All shall be reconciled to God

Scripture contradicts itself, but there are plenty of verses that support the idea that all shall be reconciled with God.

Psalms 65:2 --- All men will come to God.
Psalms 86:9 --- All nations will worship and glorify God.
Psalms 145:9-10 --- The Lord has compassion on all His creation and all He has made will praise Him.
Isaiah 25:6-8 --- God will prepare a feast for all people, He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers up all nations. He will eliminate death, wipe away the tears from all faces and remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.
Isaiah 45:22-23 --- God has sworn an oath that every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will swear by Him.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 --- All men will know God, from the greatest to the least.

John 1:29 --- Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John 5:25 --- Even the dead will hear the sound of Christ and all who hear will live.
John 12:32 --- When Jesus is lifted up from the earth, he will draw all men to himself.
Romans 5:18 --- The act of obedience of one man (Jesus) will bring life for all men.
Corinthians 15:22-28 --- All will be made alive in Christ, but each in his own turn
Colossians 1: 19-20 --- God was pleased to reconcile to Himself, all things on earth and in heaven through the blood of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:4-6 --- God wants all men to be saved and to know the truth. Can God’s desire be thwarted?
Philippians. 2:9-11 --- Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord
Revelations 5:13 --- Every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea will sing praises to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Christ).
Revelations 21:4-5 --- God will dwell with men and he will wipe every tear from their eyes, death, mourning, crying, pain and the old order of things will pass and everything will be made new.

Read more: Nice Compendium of ALL the Verses Supporting Universal Salvation (Micah, Gospel, doctrine) - Christianity -  - City-Data Forum

There are more verses like that. The verses that support universal salvation outnumber the tiny amount of verses that support eternal damnation.

When the Bible contradicts itself, I go with the Doctrine that has the most support.

God can evangelize dead people.
1 Pete 4:6 "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

The soul continues journeying and growing after death. God can do anything, including release a soul from hell. I don't limit what God can do and his word isn't set in stone.

God changes his mind and often isn't faithful to his word. I know this from experience.

Any thoughts?

Dear MOD,
I'm trying really hard not to preach or proselytize. It's very difficult to do on a scriptural debate and I beg your pardon, mercy, and leniency. Thanks

PopeADope said:

Scripture contradicts itself, but there are plenty of verses that support the idea that all shall be reconciled with God.

Psalms 65:2 --- All men will come to God.
Psalms 86:9 --- All nations will worship and glorify God.
Psalms 145:9-10 --- The Lord has compassion on all His creation and all He has made will praise Him.
Isaiah 25:6-8 --- God will prepare a feast for all people, He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers up all nations. He will eliminate death, wipe away the tears from all faces and remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.
Isaiah 45:22-23 --- God has sworn an oath that every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will swear by Him.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 --- All men will know God, from the greatest to the least.

John 1:29 --- Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John 5:25 --- Even the dead will hear the sound of Christ and all who hear will live.
John 12:32 --- When Jesus is lifted up from the earth, he will draw all men to himself.
Romans 5:18 --- The act of obedience of one man (Jesus) will bring life for all men.
Corinthians 15:22-28 --- All will be made alive in Christ, but each in his own turn
Colossians 1: 19-20 --- God was pleased to reconcile to Himself, all things on earth and in heaven through the blood of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:4-6 --- God wants all men to be saved and to know the truth. Can God’s desire be thwarted?
Philippians. 2:9-11 --- Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord
Revelations 5:13 --- Every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea will sing praises to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Christ).
Revelations 21:4-5 --- God will dwell with men and he will wipe every tear from their eyes, death, mourning, crying, pain and the old order of things will pass and everything will be made new.

Read more: Nice Compendium of ALL the Verses Supporting Universal Salvation (Micah, Gospel, doctrine) - Christianity - - City-Data Forum

There are more verses like that. The verses that support universal salvation outnumber the tiny amount of verses that support eternal damnation.

When the Bible contradicts itself, I go with the Doctrine that has the most support.

God can evangelize dead people.
1 Pete 4:6 "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

The soul continues journeying and growing after death. God can do anything, including release a soul from hell. I don't limit what God can do and his word isn't set in stone.

God changes his mind and often isn't faithful to his word. I know this from experience.

Any thoughts?

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Thanks for sharing that list of scriptures. I enjoy Bible verses but it is impossible for me to make heads nor tails out of the Bible so I do not even try to refer to it to figure anything out about my eternal destination.

I do not believe in salvation because I do not believe there is anything to be saved from since I do not believe in original sin.

I do not believe heaven and hell are geographical locations. I believe heaven and hell are states of the soul and represent nearness to God and distance from God, respectively. Exactly how that plays out I do not know but one first has to know God to be near to God.

I also believe that the soul continues journeying and growing after death and that God can do anything, including release a soul from hell. Like you said, I don't limit what God can do and what God does isn't set in stone because God takes into account what we do and as such God’s impending decrees can be altered.

I believe that getting to heaven as it is called by men is dependent upon two things – faith in God’s Messenger in His Day and good deeds, i.e., living a noble life to the best of our ability and doing onto others as we would be done by.

I do not believe everyone will end up in heaven because God is just. Equal treatment for all regardless of their faith and deeds is not according to justice. However, I also believe that everything we have is dependent upon the mercy and bounty of God so God can accept into His heaven anyone He so pleases, even the undeserving, if they reach out for God’s mercy. I also believe that through the prayers of others people can advance in the spiritual world, if it be God’s Will.

Trailblazer said:

Thanks for sharing that list of scriptures. I enjoy Bible verses but it is impossible for me to make heads nor tails out of the Bible so I do not even try to refer to it to figure anything out about my eternal destination.

I do not believe in salvation because I do not believe there is anything to be saved from since I do not believe in original sin.

I do not believe heaven and hell are geographical locations. I believe heaven and hell are states of the soul and represent nearness to God and distance from God, respectively. Exactly how that plays out I do not know but one first has to know God to be near to God.

I also believe that the soul continues journeying and growing after death and that God can do anything, including release a soul from hell. Like you said, I don't limit what God can do and what God does isn't set in stone because God takes into account what we do and as such God’s impending decrees can be altered.

I believe that getting to heaven as it is called by men is dependent upon two things – faith in God’s Messenger in His Day and good deeds, i.e., living a noble life to the best of our ability and doing onto others as we would be done by.

I do not believe everyone will end up in heaven because God is just. Equal treatment for all regardless of their faith and deeds is not according to justice. However, I also believe that everything we have is dependent upon the mercy and bounty of God so God can accept into His heaven anyone He so pleases, even the undeserving, if they reach out for God’s mercy. I also believe that through the prayers of others people can advance in the spiritual world, if it be God’s Will.

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I see eye-to-eye with you

PopeADope said:

Scripture contradicts itself, but there are plenty of verses that support the idea that all shall be reconciled with God.

Psalms 65:2 --- All men will come to God.
Psalms 86:9 --- All nations will worship and glorify God.
Psalms 145:9-10 --- The Lord has compassion on all His creation and all He has made will praise Him.
Isaiah 25:6-8 --- God will prepare a feast for all people, He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers up all nations. He will eliminate death, wipe away the tears from all faces and remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.
Isaiah 45:22-23 --- God has sworn an oath that every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will swear by Him.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 --- All men will know God, from the greatest to the least.

John 1:29 --- Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John 5:25 --- Even the dead will hear the sound of Christ and all who hear will live.
John 12:32 --- When Jesus is lifted up from the earth, he will draw all men to himself.
Romans 5:18 --- The act of obedience of one man (Jesus) will bring life for all men.
Corinthians 15:22-28 --- All will be made alive in Christ, but each in his own turn
Colossians 1: 19-20 --- God was pleased to reconcile to Himself, all things on earth and in heaven through the blood of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:4-6 --- God wants all men to be saved and to know the truth. Can God’s desire be thwarted?
Philippians. 2:9-11 --- Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord
Revelations 5:13 --- Every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea will sing praises to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Christ).
Revelations 21:4-5 --- God will dwell with men and he will wipe every tear from their eyes, death, mourning, crying, pain and the old order of things will pass and everything will be made new.

Read more: Nice Compendium of ALL the Verses Supporting Universal Salvation (Micah, Gospel, doctrine) - Christianity - - City-Data Forum

There are more verses like that. The verses that support universal salvation outnumber the tiny amount of verses that support eternal damnation.

When the Bible contradicts itself, I go with the Doctrine that has the most support.

God can evangelize dead people.
1 Pete 4:6 "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

The soul continues journeying and growing after death. God can do anything, including release a soul from hell. I don't limit what God can do and his word isn't set in stone.

God changes his mind and often isn't faithful to his word. I know this from experience.

Any thoughts?

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I like that you are taking a universalist approach to Hebrew and NT scripture.

I believe all God asks of us to do the best we can each day, If we take small steps initially, then we become stronger and eventually the truth sets us free. John 8:32

The teachings of Christ are all about love and grace, not a wrathful cruel God that casts people into hell for not ticking all the conservative Christian's boxes.

PopeADope said:

God can evangelize dead people.
1 Pete 4:6 "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

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You have too much for me to get into. One thing at a time for me. I am too old.

However, this one was fun. It just shows me how easy it is for us to go astray with the scriptures, and that we need others at times to give a different perspective. This one is where the harmonious interpretation gives us the explanation of this verse. Once it has been established that death is the return to non existence, destruction of that being, the above scripture begins to be understood since it cannot mean what is says literally.

What we have then is simply, that those who are dead in the eyes of God, dead in their trespasses - are being preached to.
All of a sudden, Peter's words makes sense:
So, he made us alive though we were dead to him by our trespasses, and in this manner, the Gospel was preached to the dead.

There are indeed many difficult things in scripture, but that is what makes the study of them fun.

Grandliseur said:

You have too much for me to get into. One thing at a time for me. I am too old.

However, this one was fun. It just shows me how easy it is for us to go astray with the scriptures, and that we need others at times to give a different perspective. This one is where the harmonious interpretation gives us the explanation of this verse. Once it has been established that death is the return to non existence, destruction of that being, the above scripture begins to be understood since it cannot mean what is says literally.

What we have then is simply, that those who are dead in the eyes of God, dead in their trespasses - are being preached to.

Ephesians 2:1 And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;​

All of a sudden, Peter's words makes sense:

6 For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.​

So, he made us alive though we were dead to him by our trespasses, and in this manner, the Gospel was preached to the dead.

There are indeed many difficult things in scripture, but that is what makes the study of them fun.

​

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It doesn't specify what kind of death so I'll enjoy my interpretation