Entry 152 - First Introduction to Apokatastasis
12/24/19
"The main Patristic supporters of the apokatastasis theory, such as Bardaisan, Clement, Origin, Didymus, St. Anthony, St. Pamphilus Martyr, Methodius, St. Macrina, St. Gregory of Nyssa (and probably the two other Cappadocians), St. Evagrius Ponticus, Diodore of Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. John of Jerusalem, Rufinus, St. Jerome and St. Augustine (at least initially) … Cassian, St. Issac of Nineveh, St. John of Dalyatha, Ps. Dionysius the Areopagite, probably St. Maximus the Confessor, up to John the Scot Eriugena, and many others, grounded their Christian doctrine of apokatastasis first of all in the Bible."
- Ramelli, Christian Doctrine, 11.
- Ramelli, Christian Doctrine, 11.
Here is the way I look at Salvation and reward/punishment. I see Salvation as a gift, undeserving and free, and our deeds reaping either reward or punishment, but nonetheless everything and everyone will be saved by the victorious power of Jesus Christ. Not one sheep will be lost because the Father will save all.
Here is how I see them using an example to better illustrate it:
In a world of delusion, who truly deserves salvation? No one! That's why it's a gift!
Do you think, thinking is required for salvation?
Do you think believing is required for salvation?
Because if you think something is required of you in order to be saved, then you're not thinking of it as a gift but as something you earned by something you thought or did.
Say you're at a store, and you want some shampoo, but then the Manager decides to give it to you for free as a gift.
What's the point of requiring payment for the shampoo if they said it's a gift? If you insist by paying them, that's a nice gesture, but it's not mandatory because the Manager gave it to you as a gift.
But then say someone else comes in, and the manager gives them a free gift of shampoo as well, and they receive the gift without paying.
Since you paid them even though it was a gift, do they not get the shampoo anymore because they did not pay like you did? Of course not! They still get the gift!
Because you "believe" in the victorious gospel of Jesus Christ, does that mean someone who doesn't believe but still receives doesn't actually receive? Of course not! They still get the gift!
There is a difference between reward/punishment (works) and salvation (gift). One is based on our own effort, the other is based on God.
Works is dependent on what we do. Salvation is dependent on what He did (Jesus died for us).
Works is something we give, Salvation is something we receive.
Regardless of if you choose to pay or not, a gift is still a gift. You can't take away the nature of freedom.
If you decide to either pay for it and then receive it or simply receive it, you still will receive the gift.
It doesn't mean that we all get the same reward or punishment, but it does mean that we all will eventually be saved.
To read some more with Bible verses included with context, check out this website:
https://www.tentmaker.org/articles/how_hell_became_eternal_vincent.htm
Comments
Post a Comment