders as he leaves for Rome is, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock."

Then is Revelation, the one who walks among the Lampstands(churches) says to Ephesus, "You have tried those who claimed to be apostles and exposed the false ones."

They had taken Paul's exhortation to heart :o)

Yet he says, But this i hav against you, you have left your first love. Be zealous therefore and repent unless I remove your Lampstand from its place.

The Ephesian chhurch was a city set on a hill, a lamp upon the lampstand for many years.

Trying 'those who claim to be apostles but are not' can make us lose the love we had at first for God and man (my version says "you have abandoned the love you had at first."). We can become wounded and even bitter. So we have to repent and see from where we have fallen. Return to the love we had at first.

[eaglesway]

I dont believe trying false messengers will make us lose anything. If we becme bitter, it is because we are descending back into the flesh as judges. In the Spirit, discernment reveals the spirits of the messengers. It is faithfulness and gratitude that keeps our love fresh :o)

[Lazarus Short]

I know that Eastern Orthodox believe in Universal Salvation, did you know that?

Welcome, JSM, and could you share some more about that?  I have read things that indicated so, but was not 100% sure of it.

[JSM]

I dont believe trying false messengers will make us lose anything. If we becme bitter, it is because we are descending back into the flesh as judges. In the Spirit, discernment reveals the spirits of the messengers. It is faithfulness and gratitude that keeps our love fresh :o)

Hi Eaglesway, yes amen.

[JSM]

I know that Eastern Orthodox believe in Universal Salvation, did you know that?

Welcome, JSM, and could you share some more about that?  I have read things that indicated so, but was not 100% sure of it.

Hi Lazarus Short.

The Eastern Orthodox, from what I have seen on various Orthodox websites, have hope that all people will eventually be saved. They believe that life consists of man growing closer and closer to God and His love (theosis), or the opposite.

So...an Eastern Orthodox may say: universal salvation is a possibility.

I was just reading this, but there are plenty more sites..
http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/12108/universalism-in-the-orthodox-church