Justin

The Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22 might further stir the conversation in your class. Verse 14 is troublesome for those of us who remain behind when unbelieving family members die - "For many are called (or invited), but few are chosen." - and these funerals are seldom "feal-good" ocassions; i certainly prefer the joyous home-going of the saints. Oh yes, Psalm 116:15

Please inform us of the class mood and discussion - you certainly chose a heart-wrenching topic. But a great opportunity to get your diverse group into the Bible.

Blessings ><>

On all three point I can somewhat agree....

But....

to point 2. "At the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess." There will be a time when everyone acknowledges the Lordship of Christ...won't that mean that all will be saved? - All come to the Father through Jesus....
"He descended into Hell." While Hell exists it has no power....

Christ came to offer eternal life now....and in the future.....

Just adding more to think about...

Off to class....

Justin

You asked, "All of this is contingent upon the judgment that brings justice...and what is justice other than setting all things right, and what could be more right than a whole creation with all people reconciled to God?" Basically, will God really send someone to hell if he sets all things right by redeeming all of creation?

Below are some thoughts from Dr. Derek Thomas at: http://www.reformation21.org

"It is a question that came my way recently: will God really condemn good people to hell? And the answer is yes. However, we need to approach the answer with some deliberate sensitivity. First, we need to assert three inviolable truths taught in Scripture:

(1) Hell exists. No matter how distasteful hell may be to think about and talk about, no one spoke about it more than Jesus. Hell, according to Jesus, is a state of eternal, destructive punishment, in which God's punishment is directly experienced. Some Scripture passages of Jesus' include references to hell as a place of weeping and grinding of teeth (Matt. 8:12), of incineration (Matt. 5:22), and torment (Luke 16:23). Appalling? Yes, and it is meant to have that effect upon us - striking with terror at the thought of what could lie ahead outside of God's forgiveness.

(2) Hell is certain for all who reject Jesus Christ. There must be no equivocation here, for Scripture is clear: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn. 14:6); "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Speculations about what some call "anonymous Christianity" - that people are saved through Christ's work even if they have never heard of him - have no biblical basis whatsoever.

(3) Hell is a just punishment for sin. Low view of sin leads to questioning the appropriateness of such a drastic punishment as hell. "Good" people are sinners. On the scale of sinfulness, some are less sinful than others, nevertheless, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Truth is, we are all fit for hell unless God's mercy intervenes. We may find this truth harsh, and unremitting. It might offend our civility and sense of worth. But we tamper with Scripture's assessment of the human condition at our peril. To suggest otherwise seriously questions Jesus' competence (he was ignorant of human worth) or morality (knowing otherwise, he continued to frighten us by painting a darker picture than is the case). If Jesus is either of these, he is unworthy of our admiration let alone our faith.

This life's decisions are decisive. And our task as Christians is to proclaim the gospel to our fallen, guilty, hell-bent fellows. As Paul said, "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish... I am eager to preach the gospel to you also ... For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:14-16). And again in Hebrews: "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27).

It would be nice to think that hell does not exist, or that men and women may avoid it even if they do not have faith in Jesus Christ. But such thoughts are a delusion and, as J. I. Packer writes: "It is really a mercy to mankind that God in Scripture is so explicit about hell."

Justin, I hope this helps as you work through this issue personally and with the flock you serve.

You could also ask your class what they think of Susan Atkins and David Berkowitz and Christopher Yuan - all three were (so they say) transformed, forgiven thru Christ Jesus, "born again". Susan was convicted of multiple murders with Charlie Manson in California, and David was convicted of multiple murders as "Son of Sam" in New York. Christopher was imprisoned in Georgia as the major drug dealer southeast USA.

How will your diverse community judge "chiefs of sinners"?

Blessings ><>

Keep up the good fight of faith and let the love of Christ form the words in your mouth!

KD

This is at times all we can say.....

In the end...the heart of Reformed Theology says that it is up to Jesus....we can debate who..how many...what it takes....but in the end...we have so little power.....