Tag Archives: eternal life

Must God save everyone?

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crossFollowing up on yesterday’s questions, I want to think about God’s obligation in terms of salvation. To what extent would it be a “character flaw” if God didn’t save the vast majority of people? Is it enough that God has given mankind life or must he also extend that life beyond the grave in order to be seen as just and loving?

Is Jesus’ act of atonement a failure if only a minority of people are saved? Does God have to save most if not all? Is the condemnation of some a sign that God’s design was imperfect?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these ideas or yesterday’s questions.

Lost or found

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heavenly skyIs salvation a right or a privilege? Is it something that people should receive unless they do something to disqualify themselves? Or is it something that God gives to some and not to all?

Do we gain eternal life or is it something we have and possibly lose? Are humans born to live forever? Or does God grant unending life to some? Does God take away eternal life from the lost or does he bless the saved with eternal life?

Some questions for a Tuesday morning. How do you see it?

Image by exis on Pixabay.

The letter to Ephesus: To the conqueror

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letters

Each of the seven letters ends with a promise to the one who “overcomes.” What does it mean to “overcome” in the book of Revelation? We can go back to the throne room scene in Revelation 5 to get the answer to that question. When John is weeping because no one is worthy of opening the scroll, he is told: “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed (overcome). He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” The word is the same in Revelation 5 as it is in the letters to the seven churches. Christians are being called to overcome as Jesus overcame. And how was that? Through faithful witness, being faithful to the point of dying for his faith. Jesus triumphed through death; the Asian Christians are being called to be willing to do the same. The world calls to them to overcome through military strength or political action. Jesus calls to them to overcome by a willing sacrifice of love for the sake of the kingdom of God.

(Letters From The Lamb, p. 53)

To the Ephesian conquerors, Jesus promised to undo the curse of Eden. He would let them eat of the Tree of Life. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden so that they wouldn’t be able to eat of the Tree of Life. Jesus promises the Ephesians that those willing to face martyrdom will come to have what Adam and Even once had. They will eat of the Tree of Life and live forever.