~ 2 Eternal Destinies ~
Binary Choice
~ The Bible clearly teaches that
everyone has a choice of two roads leading to two
destinies. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow
gate; for wide is the gate and broad is
the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow
is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few
who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Default Option (eternal
suffering for sinners) ~ The Bible clearly teaches that ALL humans are
born with a sin-nature. Jesus said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life
maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched” (Mark
9:43). “For they themselves declare concerning us
what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to
serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He
raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
A Great Option (eternal
glory for saints) ~ The Bible clearly teaches that ANYONE can
accept the gift of salvation through the provisions of the Cross of
Calvary. “But
may the God of all grace, who called us
to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11). “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that
they also may obtain the salvation which
is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).
2 Destinies Contrasted
~ “For
the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins
with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of
God? Now ‘If the righteous one is
scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’ Therefore let
those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in
doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:17-19).
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that
they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates
into the city. But outside are dogs and
sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves
and practices a lie” (Revelation 22:14-15). Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen”
(Matthew 22:14).
“But now Christ is risen
from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For since by man came death, by
Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 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” 1 Corinthians 15:20-24).
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,
and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For
until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no
law. Nevertheless death reigned from
Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of
the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died,
much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus
Christ, abounded to many. And the gift
is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense
resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses
resulted in justification. For if by the
one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through
the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as
through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation,
even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting
in justification of life. For as by one
man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many
will be made righteous. Moreover the law
entered that the offense might abound. But
where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death,
even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:12-21).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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