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Technorati“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1,2
I think we are beginning to see the firstfruits of the coming apostasy that Jesus promised and Paul predicted would mark the end of days. To be honest I think we are seeing it more within the church than outside it. Here are some reasons I think the Great Day (of Christ’s return) may be on it’s way and the bad days of apostasy may be closing in on us:
1. A growing emphasis on quasi or full on universalism.
You’d be suprised, maybe even shocked, how many well known “Christian” speakers and authors subscribe to some form of universalism (the belief that all of humanity will ultimately be redeemed whether or not they have put their faith in Jesus). They may cloak it in cool, uber-hip terms and drench it in relevant stories of humanity’s spiritual journey, but, underneath all of the philosophic verbage it is there like a festering sore filled with puss and heresy.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Peter emphasized that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Paul emphasized, “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” (Romans 10:14).
I don’t know how anybody who takes the New Testament half way seriously could even consider the possibility that Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons, Hindus and others who have never put their faith alone in Christ alone will be with us in heaven.
Many of these hiptocons run to the powerful passage in Colossians 1 :20 that Christ will “reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” and use it as a stick to beat their “all for one and one for all” drum. But the verses that immediately follow explain it even more, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” Colossians 1:21-23.
This passage clearly states how we, as humans, are part of this ultimate reconciliation. It’s through faith!
Some would say, “well the passage says ‘all things’ will be redeemed so it must be everyone.” But if it’s everyone everywhere who goes to heaven whether or not they believe in Jesus there is a much bigger textual problem. What do you do with the countless passages that deal with the “elect”? What do you do with the abundance of passages that declare the urgent need to avoid God’s judgment through faith in Christ? What do you do with the doctrine of hell?
This crazy doctrinal cousin named “Hell” embarrasses us. He looms in chains in the basement, screaming out to be heard by the philophizing theologians blogging upstairs. But they can’t hear him screaming because their ipods are cranked up, listening to U2, Coldplay and Kierkegaardian podcasts of cool cat preachers emphasizing experiential spiritual journey…or whatever. Continue »
