Optimism

Streams of Thought

We should also review a list of the major organized movements with opinions about Christian salvation. Just as individuals have expressed their views, groups of individuals with shared beliefs have also rallied around their beliefs. The chart below is a basic categorization of the major streams of spiritual thought. The analysis is a generalization and so may not be true for particular churches. I Marvel that so many professing Christians and even cults say the... read more.

Talk to Jesus

Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind! So how do we talk to him? Matthew 6:5-15 (WEB) says, 5) When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6) But you, when you pray,... read more.

The Bottom Line

We live in a world that is often only concerned about the bottom line. We want to know if our team won, if the business deal ended in the black, if the goal was reached. We want the headline, and perhaps the summary, but have little time to actually live it or get emotionally involved. We want the college degree now. We want to lose weight now. We want to get rich now. In a... read more.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly of John Robinson

Objectors to my hopeful conclusions about salvation have asked me to review other books in order to win me back to traditional theology, that is that few humans are saved while most are eternally damned. I have taken up the challenge and have posted various Book Reviews on my website. I thought it was a fair suggestion to allow myself to be influenced by Christians of different conviction. However, I thought it would also be... read more.

The Redeemed

A wonderful eternity is planned for the redeemed people of God as explained in Revelation 21:1-7 (WEB) which says, 1) I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 2) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3) I heard a loud voice... read more.

The Reprobate

In contrast to the redeemed, the Lake of Fire is the sentence for the reprobate, the unredeemed who are not chosen for grace. The final words in Revelation 21:8 (WEB) say, But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. Review the list of those sentenced to the Lake of Fire. The... read more.

There is No Punishment After Death for the Redeemed!

CALVINIST>> There is No Punishment After Death for the Redeemed! ME>> I wish that were true. I understand that the Calvinist way of thinking insists that there is no punishment after death for anyone whose sins have been paid for at the cross. This way of thinking is why you come to the conclusion that Jesus did not die for all mankind, because you know that people are punished after death. Yet, you too quickly... read more.

Three Rebuttals

After reading Bell's book, I then read three rebuttals to his salvation theology. His ideas created enough stir for concerned Christians to quickly take up their pens against his heresy. Fair enough. Since the book gained fame among believers and unbelievers alike, his claims ought to be openly compared with the Bible. Otherwise the light of the gospel could be hidden by confusion and could lead many astray. So take a moment with me to... read more.

Trust Jesus

Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind! So what does it mean to trust in him? In the Bible "trust in" is basically a synonym for "believe in." Since belief and trust are the vital components of receiving God's salvation, let's hit it again. 1 John 1:9-10 (WEB) says, 9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us... read more.

Universalism + Free Will = One Very Strange Bird

The feedback I have received for my Optimism Out of Control thesis, even from objectors, has been extremely valuable. The hard questions of others have driven me to pray for God's leading and to God's word for confirmation of the good news that truly Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind. THE MOST CURIOUS OBJECTION>> However, of all the objections received the most curious is from those who also... read more.

Wait Another Minute!

So, is that it? Is that my incredibly awesome idea? Yes, that is it. For believing that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind I was accused of having a case of "optimism out of control." I hope I have written rationally enough to persuade you that my optimism is not out of control, but in fact in control and Biblically defensible. More than that, the message that Christ is Messiah and Savior of... read more.

What About the Unforgivable Sin?

ONE ASKED>> What about the unforgivable sin, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Matthew 12:30-32, Mark 3:28-29, and Luke 12:8-10? ME>> That is an excellent question. First read these verses in the WEB translation, 30) He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters. 31) Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not... read more.

What Harm is There in Believing that God Will Save All Mankind?

Another tentative reader asked... READER>> What harm is there in believing that God will save all mankind? Why would any object? Why is this good news even questioned? Your Biblical arguments seem clear enough. ME>> Thank you for this question. You appear to be intellectually persuaded that the Bible teaches the salvation of all mankind. You also appear to be attracted to the prospects of the good news. Yet perhaps your reluctance and uncertainty is... read more.

Why Do Some Go to Hell, Even if Temporarily?

Another reader asked... READER>> Why do some go to Hell, even if temporarily? You say that only the Holy Spirit can lead people to faith and repentance. So then it is God himself who has determined to forgive all mankind from the cross in 33 A.D.. And it is the Holy Spirit who regenerates each individual at the time of his choosing to be born again and receive forgiveness. So then why would God allow... read more.

Why Evangelize?

MANY>> If all mankind is saved from the Lake of Fire why even evangelize? ME>> That is an excellent question. We evangelize because... 1. We are commanded by Jesus to evangelize and make disciples. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even... read more.

Why Evangelize? Spiritual Warfare and Love for the Elect is Why!

Many continue to ask... MANY>> If all mankind is saved from the Lake of Fire why even evangelize? ME>> That is an excellent question. Many do evangelism because they think that their efforts are adding people's names to the Lamb's Book of Life. We have already discussed that if predestination is true in any sense whatsoever, then each individual's final destiny cannot be effected in the least by even one human word or action. So... read more.

Why is 'Free Will' an offense to grace?

Another debater asked... READER>> I interpret your statement[s] to mean "That [believing in free will] is an offense to God in that it does a disservice of some sort to His grace." Why does it? ME>> Claiming that free will made a distinction between you and another rather than grace is not really a disservice to God's grace, for ultimately nothing interrupts God's service and purpose, even our unbelief. But instead it is a dishonoring... read more.

Why Read?

I have introduced my thesis. Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind. I have stated that reason alone is insufficient to persuade people to believe. Since we hide from God, special tactics beyond education are needed to defeat unbelief and reach the heart of sinners hiding from God's love. I have asked if God uses special persuasive tactics. Are special tactics for responding to stubborn disbelief in Christ integral... read more.

Worship Jesus

Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind! So what does it mean to worship Jesus? Isaiah 45:22-25 (WEB) says, 22) Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23) I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow,... read more.

Wow! How Can You Be Ultra-Conservative and Ultra-Liberal?

Another Pastor asked ANOTHER PASTOR>> Wow! How can you be both ultra-conservative and ultra-liberal? ME>> You have just vindicated my entire life for Christ. Thank you! American Christians, soaked in American culture, have adopted a simplistic two-party worldview. Just like American politics teeters between the labels of Democrat and Republican, so American Christians teeter between the labels of Liberal and Conservative. Labels can be useful. However, in this case the labels are neither sufficiently defined... read more.

Pages