*Tot,
Who is greater? Adam or Christ?
Who is more powerful?
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." Rom 5:12-19
If Adam brought the penalty to all men by his one action...then Jesus has cancelled the penalty for all men by his one action.
The world is a man in an unlocked prison with a blindfold on.
The debt has been paid.
The good news (gospel) is that we are free and that the kingdom of God is within us.
If someone paid off the mortgage loan on your home, and you were not aware of it...are you still in debt?
The problem, is that because you do not know, you live as if you are under the burden of the debt.
Jesus taught us that God is our Father and that our neighbors are our brothers.
Love God
Love your neighbor as yourself.
How much doctrine is needed for that?
It is all so very simple.
Where is it said that death is the demarcation for decision making?
" ...For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God." Rom 14:10,11
"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." Phil 2:10.11
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Rom 10:9
The Pharisees and Sadducees felt orthodox and safe...the 'doctrine' of Jesus was not very comfortable.
It always feels comfortable to fit in with the majority.
Peace
This IS a gospel I would work with Scan, that is to say if I found someone preaching it and I could assist I would, providing they did not deny eternal punishment [do you see the distinction] I think it wrong and a little decietful but in as much as the positive truths of the cross are preached I am encouraged.
I believe that people who hold this position [in my opinion] have fully convinced themselves of it, I feel if you really, really searched your heart under the spotlight of the Holy Spirit you would see things that would turn you away from it. [I stress that is my opinion]
Despite it's appeal I feel a wrong spirit present in it, I would hesitate to put it more strongly than that.
Although indeed it is a [growing] minority view within evangelicalism it is very much in line and to the liking of the world view [caution there]
I am very much [as I have expressed on this forum] in favour of a more positive approach to evangelism, the main thrust being the more abundant life and life in the Spirit.
However I cannot deny what I see in the sayings of Jesus and as far as I can see His words have not been convincingly re-interpreted by the Unis.
I state once again that the greatest danger with a false presentation of the gospel is future development.
I once challenged a Uni by saying, what if by being silent on the subject of eternal punishment you fail to discourage wickedness? whereas individuals and even nations might hesitate to go to extremes [say the extremes of Nazism or communism] if eternal punishment were preached and believed in, see Germany was amazingly liberal in theology, indeed "the enlightenment" came from turn of the century Germany, then by not declaring the full counsel of God you may be responsible for even greater woe, both here and now and in eternity.
You can see I have thought about it. What I would like to see is a more bible based balance, using the book of Acts as a guide. Even the teachings of Jesus though stern were never delivered with His finger pointing at the people directly [apart from the religious leaders, them He had some hard words for, and I think He would today too]
Thanks for your imput
