Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

It’s already hot out there. Earlier, Becki and I managed our walk/jog with the dogs. Earlier still, a customer called to say he really needs at least 3 of the 6 10”x10” timbers he has ordered—20 feet long. I agreed to get out there in the hot sun and knock them out today. I may have another guy come this evening to try milling up some of his logs.

Just this last week I had an exchange with someone that has prompted me to become a little better educated concerning CHRISTIAN UNIVERSALISM. What a wonderful doctrine! No hell! No real consequence for sin! None are lost! Everyone is saved, no matter what! It’s just a wonderful lie! And, for that very reason, I’m convinced that the arch enemy of men’s souls just loves it! Nor can I make that package of thought mesh well with sound principles of Biblical interpretation.

May your day be blessed. May we walk in His Truth.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Matthew 10:34 is the counterpart to this verse. In that rendering, Jesus says, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Interesting.

I recall riding on the chairlift at Winter Park, Colorado in 2002 with a fellow who made biased reference to this verse from Matthew. He worded his question something like this: “Is it true that Jesus said, ‘I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.’” I responded, “Yes, that is true.” He said, “There you go! That means that fundamental Christianity is really no different than fundamentalist Islam. Both are terroristic—both employ violence in the course of their cause.” I tried to explain—but you know—“A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” What an ignorant and foolish way to distort Jesus’ meaning! So what else is new? This particular man, like so many, had already made a fundamental ideological decision (So he too was a “fundamentalist!”) of disdaining the whole idea of personal accountability to a Holy God and found delight in accumulating data to support his rejection. But without his knowing it, he was actually confirming the validity of Jesus’ words. I am a seeker (and finder) of God—he’s a rejecter. And therein is the fundamental sword and division of which Jesus spoke! While we may be friendly and accepting of each other’s individuality (even ski together), there is no possible peace at the level of our worldviews. Believing in Jesus and His redeeming grace definitely causes division. By BELIEVING in Christ, I have no alternative but to also accept that division.

I judge that Jesus’ words following one of the most well-known verses of the Bible (John 3:16) represents a parallel statement to our FOCUS VERSE—John 3:17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Think about it.

Here’s the deal as I see it spelled out in Scripture: ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. How many is ALL? I think that means ALL—like everyone. (What part of ALL do we not understand?) So when Jesus comes into this world with the mission of causing division, what kind of division is it? Is it a good division or a bad division? I conclude that it is a vitally important and good division. I mean, where would we be if the influence of the “Sword of the Spirit” did not divide and separate us from the sentence and condemnation of the ALL? We’d be in a heap of hurt.

Here is a fundamental Biblical bottom line that I believe we will do well to get as straight as possible: GOD DOES NOT SEND PEOPLE TO HELL—HE SIMPLY HONORS THEIR CHOICES. All you and I need to do is decide on which side of this division we choose to be—and desire others to be.