Answer to a Paper Sent for Criticism
“He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord." Jer. 23:28. We will not occupy ourselves with the evils of this paper, but look at the Scriptures, and believe what God has spoken. We seek His grace to teach us by His Spirit.
Let us notice that judgment on the earth is in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, eternal things are opened up. Life and incorruptibility are brought to light by the gospel (2 Tim. 1:10 N. T.).
John 3:17 is quoted to prove that all will be saved, if not during their life here, at the resurrection. Read the verses 14 to 18, and notice that "He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but, he that believeth not is condemned already." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him" (verse 36). This is plainly eternal. Which is yours, dear reader?
John 4:42. These Samaritans, outcasts from the Jews, rejoiced that Jesus the Christ was the Savior, not of the Jews only, but of the world, of "Whoso-ever." How strange it would sound in Nicodemus' ears to hear that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Nicodemus knew that God loved the Jews, but to love the ungodly Gentiles, he had never heard before. Thus John 6:33, "giveth life unto the world," is easily understood. "Every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life" (verse 40). This is God's will.
And again verse 53 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eaten My flesh., and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." This eating and drinking is believing that the Lord Jesus died for you. John 1:9, and 9:5 are like the sun shining upon every man, whether he can see, or whether he is blind. It is not salvation to all.
John 12:32. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." God thus sets Christ, lifted upon the cross, be-before all men, as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent, "that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:14, 15).
1 Cor. 15:22 is often quoted in this paper. Let us examine it, "For as in Adam all die., even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The subject of this chapter is "the resurrection of the saints," and it is proved to he true by the resurrection of Christ Himself. The gospel Paul had preached to them was that ''Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Adam's fall took in all his race. Christ's headship takes in all who believe on Him, and it is their resurrection that is spoken of. The only verse that speaks of the unbelievers' resurrection in this chapter is verse 26, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,"-that is when they are raised to stand before the great white throne where they are judged according to their works, and cast into the lake of fire; and death and bell, that is hades, the state of the soul and body being separate., is ended. This is the second death to which there is no end (Rev. 20:10 to 15).
Rom. 8:1 is not speaking of all mankind, but only of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 1:10 is quoted to show that all men, and fallen angels, even the devil will finally be saved. This is the usual wicked perversion of the Word of God in this paper. We know, for God has said, "Every knee shall bow, of heavenly, earthly and infernal beings, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to God the Father's glory." (Phil. 2:10, 11 N. T.).
Matt. 25:41 and Rev. 20:10 tell us that the devil and his angels are to be tormented for eternal ages. God's Word says it, and wicked men will share their doom.
Eph. 1:10 is the Millenial Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ when He shall reign in a kingdom that never decays, as every other one has done. His glory will fill heaven and earth, as the waters cover the sea, and believers shall reign with Him (1 Cor. 6:2, 3). 1 Cor. 15:24, 25 tell us of its successful accomplishment till all enemies are put under His feet, and then He delivers the kingdom up to His Father.
2 Peter 3:13 and Rev. 21:1 to 4 tell us of the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. The inhabitants all clothed with the righteousness of God-Christ, God's righteousness; but there is a third place in Rev. 21:8, that has inhabitants. It is the lost. They are in the lake of fire, the second death,, to which there is no end, for death in the Scriptures is never the cessation of existence- it is eternal. God cannot cease to be God; and sin must be put away from His presence forever. It is proved again that "Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" are necessary for salvation.
(To Be Continued)