Soteriology is the theological speak for the doctrine of salvation. But what are we being saved from? Most would say this is a daft question, for surely that is obvious? However, are we only desiring salvation because we don't want to burn in the lake of fire forevermore or because we desire righteousness and holiness? There are those who profess Christ as Lord and Saviour who think little of sinning, they would appear to want to be saved in their sins as opposed to from their sins. Matt.1:21. Justification happens in a moment, as does glorification, but sanctification is an on-going process. Justification is something which we possess, sanctification is something which we experience, and glorification something which we anticipate. Believers know (or at least they should do) that there are essentially two people groups in the great plan of God, the righteous and the unrighteous, there are no others. The former will inherit the kingdom of God, Matt.6:33, and the latter, the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Matt.25:41. There are no other final destinations apart from these two, though the Bible does talk of degrees of reward, and degrees of suffering in each*. This is a hard subject, for taken to its extreme we may be guilty of thinking that the lowest position in the kingdom of heaven is but only a shade above the highest position in hell! How can this be? There can be no want of anything, suffering, or feelings of remorse in God's eternal kingdom, neither any little bliss in the lake of fire! There will be no partying in the 'upper' reaches of the lake of fire.
Using an open fireplace as an analogy for the lake of fire, I suppose the least 'comfortable' place in there would be in the hub as it were, where the coal is burning at its most intense, and therefore the most 'comfortable' place in there would be where the flames are less intense, that is higher up in the fireplace, so in the case of hell, the upper reaches of the lake of fire would be more 'pleasurable'?
But really, heaven and hell are as far apart as heaven and hell! there is no contiguity; in Luke 16:19-31 we read that there was a great gulf fixed (v 26) and this was when the righteous and unrighteous dead were in Hades down below, that is before the Saviour's resurrection after which He led captivity captive. Eph.4:8.
The Bible says of the eternal state (after the coming millennial reign) that the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Is.65:17. It seems that we won't have the capacity to consider the eternal and wretched plight of the damned (unlike the reverse). Perhaps, at the Lord's Second Advent when His saints receive their glorified bodies in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor.15:52a) that a 'light bulb' moment will happen, and we will with Abraham know that the Judge of all the earth has done right. Gen.18:25. The apostle Paul said; now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Cor.13:12**. The whole panorama of the ages will become as clear as crystal, there will be no more riddles to solve as it were.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we note that the rich man called Abraham Father Abraham; whilst 'alive' he may have offered sacrifices at the temple, attended his local synagogue, performing rituals and formal duties, as many professing Christians do today, yet all the while, not being a child of God, how solemn!
*Some of the NT judgment passages that speak of differences of rewards and punishments; Matt.16:27, Luke 10:12-15, Rom.2:6, 14:12, 2 Cor.5:10, 1 Pet.1:17, Rev.2:23, 20:12-13, 22:12.
1 Cor.15:41 seems to infer that there will be differences in glory between the risen saints.
1 Cor. 3:8 suggests that rewards will be unique per individual saint, yet the Saviour said they are all unprofitable servants having done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:10.
The subject of judgment, punishments and rewards is no easy thing to pin down, but the true humble saint will know to sit down in the lowest place. that when He that hath bidden thee cometh, He may say to thee, Friend go up higher. Luke 14:10 (RV).
**Dr John Gill's exposition on this verse is well worth a read.
No comments:
Post a Comment