Articles

What does it mean that all scripture is inspired by God? Is the Bible really perfect?

Difficult Bible Passages, The nature of the Bible

“All scripture is inspired by God” (2 Ti 3:16). This verse has led to countless arguments and has been interpreted in numerous ways. It is often used as a key verse to define the character of the Bible. But what does it mean that all scripture is inspired by God? What does it mean for our understanding of the nature of the Bible?

What does it mean that we should “subdue the earth”? Reviewing the vocation of man.

God ordered humans to “subdue (כָּבַשׁ) the earth” (Gn 1:28). What does this mean? What does this command have to do with the vocation of humans? This article will review humans’ vocation in the light of Genesis 1.

Why our modern view of justice is unbiblical—recovering a biblical view of God’s justice.

Character of God

Many assume that mercy and justice are at odds as if these are two opposing things, and therefore two opposing characteristics within God. That God desires to have mercy, but he is bound to justice because of his holiness. A dichotomy within the very being of God. Such thinking is based on a wrong understanding of God’s justice influenced by Justitia (Lady Justice) rather than the Bible. Looking at the OT, Jesus, and Paul this article will show that God’s justice is restorative in its nature and therefore consistent with God’s love. God’s restorative justice is an expression of his love and not a quality contrary to God’s love.

FAQ about Universal Reconciliation

God will save everyone, Universal Reconciliation

What is universal reconciliation? Is universal reconciliation biblical? Why did Jesus have to die if all people will be saved? Why missions if there is no hell at all? What is the gospel, if it is not salvation from hell? Here you will find short and concise answers to these and many other questions about universal reconciliation.

A Biblical Understanding of the Wrath of God

Character of God, Difficult Bible Passages

How does the wrath of God fit with the fact that he is love in his essence? Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament? In this article, it will make clear that God’s wrath and his judging actions are continuously defined the same throughout the Bible and are an expression of his love.

Does the parable of the sheep and the goats teach hell or universal reconciliation?

Difficult Bible Passages, God will save everyone, Hell, Universal Reconciliation

Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats (Mt 25:31ff.) is often cited as the key verse for the idea that there is an eternal hell. But if you look at the verses closely and not just read them superficially, you will discover that this is not the case. In fact, the opposite is true: the verses give hope for a future reconciliation of all people with Jesus.

The meaning of Gehenna in the teachings of Jesus

Hell, Universal Reconciliation

Didn’t Jesus teach hell himself? What about “whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent to fiery hell” (Mt 5:22 NET)? How does that fit together with the reconciliation of all people? By giving the Old Testament background of Gehenna, I’ll show that Jesus didn’t teach eternal punishment in hell but imminent national judgement.

Scriptures that point toward the salvation of every person

God will save everyone, Scriptures

In the Bible, there are many verses that indicate that one day God will reconcile the whole cosmos and that he will be Lord over everything and everyone. Here is a small selection of such Bible passages. Some verses can certainly be understood differently, but others are very clear in their message. The highlights are from me and serve only the faster overview.

13 reasons why I believe that in the end, Jesus will reconcile all people to himself

God will save everyone, Hell

For me, the belief in an eternal hell has never been a problem. I’ve talked about hell more than any other Christian I’ve known. The teaching that God will reconcile all human beings with himself was a dangerous heresy for me. Here I want to explain 13 reasons why I can no longer believe in eternal torture, but am convinced that in the end, God will reconcile all people with himself.

The only way to know God’s character for sure!

Character of God

There are different images of God in the Bible. How do we know what God really is like? What is the standard by which we evaluate different images of God in the Bible? Is there a revelation from God that trumps all others?

Why does God not stop evil and suffering?

Character of God, Suffering

In this world, we are often confronted with intense suffering and immense pain. Child abductions, abuse, domestic violence, addictions, natural catastrophes, accidents and crippling diseases are only a few of the evils that occur all the time in this World. But why does God not stop all of that?

What is Agape Love?

Agape, Character of God

At the heart of the Gospel lies Agape Love.

God is Agape Love (1 John 4:8), his very substance is Agape Love. Therefore, he loves everyone with Agape Love (John 3:16). God revealed his Agape Love through Jesus Christ and it is most clearly seen in Jesus sacrificing himself for us (Rom 5:8). Agape Love is greater than hope and faith (1 Cor 13:13). Agape Love is what we should seek above all else (Col 3:12-14). Agape love is the aim of all preaching (1 Tim 1:5). Agape love is the summary of the whole Old Testament law (Rom 13:8; Gal 5:14). Jesus summarized his teaching in Agape Love (Mt 22:37-40).

Book Summary: “Universalism: The Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years.”

Universal Reconciliation

Thought you guys might enjoy this summary of miscellaneous points I did several years ago from J.W. Hanson’s classic book “Universalism: The Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years.”

5 Examples When Jesus Contradicted, Revised or Cut Out Parts of the Old Testament

This article explores how Jesus read the Old Testament and what we can learn from that for how we interpret the Bible by looking at 5 examples from the Gospels.

Jesus rejecting deniers, sinners who can’t enter the kingdom and universal reconciliation

“But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” (Mt 10:33, NET) “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” (Gal 5:21, NET) In this article, I’ll answer how verses like this fit together with the belief that God will reconcile the whole cosmos.

The worst sin

I was sitting in class when my professor asked “What is the worst sin?” Having grown up in church my mind immediately wandered to several sexual sins, murder, and being a lukewarm Christian. But all of them didn’t seem to be bad enough for being the worst sin. Then it flashed into my mind “The worst sin is whatever opposes the greatest command.”

Phinheas and Hermeneutics

Character of God, Difficult Bible Passages

Phinheas was a hero in the Old Testament. There are only two figures in Israel’s Scriptures about whom it is said that something was “reckoned to him as righteousness”: Abraham and Phinehas. What made Phinheas a hero? He saved the Israelites from God’s wrath. How? In his zeal for God, he killed an Israelite man who had taken a Midianite woman, with his spear (Num 25:8). This act of killing stopped an epidemic that God had brought on the Israelites for their disobedience. Why is this story important? What does it have to do with Paul and with us?

How Thai history helped me understand the Gospel better

The famous New Testament scholar N.T. Wright doesn’t get tired of proclaiming that the Gospel is that Jesus is king. The gospels tell the story of how Jesus became king. But what does that mean? Why is the world still filled with evil if Jesus is truly king already? King Naresuan the Great (1555 – 1605) was one of the greatest monarchs of Thailand. His fascinating story helped me understand better what it means that Jesus is king.

Understanding the Book of Revelation

Difficult Bible Passages

What comes to mind when “The Book of Revelation” is mentioned? Here are some words and phrases that are often heard in association with it: the end . . . the rapture . . . 7 . . . four horsemen . . . the antichrist . . . 666 . . . judgment . . . vengeance . . . the second coming . . . heaven. Interestingly, two of the words in this list most associated with Revelation—rapture and antichrist—do not even appear in Revelation. Some of the most important words in Revelation, such as witness, throne, and lamb, do not come to mind as quickly, yet they are central to Revelation. This article will give a quick overview over the 4 ways that the book of Revelation has been understood throughout the centuries and will give some helpful principles for understanding this last book of the Bible.

Book Review: In—Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb (by Bradley Jersak)

Book Review, Difficult Bible Passages, God will save everyone

How is the exclusive claim that Jesus is the only way compatible with Abba’s all-inclusive love? That is the question that Bradley Jersak tries to answer in his book “In—Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb”. Every chapter is packed with insight covering treasures from the Bible, testimonies, and helpful comparisons. Due to a large amount of excellent content this review will cover only a few selected highlights from the book.