It is refreshing to have a conversation, a kindly argument with someone who sincerely believes in everlasting torment, that doesn’t turn ugly. I had one of these recently, hot off the heels of another one that had an entirely different tone. Most recently, the sincere believer in eternal damnation almost immediately brought up Hitler and Stalin. Why do they do this, I wonder? It seems to be an effort to show how universal salvation is somehow unacceptable or show that everlasting punishment may be appropriate for some people. As if when you may be trapped into admitting it is acceptable for Hitler or Stalin, then the door is open for anyone else. That is the tactic. Of course eternal torture is not acceptable for anyone, but we cannot let the focus remain on such people as Hitler. We say God will deal with him appropriately, and then move on.
This is really a dishonest tactic for the eternal torment believer to use, but when it comes to discussions, it is intended to win an argument. The reason it is so dishonest is that these folks don’t go around converting the Hitlers and Stalins of the world to save them from this fate; rather, they believe ALL people who do not believe as they do are going to hell forever, with no escape. The Hitler argument is therefore a distractor. What eternal hellfire believers really believe is that all the people Hitler and Stalin are responsible for murdering are all going to the same place, forever, with no hope of escape! They believe that people living on the same block as us, in the same neighborhood, are ALL destined for everlasting torture unless they believe certain things about Jesus in this lifetime. Some say you have to be baptized, go to the altar call publicly, accept Jesus into your heart as “personal Savior” (a development of the past couple 150 years or so), and then demonstrate that you are truly “saved” by doing good things, by “bearing fruit.”
Preachers sometimes put a spin on Romans 6:23, which reads in the NRSV translation: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Preachers will often say this means "spiritual" death, and that you "have to reach out and take the free gift," or you're not saved. But the plain meaning of the first half of this sentence is this: we all die! Every one of us. If Paul wanted to put “spiritual” in front of death, he certainly could have, but he didn’t. Physical death is the destiny for all human beings. However, even if one wants to interpret this as “spiritual” death (and this may be correct), this does not mean that a spiritually dead person cannot then become a spiritually alive person by the transforming power of God! This also is not limited to this lifetime. God can do as he pleases with his creation and the idea that any chance for spiritual growth, any chance for repentance, or any change is impossible after death is simply absurd, not to mention it is clearly shown to be otherwise in the Bible. 1 Peter 3 and 4 contain clear passages of Jesus’s activities after death that should remove all doubt as to whether post-mortem changes or repentance are possible.
Then we have the idea of a “free gift.” This is true grace, my friends: a free gift. Paul contrasts Adam and Christ to illustrate this in Romans 5. Verse 15 states: “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.” (NRSV translation) Here Paul uses “the many,” in a clear parallel comparison to those (“the many”) who died as a result of Adam’s sin. This usage of “many” may be simply explained that all people had yet to be born and Paul was using the past tense. Additionally, “Adam,” is used to create an argument here, but since the Hebrew can refer to humans in general, one may interpret this as the disobedience of human beings, in general. In any case, the two groups refer to all people up to that point as “the many” in this case. Verse 18 is clearer and more all-encompassing with respect to time and so more clearly includes future events: “Therefore, just as one trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.”
In other words, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life! For all people! Not just a few, but the many, multitudes, ALL people. Almost invariably, the hell-believing preachers are forced to add to what the Bible teaches by saying “but you have to take the free gift…you have to reach out and take it, and you can do that today, by coming forward, and publicly accepting Christ as Savior,” or something to that effect. My friends, there are no conditions here like that. Christ said “It is finished!” He has defeated the powers of sin and death and there will be justification and life for ALL! The free gift is yours, mine, everybody's, because God is love and God is awesome!!
There is nothing in the Bible that says repentance and change are impossible after death, as we saw in 1 Peter 3 and 4 . In fact, Jesus’s answer to the disciples’ question in Mark 10:26: “who then can be saved?” was cryptic, but encouraging and unlimited in its scope: “…With God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE,” he answered.
God desires all mankind to be saved according to 1 Timothy 2:4. Do we doubt that God has the power to accomplish his will. Are we so stubborn as to believe an absurdity like God will allow people to choose everlasting torture if that is what they want because he is “all-loving”? Who would want or choose that?! Is that really “all-loving?” No-one in their right mind would choose to be tormented forever (and probably no-one not in their “right mind” either); still for free will to be truly free will, someone needs to be in their right mind and have knowledge of what they are choosing. People on earth today and through the ages have not had this knowledge!
Be that as it may, in any case, I say, God gets what he wants and his will is going to be done, whether fire and brimstone believers like it or not! They will like it ultimately, I hope! No-one languishes in the pit forever, but the purifying fire of God will “burn” away impurities and whatever is false and evil within each person, until with clear vision and clear consciences “every” knee will bow in Philippians Chapter 2. There is, truthfully, some good in all people. This is true even among the most obviously evil people in history. Each person’s illusions and delusions and evil of all sorts will have been “burned” away and all God’s children, all people, will dwell forever with him, fully restored, enjoying the truly free gift, as the Bible promises.
God bless,
David
Sad, but true! "Insert Work Here". I love it, Good One!
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