Category Archives: Matthew

Universalism: Good News or Same Old Lie?

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QUESTION:
Someone told me they believe the Bible but also believe there is no eternal punishment and that the greek word associated with eternal punishment really meant for a limited time but the church translated it “eternal” to control people through fear.  Is that true?

ANSWER:
Some refer to this teaching as Biblical Universalism trying to distinguish themselves from traditional universalism that denies the Scriptures.  While Biblical Universalism claims to believe the Bible it is important to understand which “Bible” they believe.

First, they deny all major translations of the Bible as being accurate.  These “mistranslations”  include the King James Version, New International Version, New American Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, the Amplified Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation, International Standard Version as well as almost all others.   Instead, they refer you to a few obscure translations which, if you will check it out, you will find were almost exclusively done by other universalists who were not well educated in the original languages and had a point to prove by “correcting” the translations done by scholarly teams of translators from a broad spectrum of doctrinal and theological backgrounds with no “ax to grind”. A key to cult success and heretical teachers is to undermine the trustworthiness of Scriptures so you are left having to depend upon their word, or their translations, for the “truth”.

It does not take a lot of research to torpedo this heresy and you don’t have to be a Greek scholar to do the research yourself.  The foundation of their belief revolves around the meaning of the Greek word “aionios” which they say means temporary. (And two hundred years before Jesus it was used to mean temporary but word meaning changes over time and in Jesus’ time the word clearly meant “eternal” as we will see in Scripture.)

Matthew 25:46 says, “Then they (the unrighteous) will go away to eternal (aionios) punishment, but the righteous to eternal (aionios) life.”

Basically, their claim  is that the second time the word is used it means “eternal” but the first time it is used in this sentence it means “temporary”. To an unbiased observer it would be clear that since Jesus used the same term to describe the length of both the punishment and the reward then both are equal in duration. If the punishment ends after a period of time then clearly the reward also ends after a period of time.  Obviously Biblical Universalism finds elaborate ways to deny this clear connection and say the same word can mean different things even though used in the same sentence.  While a word can mean different things though used in the same sentence (A fly landed on my fly and would not fly away), there is no justification for applying differing definitions in the Matthew statement.

But a simple Bible study of the word “aionios” will further sink the univeralist ship and clarify the meaning of the word without referring to any translations – the major ones or their obscure ones.

Looking up the word aionios we see it – or its derivatives – are used 72 times in the New Testament.  Of the 72 passages where the word is used, 59 times it is used to describe things even Biblical Universalism would agree are eternal: eternal Life – 43x, Spirit of God eternal – 1, Everlasting God – 2, Eternal glory – 3, eternal consolation – 1, God’s power is aionion – 1, Eternal salvation – 1, eternal redemption – 1, Jesus is alive aionion – 1, Everlasting kingdom – 1, eternal gospel – 1, eternal inheritance – 1, eternal covenant – 1, eternal habitation prepared – 1.    All agree these things last eternally, not just for a period of time.

If in all those instances the word clearly means “eternal, without end” how can we suddenly translate it as temporary when it refers to punishment (1x), damnation(1x), destruction(1x), judgment(1x) and hell’s fire (3x)? Based on the fact that aionion clearly refers to things we would all agree go on without end in the overwhelming uses of the word, there is no justification to suddenly change its meaning when we apply it to things we are not so fond of – fire, judgment, punishment, destruction, damnation.

While Universalism pleases our natural senses (it would be comforting to think the horrors of hell are only temporary – or non existent at all)  there is no Biblical evidence to support this. Punishment, damnation, destruction, judgment and the fires of hell are serious matters, they are eternal matters as the Bible clearly teaches and as the church has taught since its beginning. Universalism is the same lie the serpent told in the garden, “Go ahead, disobey God.  You won’t die.” The serpent still hisses that lie today through Universalism.

Finally, everything within me wants to say, “I wish their interpretation was true” but to do so would be to question the perfection of God’s judgments.  Do I dare think I can improve upon God’s method, or call Him too harsh or too strict because in my natural mind I can’t grasp or justify eternal punishment.  All I can do is rest in God’s sovereignty, wisdom, mercy and grace and be confident that at the day of judgment I will agree with the multitude in heaven that declare, “true and just are his judgments”, a declaration made twice in the book of Revelation (16:7, 19:2) and affirmed in history and throughout the ages.
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Romans 11:33-34
Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?

[photo credit]

[For a more scholarly look into Matthew 25:46]

How to beat the devil

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Luke 4:13 – When the devil had finished every temptation, he left (Jesus) until an opportune time.
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You know Satan wanted to stay on top of Jesus 24/7 tempting and attacking Him.  But after a period of intense temptation Satan left Him alone.  Clearly Satan didn’t want to leave Jesus alone but the Bible promises that if we will do two things the devil has to get out of our face – 1. Submit to God and 2. Resist the devil (James 4:7)  . Certainly he doesn’t do that by choice but he must flee.  If the devil is constantly knocking at your door and never goes away, something is wrong – either on the submission side or on the resisting side.

Yes, there will be seasons in our life when we will be under greater demonic assault. Note that though only three short temptations are recorded in the story in Luke it says Jesus was tempted the entire 40 days. But as Jesus submitted Himself to God and resisted the devil he eventually had to flee.

If you are in an intense time of temptation don’t forget it will not last forever and there is a bright hope at the end of it all. Matthew 4:11 tells us that after this time of temptation, when Jesus was victorious over the devil, angels came and ministered to him.  That is cool because it tells us that God was watching the whole time.  Jesus did not go through this alone and neither will you.  He is watching, cheering you on.  Submit to Him.  Resist the devil.  Reach out and find friends to help you fight the old serpent.

When the devil flees you will find a new power in your life, too.  Luke 4:1 tells us Jesus went into this time of testing filled with the Spirit but He came out in the power of the spirit (v. 14).  This testing will result in new power to glorify God with your life.  Like lifting weights, resistance builds muscle so resist the devil!

Stand strong soldier! This temptation will pass.
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James 4:6-7 
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Hope For Doubters

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Matthew 28:17
When they saw him [the resurrected Jesus], they worshiped him; but some doubted.
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But some doubted? They saw him murdered, wrapped and placed in the tomb. They heard the reports of those who went to the tomb and now, with their own eyes, they see Him. With their own ears they hear Him. But they still doubted!?

I find some encouragement in this passage. If some of these, with all the tangible, physical evidence in front of them, could still doubt perhaps my questions and occasional doubting is not so hopeless. But here is the most encouraging part: though He knew some still doubted He did not berate, or even name, them. This would have been the time to say, “But Thomas still doubted” or “Matthew was still so weak in his faith that it’s a miracle he made it”.

If this passage is referring to only the 11 disciples, as it infers, then we know that though they still doubted at this moment those doubts would dissipate and they, each one except John, would witness to their faith, their absolute lack of doubt, by dying a martyr’s death. And John, though not martyred,  would also suffer greatly as a testimony of his faith.

While total belief is obviously far better than doubting I’m glad the Lord has a place in His family and in His service for those who sometimes just aren’t sure. How about you?
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John 20:29
Then Jesus told (Thomas), “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Why send missionaries?

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I have been asked, “With so many non-Christians in America why send missionaries to other countries?”

You can sum the answer up in one word: access.

While there are many unbelievers in the US there are innumerable churches, Christian ministries, magazines, television and radio programs, even entire stations, plus thousands of pastors and, of course, other Christians to reach U.S. unbelievers.  Over 1 out of every 4 full time Christian worker in the world lives and serves in the United States.

On the other hand, in many nations there is no, or very limited, access to the gospel – not on television, not on radio, no churches, no Christian publications, absolutely no way to discover who Jesus is.  It is estimated that in some areas of the world there is only one Christian worker (a pastor, lay leader, missionary, etc) for every 1 million people.

One missionary, upon entering a village, began talking to a woman about Jesus.  She directed him to a shop that could fix his sewing machine thinking perhaps that is what a “Jesus” is and that his was broken.

It is sadly true that there is an abundance of non-believers in the United States but there is also an abundance of believers who can easily make Christ’s name known.  There are an endless number of opportunities for a seeker to discover who Jesus is and the message of salvation.  We must ask ourselves: Should one group have multiple chances to reject the gospel when there are millions who have never even heard it for the first time?

Finally, Jesus commands us to go – to Jerusalem (or own city), Judea (the surrounding area), Samaria (our neighbors – even if they aren’t very friendly toward us) and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).  It is not a “pick one” option.  He said we were responsible for local and global, Jerusalem and the ends of the earth.  Obedience demands we send missionaries.  Are you ready to go?
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Matthew 28:18-19
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, …

The Holocaust and The Cross

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Matthew 27:40-43
Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God! … He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'”
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I heard a Jewish woman say that she was an atheist because of the holocaust. Her reasoning went like this: “If God is real He would not let those He loves suffer.” Many in the church today echo this sentiment: “Serve Jesus, speak positively and you will always prosper, always be well, never suffer.”

We see this same line of reasoning in those who mocked Jesus: “If He is the Son of God surely God will rescue Him.” And God did rescue Him and Jesus did triumph but not in the way they expected. God had a higher purpose at work that those with only an earthly perspective could not fathom.

Notice that no one in Scripture avoided trials, hardship and suffering. It is the way of Christ. It is the way of the cross. Why should we think we will be exempt? A first century Christian explained the heavenly perspective of this problem when he wrote to a pagan critic:

“You think we are being punished when we suffer but it is not punishment – it’s warfare. Fortitude is strengthened by infirmities [James 1:12]. Virtue and suffering usually go hand in hand. Think of all the heroes you admire. Wasn’t it their afflictions that made them great?

“God is able to deliver us but through trials He tests us and searches us. He tests the quality of all of us through adversity, often to the point of death itself. He can test us to the point of death because nothing can perish with Him. No one receives a reward before the trial. God’s people are neither forsaken in suffering nor brought to an end in their death. In fact, in our death we win the prize for which we were battling.”

In the New Testament, the Greek word “witness” is the same word as “martyr”. A “witness” is a martyr and a martyr is a witness. The one who lays down his life, either literally or through embracing suffering, is being a true “witness” to his faith.
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Hebrews 12:7-8
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Can God make a rock so big He can’t lift it?

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When I was in the Navy I remember a young lieutenant asking me this “profound” puzzler.  “Can God do anything?  Can God make a rock so big he cannot lift it?”

This is a rather common question asked by pseudo-intellectuals who think they have stumbled across a great chink in the Christian’s belief about the omnipotence of God. The answer to the question is quite simply, “No, there are many things God cannot do.”

For one thing, he cannot do something that is logically impossible such as make a rock so big He cannot lift it. Neither can he draw a square circle. For that matter, He can not do something that is impossible. Because the moment he accomplished the feat, it would no longer be impossible since He proved it was possible for Him.

But we don’t have to stoop to such nonsense to find things God cannot do. The Bible clearly says it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18) and that “He cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13), meaning violate His own nature or integrity. He can not stop being God. He can not stop being good. He cannot cease to exist – since existence is a component of goodness. I could go on and on listing things God can not do but I think you grasp the concept.

When Christians speak of God’s omnipotence or when Jesus assures us that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) we are not referring to either ludicrous scenarios that parade as profound discoveries of truth nor to things that would violate God’s very nature and character. Omnipotent is understood to be “possessing all power”. Simply put, that means God can do anything that can be done. He has the ability to perform any feat consistent with His character and nature.

This is one reason it is vital believers study the Word to know what God says about Himself and the world around us. As believers, we appear foolish when we try to defend God and ascribe to Him attributes that He does not even claim for Himself.
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2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Think Small

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Matthew 26:51
With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
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John tells us that the “companion” who drew his sword was Peter. He was out numbered and “out gunned” but Peter meant what he had said just a short while ago (verse 35). He really was willing to die for Jesus.

But God’s plan was for Peter to live for Jesus and that proved too hard. He fell asleep when asked to simply “watch and pray”. He fled when his gallant attack with the sword was thwarted by the One he was trying to rescue. He remained at a distance and then denied even knowing the Lord to the point of cursing when a Middle School-aged girl confronted him.

Sadly, I can relate to Peter. Why does it seem easier to do the big things than the little daily obediences? As one who has lived overseas doing missions work, I find it was easier to go across the globe than to go across the street and share with my neighbor. “If I had a million dollars I’d give half to missions” yet the same person doesn’t tithe on what they do have. Would you really give 50% of a million if you won’t give 10% of $500?

As a parent it is nice when your children make some big “sacrifice” to show their love for you but what you really want to see is just the daily obedience in little things. That is what brings joy to your heart and peace to the relationship.

Lord, forgive my desire to do great things for you while ignoring the little things you ask of me – be kind, humble yourself, think of others above yourself, show patience, forgive when attacked.
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1 Samuel 15:22
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Darkness Reveals the Truth

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Matthew 26:35
But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
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In this moment with the Lord each of the disciples saw themselves as brave, capable, willing to endure whatever sacrifice for the sake of their beloved friend, Jesus. They were sincere. They were committed. Nothing could make them turn away from Him – at least in this bright moment that is how they saw themselves – but night was coming.

Soon each would abandon Him. In the terror of the coming night, with its mobs and arrest, interrogation and intimidation, the true character of each disciple would be tested and shown for what it really was – weak, inept, lacking the courage of will to follow through on the vow they made in the daylight of His presence.

Two thousand years later little has changed. I find that on the mountaintop it is easy to sing and praise and tell Him of my undying devotion but then a little darkness comes – we lose a job, we lose our health, we lose a relationship and suddenly it is also easy to lose all courage to “never disown” Him. Suddenly we begin to doubt, question, some even curse God as unfair, unloving, uninvolved.

The darkness, rather than the light, reveals our faith for what it truly is – genuine and tempered or flakey, fading and impotent. All of us can be bold and brave – even boastful – in the times of daylight but this passage reminds me that it is how I respond in the difficult times, times when God seems distant, even absent, it is those times which reveal the depth of my walk with the Lord.

In the times of daylight I need to be putting down deep roots, learning to live humbly and dependent upon the Lord so that when the inevitable darkness comes my faith will survive because it will be rooted in His omnipotence not in my impotence.
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John 15:4-5
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

The Coming of Jesus. Is He waiting on us?

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Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
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As one involved in missions I have often heard, even referenced myself, this verse as a challenge to get the job of world evangelization done so the Lord could return. In my heart it seemed strange that God would make the date of the coming of Jesus dependent upon our actions but that sure seemed to be what this passage was saying. After all, as I have heard reliable Bible teachers say, it is only humans who can declare the gospel since angels have never experienced it. Obviously the return of Christ was dependent upon us getting the job done, getting the gospel out to every nations, tribe, language and people.  That’s an unbelievably huge (and frightening) responsibility for us weak, undependable human beings.

While teaching a series on the book of Revelation, I found a startling passage, telling of an event to come, that shed new light on this subject:

Revelation 14:6
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.

So an angel will finish this task. The salvation of all mankind and the return of Jesus is not dependent upon me!  (Duh.)  What a relief!

Obviously this does not negate the importance of us taking the gospel “to every nation, tribe, language and people” because there are those alive in our generation who will not live long enough to receive the message from this angel. They are still dependent upon human instruments, obeying God – some of us by sending others and some of us by going ourselves – to bring them this vital message. But I am relieved to know that “the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority”(Acts 1:7) remain under His control and are not dependent upon me.
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Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Better to appear a fool than stay dry.

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Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
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A friend runs a factory in China that makes Christian gift items including figurines of Bible stories with Scripture verses. They produced one of this story with Jesus lifting Peter out of the water – a thrilling event. They couldn’t understand why this particular piece was not selling until someone pointed out the passage on the statue – “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?”

Can you imagine giving that as a gift. “Here pastor, just a little gift to tell you what we think of you and your ministry among us.”

In sermons on this passage I’ve heard Peter get a lot of grief as pastors exhort their people to not look at the surrounding winds and waves, keep your eyes on Jesus, etc. But notice no one in the boat that day ridiculed Peter. He was dripping wet but at least he had taken a few steps on water. All the dry folks never even got out of the boat! Yes, he doubted but he at least had a “little faith” while the rest of the crew played it safe.

It is better to live your life like Peter and respond to the Lord’s invitation to “Come” even if you might end up looking like a fool to those who play it safe. Without risk there is no faith.

It’s not up to us to decide whether we walk on water or take the bridge. (Unless the Lord says “Come”, you better take the bridge!) But when we have heard His voice I want to be one who responds to His invitation to take the risk, use what little faith I might have, step out and trust that either the water will get hard under my feet or He will reach out and rescue me – or both.

Either way, it assures me I will not live some dull, lack luster Christian life. At the end I will not look back with regrets that I never pushed the envelope to see what God could do. I will not have merely existed and passed through life as one of “those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
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“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

President Theodore Roosevelt
Speech at the Sorbonne
April 23, 1910