Nice to have you posting again. Two days in a row, cool.

I was wondering about your thoughts on hell and the idea of annhihilationism.

Seems like a good topic to cover when done commenting on Calvinism.
Mike Randall | 04.08.08 - 10:05 am | #

Mike,

Here is a sermon I gave on hell:

http://helives.blogspot.com/2005...-from- what.html
heddle | 04.08.08 - 11:04 am | #

Thanks,

Just read it and can't think of anything I would disagree with in there. I always wish that loved ones that die not knowing the Lord wouldn't have it as bad as it seems they will. Probably the one thing I struggle with the most in my understanding of theology.
Mike Randall | 04.08.08 - 10:48 pm | #

That can't work—because you can't believe what you can't see...

Sure you can, it's called faith--"the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." If you can only believe what you've seen, what part can faith play?

I've always interpreted the word "see" in John 3:3 as being synonymous with "enter." The amplified Bible translates it as "know, be acquainted with, and experience." Which seems to go beyond the sort of basic understanding that might be required to believe in something at the start.
Eric Seymour | Homepage | 04.11.08 - 1:37 pm | #

No offense, but your argument is incomplete. You say that it is taught that no one can believe without having seen the kingdom of God, but you make no scripture reference. You make scripture references to back up all your other arguments, but not that one. Unless you define that, someone like me, who ha never heard that taught before, will be confused as to where in the world you got that (and I am).

Also, I agree with Eric above me, what you say completely eliminates the point of faith as well as eliminating the point of the Lord testing us in our faith and renders the spiritual gift of Faith useless, because if it is seen then there is no room for faith in His existence which only leaves room for faith in His promise, but since He exists, we already KNOW He will do what He has said and thus there is no room for faith there either.
Seolyk | 04.16.08 - 11:40 am | #