Hi,
I'm so glad that I came across this site. I grew up attending a small Methodist church that I loved, but there weren't very many young people there so as a teenager I started going to the youth group at a friend's church as well. It was a very fire and brimstone church and there was a lot of pressure placed on us to witness to our unsaved friends and family members. That environment, combined with the fact that I have OCD, made my life a living hell for quite awhile. I asked Jesus into my heart countless times but it never seemed like I said it sincerely enough. I assumed that I must not be part of the elect. I also worried sick over the fate of my unsaved loved ones, to the point that I had nightmares about Jesus forcing me to go to Heaven and leave my dad in Hell. I eventually left religion behind altogether and became agnostic.
Recently my anxieties have resurfaced and I started to get really into researching the doctrine of Hell. During my research I found this site and started learning more about universal reconciliation. At this point I am still struggling with doubts, but UR has given me a glimmer of hope and I am so thankful for that.
Howdy;
Welcome.
You will be asking many questions in your heart at the moment.
Please consider that the work of Christ is greater than the work of Adam. 1 Cor 15 22,23 Answers much of the whole scenario.
I used to be a Baptist. I feel to have been blessed to be released from that bondage to the law.
Romans talks about that issue between law and grace.
Romans 9, through 11 Highlights the whole purpose of God being greater that man can conceive. But highlights that His plan sets us free from failure and secures the position as His loved children.
Romans 8;38,39 highlights that NOTHING can keep us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
May He indeed bless you beyond the ability to fathom.
Eph 3; 14-21 " For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth derives it's name,
in order that according to the riches of His glory He might grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith, rooted and grounded in faith, in order that you might be empowered to grasp, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ WHICH SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to the One Who is able to do far more abundantly than we ask or imagine, according to the power THAT IS WORKING WITHIN US,
to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ throughout all generations, for the age and the ages to come. Amen."
Welcome, tigerseye402!
I am relatively new to UR myself, as well. I so enjoy this site and the people here are great.
Over and over the Bible speaks of a Love that God has for us that can never fail. 1 Corinthians 13:8 says this very thing: Love never fails.
When I first heard of UR, it just seemed to fit the God that I knew.
I hope you enjoy being here. I think you will learn much and have many great conversations.
D.
Welcome to the forum. I'm so glad for your glimmer of hope.
Romans 5:5 hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
hi! and welcome to Tentmaker forums! I too am SO happy to know whether my loved ones find redemption this side of life, or the 'other' side, all will be SO well, in the 'end'! Plus, others can actually hear the "good" news when it's actually good news!
:banana: :dsunny: :gsmile:
WELCOME!
Hope is more than just a glimmer, always.
Welcome to the tent and God Bless You
Welcome :dsunny:
Welcome tigerseye, and God bless!
Thanks for the welcome everyone. I have been doing a lot of reading on the forums and it's been a great help.
:cloud9: Welcome.....God saves all to the uttermost in His timing. Enjoy the site.....blessings....
Hi and welcome! It seems to be a common theme that people experience anxiety and fear about Hell before finding out it is a nonsense. Pressure and expectation put upon us from religionists cause untold anxiety and depression.
I read something Charles Slagle wrote, he said:
QuoteThe lie of conditional love must die or we cannot live. We can exist and cope -we can even appear to live — but that lie
must bite the dust so we can live.
Peace be with you