Trinitarian Letters

Well, there comes a time when it is time to let it all hang out as they say. So Here goes. I want to challenge you / us all to look into the topic of Eternal Torment or Hell fire for lost souls, etc. Since we all come from a religious background of Western Theological thought stemming from a Catholic and Greek Mythological bias, it is only understandible from this standpoint that we would accept the concept of an Eternal Burning Hell fire. Amen? But does sripture bear this out?

Let me lose some of you right now. Bias. Prejudice. Preconceived ideas. Past teachings. Whatever. Here it is. THERE IS NO, NO, NO SUCH THING AS AN EVER BURNING HELL FIRE TO TORMENT ANYONE.
WOAAAAA. I repeat this. See it again.

Paganism had this concept centuries before the Christian era. ( Just look up Zorastrian Hell, Egyptian Hell, Greek Hell, Plato’s Hell, Plato and purgatory, Etc.

The early church fathers and the early church had no such teaching as to an ever burning torturing hell fire. Origin, Clement and other early church fathers saw all people being saved. They ridiculed the concept of an ever burning eternal torment of any sort.

Augustine in the 5th century saw Platos teachings of an eternal burning Hell fire as something that would tend to keep church members in moral line and therefore put the doctrine into the church.

Justinian claimed this doctrine as the official position of the Empire in the 5th century as the official position of the Catholic Church and placed it in the Roman Empire.

With Jerome translating the Greek Septuigent into the Latin Vulgate with all of the Hell words mistranslated around 400 BC, the concept was rooted now in scripture.

The concept of Hell fire and torment was NEVER taught in the early church for over 500 years. Universal Reconciliation, Universal Redemption and Ultimately Universal Salvation of All Humanity was taught. However, one can refuse that salvataion in Jesus and not experience it although one is actually saved.

The point I want to make here is that God LOVEs all of His children and has declared His plan to save everyone.

So you do not thinK that I have made all of this up , here are some resourses for you to look into. Look into Lazarus and the Rich Man in Tentmaker. Great material. Other things as well.

WWW.tentmaker.org
www.universalist-herald.net
www.gci.org
www.trinitarianletters.com

This is an amazing study. Don’t bury your head in the sand. PLease look into this for yourself. Keep your current church. Don’t move. Just know the truth for the truth’s sake. God Bless,

Paul Kurts
www.trinitarianletters.com

We all have been so ingrained in our personal religious beliefs stemming from Western Theological Philosophy and its Greek Mythological concepts that it is difficult to tell someone or explain where some of these had their origin. So in this blog I just want to challenge you to look into some things for yourself rather than my telling them to you here. The Internet is repleat with imformation concerning the historical origins of these thoughts. So let’s go.

The Doctrine of Eternal Torment
Where the concept of “Purgatory” came from. Search Plato and Purgatory.
The Origins of Hell Fire and Torment
The Theology of Universal Reconciliation
Universal Redemption
Zoroastrian Hell
Egyptian Hell
Greek Hell
Plato and Hades
Catholic Hell
Protestant Hell
Johathan Edwards and Hell
Who are these individuals OUTSIDE THE GATES OF THE HOLY CITY? Rev.22
And WHAT are they experiencing?

A picture will clearly emerge as to Just How Much God Loves us all and how damaging some of these past dearly held beliefs are.

I could write a book on the above concepts, AND I HAVE. It is entitled
TRINITARIAN LETTERS-Your Adoption and Inclusion in the Life of God.

Just go to www.trinitarianletters.com for a preview.

God bless you all , and happy studying.

Paul

P.S. Check out www.tentmaker.org and click down on the numerous famous
people who have embraced Universal Reconciliation over the centuries.

One common concept of salvation is that of what I call ‘conditionalism’.  Scripture is read and understood, or misunderstood, based on conditions.  For example, one CAN be saved IF one does this or that.   It places whatever gift God has to offer an individual on that person’s shoulders to either accept, do, not do or something else  to make it happen.  IE., one can be forgiven of one’s sins IF he or she ‘repents’.  Again, one can be sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph.4:30) if one believes, accepts, understands or does SOMETHING to make this sealing of and by the Holy Spirit a reality for the individual.  And again, one can receive the gifts of God( James 1:17)  and make them applicable to oneself IF we apply the correct conditions to make God like us, love us, bless us, forgive us, have mercy on us, save us, raise us, etc, etc, etc  ad nauseum.  Can you see a picture here?  I call it, ” the tail wagging the dog.”  We become in charge.  We in effect become God.  We become the one who holds our present and future in our own hands by what we DO !  Folks, this is NOT the Good News or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is POSITIVE.  It is NOT conditional at all.  It is an announcement of what Jesus HAS done to and for all of humanity–you included.  And it occurred before the “foundation” of the world! ( Eph.1).

Luke 19:10, tells us that Jesus came to seek and save what was lost.  It does not depend on whether we accept that fact or not.  It does not depend on whether we believe it or not.  It does not depend on whether or not we do anything.  JESUS SAVED WHAT WAS LOST!!!  You included.

Salvation is a PROCLOMATION of what God has done for ALL of His children. There is NO Condition to it.  It is a gift.  God loves the world.  He loves His children.  All are reconciled to God. ( Col.1:19-20).  We can say that ALL are made alive in Jesus. ( I Cor.15:22).  We can also say that ALL are SAVED  in Jesus Christ.  Does everyone know this.  No !   Will they someday? Yes.  Every knee will bow to Jesus, and I say out of celebration, love, joy and appreciation for what our Loving God has done to and for all of us in Jesus.

There is NO bad news in the Good News.  Let’s proclaim Good News to everyone we know and meet. Simply that God Loves you and has done everything to insure your eternal life with and IN Him.  Once we know this, we can live our life out of this wonderful truth.  Praise God.

Lord I believe.  Help my unbelief!

Amen

( SEEING FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE INSIDE OF TIME AND SPACE AND GOD SEEING FROM BEING OUTSIDE OF TIME AND SPACE.)

There are some  powerful dynamics being  played out in the Bible and in the plan of God.  One is how we see and understand called subjective understanding, and the other is how the Triune God sees things ultimately throughout the future called  Objective understanding.   We are limited in our understanding as it relates to being inside Time and Space.  We see in the present and we usually see from a perspective of time order and or  dispensationalism as we interpret , or try to interpret, future events or prophecies. 

God is different.  He sees everything in the PRESENT.  Why?  Because He exists outside of time and space. ( He is also in it as well.)  For example.  Paul says that Jesus has already taken us all to the Father’s right hand and seated us there. See Eph.2:6.  That is how the Father sees us ultimately. 

We , like Martha  in John 11, would see Lazarus coming up in the resurrection at the last day.  Time order.  But Jesus makes a powerful theological and philosophical statement to her in verse 25 when He says that, ” I am the resurrection and the life.”  He knows and sees Lazarus being taken up in His own resurrection and the reality of it.  It is a presentness in Jesus mind.

In I Thessalonians 3:13, Paul speaks of Jesus returning WITH all of His saints. ( KJV).  Yet in I Corinthians 15, Paul speaks of the dead in Christ rising first when Christ returns.  So, are the Saints in the heavenly realm with Jesus presently or do they rise out of their graves to meet Jesus when He returns in Glory?  With what has been mentioned earlier, let’s take this a little further.

I believe that when a person dies he or she goes instantly to the presence of Jesus Christ in the heavenlies.  With God being outside of time and space and seeing everything in the present the individual’s spirit is united with the individuals ‘new’ body and takes on his or her new glorified human body and is with Jesus.  We participate in Jesus’ resurrection, He is our life and He is our resurrection as well.  And, we are given ‘new birth’ in His resurrection.  See I Peter 1:3-4.

So, Jesus brings His saints with Him when He returns in Glory as                         I Thessalonians 3:13 says.   The physical body comes out of the grave and is united with the glorified body of the saint and now there is only one glorified human body which has been changed from physical only from the grave to glorified only and will live with and within the Triune God eternally.

We simply are conscience after death in the presence of Jesus as Paul talks about in Philippians 1:23.  The saints return With Jesus and unite with a now “resuscitated” body which is permanently Glorified and is forever with Jesus inside the life and existence of the Triune God.

Remember the Plan of God is HIS Plan.  It is for His Good Pleasure as He desires to share His divine nature with all of humanity.  “It is Finished”.  It is a done deal, as we say.  Jesus makes it happen for everyone.  God wins.  Jesus wins.  And, We win.

Comments are always welcome.

God Bless,

Paul

God the Father is Awesome!  We just have not realized before how awesome He really is.  When you have ALL power in heaven and earth you can do things as an act of God humans can not comprehend.  Such is the Gospel or Good News.

In Gen.1:26-27, the Great Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit simply said “lets make a family of humans after our likeness.”  “We want them, we choose them in our power, and we will love them forever.  As far as we are concerned, this is a done deal with no exceptions.  Sin will not nullify what our plan is.  Jesus will make it so and make it happen  for all and take care of the sin situation for everyone.”

So, when we read in John 1:29, “… behold Jesus who takes AWAY the sin of the world.”  Do we believe it?  It is so!   In Rom.3:23 and Rom.6:23 , that all have sinned and that the wages of sin is Death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life in Jesus Christ….FOR  EVERYONE.  Do we believe it?   

In Luke 19:10, Jesus said he came to seek and to SAVE what was lost.  Did He?  And can we believe it?

We are so infected with Greek Philosophy with its REWARD and PUNISHMENT theology, and with a concept of an ever burning and torturing Hell fire that it is nearly impossible for us to see a loving Father who wants to live with all of us forever,   and has made it a reality  in Jesus Christ’s life, death, resurrection and ascension for all humans. 

Are we, you, really made righteous in Jesus?  Rom.5:18.  Are you really made alive in Jesus Christ?  ICor.15:22 ?  Do you belive God loves YOU? John 3:16.  Do you believe that The Father loves you as much as He does Jesus Christ?  He does.  John 17:23.

Salvation is a done deal for everyone.  Many, most, will find this out after death.  But it is still Salvation.  The gates of the Holy City will forever remain open for sinners to repent and come in.  Rev. 21 and Rev.22.  The Father is eternally patient.  And as Rob Bell says, ” Love Wins.”

Forget any idea or concept of any kind of fire of torture in hell, an idea coming from the pagan minds of ancient cultures.  It simply DOES NOT EXIST.  Not my idea, just do your own study.  And happy studying.

God Bless,

Paul Kurts

FEARING DEATH !!! Why do humans fear death?  Hebrews 2:15 tells us that “ we were held in slavery by the fear of death.”  But why?  If Jesus has reconciled all things to the Father and redeemed all of humanity and declared that in him all are made alive in Him by Paul ( I Cor.15:22  ) and that He, Jesus, has blessed all of us with every spiritual blessing in Christ and with every treasure of the heavenlies ( Eph.1), then WHY would one fear Death?

The pagan concept, from Greek Mythology, that one would be tortured and burn forever if one’s evil deeds out weighed one’s good deeds was a common concept in the Hellenistic world.  When that concept came into the Christian church  around the 5th century A.D. the fear of death continued on unabated in the church.  But, God the Father is not interested in torturing anyone but that all would come to see who they are in His plan and family made a reality in Jesus Christ. And for some this “metanoia” or change of mind or repentance could last forever if one persisted in denying the Truth that is in Jesus.  The invitation to come into the Holy City is an open invitation which does not end for those OUTSIDE the gates of Heavenly Jerusalem. ( Rev. 22:17).   The Great Triune God is LOVE.  And, His love continues on forever.  His mercy is everlasting. His patience is unending.  He loves His children and always will.

When we see what Jesus has done for ALL of us to take us ALL to the Father’s right hand ( Eph.2:6)  we have no need or desire to FEAR DEATH any longer.  Death is a passage into a New existence with a glorified body and a life that never ends.

At the Father’s right hand are PLEASURES forevermore which we read in Psalm 16:11.  How can one fear that promise!!!  So, Jesus tells us through Luke  12:32,  …” Fear NOT, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to Give you the Kingdom.”  You are included in that promise and have been adopted into the very life of God since before the creation of the cosmos.  ( See Eph.1).

I John 4:18 tells us that Love casts out fear which is related to PUNISHMENT.  While  Greek Mythology is related to PUNISHMENT, God the loving Father simply is Not.  The Father is in the Saving and Blessing business!

May we all be blessed with this understanding of God and His love.

God bless,

Paul

Most of us have never even thought to question the validity of the concept of an ever burning and torturing Hell Fire.  I know I didn’t.  But just as the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and Superman do not exist, when studied, one will find that neither does the punishing condition or place commonly known as Hell.  Radical?  But what about Lazarus and the Rich man, and worms that die not, and smoke that ascends forever and  a Lake of fire, and the like?  Good question with equally good answers. 

I think the place to start in trying to understand Hell is to study to see where the concept started originally.  This study can be done on the Internet by researching such topics as follows:

Zoroastrian Hell

Egyptian Hell

Greek Hell

Plato’s Hell

Augustine’s Hell

Catholic Hell

Protestant Hell

I have more material on the subject and I will be glad to E:Mail it to you.  Send me a request at     teedup162@knology.net   and I will send it to you.

No one can fully appreciate the real LOVE of God if one thinks that our Father in Heaven would capriciously or condemningly  send someone to burn in a torturing fire FOREVER.  Especially when we know that Jesus paid it all for everyone who believes.  Scripture does allow, however, for one who does not accept and believe what Christ did for them to wander around outside the ‘gates’ of the Holy City forever if they so choose. But the invitation to ‘Come in’ is forever offered to them as well. ( Rev.22:17).

How hung up on the PAGAN concept of ‘hell’ are you?  I could write a book on this subject and am doing so.  But, you can study it for yourself just as I have and at least know what other ‘theology’ is out there that is different than what you may have commonly thought.

Jesus is the TRUTH.  ( Jn.14:6; Eph.4:20).  And he is LOVE for all of God’s children and always will be.  Forget Hell.  You are not going there and neither is anyone else.

The GOOD NEWS really is Good News.  For EVERYONE.

God Bless,

Paul

In the concept of Western Theological Philosophical thinking  Salvation has its emphasis on the NOW.  As in IICor.6:2, “….now is the day of salvation.”  Proceeding from ancient Greek mythology and in particular Plato and later St. Augustine of Hippo the immediacy of salvation now or the lostness of one now has carried on down through the Christian Church for 1500 years.

If this is so, then God is a miserable failure in saving his children!  Most, under this concept, would be relegated to the tortures of some hellish existence after death for all of eternity.  Those who never heard the name of Jesus Christ would fit into this category.  300 million who lived BEFORE Christ would.  95% plus of all of the 100 billion humans who have lived since Adam would as well.  The 60% of all humans who have lived on earth have lived in areas of the world which are not Christian and never have been.  That is 60 billion plus humans.   Can we see a problem here in conflict with Jn.3:16-17?

Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost and I believe He did. Luke 19:10.  When you actually look at the reality of the FACTS in this issue it becomes apparent, at least to me, that God never intended for EVERYONE to come to the knowledge of Salvation in Christ in this life!!!  Yes, some few, as in many are called and few chosen. Mt.20:16.  Or, Judgement in now on the house of God. IPt.4:17.  But this is but a small flock as Jesus said his present day church would be made up of All believers. 

If God is not out for all of the world to know THE TRUTH  which is in Jesus, why should we feel failure if we do not reach everyone on earth with the Truth?  Are we one-upping God?

I know this is  a big curve ball for some of us, but read on.  We know that Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension applies to everyone who has ever lived.  ICor.15:22.  Simply ALL !!!  But how do they all find out about it and what about human life now?

In my book, TRINITARIAN LETTERS, YOUR ADOPTION AND INCLUSION IN THE LIFE OF GOD, one letter deals with the concept that Salvation is a DECLARATION by God, Not a potentiality or possibility for humans to achieve.  But it is true for everyone.  But, how does one find out about it if one has never heard of the truth?

Here is a radical statement.  God is NOT dealing with the sins of man now since he has bound man over to disobedience so that He may have MERCY  on ALL—ALL. Romans 11:32.  In Acts 17:30, in our humanity God simply overlooks our ignorance  all the while knowing He has dealt with our sin in Jesus Christ who BECAME SIN for us.

More radical statements follow.  Note:  In Hebrews 9:27 it states that “it is appointed once for man to die, but AFTER this the judgment.  The judgment is AFTER death.  Read it again. Note again, the word here for judgment is not a sentencing but the Greek word used is “krisis” from which we get our word crisis.  It means facing a decision of magnitude which is in a Crisis situation.     As all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, which is OBVIOUSLY after death, this is when most of all of Adam’s children will find out about the wonderful plan of God for THEM.  All judgment is given to the Son and He will clearly explain to everyone at that time just what it was that He did for each person who has ever lived.

Revelataion 22:17, however, shows that there will still be some who may have to wander around in “darkness’ until they accept the Bride and the Spirit’s invitation to repent ( metanoia–accept who they are in Jesus ) and come into the intimate relationship inside the life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and celebrate.

We MUST get past the pagan concept of some kind of torturing, burning, suffering, punishing, retributive, “HELL FIRE”, get away from pagan Greek mythology and it’s damnable false doctrines and embrace the truth of a Loving God who unconditionally loves all us and has SAVED us all in Jesus.  We all just need to come to know it and believe it. 

It has taken me 45 years to come to see this, I hope it doesn’t take you that long !

May God richly bless you and yours,

Paul

Hello to all of you faithful readers of my blog.  I appreciate your thoughtful and encouraging comments.  While the blog has some 100 plus blogs, I want to let you know that my book, “TRINITARIAN LETTERS–YOUR ADOPTION AND INCLUSION IN THE LIFE OF GOD” has another 150 short letters or articles along the same theological line as the blog.  If you like the blog, you will LOVE  the book.  So encouraging and filled with hope.   Just click on ORDER at the top of the blog to order.

God bless,

Paul

John 3:16-17, tells us that God so loved the WORLD.  Everyone!  All since Adam and all who will ever live on this planet.  Think for a moment about earth’s population.   From Adam up until the time of Christ, some 300 million humans lived.   Over 60% of all humans have lived in NON Christian areas of the world including Asia and Russia. Estimates are that between 100 billion and 110 billion humans have lived on this earth.  So What?

When God inspired the writer of Hebrews to write Hebrews 9:27, which would apply to all humanity from Adam on, God KNEW that most people who would live on the earth would NOT hear the Gospel–The Good News–or even the name of Jesus Christ.  Yet Jesus died for ALL as scripture clearly shows.  He was raised for all as well and He has redeemed and reconciled ALL. (Col 1).

Back to Hebrews 9:27 which reads, ” And as it is appointed unto men ( and women) once to die, but after this the JUDGMENT”. Now what?  Most have assumed that judgment here meant a sentencing after one’s death with the person being received into heaven or sentenced to hell.  However, upon examination of the word judgment in the Greek we see that a different word is used here.  The word here  for judgment is “krisis” in Greek.  And it means to make a choice, or to make a decision when one faces a crisis.  We even get our word crisis from this Greek word meaning facing a situation which demands a decision or choice of action.

So what is this “krisis” that humans are going to face AFTER death.  Most humans who have ever lived are going to find out when they stand before Jesus just WHAT it was that He did for them in His Plan for the salvation of all of humanity.  And that they are made eternally ALIVE in Him.   See(ICor.15:22).  Remember God is not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance and MOST humans will have that opportunity to do so by realizing just WHO they are in Jesus at that time.  This is NOT a second chance since most never heard of Jesus  in the first place.  It is not a chance at all.  It is the opportunity to believe or not believe.  If they believe then they take their place at the table of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  If not, then they are simply OUTSIDE  the gates of the Holy City in Darkness and suffering from their own choice.  The Good News is that the Spirit and the Bride still invite those outside to come in and take of the “water of life” freely. (Rev.22:17).

Forget the Greek Mythology concepts of an ever burning HELL FIRE.  And don’t take my word for it.  Study for yourself–something most have never done only accepting what they have been erroneously  told all their life. 

So, God Bless and Happy Learning,

Paul