Outer Darkness?

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by A little brother

What is the loss?

Loss of the works

[A little brother]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Loss of the works

Weren't the works already lost in the burn test?

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by A little brother

Weren't the works already lost in the burn test?

That's right, and the man himself was saved.

[A little brother]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

That's right, and the man himself was saved.

So in your opinion, how long does this burn test last? Is this the 1,000 years of outer darkness?

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by A little brother

So in your opinion, how long does this burn test last? Is this the 1,000 years of outer darkness?

No, they are different tests, but it shows that punishment for believers is not eternal. If outer darkness is eternal, then we cannot believe in eternal security.

[A little brother]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

No, they are different tests, but it shows that punishment for believers is not eternal. If outer darkness is eternal, then we cannot believe in eternal security.

How do we know the ones cast out to outer darkness are believers? Just because of the term "servant"?

[aron]

Hebrews 3 and 1 Corinthians 10 show us a journey with a finish line. A coming promised rest. We should press on until the journey is over. This notion seems widespread in Christian faith, not confined to the LSM (tho I appreciate their emphasis).

But I find a "thousand year finishing school" to be unsatisfactory because Moses "didn't make it" yet he is with Christ on the Mountain in glory, in the gospels. Maybe you give him a pass but I don't; he's the same as the rest of us.

My personal theology is "we see Jesus" a la Hebrews 2:8. He is the overcomer. Getting lost in subjective introspection is a house of mirrors.

The thief on the cross was promised to be with Jesus in Paradise. He never even got baptized! How could he get "mature"? And the story of Lazarus and the rich man is relevant. You think the first-century audience would discount it because "it's not a parable"?

And how pleasant is the "pleasant section of Hades" when you have a thousand years of torment waiting?

No, I suspect that one immediately deals with the consequences of one's actions. I know life is like that - why should the afterlife be different? The criminal immediately deals with the consequence of the crime - there is flight, hiding, lies and so forth.

Jesus made it across the finish line. Keep your eyes on Him. Never look away.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by A little brother

How do we know the ones cast out to outer darkness are believers? Just because of the term "servant"?

I don't know that anyone answered this, did they?

If you are asking regarding the three servants Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25, then yes, these are those who all knew the Lord. In verse 14 it says that the master called his own to him and they were all given talents. They were all aware that their master has gone away and would return. Two are faithful and show a profit to return to their master, and they are thereby praised and rewarded. The third servant had a skewed view of his master, feared him and was unfaithful. He received a rebuke, his portion was taken away, and he was cast into outer darkness.

How long was the unfaithful servant in outer darkness? It doesn't say.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by A little brother

How do we know the ones cast out to outer darkness are believers? Just because of the term "servant"?

They could be tares, is true. A genuine believer would most likely be profitable in even small things which are rewarded (Matthew 25:40). The small things we do without thinking anything of them, are considered by the Lord as being done unto Himself.