What is the purpose?
Not to say for certain
Ponder these words in the bible that suggest that Jesus is the Savior of ALL Men…
Review these phrases
(Jesus, who is the) Saviour of all men
(Jesus) our Savior who willeth all men to be saved
He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
he is able even to subject all things unto himself.
I will draw all men unto myself.
So then as through one trespass, it is unto all men unto condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness it is unto all men unto justification of life.
and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross
who gave himself a ransom for all
God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses,
We compared the groups in Acts 15:13-18 & 1Cor 15:21-28
Acts 15:14 - take out of them a people for his name
1Cor 15:23 - Christ the firstfruits
Acts 15:16 - I (Christ) will return
1Cor 15:23 - They that are Christ's at His coming
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Where is this third group that Paul mentions from Acts 15:13-18?
Vs17 the "residue of men" may seek after the Lord, And "all the Gentiles", upon whom my name is called
Who is the third group mentioned by Paul in 1Cor 15:21-24:
Vs24 Then the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to the God and Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
It might be easier to see if we read vs 25-28.
1 Cor 15:25-28
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. 27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. 28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.
So who might be included in the last group?
All His enemies?
All things.
I guess everything that remains that is adversarial to Him.
ALL THINGS!!
Are Jesus' enemies forced to submit and subject themselves to his rulership? Will they simply submit to Him because they are forced to?
****The answer to this question might help us determine whether all will be reconciled to God or not? (Or does He simply throw all his enemies into hell or the lake of fire and then make it all vanish out of his sight….)
Read this:
Phi 2:9-11
9 Wherefore also God highly exalted Him, and gave unto Him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Are a portion of these people coerced, forced to bow the knee, But in their heart they are really full of rebellion and anger and bitterness at the harshness of Jesus?
This verse may answer that…
1Co 12:3
Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.
According to this verse, no one says "Jesus is Lord without the Spirit of God working in them"
If this is true, there is a chance that Jesus finds a way of reconciling those who are enemies of His at this point. Since according to this verse, all are bowing down to Him willingly.
And that would explain why this verse makes sense:
1Ti 4:10
For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.
The other alternative is that Jesus throws any of His remaining enemies into Hell or the Lake of Fire and eliminates them completely out of His sight.
Currently, at this time period, the only ones who say "Jesus is Lord" seems to be the "firstfruits" - those whom God has apprehended and drawn to Himself in this age.
But this verse will be true at some point:
Rev 5:13
And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.
But there will come a day like this at some point.
So, let's look at Romans 5. In particular take notice of the phrase "Much more". It is used 4x's- regarding Jesus value over Adam
Here is what is being referred to:
Rom 5:6
For while we were yet weak (due to Adams sin) , in due season Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God (due to Adam's sin) through him.
Rom 5:10
For if, while we were enemies (due to Adam's sin), we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;
Rom 5:15
But not as the trespass (of Adam's), so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.
Rom 5:17
For if, by the trespass of the one (Adam's sin), death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.
I would much rather over value the work of Christ than undervalue it.
"The first Adam died to God and righteousness, and became alive unto sin. The last Adam died unto sin (Rom. 6:10), and lives unto God, and so fulfills all righteousness. The first made all men sinners, the last makes all men righteous. The lives and the deaths of the two Adams are thus greatly contrasting the one to the other."
Rom 11:32
For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.
What about those that have died years before this point and are not saved? Maybe the lake of Fire is not eternal torment???
Punishment as per Jesus
Luk 12:42-48
42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. 45 But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.
Foolish servant? - are lumped in with unbelievers….whoa!
The foolish servant and the unbeliever both suffer punishment…
47 And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;
What is the punishment of the foolish servant? eternal stripes? Many, but not unending or eternal
48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
But if you are an unbeliever, an ignorant unbeliever, you are beaten with few stripes…where are the eternal fires of hell or the lake of fire???
Lake of fire
I Cor. 3:11-15
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.
Hmmm….Paul uses the metaphor of "fire"...
Unquenchable fire
Mat 3:11-12
11 I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire: 12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
What happens when the chaff is burned up?
Mar 9:43-48
43 And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. 44 - - - 45 And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell. 46 - - - 47 And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell; 48 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Seems if the fire is not quenched, it never goes out?
Jer 17:27
But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
This prophecy was fulfilled and the fire did occur a few years later and it did destroy all the houses of Jerusalem.
Jer 52:13
And he burned the house of Jehovah, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned he with fire.
Since God said no person or thing would "quench" this fire, did that mean that it would burn for ever? Since it accomplished the work it was sent to do, and since it is NOT BURNING TODAY, it obviously went out by itself after accomplishing its purpose!
2Ki 22:17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.
Isa 54:8
In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer.
The unquenchable fire will go out when it has accomplished its purpose.
Isa 26:9
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee earnestly: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Lake of fire (5xs)
Rev 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:
Rev 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:14
And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.
Rev 20:15
And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:8
But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.