Category Archives: Soteriology

“Eternal” means not so much “forever” as “in the next age.” The Greek is aionios, from aion, meaning age. Now, one characteristic of the next age is that it will last forever, and so being eternal can sometimes be a … Continue reading →

From So what are we saved from? Destruction So what happens to those who don’t receive immortality/eternal life? Do they live forever, in perpetual, conscious torment? Or is there a second possibility? From the preceding readings, we would expect the damned … Continue reading →

Now, if all this is true, then the church’s foremost task is to be the Kingdom. That’s not quite how Hauerwas likes to say it. He says the church’s task is to be the church — which says the same … Continue reading →

In short, the Bible doesn’t say much about where we go when we die. It says quite a lot about where we wind up at the end of this age. There will be a resurrection of the saved — sometimes … Continue reading →

The NT plainly teaches that humans/souls are mortal by nature but may become immortal by the will of God. (Rom 2:7 ESV) to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal … Continue reading →

Let’s talk “spirit” and “soul” first. Now “spirit” can refer to the Holy Spirit, an attitude (“a spirit of anger”), and in either Greek or Hebrew, the wind and the breath. It’s easy to see how both languages might use … Continue reading →

The nature of humans First, we need to understand that humans do not possess a soul that is innately immortal. I know your mom and dad and favorite Sunday school teacher taught you that, but they are mistaken. That particular … Continue reading →

Now, the Bible plainly describes the next age as being the merger of heaven and earth, with God living with man. “The meek shall inherit the earth.” Why would the meek want to inherit something that will  be burned to … Continue reading →

The Lord’s Prayer will not be fully answered until Jesus returns, at which time heaven and earth will merge and God’s will will be done on earth as in heaven. (Rev 21:1-5 ESV) Then I saw a new heaven and … Continue reading →