Outer Darkness?

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by A little brother

How would I know? The bible didn't say explicitly.

But in my personal opinion, it would be forever. Matt 25 is different from Matt 5 or 18 where the people are sent to prison until the debt is repaid. Those people are under the custody of the jailer. I see those imprisonments in Matt 5 and 18 as God's disciplinary action in present life.

The servant in Matt 25 was not only unfaithful, he was worthless to his master. God's people are His treasure and this worthless servant is probably not one of them. If we interpret darkness as without God's presence, how can that worthless servant become more worthy without God's help there in the outer darkness? That's why I think he probably will stay there forever.

Hmmm, that is an interesting thought, but I don't think I agree with the eternal outer darkness thing. He was a bone fide servant and had been given things by his master, so he's a son in my thinking. The word for worthless could also be translated unmeritorious or unprofitable. Many know what it is like to have a son, yet they are basically unprofitable. We still love them and wouldn't punish them forever . . .

Yet it is a serious matter to fall into the hands of the Living God, and judgment does begin at His house!

So perhaps there are two basic principles that we can all agree on that are true from the word:

1. We are reborn with a gift of new life - His life - in us, and therefore children of God saved eternally.

2. There are many warnings in OT and NT telling us we are accountable - there is some degree of scrutiny by God in the next life (and also this life) - for our works after we receive the new birth.

We might not know exactly what the accountability looks like, but I am convinced it is there - just way, way too many places the word talks about this. One brother I know says it's good enough just knowing these two basic things: {we are eternally saved; yet we're accountable for our works} and that is good enough for him to be motivated to seek Him continually!

So is there agreement on these two basic concepts?

[Drake]

-1

I agree with those two. I propose a third.

3. God is righteous and His judgments are just. He is strict yet He is fair in all His ways.

Drake

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Drake

-1

I agree with those two. I propose a third.

3. God is righteous and His judgments are just. He is strict yet He is fair in all His ways.

Drake

AMEN and agreed! Maybe just add to #1 or #3 "He loves us"

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

AMEN and agreed! Maybe just add to #1 or #3 "He loves us"

Yes brother.. I’m on board!

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Drake

I agree with those two. I propose a third.

3. God is righteous and His judgments are just. He is strict yet He is fair in all His ways.

Drake

Some further thought on this - the word "strict" - could we change that to "firm" perhaps? Strict often conjures up a picture of Sister Mary Elephant coming to gleefully whack someone with a ruler.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Some further thought on this - the word "strict" - could we change that to "firm" perhaps? Strict often conjures up a picture of Sister Mary Elephant coming to gleefully whack someone with a ruler.

sure... change it.....

[A little brother]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

We might not know exactly what the accountability looks like, but I am convinced it is there - just way, way too many places the word talks about this. One brother I know says it's good enough just knowing these two basic things: {we are eternally saved; yet we're accountable for our works} and that is good enough for him to be motivated to seek Him continually!

So is there agreement on these two basic concepts?

I prefer a little twist: {True believers are eternally saved; and they're accountable for their works.}

I have to constantly examine my faith to determine whether I really am a true believer, whether I walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called.

As A W Tozer said, "The man who is seriously convined that he deserves to go to hell is not likely to go there, while the man who believes that he is worthy of heaven will certainly never enter that blessed place."

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

We might not know exactly what the accountability looks like, but I am convinced it is there - just way, way too many places the word talks about this.

Drake and Evancelical have show you the truth of Witness Lee, we can learn from this speaker who recovered this truth. Many believers miss this.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Drake and Evancelical have show you the truth of Witness Lee, we can learn from this speaker who recovered this truth. Many believers miss this.

Have LSM leaders surreptitiously changed the footnotes to the RecV online version? This 'truth' seems to be changing, over time.

1. Who gets to participate in the 1,000-year kingdom? Has the roster changed, now that Lee has died, and was neither raptured or martyred?

2. What happens to those "in Christ" who don't get raptured or martyred? Outer darkness, or some less unpleasant fate?

I clearly remember the "raptured or martyred" teaching, and the participants in the trainings looking at each other afterward and mouthing those phrases, and my paper RecV seems to bear that out unequivocally in its footnotes. But now the LSM sings a new song? A new 'truth recovered'? The age has turned? Are we now recovering Lee from himself?