A few related questions often come to mind of those seeking truth regarding the glorious conclusions taken from the scriptures concerning the eternal will and purposes of God. We pray that disbelief or lack of knowledge will not become a stumbling block in grasping these truths. Something to consider, realize, and acknowledge is the fact...that the things that seem impossible with men are possible with God - Lk.18:27.

A major stumbling stone to some Christians is the inability to comprehend the meaning of the following scripture. We have touched on this point already in other writing on this site. It is often asked....

"Does not Matt.25:46 say that everlasting punishment is for the same length of time as everlasting life?"

Certainly as far as the scripture is concerned this is correct. Both carry on unto everlasting [Grk. "AGE lasting" an undetermined period of TIME in the AGES] as the original scripture is correctly saying, but only life (in Christ) extends beyond the ages. Keeping this in mind then, if the punishment of the wicked is age lasting, so also of course, is the salvation of the righteous.

Another barrier to disbelief is found in the often asked question - "Are we to conclude that the Devil and his angels are to be saved?''

The answer of course, is no. if one is speaking in the strict sense of human type salvation, because nowhere in the Bible is salvation as such, ordained for any other creature than man himself. However, the word does say that restoration and return unto a state of peace and harmony is assured in the reconciliation of all of creation.

Another question that might be asked is - "Since the Bible seems to indicate that this present earthly life is the only CHANCE we will ever have to obtain salvation; how is it that all men shall eventually be saved?"

The simplest answer to this lies in the fact that salvation has never been by chance. Although man's doctrine continues to assert that we have a choice in free will to accept or reject salvation, this in actuality relegates salvation to pure chance. But, salvation has always been and will always be by grace alone. Left to chance, no one would ever have the power to be saved. Chance is not involved in the grace of God!

There are a couple of other obvious major questions over which one might ponder, and these are - "Why should we accept the death and resurrection of Christ now in this day and age of salvation if all are to be eventually saved anyway?"

First of all, no one at all could be saved if Christ had not gone to the cross. It is not a matter of one refusing to accept or reject salvation, for at the individual's appointed time, it is all the divine work of God's will and plan, not man's - Jn.6:29. Grace is no excuse for sin Rom.6:15. Who in their right mind would or even could desire to go through hell if God had already given them belief in eternal life? Where is man's security in this life or the next if anything can happen that would ultimately keep one apart from God's eternal plan? Rest assured beloved ones, God shall not fail!

"Will not the salvation of all teaching remove restraint and encourage men to lead lives of wickedness?"

No! Not according to scripture which tells us it is only "the goodness of God (not the wrath) that leadeth men to repentance." Rom.2:1-4.

We will conclude with several more relevant questions in which you can decide what is truth for yourselves. For further similar type questions click here "A Few questions"

*** If our omniscient God deliberately creates beings that are to be forever damned and forever hold unforgiveness, is this love?

*** How can God save infants apart from them having faith in Christ's death? If they are to be saved regardless of this, why do we strive to prevent them from dying, often believing and fearing that when they grow up they might not be saved?

*** If we as loving parents can only punish our children for a short duration of time, how is it that our loving God could impose fiery punishment on his children throughout an eternity? Is this "a just recompense of reward?" Does this constitute the climax of His divine purpose?

*** How can we say that God is all loving, all wise, all powerful and full of righteous justice, then turn around and deny it in doctrine?

*** If we as compassionate humans cannot bear to see our loved ones or even our fellowman in cries of pain and anguish without immediately trying to alleviate them, how can our loving compassionate God forever endure billions of his own in such a state and not come to their sure aid? Does this bring all glory and honour to God?

*** Why did God seemingly leave countless multitudes of his creation without hope of salvation? Even today, why are only a relative few being saved when it is only God Himself that can change the heart? Is the same Word of God as an Almighty infinite creator to be known, as only a very small almost helpless and frustrated Redeemer?

*** Why does God command us to love our enemies, if it is His own purpose to torture his enemies in eternity along with those who have not so much as even heard of Christ?

*** Does vengeance, retaliation, and vindictiveness lie in the heart of God Himself, or is this what God is trying to extract out of the wicked heart of man?

*** Does not God's higher will lead to the greatest possible end of all things? Or, will Satan's far lesser power end up with most everything? Will God be a failure in fulfilling his purposes; a defeated loser in his plan of redemption, reconciliation and restitution?

*** Will the Lord whose mercy endures forever, forever forsake the work of His own hands? Is God just trying to do something which only He could foresee would never be done? Is He not the faithful author and finisher of all the work He has purposed to do?

*** Are not the attributes of our gracious God slandered by the teaching of endless punishment? Does God lack the will, or the love, or the power, or the grace, to save all? Is not too much punishment and condemnation just as unrighteous as too little? Who is man that he dare to limit and confine with his self made doctrines, the efficacy of the blood of God to "deny the power thereof?"

*** Why continue to believe and say, "the way of the Lord is not equal?'' but it is man's way that is not equal - Ezk.33:17-20.

Finally, is not this a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation...that we labour and strive because of our Living God who IS the Saviour of all men, specially (not exclusively) of them that (now) believe? Does not God Himself say in His holy word, "these things command and teach?" 1Tim.4:9-11. Does not this teaching relegate all power unto Him, who only is worthy? Rev.1:11.

Yet, some would vainly argue that this teaching does away with evangelistic incentive and zeal. Why is it then, that Paul the apostle was one of the greatest evangelists of all time, yet his writings reveal God's plan of being "all in all" - throughout the new testament? Did he not realize the same as Christians should realize today, that God's purpose in salvation is for the believer to diligently work towards this end? Is it not a wonderful and inspiring truth to realize that complete success in our godly efforts as a believer is ultimately assured? With this assurance, how much easier it is to cease from striving in our own works and learn to let God work through us!

Many who reject these truths are of a like spirit to the elder brother of the prodigal son who did not wish the younger brother to share in any of the blessings which the Father had laid up in abundance for them both - Lk.15:11-32. Let us not harbour the spirit which manifested in James and John when they desired to call down consuming fire. Jesus rebuked them saying, ''Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.'' Lk.9:55. "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." Lk.9:56.

Let each examine their heart and also make sure they are not in the attitude of Jonah who was angry that God spared the wicked. "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that We perish not?" Jonah 3:9.

"I took them away as I saw good...when I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them...When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou (Jerusalem) and thy daughters shall return to your former estate."

..."these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off...Behold, O my People, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel...and shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live...then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken, it, and performed it, saith the Lord."

Of Tophet in the Valley of Hinnom (Jer.7:31), it is said of this place which typifies the lake of fire at the end of the ages...it "shall be holy unto the Lord."

K. Ross McKay