Saved ignoble

     So we have looked at scripture that shows that God is sovereign and uses evil to accomplish his mission.  Now, let’s look at what God wants to accomplish or what His will actually is:  God wants (wills) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).  This is God’s will and it is His intention to accomplish.  This is why understanding that man does not have free will and that God is sovereign is so important.  If we believe that we can act independently from God, then we make 1 Timothy 2:4 a weak wish from a pathetic god. 

     It comes down to whether we actually believe that God is all-loving and all-powerful.  Sure, Christians and other factions will say that He is, but do they actually believe it?  If God wants all men to be saved but cannot save them, or they end up in some eternal hell, can God really be all-powerful?  He cannot even bring His own creation into submission of His own desires.  Therefore, the belief is that human free-will (if someone chooses to reject Christ in this life) is stronger than the will of God.  So, in essence, God cannot achieve His will and is at the mercy of man’s free-will.  This belief flies in the face of all the scripture that point to God’s sovereign power.  On the other hand, some will argue that God does not will or want every human being to be saved, thus retaining His all-powerful status.  But, He has predestined some people to be created only for their end to be eternal torture in hell or annihilation.  In that case, God created humans for the sole purpose of torturing them and doesn’t even want to save them.  Therefore, God could not possibly be all loving. 

     The only way God can be all loving and all powerful is if He loves enough to will all people to be saved and then has the power to complete His will.  The Holy Scriptures attest to the fact that God will do this very thing.  It is religion that denies the truth of God and then attaches the name of Jesus to their lies. 

     If you believe scripture, I don’t think one can debate the fact that God chooses and predestines.  For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son…(Romans 8:29).  So God does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him: What have you done (Daniel 4:35).  God can do what He wants and the bible says that He wants all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).  Free will, nor any power in the universe, whether real or imagined, can hold back His hand. 

     Some people, especially Christians, will argue:  God did not make us robots!  No, He didn’t make us robots.  But, we are clay in His hands; the bible is clear on that.  This argument that “God did not make us robots and wants us to love Him because we choose to love Him” doesn’t make any sense when you look at it.  Why doesn’t this make any sense?  It doesn’t make any sense because it assumes that we are free from all sources of influence.  The scriptures are riddled with verses that prove that humans are influenced by the flesh, Satan and many other forces.  Therefore, if God stepped aside and required us to choose Him on our own, it still would not be free.  We would still be influenced by our carnality and circumstances.  That is why “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up on the last day (John 6:44).”  Jesus’ own words, repeatedly, tell us that God brings people to His son.  Otherwise, we would all remain blinded.  The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the eyes of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).  We cannot come to God until God chooses to bring us to Him.  It is by His will, His love and His timing. 

     Now, I believe the scriptures are clear that God, through Jesus Christ will save every single person who did, is and will walk the face of the earth, but that does not mean there is no process to salvation.  Before I get into the process, clarification may be needed.  I do not believe that anyone will be saved apart from Jesus Christ.  Unitarian Universalism and other religions believe that nothing matters and people just go to some paradise when they die.  They don’t put any stock into what a person believes.  I simply do not believe this and it is scripturally inaccurate.  The truth is that I do believe all humanity will be with God, however, they will have everlasting life with God because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Everyone will be saved, but each one will be saved by Jesus Christ, individually.  There is no other way to be saved.  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).  Jesus answered, “I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).”

     Jesus Christ had a stated mission to accomplish while he was on earth.  The Son of God appeared to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8), to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10) and to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).  Now, Jesus says that he has accomplished this will according to his own words.  “I have brought you (God) glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do (John 17:4).  The scripture says that Jesus completed the work of destroying the devil’s work which is sin and death, seeking and saving the lost and saving sinners.  Therefore, if one sinner remains or one person is lost forever, this verse would not be true.  However, John 17:4 is true because through Jesus, every man woman and child will be saved.  Every lost sinner that is the victim of the devil’s work will one day be with God.

     Why again did Jesus appear?  He appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself (Hebrews 9:26).  I need to repeat that, “Jesus appeared to do away with sin.”  The bible says that He accomplished His mission.  Yes, sin is still prevalent in the world, which is obvious if one just looks around.  So is death.  However, Jesus’ death and resurrection made certain that sin and death will one day be destroyed and at God’s desired time, all of this will come to pass.  Sin and death will become inoperative.  They will not be operating in a corner of the universe or in some alternate dimension called eternal hell.  Sin and death will not keep people dead as annihilationist’ teach.  Sin and death will be gone and all that will be left is life.  Everlasting life and immortality for every human being that has ever lived. 

     I will get back to the scriptures that prove that sin and death will be destroyed and all will be with God, in a moment.  For now, let’s focus on Jesus Christ and what He actually was and is, the savior of the world. 

Savior versus potential savior

     The bible says that Jesus is the savior of the world.  However, most people believe that Jesus is the potential savior of the world.  How can this be?  Surely Jesus cannot be the savior of those whom he does not save.  But scripture indicates that He is the savior of the whole world, not just believers of the world or part of the world, but the whole world.   Why is the word WHOLE used in the bible? 

     My point is that others and Jesus Himself cannot claim to be the savior of the world unless He actually saves the world.  Otherwise, He should be referred to as “The savior of all who believe,” or “The savior of those who do right,” or “The savior of those who have faith,” or “The savior of those that chose Him.”  If one person ends up dead or separated from God for all eternity, then Jesus is not that person’s savior because that person is not saved.  Jesus was not called the potential savior of the world; He was called and is “The Savior of the World.”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

• John 1:29

     Notice that John did not say, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of believers, or those who will follow him.”  John the Baptist said that Jesus takes away the sin of the world, not part of the world.  The bible makes it clear that it is important to believe that Jesus is our savior and to become believers.  Scripture does indeed say that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  However, what scripture does not say, is that God’s saving power or Jesus’ ability to take away sin is limited to whether one is a believer in this life. 

“And He himself (Jesus Christ) is the propitiation for our sins (believers), and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

• 1 John 2:2

     This scripture is written from the point of view of a community of believers.  These believers say that Jesus Christ died for their sins, which is rightly so.  However, they also say that Christ did not die for their sins only.   This letter says that Jesus died for the Whole World.  Yes, the believers have a special salvation and knowledge of the fact that Jesus Christ is the atonement for their sins.  But, this atonement is also for the whole world.  Not potential atonement for the whole world, but actual atonement for the whole world.

That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the world of reconciliation.

• 2 Corinthians 5:19

     This verse in 2^nd Corinthians tells us that Christ is reconciling the world to himself!  It is not segmenting or excluding anything.  This verse simply says that God, in Christ, is going to reconcile the world.  If Christ is not reconciling the whole world, then why wouldn’t this scripture say that God was in Christ reconciling those who believe to Himself.  Simply, it does not say that, it says the world.  And as we will discover later, some are saved in this life and the rest will be saved later.  This constitutes the world that this particular scripture is referencing. 

“For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”

• 1 Timothy 4:10

     This is the scripture that began to open my eyes to the fact that Jesus Christ would save all of humanity.  This verse says that God is the savior of all men.  How could He be the savior of all men if He did not save all men?  But, not even that, the next word is the clincher.  Paul says that God is the savior of all men, especially those who believe.  Notice he does not say God is the savior of only or exclusively those who believe, but especially.  The “especially” qualifies the rest of the group as being saved or God being their savior and remember, God cannot be their savior if He does not actually save them.  This means that believers have a special salvation, but unbelievers will have salvation and eventually come to God through Jesus Christ. 

     Philippians chapter 2: 10-11 states, “That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  This clearly means all people, right?  Yes, it does.  It includes people on the earth, in heaven and under the earth.  That means everybody.  Every person, according to these verses, is confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

     Scripture says that only the spirit can confess Jesus as Lord, and here, all humanity is making the confession unto salvation.  Now, some may say that this is a forced confession.  They may say that even unbelievers will be forced to confess Jesus as Lord even when they are in hell.  However, verse 11 says that this confession of Jesus Christ is to the glory of God the Father.  Would it really glorify the father if this was a forced confession?  If these people actually rejected God’s loving gift of his Son and therefore God failed to redeem them through His Son and therefore these people will spend an eternity in a pit of flames, how would that bring God any glory?  The answer is that it wouldn’t.  This thought might make Christians happy and self-righteous, but certainly not the loving God.

     These confessions do bring God glory, however.  They bring Him glory because these confessions are heartfelt from transformed human beings that have been saved.  Remember, Philippians, chapter 2: 10-11 clearly talks about all people.  What would bring God more glory?  God Being able to save a fraction of humanity or being able to save all humanity through the work of his son?  All humanity!  This is what these verses speak of:  The glory of God saving all of humanity, and every last person confessing this to His glory.  This is a humanity that has overcome sin and death through Jesus Christ.  This is the truth of scripture!

     On a hot, humid summer night, the family of four slept quietly in their home.  It was as any other night until the spark ravaged throughout the house destroying everything in its path.  The kitchen wiring was faulty and this is where the fire began.  The flames moved through each room one at a time.  Now, it was surrounding and beginning to invade the very bedrooms of mom and dad and the two children that lay sleeping.  The smoke was so thick now that nothing could be seen and most would stay asleep.  Only mom awoke to be disoriented and overcome with the smoke.  She soon returned to her unconscious state and all were helpless and approaching certain death as smoke filled their lungs as they lay passed out. 

     Mr. Shumway was nothing much to please the eyes.  He was short with a medium build with more hair on his face than on his head.  That night, he noticed the flames pouring out the windows from his house across the street.  Mr. Shumway knew the family across the street well.  He loved children and he would always try to teach his neighbors something new every day.  On this night, Mr. Shumway did not hesitate.  He ran across the street and entered the burning house as time was short.  He dodged flames and covered his nose and mouth as he ran through the hallway and turned to go up the stairs as he knew the bedrooms were there.  Going to his knees to dodge flames and inhale less smoke, he crawled into the children’s room and scooped them up, one in each arm.  Somehow, he could not even recall later, Mr. Shumway was able to maneuver around the flames and get the kids outside away from the fire.

     The heroic neighbor was not done, he entered the house two more times to go into the bedroom on the other side of the upstairs hallway to first carry mom and then dad out of the house.  By this time, some neighbors crowded the streets outside and an ambulance and fire truck arrived.  The family of four woke up hours later, each in their own hospitable bed oblivious to what had happened.    They all survived and would make full recoveries.  However, Mr. Shumway received serious burns and was overcome by smoke as he collapsed outside the burning house after the last victim was saved.  He died in the hospitable bed next to the rooms of the people that were saved. 

     As the family of four reunited and recovered, some of the other neighbors that gathered around the home came to the hospital to explain what had happened.  The family had no recollection of the nights’ events.  Neighbor one came to the family and explained the heroics of Mr. Shumway.  He explained how Shumway ran into the house and pulled them out of the fire.  However, neighbor one continued to speak about how the family must get up, exercise, eat well and follow specific rules in order to be saved from the fire.  Neighbor one then left the room and as the family was thinking about this message, neighbor two walked through the door.

     Neighbor two entered the room to speak though she was still in her own house when the fire and rescue took place earlier that night.  She had heard from other neighbors what had happened and felt she needed to relay this information to the family.  Neighbor two explained the actions of Mr. Shumway and what he did for them.  Then, neighbor two explained that the family would need to believe in Mr. Shumway and what he did in order to be saved from the flames of the fire.  The family was now even more confused than they were after neighbor one left.  So too, neighbor two left the hospital room. 

     In came neighbor three, he was on the other side of town when the fire occurred.  He drove straight to the hospital after he had heard about the fire.  Neighbor three did not like Mr. Shumway very much as they did not see eye to eye on many issues.  As a result, neighbor three refused to believe that Mr. Shumway saved the family.  He explained with anger and hatred that Shumway was not a good man and could not do anything to help when the fire ravaged through the house.  Now the family was dumbfounded and really did not know what to believe.  Neighbor three stomped out of the room elated about how he dragged Mr. Shumway’s name through the mud. 

     Neighbor four entered and explained the story in detail about what happened to the family that evening.  He was an even-tempered, calm, peaceful man.  Neighbor four’s demeanor was different from the previous three neighbors.  It seemed that he was not there to accomplish anything or complete an agenda.  He simple explained what Mr. Shumway had done for the family.  He explained how he fought the flames and brought their four, unconscious bodies out of the flames and sacrificed his own life to save theirs.  Neighbor four explained to the family that they are saved because of Mr. Shumway.  The family understood neighbor four and went and lived their lives continually in a state of thanksgiving for Mr. Shumway.  However, even when they faltered, they know that Mr. Shumway had saved them and nothing could ever change that. 

     The above story is about a man who sacrificed his own life to save others and is used to illustrate what Jesus Christ did for us.  After Mr. Shumway gave his life for the family, two neighbors approached and told the family what they must now do to be saved.  Neighbor one explained that they needed to do certain things or follow some rules.  Neighbor two said the family had to believe in what Mr. Shumway had done for them in order to be saved.  The third neighbor didn’t believe that Mr. Shumway saved them at all.  However, it does not matter if the family followed any of these three neighbors’ stories.  It does not change the fact that Mr. Shumway sacrificed his life for theirs and that they are saved.  The family is saved and alive because and only because of Mr. Shumway.  They did nothing, it was all him.  So whether they follow rules or not, whether they believe or not, the truth is they are saved. 

     Neighbor four explained this salvation to family and when the family recognized this was indeed what happened, they lived the rest of their life in thanksgiving, appreciation and love for Mr. Shumway.  Whether the family loved Shumway, forgot about him, live horrible lives or chose not to believe what he did, it does not change the fact that Mr. Shumway saved them.  They are alive because of Mr. Shumway and the realization of this is what caused them to live in appreciation.

     Well, you got it!  Mr. Shumway in this story is Jesus Christ.  Scripture says that Christ saves all humanity through His death and resurrection.  He certainly did and that’s the end of it.  However, this is not what the pastors, priests and preachers of Christianity teach.  They have the same teaching of the first two neighbors that try to convince the family that they need to do something in order to be saved when Shumway already guaranteed their safety.  The neighbors minimized the work of Shumway because they put rules and actions on the family when their salvation was completely outside of themselves and all based on the actions of the neighbor who carried them out of the house.  This is what religion does to Jesus Christ.  Christ’s death and resurrection will eventually save every man, woman and child that has ever, is currently, or will ever walk the face of this Earth.  We as humans did nothing to accomplish this.  We were like the family lying unconscious in the burning house.  This story is an illustration to show that salvation is taken care of by Jesus; however, not everyone is saved at the moment.  People will go through a process and even death before they enter the realization of salvation. 

     Virtually every religion in the world puts the decision and power on humans to believe, act right or perform certain rituals to reach God.  The story of Christ Jesus is not a religion because He accomplishes one hundred percent of salvation for every human regardless of anything they do.  Religion will try to make you act right to make you earn what you already have.  Jesus paid the price in full for all.  Watch how the following verses from scripture detail how death and justification are given to all humanity while not taking into consideration anything the human did or didn’t do. 

Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just reward for all mankind for life’s justifying.  For even as, through the disobedience of one man (Adam), the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One (Jesus), the many shall be constituted just.

• Romans 5: 18-19

     The ‘all mankind’ and the ‘many’ are in direct correlation to each other and these words mean everyone.  Adam sinned before we were even born and yet this sin spread to all humanity.  We had no choice in this.  In the same way through Christ’s obedience, justification spread to all humanity.  We had no choice in this as well.  Christians and religion will tell you that because of Adam’s sin we all have fallen and are sinners.  This is true.  However, they will then say that what Jesus did only applies to us if we believe.  That is not what this scripture says.  We didn’t need to believe in Adam in order for sin to apply to us.  Therefore, we do not need to believe in Jesus in order for His obedience to apply to us.  Religion wants to inject belief and acting right into these verses so that people need to check with the church to see if they are on the right track.  The church is an unnecessary medium for justification.  Romans 5:20 says that where sin increases, grace superexceeds.  This means that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will overcome any sin.  In essence, the more you sin, the greater the grace that covers that sin. 

     The following scripture confirms the message and relationship between Adam and Jesus Christ.  Understand how the actions of these two individuals spread to all humans without consideration of what the human does or does not do. 

For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive.

• 1 Corinthians 15: 22

     This verse in Corinthians begins to set the table with respect to the order of people entering heaven.  All people will be saved but those that are given belief will enter before the rest.  This realization that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world, the entire world, without any human contribution is given by God to the believer.  If you do not believe this, then God simply has not given you belief yet.  However, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ still applies to you.  Adolf Hitler will be given life through Jesus Christ even though he may be the last one to enter.  So here again, we have the above scripture in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians saying that in Adam, all are dying.  All humans begin to die as soon as they are born as each day inches closer to death.  But, humans didn’t choose this death although it applies to each and every one of us.  We don’t have to believe it or follow rules to achieve it.  Death will find us no matter what we do or believe.  That is Adam’s contribution.

     Right now, we have sin and death all around us.  I’m sure that all of us have experienced enough of this in our lifetimes.  If we look around, sin and death are running rampant.  Children die every day because they don’t have enough food, people are murdered exponentially, and the media glorifies every type of Godless act.  We are living in the image of Adam.  As mentioned before, some people seem better and more Godlike than others, but we all are in the flesh and all are subject to sin and death.  We didn’t ask for this, we were born into it.  Not one of us could have been born and said, “I will reject sin and death and will live forever.”  It’s not possible for a fleshly, descendant of Adam to accomplish this.  We have taken on the likeness of Adam and Eve. 

     However, Adam is only the beginning not the end.  Previously, I mentioned that evil serves a purpose.  We must experience evil in order to have the knowledge of good and evil.  This experience is the precursor to an amazing fulfillment that will be all the more enjoyed because of the present evil we have within us and outside of us.  Again, we experience this because we were born into Adam.  However, scripture says that as we were born in Adam and are like Adam, we will again be born into someone else and will be like that someone else.  Who is that someone else?  Just as everyone has taken on the likeness of Adam, everyone, and I mean everyone, will take on the likeness of this ‘Someone else.’  So, who is this someone else?

     So it is written: The first Adam became a living being;” the last Adam, a life giving spirit (I Corinthians 15:45).  This ‘someone else’ is the last Adam.  The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47).  The relationship between this ‘last Adam’ and ‘second man’ carry the same power than the original Adam, in the sense that all people will be like him.  But I’ll take it a step further.  This last Adam and second man carry more power because he undoes, creates, or makes new all that the first Adam has touched.  And just as we have born the image of the earthly man (Adam), so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man (1 Corinthians 15:49). 

     Why, then, do we need to go through the process and bear the image of the first Adam?  Part of the answer is in 1 Corinthians 15:46 that says: The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.  First, we have to pass through the evil, sin and death of the first Adam, in order to be born again into the last Adam, second man, heavenly man.  Okay, so if you have not guessed it by now, that ‘someone else,’ last Adam, second man and heavenly man is Jesus Christ. 

     Jesus Christ did more than just die on the cross.  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).  Yes, by dying on the cross, Jesus assured that we will not remain dead and one day, will be resurrected.  However, through death, Jesus also showed us what we will one day be.  He showed us what we will be like when death is destroyed and sin has run its course and when both sin and death are destroyed.  He showed us what we will be when we throw off the fleshly, natural first Adam.  What will we one day be like, better yet, who did Jesus show us that we will one day be like?  We will be like Him!

For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn over many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29).

     Jesus Christ is the firstborn of a new creation.  A creation that is resurrected and perfected to be the very sons of God.  Jesus did this through death and resurrection, the same way He will do it in us.  Adam was the firstborn of a creation that would eventually die.  Everyone that is born becomes like Adam because of the sin and death operating in humanity.  The reason Jesus is referred to as the second or last Adam is because He is the firstborn, like Adam, only of something new and better.  Consequently, just as we are all born into Adam’s sin, we will all be perfected through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Again, for as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).  If death touches infants that have made no choice to sin but are born into a weak, death ridden humanity, then, the second Adam will impart His life in the same manner that the first Adam imparted his death to humanity.  Therefore, through His death and resurrection, Jesus declares:  “I am making everything new”… (Revelation 21:5).  

     This is God’s glorious plan!  Humanity will pass through decay and death in order to become a son of God, just like Jesus.  Jesus was the first, He showed us the way and because of Him, all of us will pass from Adam’s death to Christ’s life.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage of decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God (Romans 8:20-21).  This hope is God’s destiny for all mankind. 

     Do you want to know God’s purpose for us?  It is to create billions of sons and daughters, though each one unique, that will have all of His attributes.  Jesus Christ was the first and through Him, God will bring all humanity to be His precious sons and daughters.  That is our destiny and that is what this life, this evil, this plan for the ages is all about.

     The rest of the scripture says that in the same way Adam’s death is spread to all people, in Christ, all people will be made alive.  The phrase ‘for even as’ and ‘thus also’ are used to show that the action of Adam and Christ spread to people equally.  Therefore, if we are given death by Adam with no action of our own then we are given life by Christ with no action of our own.  Notice that the scripture in 1 Corinthians 15:22 does not say ‘all in Christ will be made alive’ but it says that ‘in Christ, shall all be made alive.’  This applies to all people not just those that are in Christ right now.  God saves some now and will save the rest later.     Believers now are given a special salvation and they will work with Jesus in the ages to come in order to bring the rest of creation to Jesus Christ. 

God, Who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers (1 Timothy 4:10).

     God will save everybody.  Believers have a special salvation of coming in to the plan early and ruling and reigning with Christ in the ages to come.  However, the ‘especially’ qualifies the rest as also being saved.  So in conclusion, Jesus either saved us or He didn’t.  The bible says that He did and this is a fact!  A person’s belief or actions does not change this fact.  Belief gives us a realization of the truth but does not make it true.

     Okay, now back to the scripture that proves one day sin and death will be destroyed or rendered inoperative.  1 Corinthians 15: 22-28 might be my favorite group of verses in all of scripture.  It describes the whole plan in only seven verses.  Verse 22 starts with the comparison of Adam and Christ which I have already discussed in some detail.  But to review, this verse tells that all will die because of Adam.  We can see this because people die and we know that one day we will die.  However, the second part of this verse is something we don’t quite see yet.  The same “all” used to describe those Adam touches is the same “all” that is used to describe those who will be made alive through Christ.  Notice that this verse does not say that “all” in Christ will be made alive but in Christ, “all” will be made alive.  That’s everyone!  Now, there are some other interesting things about the rest of the verses in this set of scripture:

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.  Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.  When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.  — 1 Corinthians 15: 22 – 28

      In the end, Jesus will destroy all things by reconciling them to God.  For in Him all things were created:  things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him (Colossians 1:16). . . and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20). 

     You see, all things were created for Christ.  Even the evil things and powers we see in the world today.  However, those things will be put under Jesus’ feet because of the cross.  The last thing the Lord will put under his feet is death.  He will destroy death.  The Greek word used for ‘destroy’ in this verse actually means ‘to render inoperative, abolish.’ So, death will be inoperative or abolished at God’s chosen time.  Therefore, if death is destroyed all that is left is life.  People cannot remain dead if death is abolished or no longer operating.  This refutes the claims made by those who believe that the wicked would cease to exist (annihilation).  However, I believe death being destroyed goes a step further.  The book of Revelation talks about the second death.  Many people in the church contend that this ‘second death’ is eternal hell.  In essence, all the unsaved are cast into the lake of fire and this is the second death.  My question is:  what happens to the people in the lake of fire, experiencing the second death, when death is destroyed?

     The answer is that those in the lake of fire will eventually have life as well, eternal life.  Death will be inoperative, abolished.  First death, second death, it does not matter.  Death will be destroyed so that it no longer has any hold on God’s creation.  If people are imprisoned to some eternal hell, then the second death has a hold on them.  This is not possible since death has been annulled.  Therefore, this refutes the claim of those that believe people are in eternal hell. 

     Now, I am not saying that people will not be judged.  We will all be judged and it starts in the house of God as scripture proclaims.  This judgment will be experienced by believers first and unbelievers in a more intense form, later.  However, this judgment will be for the benefit of the one being judged.  Through judgment, we all learn righteousness.  So, the person that makes the argument: “Well then, if there is no hell than I can kill, cheat and steal.”  Yes, Jesus died for all sin and that person will have everlasting life but will not be saved until they pass through judgment to learn righteousness.  When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9).

The Greatest Words of All

     The last eight words in 1 Corinthians 15:28 are probably my most cherished of all words in scripture.  It tells us what this experience of life is all about and why we go through evil and all other things.  These words tell us what God’s end goal is for all humanity.  You see, there will come a time when Jesus puts everything under Him, all of God’s creation, under himself.  At this point, Jesus will cease to reign and will be made subject to Almighty God.  Jesus only does this when He has finished or accomplished what He set out to do on the cross.  Jesus is made subject to God once he has saved all of God’s creation.

     Now, here are the words, the end goal for God and our own destiny.  Why do we experience what we experience as humans?  Why did Jesus do what He did? 

…so that God can be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).  God will be all in all of his creation.  There is no room for evil, sin or death at this point.  All of that nonsense served its purpose and now has been annulled or is no longer operating, destroyed!  God cannot be all in all if in some distant corner of the universe or alternate dimension, sin and death still reined in eternal hell.  If God is all in all, then all humans have the image of God and are truly sons of God.  This is our glorious destiny.  God is all in all people.  The following six steps outline and review God’s plan to save all mankind.

Step one: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

     This sentence, like hundreds of others in scripture destroys the demonic doctrine of eternal hell and human free will.  Adam sinned against God and because of that all creation dies.  We did not have a free will choice in the matter, what Adam did was imparted to every single human being before we are even born.  But this is the good news; Jesus Christ imparts life to every single human being just as Adam imparted death.  This means that Christ gives life to the same all in which Adam gave death.  EVERY SINGLE PERSON.  Again, we have no free choice in the matter.   This verse does not say, as Christians would tell you, for as in Adam all die but only those who believe in Christ shall be made alive.  NO, lying pastors, it doesn’t say that!  The same all that is touched by Adam’s death are touched by Christ’s resurrection!                                                          

     I guess Adam’s action was more powerful than Christ’s.  Religion and Christians would have you believe that.  It is simply not true.  God’s plan was to have His only begotten son, Jesus, die on the cross.  This was the plan from creation, before Adam even sinned.  ….The Lamb Who was slain from the creation of the world (Revelations 13:8).  God’s plan is that all people die through Adam and all people are made alive Through Jesus Christ.  The cross was not an afterthought or part of God’s damage control to save as many people as He could after Adam sinned.  No, the cross and Adam’s sin were always a part of God’s plan.  God chose to create sons and daughters by using sin, death and Jesus.    

God was not left to wonder what to do after Adam sinned, Adam’s sin and the cross of Jesus Christ were part of the plan from the beginning.  God created the problem and provided the solution to prepare us for the greatest possible eternal joy.  The cross is plan A, not plan B.

Step 2: But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 

     Believers do have a special salvation.  Those who are chosen by God to come to the realization that Christ alone saves them will be saved before those who were not given belief in this life.  Christ has been resurrected first, the next group to be resurrected is those who died believing in Jesus and who are living believers when Jesus Christ returns.  The living believers when Christ returns are the only ones that don’t experience death before they are made immortal. 

…God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers (1 Timothy 4:10).  This verse speaks of the special salvation of believers, but, it qualifies non-believers of being saved by God as well.   You see, God saves all mankind, but has a special chosen place for those who believe.  So, what about those who do not believe?

STEP 3: Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 

     The next phase of God’s plan is to end all rule, authority and power.  What are these exactly?  Ephesians 6:12 says, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principlaties, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  First, we need to understand that the apostle Paul, in this verse, is speaking of wickedness in the heavenly realms.  These spiritual hosts are not in hell but in the heavenly realms.  This rule, authority and power are pure evil.  We are talking demons, Satan here.  God says that Jesus puts an end to this entire evil rule, evil authority that the devil and his demons have, and all the evil power.  How does Jesus end this evil dominion?  That question is answered in Colossians.

And by Him (Jesus) to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in Heaven having made peace through the blood of the cross.  Earlier in Colossians 16, it says, For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him. 

     Okay, now I’m quoting scripture like a Baptist preacher.  What does this all mean?  It means that God created all evil, demons and Satan himself and once they have served their purpose, God ends their rule, power and authority by making peace through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Don’t worry, extreme judgement awaits these evil doers, however, in the end, Jesus Christ brings all of God’s creation under the subjugation of God.  That is how he puts an end to all rule, power and authority. 

Step 4: For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

     Jesus prayed to God to forgive those killing Him, He will save all sinners and enemies by reconciling them to God.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  Let’s notice two things about the sentences above that are not taught in bible studies or Sunday school.  How many times have you heard your pastor teach about the fact that Jesus Christ’s reign will end?  I’m thinking rarely if ever.  However, scripture clearly says that the Lord’s reign will end.  When? Not until the last enemy is destroyed.  Through Adam came death and we all die.  Jesus Christ will reign until He destroys death.  At this point, there is only life, eternal life for all people.  Death is not operating at all, it is destroyed.  People are not experiencing eternal death (annihilationism) or any type of ridiculous, ludicrous, sick eternal hell.  All sin, death and evil have been done away with at this point.   

     You see Christians have it all wrong.  Jesus didn’t die on the cross and rise from the dead and then try to get as many followers as possible.  He died on the cross and rose from the dead to save everybody.  God works out the individual details in each and everyone’s life as far as timing, belief and that kind of stuff. 

     Imagine for a second, that there was a mighty cruise ship waiting at the dock and its destination was a beautiful paradise across the ocean.  If you got on the ship, you went to the beautiful paradise.  If you didn’t get on the ship than the place you were at was going to get hit by a hurricane and everything would be destroyed.  According to Christianity, Jesus Christ would run to the ship and then try to call out or get his friends to tell as many people as possible to get on the ship before it leaves. Jesus is on the boat, others follow, but now the boat is leaving and many were left behind to die in the coming hurricane.  That is not the loving savior scenario.  The truth is that Jesus will tell people about the ship and have others do the same.  Then Jesus stands outside the ship and does not board until the last, the very last person on the island gets in the boat.  When every last one of the people on the island are on that ship that is when Jesus boards.  This is the meaning of these verses.  Jesus saved everyone, now everyone is reconciled and subject to God.  Now Jesus steps in to be subjugated to God and gives up His reign.  Mission accomplished, saved the entire creation, minus not one living thing. 

Step 5: For “He has put all things under His feet.”  But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 

     Absolutely everything is reconciled to God by Jesus Christ.  The only thing that is not reconciled to God by Jesus is God Himself.  The scriptures specifically say this, if other creation, people, or entities were not reconciled to God, then they would be mentioned here.  But no, God is the only one Who is not subject to Jesus Christ.   

     Now I want to be clear that we are saved by grace through faith.  Even the vilest evil is ordained by God to serve a good purpose.  However, people will be judged by God and it will not be pleasant.  But, judgement is not eternal and in the end, is corrective.

Step 6: Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, So that God may be all in all.

     I made the last eight words in this verse very big because those words sum up the destiny of every single person and the reason for Sin, death, judgement, resurrection, Jesus Christ, and all that there is.  This is God’s end game, His grand intention.  God will be all things in all people.  We will have gone through sin, evil and death so we will know, like God, just how wonderful things are at this point, because we went through all the pain. 

     One of the main reasons that people do not understand the bible correctly is because of the mistranslation of the Greek word aion, aionios.  It has been translated in many bibles to mean eternity, when in fact, the word actually means eon or eons, denoting a period of time that has a beginning and an end. 

      God has a plan for the ages/eons.  The present eon we are in now is coming to a close.  The future eons or ages that the bible speaks of are Christ’s Millennium Reign and New Heavens and New Earth.  Those of us that believe that Jesus Christ’s death and His death alone on the cross were 100% sufficient for humanity’s salvation; these people will be alive during these two glorious ages.  Those who do not believe in Jesus or add something to the cross, like their own free will choice, faith in themselves, faith in their faith or trust in any type of work will be resurrected at a later time.  Those that have faith in Jesus Christ, a belief of pure grace, are those that enjoy this special salvation.  At the consummation, the end of the ages, all people, all the dead, will be raised to life with God when death is destroyed.  So again, and I am repeating this because so few understand these truths, Jesus saved every single human that has ever or will ever walk the face of the earth, on the cross.  However, God gives faith to people at different times.  Faith is a realization that Jesus died for you and you had nothing to do at all, with your salvation.  Your salvation and life’s blueprint was sealed for you just as death was imparted to you. 

     I understand that Jesus doing all the work for us is a very difficult concept to grasp.  After all, children are rewarded and punished for their actions at a very young age.  Teachers create entire behavior systems based on rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior.  Prisons are built for those who make bad choices.  SORRY, God’s ways are not our ways and the cross of Jesus Christ does not operate that way.  God did not create a behavior system, He sent His Son.  Jesus Christ completed the task; our systems are useless when it comes to salvation.  All of our failures and sins were put on Jesus at the cross, not on a behavior chart.  In fact, the behavior chart was completely eliminated because God sees us, behavior wise, as He sees His Son Jesus.  If we still want to use the behavior chart or add any works, then we have to be perfect and keep the entire law.  Good luck.

Love your Enemies

     Christians say that Jesus Christ is the only way to get to heaven.  I believe this one-hundred percent, however, my belief differs from Christianity because I believe the cross is for all mankind and all eventually find their way home through the cross.  This process is all of God. 

     Do you remember what Jesus said about the people who were killing him while he was on the cross?  He said a prayer to his father.  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing (Luke 23:34).”  Think about this, Jesus was asking forgiveness for those who were taunting him, spitting at him, and nailing him to the cross.  These people were nowhere in the ballpark of making a personal confession for Jesus Christ.  They were killing the Son of God.  Yet, Jesus asked for their forgiveness.  Do you believe the father denied the Lord’s request?  No way!  The Jews and Romans that were crucifying Christ were performing what God had ordained them to perform since the beginning of creation.  The Son had to go to the cross to save humanity.  Therefore, the world’s worst evil became the greatest good because the cross will save all mankind.  Did God will it this way or does God actually will people to act in seemingly bad ways?

     Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you appointed.  They (Pilate and Herod) did what your power and will (God’s) had decided beforehand should happen (Acts 4: 27-28).  God decided beforehand, before Pilate and Herod had any say so, to use these men to bring Jesus to the cross.  It was God’s will, not Herod’s, Pilate’s, or any other human beings free will choice.  No, it was God’s will to use these men to conspire and eventually bring Jesus to the cross. 

     Anyway, back to Jesus forgiving his murderers.  If these men were forgiven, then that means God can forgive those who have not chosen Jesus, as this account clearly shows these men despised Jesus.  I seriously don’t believe that any Christian denies the fact that God granted Jesus’ request to forgive these men.  Therefore, I think it is safe to say that Jesus will forgive us for lesser sins and overcome these sins, even the sin of unbelief.  We will all believe eventually and in God’s timing. 

     Religion paints the picture of a dual, conditional and schizophrenic god.  He loves you only if you love him.  Yes, Christians and other religions sing and talk of God’s love but what they preach is not love at all.  They teach that Jesus died for you but that was not enough.  The individual must do something to activate or accept Jesus Christ.   Jesus loves you but if you don’t love him then God will burn you for all eternity.  In addition, the invitation only extends until your life is over.  If you don’t accept Jesus before you die then God’s love ends.  How can anyone trust in a love or a God like that?  I can’t imagine anymore, though I once did, believing in a God that will love me only if I do certain things for Him.  That means that my salvation is up to me and I would always have to be concerned about myself.  This takes the saving power away from Jesus and puts it on me.  So, in conclusion, it will always be possible that Jesus will turn His back on me if I don’t toe the line. 

     Thank God that salvation is a sure thing and God’s love never runs out and Jesus does not turn His back on anyone.  Scripture says that Jesus saved me and it is a sure thing.  In fact, His death applies to me even if I hated Him and was a complete and total enemy of God.  For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son, much rather, being conciliated, we shall be saved in His life (Romans 5: 10-11).  These verses speak of God making humans right with Him WHILE THEY ARE HIS ENEMIES!  You see, God saves you and loves you even when you reject him.  Jesus’s death on the cross covers all sin, even the sin of unbelief.  It does not matter how far you drift from God or what you have or have not done in your life because salvation is not up to you.  Salvation is the work of Jesus Christ and we are His achievement (Ephesians 2:10).  While we were enemies, Jesus made us right with God.  He does not wait until we accept Him or follows rules to show our loyalty.  God saves us and loves us at our worst and there is nothing we can do to make Him stop loving us.  Now that is a God I can trust in and that is the God of the bible.    

     The next words of Jesus that I am going to discuss are kind of a rallying cry for Christians, but I am not sure how it is practiced.  In Matthew, chapter 5, Jesus instructs the crowds to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.  In Luke 6:35, it says Jesus instructed the crowds to love their enemies and do good to them.  That is a hard thing to do as I think we could all agree.  I find it hard enough to love those close to me the way I should, as opposed to actually loving my enemies.  But, what does Jesus mean by loving our enemies?  Well, it means showing them love and caring for them, right?  So I ask another question, how does the doctrine of an eternal hell show love for the people that are there? 

     Supposedly, according to Christianity, people who reject Christ will spend an eternity in hell.  Well, these people would classify as being God’s enemies, don’t you think?  Wait a minute, Jesus instructed us to love our enemies.  Does any one of us truly believe that torturing a human being in unimaginable pain, flesh ripping locusts and flames engulfing a screaming being, horrors beyond imagination, actually shows love to that person?  Not to mention that this will go on not for a million years, but all eternity, forever.  Also, that this torture serves no purpose because the person in hell will never actually get better or be refined.  All of God’s judgments are designed to make people better or draw them towards Him.  Like any child properly disciplined…When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9).  God’s judgment, though fierce, corrects and is for the benefit of the person being judged.  Judgment flows from God’s mercy and is not designed to satisfy God as an end in itself. 

     Now, all Christians will stand at once and tell me that it was their choice to reject Jesus and they chose to go to hell (like anyone would make a free will choice to go to such a place).  But let’s say that is true, that makes them God’s enemies.  Again, Jesus instructs us to love our enemies.  Is God asking us to do something that He won’t do?  He is if we believe in an eternal hell.  God is torturing his enemies while we are instructed to love ours or worse yet, is letting his enemies be tortured and doing nothing about it.  Either way, God does not love his enemies and the process doesn’t make any sense.  The truth is that God does love his enemies.  He proves this in Romans, Chapter 5.  God sent his son to die for his enemies and one day God will bring all of his enemies under subjugation to Christ (I Corinthians 15:25) and will bring them all home to heaven.  That is love!

     In Christian circles, everyone seems to have a formula for salvation that each person needs to follow.  Some believe that you need to be baptized in order to be saved, some believe you need to follow a certain set of rules, some believe you need to complete certain sacraments, some believe you only need to believe in Jesus by choosing Him of your own volition, etc., etc., etc.

     Christianity alone teaches many different routes to salvation.  That’s not to mention the hundreds of other religions in the world that have their own views on the process of salvation.  So, how can we possible know how we are saved?  Well, the scriptural answer is that we are saved by grace!

     The word “Grace” is revealing because this very word means that it is something that we do not deserve or have not earned.  Strong’s concordance defines grace as divine influence on the heart.  The Concordant Literal defines grace as a benefit bestowed on one who deserves the opposite.  By these definitions, grace is given to humans from God undeservedly and with influence.  As a result, it can be concluded that people are influenced by God through grace which eliminates the possibility of free-will and human determination.  It is all of God.

     We do not obtain grace from baptism, good works or any other human action.  Otherwise, grace would cease to be grace.  Okay, how do we receive grace one might ask?  You receive the gift of grace through faith!  Faith is the vehicle that God uses to distribute grace.  However, and this is what the church does not understand, faith is a gift from God.  People do not make a free will choice or get faith from any outside source.  God simply distributes a measure of faith to each individual by which He imparts grace.  Grace does not necessarily mean that we do nothing, but it means we do nothing apart from God.  Titus 2:11 says that grace is used to train us to live in a Godly way.  Ephesians 2:10 says that we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them.  So, we are saved purely by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ but that does not mean that we are not trained to do good works or to walk in them.  These good works are predestined for us to do through the grace freely given to us by God.  We do not do them on our own or out of our supposed free-will. 

      I sometimes hear arguments that if everyone is saved then humans can do whatever they want.  They can lie, steal, cheat and kill and still be saved.  This is misguided thinking.  Yes, all people will eventually be saved.  But, the grace of God operating in you will teach people to become like Jesus Christ.  Some will go through this process now and others later.  However, no human will enter the kingdom as a liar, cheater and murderer. 

     For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).  God saves people by His grace by giving them faith to believe in Jesus Christ.  People don’t get faith from a tent revival, they get it from God.  That’s not to say that God doesn’t use people to bring his message to others, but, it does mean that God chooses who will accept the message.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you (Romans 12:3).  Other translations say:  in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.   Bottom line, we need faith in order to get grace, but this faith comes directly from God.

     Okay, so we will be saved by grace through faith.  Saved from what?  We will be saved from many different things, such as sin, weakness, the flesh, ourselves, Satan, etc.  However, the deepest part of the cross has to do with bringing life from death.  Please pay special attention to this verse in 1 Corinthians 15:22:  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  Adam’s sin has been passed down to all humans and all of creation.  Do you want to know what has been affected by Adam’s sin?  Everything that dies is affected by Adam’s sin.  For as is Adam all die, means that we have death operating in us until we breathe our last breath.  Sin, also, is closely related to death and is a part of us as well.  It wasn’t our choice, through the actions of Adam; we were all touched by sin and death.  For the creation was subject to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God (Romans 8:20-21).

     The second part of the 1 Corinthians 15:22 contains some of the most fascinating and exciting words in scripture.  So in Christ all will be made alive.  This is parallel language.  Everything that Adam has touched with death, will also be made alive in Christ.  The scripture does not say that only those who are in Christ or those who believe in Christ will be made alive.  No, it says that in Christ all will be made alive.  All of what Adam touched with sin and death will be made alive by Christ.  Remember, if you want to know what has been touched by Adam and sin then look at everything that dies.   Dogs, ducks, deer and especially humans all die.  All creation has been subjected to this decay and frustration, not by its choice, but by God (Romans 8: 20-21).  Why?  So that in Christ we will be made alive. 

     Do you want to know who Jesus will save?  Do you want to know who eventually will be with God?  Do you want to know if Jesus will save all mankind?  The answer, from 1 Corinthians 15:22, is that anything that has been touched by death will be made alive by Christ.  If it dies, it will be made alive. 

     Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people (Romans 5:18).  The trespass of Adam brought condemnation for every single one of us.  No one could escape this condemnation; otherwise, they would not be subject to death.  If someone you know lived a near perfect life, would they be free from death?  No, death is imparted to us all.  Remember, trees and dogs die as well.  They are not even capable of sinning.  And yet, death touches them as well.  However, the one righteous act of Christ resulted in justification and life for all people that are subject to this condemnation.  That means life for all people.  Jesus will one day lift the curse off this earth.

     Religious people who believe that sin and death will keep multitudes of people in some sort of hellish torment for all eternity; do not pay attention to these scriptures.  Adam’s sin has spread to all humanity and the proof of this is that we all die.  We cannot make a choice not to die, we will one day die.  So Adam is very powerful in the fact that his act spread to all people.  Now, Christ committed an act as well.         The scripture says that this righteous act spread to all people as well.  However, many Christians want to say that Adam’s sin spread to all humanity but Christ’s righteous act only spreads to a precious few.  This is not true.  Everything that has been touched by death will be made alive by Christ.     Adam’s act resulted in condemnation for ALL PEOPLE!  Jesus’ righteous act resulted in justification and life for ALL PEOPLE!  Please ponder 1 Corinthians 15:22 and Romans 5:18.  Please throw away tradition and any pre-conceived ideas and just see what these verses actually say. 

     If Adam’s sin has touched all people and Jesus’ death and resurrection is limited to only a few, then it would be safe to say that Adam’s sin is more powerful than the cross.  It would say that Adam’s sin and death are so powerful that in touches all humans without choice.  Whereas, Christ’s death and resurrection are so weak that they do not spread to all humanity.  However, Romans 5:20 says …But where sin increased, grace increased all the more…How could this be unless the grace of Jesus Christ saved all those who have sinned. 

     Okay, my point is this: If because of Adam’s sin, sin spread to all creation, then in order for the cross of Christ to be greater than sin, the salvation of the cross would have to at least spread to all creation to be as powerful as sin.  Therefore, we, without a choice, have been subjected to sin and death, and this has an impact on everyone.  If the cross of Christ only saved a few that have managed to believe in this lifetime, then sin has taken more of creation than the cross was able to save.  So we conclude that sin is greater and more powerful than the cross.  But, our hearts, Romans 5:20 and countless other scriptures say that this is not true.  So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:21).  Christians attempt to get God off the hook by free-will.  That is simply not how God has set things up.  He does not need people to get Him off the hook, His plan will save all.