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DONT FORGET THE

PART ABOUT THE


SHEEP & THE GOATS!

by Jon Zens

Kindle and audio by


Locust & Honey Productions (Adam Zens)

CAN WE PICK AND shifts they are advocating:


> They present things as if God is in
> They construct their view of Gods
love in such a way that His wrath is erased
CHOOSE FROM WHAT redemptive relationship with all humanity,
not just His believing people. To them,
from the picture. Because God is love,
they suggest and He cannot be anything
JESUS SAID? all are included in Christ, and thus the other than love. God comes against
message of the Gospel becomes, you are anything that would hurt His beloved

M any in our culture are included. humanity.


sick-and-tired of people in > They say that separation is a myth and > They believe that humanity is in
church pointing their fingers at a lie. People, they believe, have been told good standing before God just by virtue
others and making judgments about whos that they are separated from their Maker, of being made in His image. Thus the
in and whos outand rightly so, for but that is only an illusion in their minds. positive, irreversible identity every person
Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, not That lie that has caused their suffering has is based solely on the inherent worth
pronounce judgment over them. In recent and death because God has never been as a being made perfectly in the image and
years, the outspoken condemnation of the separate from them. likeness of God. They deny that because
culture by many in the Western church Of course, for believers indeed nothing people are sinful, the image of God needs
has been countered with new voices that can separate them from the love of God to be renewed in righteousness and
go in the opposite direction. For them, in Christ Jesus. But those in unbelief holiness through faith in Christ.
the pendulum has swung the other way are in fact separated from the Lord. > They believe that the essence of the
where everything is positive and a future Paul designated them as without God message is that everyone is already in
judgment by Christ is deleted from their (atheists, Greek, atheoi) in the world. Christ, they just dont know it yet. John
story lines. With both subtle and overt In the last judgment, there will be people Crowder asserts, All humanity is fully
language, here are some of the significant who do not know God. included in Christ whether they know it or
not. Faith is simply realizing it. But what Last Day the angels would separate the key source of their insight to the cross? A
those who openly pursue the works of the righteous from the wicked. These facts secular anthropologist/sociologist born
flesh as a lifestyle? The reply is given: they must be side-stepped in order to create in 1923, Rene Girard. More will be said
dont know the truth, but the truth is they their own conception of reality. about this a bit later.
are home, they are just fine, and they are When everything is boiled down, In light of these notions that are
righteous and holy, whether they know it important parts of the narrative about leading others astray, I would like to
or not. God and His actions cannot be taken take a selective trip though the NT and
> They suggest that ultimately all at face value. The Old Testament, they demonstrate that such ideas cannot be
humans will be reconciled to God, and believe, is unreliable in much of what it squared with what it says, especially
no one will be left out of the bliss with says. As they see it, those who wrote the with what our Lord said on numerous
Christ. It is their conviction that there is a OT left behind an understanding of God occasions. It saddens me to see how good
river of life not just in believers, but in all that was mistaken, and thus God did not people are swept up into perspectives that
of humanity. really say and do all that is attributed to may sound appealing, yet are so at odds
> In order to maintain their views Him. with the NT revelation. While going on
if the Scriptures challenge them, they So they conclude that any depictions and on about the rebirth of humanity in
must posit that the Writings cannot be of God taking people outacts of Christ, in an appalling way they chop out
taken at face value. For example, they violence they call themare not really the many words of Jesus about judgment.
do not see any difference between what Him doing it, but the wayward activities Its like something snaps in people, they
Islamic terrorists do and what Israel did in of humans. Wrath is real, they say, but embrace errors, and sidestep or discard
liquidating certain nations as recorded in it comes from humanity and not God. what they know the NT says against it.
the Old Testament. But such notions undermine the entire
But to suggest that there is no Old Testament narrative. Where will
difference between an Islamic terrorist
and what the Israelites did seems to put
such logic stop? What about the Red
Sea exodus? According to their line of THE GOSPELS

O
them in the position of creating their own reasoning, it cant be God delivering
reality. There is in fact a chasm of huge Israel from slavery because many acts ur Lord very clearly and
proportions between what terrorists do of violence came upon Egypt, the most repeatedly asserted that not
and what Israel did. The difference is decisive one being that the pursuing everyone will be redeemed, and
this: God told the Israelites to liquidate Egyptians were drowned by the release of that there is a final judgment in which
the foreigners, while terrorists have no the parted sea. the just and the unjust will be forever
direction from the true God to carry out Cavalier statements are being made separated.
their actions. Israel was chided by the about what the love of God entails, and
Lord on those occasions where they failed about what a God of love may do or not
to carry out what He told them to do. Did do. Unfortunately, the grid they push the Matthew
God not tell Israel to do those actions? So love of God through ends up becoming
when the text says, God told Israel to . a means of both denying the words of Then Jesus began to denounce the cities
. that isnt really God saying it? Are they Jesus and the New Testament (NT), and where He did miracles . . . . it will be
saying Israel thought God told them to do justifying unfounded and dangerous more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the
some things, but He didnt really speak to conclusions. day of judgment than for you . . . . it will
them? A huge red flag should be raised be more bearable for Sodom on the day of
The God and Father of Jesus sent as these voices parade their opinions judgment than for you.
a flood on humanity because of their about the inclusive inclusion that Christ No, He answered, let both grow
non-stop iniquity. The God and Father finished on the cross. This flag is the until the harvest. Then I will tell the
of Jesus sent fire from heaven on acknowledgment that this new revelation harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie
Sodom/Gomorrah because of their which is too good to be true is coming them in bundles to be burned, then gather
sin. These two events are cited in the from people who say, this is very new the wheat and bring it into my barn.
New Testament as pictures of the final to us, a recent journey. Yet they boldly The harvest, Jesus said, is the end of
judgment on unbelievers. Jesus said that affirm that the atonement has been largely the age, and the harvesters are angels . . .
there would be a resurrection of the just misunderstood until they have come They will weed out of His kingdom
and the unjust, one to life and the other along, and now they possess the reality everything that causes sin and all who do
to condemnation. Jesus said that on the others need to see. And what was the evil. They will throw them into the fiery
The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to
everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also
to the Greek.
Paul of Tarsus
furnace, where there will be weeping and landowners in Matthews Gospel, Last of severely.
grinding of teeth. Then righteous will all, He sent His Son to them [the Jews].
shine like the sun in the kingdom of their They will respect My Son, He said. But
Father. The ones with ears, let them hear. when the tenants saw the Son, they said John
This is how it will be at the end to one another, This is the heir. Come, let
of the age. The angels will come us kill Him and take His inheritance. So Many people saw the miraculous
and separate the wicked from the they took Him and threw Him out of the
righteous . . . . signs He was doing, and trusted in His
vineyard and killed Him . . . . Therefore name. But Jesus would not entrust
the kingdom of God will be taken away Himself to them, for He knew all people.
Mark from you and given to a people who will He did not need human testimony about
produce its fruit. The one who falls on people, for He knew what was within
If anyone is ashamed of Me and this stone will be broken to pieces, but humans.
My words in this adulterous and sinful the one on whom it falls will be crushed. If everybody is OK with God and
generation, the Son of Man will be Luke adds Jesus saying, the vineyard there is no separation of unbelievers from
ashamed of them when He comes in His owner will come and kill those tenants their Creator, then Jesus should have
Fathers glory with the holy angels. and give the vineyard to others. As God unreservedly rejoiced that these people
had spoken in a Psalm, Kiss the Son, lest trusted in Him. But He didnt because
He be angry and you be destroyed in your He knew something was wrong within
way. them. It would be similar to what Jesus
Luke
Or those eighteen who died when said about other religious people -- they
the tower in Siloam fell on them -- do you honor Me with their lips, but their hearts
But when you enter a town and are not
think they were more guilty than all the are far from Me.
welcomed . . . . I tell you, it will be more
others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! John 3:16 gets a lot of air-time, but it
bearable on that day for Sodom than for
But unless you repent, you too will all would seem that some key points in the
that town.
perish. verse are often missed. What was said
With the destruction of Jerusalem
There will be weeping and grinding just before this verse is also pivotal, and
and its Temple in view, which came to
of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and we will look at that in a moment. God so
pass in 70 AD, Jesus said, Because of
Jacob . . . in the kingdom of God, but you loved the world that He gave His Son. For
this, God in His wisdom said, I will send
yourselves thrown out. what purpose? In order that all the ones
Israel prophets and apostles, some of
Just as it was in Noahs time, so will it who are believers will not perish but have
whom they will kill and others they will
be in the days of the Son of Man. People everlasting life. Two options are given:
persecute. Therefore this generation will
were eating, drinking, marrying and being (1) those who believe in the Son and (2)
be held responsible for the blood of all
given in marriage up to the day Noah those who do not believe and as a result,
the prophets that has been shed since the
entered the ark. Then the flood came and perish.
beginning of the world, from the blood of
destroyed them all. It was the same in the Then John makes it clear that
Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was
days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, unbelievers are separated from the Lord
killed between the altar and the sanctuary.
buying, selling, planting and building. But and are outside of His redemption unless
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held
the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur they come to Jesus for salvation: The
responsible for it all.
rained down from heaven and destroyed ones not believing stand as condemned
them all. It will be just like this on the day already because they have not believed in
And why in particular was the
the Son of Man is revealed. the name of Gods one and only Son.
judgment against Israel so harsh and
The Pharisees devour widows houses And what was proclaimed just before
brutal from 66 - 70 AD? Because of how
and for a show make lengthy prayers. John 3:16? Just as Moses lifted up the
they severely mistreated Jesus, the Son
Such persons will be punished most snake in the desert, so the Son of Man
of God. As Jesus told the story of the
must be lifted up, that everyone who are certainly many dimensions to Christs many pictures, promises and perspectives
believes in Him may have eternal life. cross-work, but for sure He fulfilled these found in the Biblical record. What about
What Moses did refers back to three crucial components of atonement. the powerful type/shadow-picture in the
Numbers 21:4-9. Once again, Israel There are some in our day asserting that Abraham/Isaac story? Christ and Isaac
complained about their journey, then the God is only love, and that there is no are the only two persons in Scripture
Lord sent venomous snakes among them; place for wrath from a loving God. But called beloved sons. The son of promise
they bit the people and many Israelites they are not paying attention to what they is finally born after a drawn-out process,
died. The people confessed that they had know is revealed in the NT. John 3:36 and then the Lord asked Abraham to
sinned and asked Moses to pray that the not too far away from God so loved sacrifice the young lad on a mountain
Lord will take the snakes away from us. specifically affirms that those who put (which might also be the place where
The Lord told Moses, make a snake and their faith in the Son of God have eternal Jesus was crucified). When Isaac asked
put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten life, but those who reject the Son will not where the sacrificial animal was, his father
can look at it and live. Moses made a see that life, for Gods wrath rests [present said, The Lord will provide Himself
bronze snake and put it up on a pole, and tense] on them. Unbelievers in their a lamb for the burnt offering. When
when any who were bitten looked at the daily existence are separated from the Abraham raised the knife, the Angel told
bronze snake, they lived. Lord and under His wrath, until they turn him to stop, and behold an animal was
The snake was lifted up to resolve to the Son. As Paul said to the Ephesian caught in the bush to take Isaacs place.
a serious problem and effect healing believers concerning their pre-Christ Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed
to those bitten ones who looked up to living, Like the rest, we were by nature that even if Isaacs life was taken, God
it. Jesus used this picture from the Old children of wrath. would raise him from the dead. There
Testament as a reference point for His is no human anger happening on the
atoning work on the cross. The snake on mountain, no wrath of humanity present.
a pole did not automatically heal all who
were bitten. Only those who looked up RENE GIRARDS What about the prophetic portrayal
of the cross in Isaiah 53? Theres nothing
(believed) were restored.
In Numbers 16 another event
CONCEPT OF A here about human wrath finding a
scapegoat in the Messiah. This chapter is
occurred where Israel grumbled against SCAPEGOAT about the Deliverer being a sin offering,
Moses and Aaron. The Lord asked them and the origin of His death is said to be
to move aside so that He could put an
end to them, and they fell on their faces.
Moses told Aaron to take a censer with
incense and fire from the altar -- hurry
to the assembly to make atonement for
T hese new voices (new in
the sense that it is all new to
them), taking their cue from
themes in Rene Girards thought, have
re-defined the key elements of Christs
God, not humanity. Yet it was the Lords
will to crush Him and cause Him to
suffer.
What about the prayer in the early
church? What did they see happening in
them because wrath has come out from atonement. First, the thought of God the recent events befalling Jesus? Indeed,
the Lord and the plague has begun. being involved in the death of His son is there was jealousy, envy and politics
Aaron offered the incense and made replaced with a human-based reason for going on as the Jews and Gentiles united
atonement for them. He stood between the crucifixion. In this construct Jesus to kill Jesus. But the brothers and sisters
the living and the dead, and the plague is seen as a scapegoat to absorb human saw beyond the temporal forces and
was stopped. anger. They posit that humanity killed exclaimed, they did what your power
The Lord Jesus was the Lamb of Jesus as a scapegoat to satisfy the wrath and will had decided beforehand should
God and made atonement for our sins. of humanity and that Christs blood was happen.
If one carefully looks at the elements shed to appease the bloodthirsty appetite Jesus prayer in Gethsemane makes
connected to atonement in the Old of humanity. it clear that it was His Fathers will for
Testament types and shadows, it would Secondly, the dimension of a God- Him to end His earthly life on the cross
be discovered that (1) atonement was required sacrifice is removed. They Not My will, but Yours be done. The
necessitated because of peoples sin; (2) suggest that God did not require a cross was not rooted in human anger
because of Gods holy reaction against sacrificial system, but humans did. Thus, (although it was certainly present), but in
sin, atonement was the means to restore in their scheme, the cross was not dealing Gods promise long ago that redemptions
the relationship; and (3) atonement was with a sin problem. fruition was grounded in the Seed
Gods provision for reconciling those who There are some serious problems (Christ) of the woman, who would on the
were separated from Him by sin. There with these ideas. Again, they dismiss cross be struck in the heel by the serpent,
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The
angels will come and separate the wicked from
the righteous. Jesus Christ
while in the same act then crushing the Girard, born in 1923, who taught for years or My Father . . . . You will indeed die in
serpents head. at Stanford University. Girards suggested your sins . . . . You belong to your father,
What about the announcement by John scapegoat theme in human history the devil . . . . You do not belong to God . .
the Baptist, Behold the Lamb of God? that individuals, clans, tribes and . . You do not believe because you do not
To the hearers, wouldnt those words nations are always looking for someone belong to My flock.
point to the One who was fulfilling the to blame -- becomes the backbone of Girard-based teachers are telling
shadows in the OT sacrificial system? their view that functionally removes Gods their listeners, Every man, woman and
Doesnt the Book of Hebrews teach over involvement from the Cross, and sees it is child is in Christ, they just dont know
and over that Jesus fulfilled every aspect as a the result of human-driven forces. it yet. Again, if this be true, then how
of the OT pictures of the future in the Girards philosophy, as Andre Rabe notes, could Christ make such black-and-white
Messianic age? has become for them the lens through remarks like you do not belong to My
When they assert God did not require which the Scriptures are read: flock with any integrity? Jesus said that
a sacrificial system, are they forgetting the words He received from His Father
the detailed instructions given to Moses In All Set Free Matthew Distefano will condemn them in the last day. What
for the Tabernacle? He was told to build presents a new way of reading the sense can be made of this if everyone
it according to the pattern given him on Scripture that will be new to many . is reconciled and there are none to be
the mountain. The blood sacrifices were . . . Using Rene Girards condemned at the end of history? It
central in it. anthropological insights, Distefano makes a mockery of what Jesus explicitly
Rene Girards sociological creates a context in which to read uttered on numerous occasions.
observations about human behavior the Scriptures that exposes the God of
are fascinating, but certainly can be no violence as human projection, and
foundation upon which to re-construct unveils the Father of Jesus Christ as Acts
a view of Christs death on the Cross the inversion to this
especially when so much Biblical material human projection. Pauls encounter with the Athenians
must be disregarded or twisted beyond recorded in Acts 17 is very instructive.
recognition to make the pieces fit. He is repulsed by their idols, but used
Certainly no one in the first century
would have interpreted Christs JESUS DREW LINES IN their unknown god as a spring board
from which to talk about Jesus. Among
atonement in a way that reflected
Girardian theory. This appears to be
THE SAND these pagan religious people, he did not
speak from the Jewish Torah, but began

A
another of many examples where an alien with creation and that they were the
time is coming when all in
human philosophy, which is not according offspring of God, that is, made in His
the graves will hear His voice
Christ, has come along and influenced image. Because they were made by Him,
and come out -- those who have
Biblical interpretation. This occurred, he pointed out that their breath and
done good will rise to live, and those who
for example, in the 3rd - 5th Centuries everything else came from Him. In this
have done evil will rise to be condemned.
when the post-apostolic theologians were sense, God was not far from any of them.
What could possibly be the point of such
infected deeply with Greek philosophy, But humans being in Gods image
speech, and the integrity of it, if in the
and in the in the 19th Century when is not sufficient to establish a reconciled
end every person lives, and no one is
a theologian like Charles Hodge was relationship with God. Paul pointed out
condemned? In the end there will be
influenced by Scottish Realism. that those who worshipped the creation
a resurrection of the just and the unjust.
It must be underscored that this needed to turn from idols to the Living
The just will live and the unjust will --
claimed new revelation about Jesus God. In the Gospel, God commands all
as foretold in John 3:16 perish.
atonement rests heavily upon the theory people everywhere to repent because He
I know you do not have Gods love
of a 20th Century sociologist, Rene has set a day in which He will judge the
in your hearts . . . . You do not know Me
inhabited earth in righteousness by a Man yourself wrath for the day of wrath and Revelation
who He appointed; He gave assurance revelation of the righteous judgment of
to all of this fact by raising Him from the God, who will render to each person If everyone is right with God in the
dead. according to their works . . . . to those who end, then you would expect that reality
The idea making the rounds that are self-seeking and disobeying the truth, to be portrayed in the final chapters of
Gospel proclamation is to tell people they indignation and wrath; affliction and Revelation. But it is not to be found.
are already in Christ has no basis in the anguish on every one working evil, both If all are saved, then every ones name
Book of Acts. Acts contains a boatload of Jew and Gentile. should be found in the Book of Life,
proclamations to unbelievers and they are The wrath of God is not a pleasant but there are names missing. The Bride
exhorted to believe in Christ, repent from subject, but to posit that it is non-existent comes down from heaven, but it is not
sin and be baptized. No one is told to just is a very dangerous and misleading a universal homecoming, for cowards,
realize that they are already safe in Christ. notion. To announce to people that there traitors, perverts, murderers and immoral,
In Pauls writings there is for believers a is no future judgment and that Gods those who practice magic and idol
wayward pre-Christ way of life, and, after wrath awaits no one, flies in the face of worshippers, and all liars face a fiery
trusting Jesus, a post-Christ life in the what is clearly revealed in the NT. judgment. The city of God is pure and
new humanity. There is a vivid transition nothing impure will enter the city, nor
from being children of wrath to being anyone who does shameful things or
new creations in Christ. In Colossians 2 Thessalonians 1 tells lies, but only those whose names
Paul depicted this change in his readers as are written in the Lambs book of life will
delivered out of the authority of darkness The believers here were being heavily enter the city. To believe that in the end
and transferred into the kingdom of His persecuted. Paul comforted them by all humans will enjoy the bliss of God is
dear Son. pointing them to the future glorious a human construct and a figment of the
return of Christ. He assures them, God imagination.
will do what is right: He will bring trouble
Are passages like this to those who trouble you, and He will
give relief [Greek, anacin] to you who Matthew 25
to be swept away? suffer, and to us as well.
Here all humans have been
And when will He do this? resurrected and stand before the Lord
Romans Jesus. This is the resurrection of the
He will do this when the Lord Jesus just and the unjust. Note well that Jesus
In the Gospel of Christ the appears from heaven with His mighty Himself divides all these folks into two
righteousness of God is revealed from angels, with flaming fire to punish those groups, the sheep on the right and the
faith to faith. As it is written, the just who do not know God and who do not goats on the left. After going over what
shall live by faith. For the wrath of obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They they did and did not do to Him, Jesus
God is revealed from heaven against will suffer the punishment of eternal announces their destiny, life or death.
all ungodliness and unrighteousness destruction, separated from the presence How can people have any integrity with
of humans, who hold the truth in of the Lord and from His glorious might, a narrative like this and announce that all
unrighteousness. when He comes on that Day to glorify are safe and redeemed in the future?
It would seem that the wrath of God His people and honor all those who There are those parading the idea that
must be factored in to the why of the believe. everyone was chosen in Christ before
Gospel. Doesnt suggesting that His To deny that there is a future the foundation of the world. Such a
wrath does not exist remove the backdrop judgment as portrayed above takes away falsehood is contradicted by the words
for the Gospel Paul received from Jesus the comfort Paul was passing on to the of Jesus Himself, Come, you blessed
Christ? Pauls unfolding of the Gospel in first century saints. To affirm that all are by My Father; take your inheritance,
Romans supposes that humans -- both redeemed and no one will face a fiery the kingdom prepared for you since
Jew and Gentileare separated from judgment, maligns Paul for constructing the creation of the world. The sheep
God and that sin is the issue that must be a falsehood in order to comfort suffering were chosen before creation, not all of
dealt with in Jesus Christ. people. humanity, and certainly not the goats who
But according to your hardness and end up with the devil and his angels.
unrepentant heart you treasure up for There is a dimension in this story
As it was in Noahs day, so will it be in the days
of the Son of Man. Jesus Christ

that is vital, yet overlooked. The typical weeds would not be burned forever; they history. When the flood occurred, a small
assumption is that when people die they would be consumed in the act of burning. remnant was safe on the ark. Only a
immediately go to heaven or hell. Their Jesus used the days of Noah (water) handful left Sodom before it was burned
spirit goes somewhere, but their body and the days of Lot (fire) as reference up. Elijah thought he was alone in the
remains on earth. But how can these ideas points for the future judgment. The midst of a wayward nation, but God
be squared with what will happen on the flood came and destroyed them all . . told him, I have reserved for myself
final day as depicted in Matthew 25? Jesus . . fire and sulphur rained down from seven thousand who have not bowed the
will separate humanity into two groups, heaven and destroyed them all. People knee to Baal. There was only a remnant
review what they have done to Him, and were not drowned forever in the flood, that returned to build the Temple in
then consign them to their destiny, come, and the inhabitants were not burned Nehemiahs time. When Jesus was
you who are blessed . . . . depart, you forever in Sodom/Gomorrah. They were born there was a remnant among Israel
who are cursed. Think about it. If these destroyed, that is, ceased to exist. looking for the Messiah. The bottom line?
myriads of humans had for some time In John 3:16 the opposite of eternal Relatively speaking, only a few find the
already been in a good or bad place, then life is perish. When the Tower of way of life in every generation, but in the
Jesus words would be superfluous -- He Siloam fell on eighteen people and killed end the Lords Bride will be a number no
would be announcing to them what they them, Jesus warned, unless you repent, one can count, and they will come from
were already aware of since they died on you too will all perish. Perish carries every people group on the earth. The
earth. the idea of cease to exist. promise to Abraham will come true -- his
Given the pervasive emphasis in the Check the usage of perish, destroy, Seed (Christ) will be as the sand on the
NT on Jesus resurrection and His Brides and burn up in a concordance and you beach and the stars in the sky.
resurrection, it seems better to see, as will see that existing forever does not fit
Paul did, that the dead sleep until the the intended meanings of these words.
Last Day, when the just and unjust will The basic image of hell in the NT is The Aroma of Christ
be raised. Reflect on all the occasions in gehenna, which was a garbage dump
Jesus teachings when His reference point outside Jerusalem. The smoke from this For we are to God the aroma of
was the resurrection to come, not ones place never ceased and the fire never Christ among those being saved and
personal death -- in the resurrection, ended because stuff was constantly those perishing. To the one we are the
whose wife will she be? thrown into it. But the individual objects smell of death; to the other, the fragrance
did not burn forever. They were of life. If everyone will ultimately have
consumed in the dust and smoke. life, and none will cease to exist (perish),
Perish, Destroyed, then what can possibly be the point of
Burned Up remarks like this? One could say that
The Way to Life is Narrow behind everything Jesus and the apostles
There are several verses in the NT said and did was the belief that humanity
that some have suggested teach that If every person will ultimately find life was divided into those who believe in
the wicked are tormented in unending and no judgment, then what sense can be the Son and those who will perish. And
flames. But if the many key images used to made of these words from Jesus? Enter this is precisely what is stated in John
describe the fate of those without Christ through the narrow gate. For wide is the 3:16God sent in order that all the
are closely examined, it would seem that gate and broad is the road that leads to believing ones would not perish, but have
cease to exist is a better description. destruction, and many enter through it. everlasting life.
Our Lord said, Then I will tell the But small is the gate and narrow the road
harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie that leads to life, and only a few find it.
them in bundles to be burned, then gather In these words, He brings out the Jesus said, Depart. . .
the wheat and bring it into my barn. The remnant pattern revealed in redemptive
If any person does not love the Lord anger of the wrath of God Almighty,
let them be anathema [cursed]. Come, A Loving God Would Not and that evil people are being destroyed
O Lord. If it is true that all without Do That! with His sword. Are passages like this to
exception will be Blessed, then how be swept away or consigned to oblivion
can Jesus and Paul affirm strait-forwardly Some people are throwing the God by some in order to maintain their
that there are those who will be Cursed of love around in such a way that He is conception of a loving God?
because they do not know the Lord? portrayed as thoroughly happy with all What about the picture given in
humans, all will be well for everyone, and Revelation 6? Then the kings of the
everything will pan out nicely in the end. earth, the princes, the generals, etc., hid
Such Were Some of You. . . But it must be asked, What do they do in the caves and in the mountain rocks.
Such Will Not Inherit the with the many unpleasant parts of the They called to the mountains and the
Kingdom of God NT, like Revelation 19? rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the
face of Him who sits on the throne, and
Dont you know that the wicked Before me was a white horse, whose from the wrath of the Lamb! For the
will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do rider is called Faithful and True. With great day of their wrath has come, and
not be deceived: Neither the sexually justice He judges and makes war . . . . who can stand? Are such Scriptures as
immoral nor idolaters, etc., etc., will He treads the winepress of the fury these to be edited out of the story because
inherit the kingdom of God. And you of the wrath of God Almighty. On His they contradict some ones construct of a
were living in some of these things, but robe and on His thigh he has this loving God?
you were washed and sanctified and name written: King of Kings and Lord We need to be careful about putting
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus of Lords. And I saw an angel standing Him in a box by making statements like,
Christ and by the Spirit of our God. in the sun, who cried in a loud voice My God would never do that!
If all people have a good end, and if to all the birds flying in midair, The God and Father of Jesus drowned
all are in Christ (they just dont know Come, gather together for the great a sinful sea of humanity in a floodand
it), then Pauls words are misleading supper of God, so that you may eat the saved a remnant from it. The God and
nonsense. If Pauls words are true, then flesh of kings, generals, and mighty Father of Jesus sent fire from heaven and
those who teach that everyone has a men, of horses and their riders, and destroyed several citiesbut saved a few
right standing with God on the Last Day the flesh of all people, free and slave, from the conflagration. The NT teaches
are deceiving their listeners, and those small and great. The beast and the that these two events are pictures of the
who embrace such error are themselves false prophet were thrown alive into future judgment by the Father on those
deceived. the fiery lake of burning sulphur. The who did not kiss the Son, and therefore
rest of them were killed with the will perish in the Last Day. As we pursue
sword that came out of the mouth Christ, have we made a place for Gods
revealed judgments on the Last Day?
Judgment Begins With the of Christ, and all the birds gorged
Family of God . . . themselves on their flesh. [Remember
Jesus words, Wherever there is a
carcass, there the vultures will Do not believe every spirit;
It is time for judgment to begin with
the family of God; and if it begins with us, gather?] test the spirits to see if they
what will be the outcome for those who are from God...
do not obey the gospel of God? Again, There is no point getting into the
why would Peter waste his time warning details here, but clearly we have the Lord There are many angles which could
people with these words if there is really Jesus with His host coming against evil address the errant ideas that Ive dealt
no judgment to come? forces. As He does this we are told that with, but the focus will be on what should
He is carrying out the wine press of the be the one decisive perspectivewhat the
Lord Jesus has said. Paul emphasized this
in these words:
The ones not believing stand as condemned
If anyone teaches differently
already because they have not believed in the and does not consent to the
name of Gods one and only Son. Jesus Christ healthy [Greek, hygienic] words
Here are some of the key components of the
gospel that are being denied...

of our Lord Jesus, and to the Christ, but if you believe you get to
teaching that is according to subjectively experience the reality of I appeal to all of you to
godliness, they are puffed up, your salvation . . . . Christ is in them, embrace Jesus by heeding His
understanding nothing, but are even if they dont believe that Christ is in healthy, hygienic, teachings.
themselves, Hes there, just in a hidden
diseased concerning questionings
way . . . . If I have an enemy, I understand
and battles of words. that thats a brother or sister. They may
not know it, but I can love them . . . . I
WHAT HAPPENED TO
Those who are opting for no one
being left out of salvation, and no one
can call even the unbeliever brother.
Spiritually, we are one in reality.[1]
THE GOOD NEWS?

T
ever facing judgment, are flagrantly
These sentiments highlight their new here is the possibility that
denying the clear remarks that came from
reality, but there is no basis from the NT certain readers may say, Whats
the lips of Jesus. The Father put His seal
to give any credence to such thoughts, the big deal?Why worry
on the Son, and told us out of a Shekinah
especially in light of the words of Jesus about this stuff?Who cares what
cloud, This is My Son, hear Him. Christ
that are just tossed to the wind. some others may believe?
said nothing except what came to Him
Theres one resurrection, and it was I would like to suggest that the very
from the Father. And what did Christ say
Christ, and we were included in that core of the Good News (the Gospel) is at
as He walked along the dusty roads of
gloriously, and so to live opposite of that is stake. The issues under consideration are
Palestine? Here are several statements He
to resurrect a lie. That, however, is not the not peripheral but threaten the heartbeat
made about the future, among many:
whole story. In the Last Day, as Jesus said, of the Good News that Jesus proclaimed
A time is coming when all in the
there will be a resurrection of the just and when He came to earth.
graves will hear His voice and come out
the unjust. There will be a separation of Crisply, then, here are some of the key
those who have done good will rise to
the sheep and the goats on that Day. components of the truth as it is in Jesus
live, and those who have done evil will
People can and will believe whatever that are being denied by the new voices:
rise to be condemned. This is how it will
they want. But they cannot take the full
be at the end of the age. The angels will
revelation of the NT seriously when > They say, All humanity was in Christ
come and separate the wicked from the
they conclude that everybody is already before creation. False.
righteous . . . .
in right standing with God. Jesus taught Jesus words to His sheep on the
They say we shouldnt black-and-
judgment to come. He separated out Last Day, Come, you who are blessed
white everything and there is truth in
the wicked from the righteous. He said by My Father; take your inheritance,
that observation. But in this case, Jesus
that those who did evil will experience the kingdom prepared for you since the
statements are indeed black and white.
condemnation on the Last Day. creation of the world.
There is no gray. Indeed, we have a crucial
While these new voices feel that their Jesus words to the goats on the Last
choice before us: are we going to embrace
reality will be part of the blossoming of day, Depart from Me, you who are
what our loving Lord has spoken, or listen
Christ on the earth, there is solid reason cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for
to voices that blatantly contradict and
to believe that to the degree that these the devil and his angels.
disregard what came from His lips, and
aberrations take root, they will bring
often rely on human philosophy that is not
shipwreck to some sincere and lovely > They say, In the Old Testament, we
according to Christ?
people, and contribute to the demise of have a portrayal of God that fundamentally
Are we going to build our homes on
the Lords expression among His people. misunderstood who God is; it was written by
the sayings of Jesus, or on the shifting
sand of voices redefining life in such a way people, so when it says God said to Israel,
that gives no evidence of caring about all Cast out the nations, it was not God who
our Savior uttered? really said it, and not everything attributed
The truth is, all are included in (1) The Only Podcast, July 10, 2014 to God is from God. The true God cannot be
connected to acts of violence. False.
Among other examples, two striking
because people do not believe in Me.
> Because of their emphasis on For He whom God has
ones are when Jesus Father sent a flood
on humanity because of their non-stop
identity, they must re-define repentance.
It no longer has anything to do with sin, sent speaks the words
iniquity, and when He sent fire from but becomes a change of mind about ones
heaven on Sodom/Gomorrah because identity. The lie of identity with Adam of God . . . Lord, to
of their sin. These two events are cited in is exchanged for the idea that they have
the New Testament as pictures of the final
judgment on the Last Day.
always been in Christ. Problem is, though,
that there is no example in the NT of
whom will we go? You
> They shift the NT emphasis on the
unbelievers being told to change their
mind about their identity. have words of eternal
believing new humanity to humanity in
its entirety, whether believing in Christ or
With all the emphases of these new
voices, one would expect to see those life . . . Jesus said, I
not. But Paul exulted in the fact that God who proclaimed the Good News in the
placed everything under Christs feet and
appointed Him to be the Head over all
Book of Acts to have said, All of you are
fine, you are already in Christ, so just
do nothing out of My
things for the sake of the ekklesia, which
is His body, the fullness of Him who fills
acknowledge this and enjoy the salvation
youve always had. But there is nothing
own initiative, but I
everything in every way. Jesus lifted His
voice to Father, You have granted Him
approximating such language spoken to
unbelievers in the NT. speak these things as
authority over all humans in order that
He might give eternal life to all those You > Concerning the atonement, they the Father taught Me.
have given to Him. I have revealed You shift the focus from a sin problem and
to those whom You gave Me out of the re-cast it into Rene Girards theories. Johns Gospel
world . . . . They believed that You sent God is removed from involvement in
Me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the cross, and it is made into a vengeful
the world, but for those You have given act of humans against an innocent man,
me, for they are yours. who became the scapegoat. But in the He put it, All the nations will be gathered
Garden of Gethsemane the sole issue for before Me, and I will separate the people
> They maintain strongly that any notion Jesus was Fathers will. It was not about one from another as a shepherd separates
of God being separated from unbelievers is a human violence or human volition. It was the sheep from the goats. I will put the
myth, a lie. The whole premise of Romans Your will be done. sheep on My right and the goats on my
is that sin has separated humankind from There is a monumental shift in their left.
their Creator. These voices are out of thinking from sure judgment for those In all honestly, in light of these glaring
touch with the Good News Paul laid out who do not obey the Gospel to no shifts and re-definitions, what is left of
in the Roman letter. judgment for anyone. To them, the Good the Good News as it is unfolded by Jesus
The reason they have no place for News can be good only if no one faces and His new covenant apostles? A happy
separation is because they believe that judgment on the Last Day. But it is not ending for everyone is an opinion some are
everyone is already identified with Christ for us to define the good, rather it is for embracing, but such a vision cannot be
and in Christ. As a result, the huge issue us to submit to how He has defined the found in or confirmed by what came from
for them is identity, not the sin of unbelief. outworking of the Good News. Clearly, the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ. Will we
Jesus, however, said that when I send the what came from the lips of Jesus Christ listen to Him, or to opinions shaped by a
Spirit, He will convict the world about sin portrayed a judgment day in which, as 20th Century sociologist?
For Further Reflection
Gabriel Andrade, Rene Girard (1923 - [Nov. 4, 2015]), Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.
edu/girard/.

W.F. Bell, Death & Resurrection in Scripture, and David Flowers, Heaven to Earth: The Believers Hope in
the Resurrection, Searching Together, 36:3-4, 2009, 33 pages.

Ernest Cassara, ed., Universalism in America: A Documentary History of a Liberal Faith, revised edition,
Skinner Book House, 1997, 289pp.

Brandon Chase, Jared Gustafson, Jamal Jivanjee: (1) The Only Podcast, July 10, 2014; (2) Rumors and
Reality, December 2, 2014; (3) Jealousy Explained & the Evangelical View of the Cross Debunked,
January 19, 2015 (all three podcasts can be accessed at http://jamaljivanjee.com/2014/12/my-2nd-
audio-interview-rumors-reality/); (4) Illuminate blog, A Terrorist Once Said to Me . . . September 24,
2015.

John Driver, Understanding the Atonement for the Mission of the Church, Herald Press, 1986, 288 pages.

Ajith Fernando, A Universal Homecoming? An Examination of the Case for Universalism, Evangelical
Literature Service, 1983.

Charles L. Feinberg, The Scapegoat of Leviticus Sixteen, Bibliotheca Sacra, 115, 1958, 320-333.

Edward Fudge, The Fire that Consumes: A Biblical & Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment,
Wipf & Stock, 2011 (1st edition 1982, with Foreword by F.F. Bruce).

J. P. Holding, The Atonement Contextualized, 2012, https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-


alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=J+P+Holding+Atonement+kindle.

Kenneth Matthews, The Atonement & the Scapegoat: Leviticus 16, April 15, 2014. http://www.
christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/april/atonement-and-scapegoat-leviticus-16-by-dr-kenneth-
mathews.html

Kim Papaioannou, Shedding Light on the Outer Darkness: A Fresh Look at the Language of Hell, Ministry,
September 2012, pages 19-22.

R. Maurice Smith, All Dogs Go to Heaven . . . Dont They? Biblical Reflections on Christian Universalism &
Ultimate Reconciliation, (Spokane: Rising River Media, 2014), 260 pages, available at www.
risingrivermedia.org

Jon Zens, Are You Going to Heaven? A Journey Away from the Wrong Question, A Consuming Passion:
Essays on Hell & Immortality, Chris Date/Ron Highfield eds., Pickwick Publications, 2015.

Jon Zens, Christ Minimized: A Response to Rob Bells Love Wins, Ekklesia Press, 2011, 56pp.

ISBN: 978-1-61061-334-7
About the Author
For the past
thirty-seven years,
Jon Zens has
been the editor
of the quarterly
magazine
Searching Together
and has devoted
considerable time
researching the New
Testament and
church history.

Since 2000, he has been a plenary speaker


and presented workshops at House Church
Conferences in Northern and Southern California,
Atlanta, Georgia, Clemson, South Carolina, Central
South Carolina, Denver, Colorado, Dallas Texas,
and Jacksonville, Florida.

Since 1977, Jon and his wife Dotty have been


involved in working with informal fellowships
by focusing on Christ-centeredness and living
in Christ-like love. Their work has led them all
over America and into the Philippines, England,
Romania, Canada, Ecuador, New Zealand, and
Ireland.

From 1970-1975 and 1985-2000, Jon worked


in three manufacturing companies in aerospace
production planning, inside sales, inventory
control, engineering support, human resources,
purchasing and shipping/receiving.

Jon and Dotty have three lovely children and six


wonderful grandchildren.

2015 Jon Zens


Jz
Jon Zens

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