Second, (and this one is more for Meph) How do you hold to a conditional punishment leading to eventual salvation when scripture clearly teaches that we cannot work our way to heaven or pay for our sin?  It would seem that those who are in hell are in some way working off their sin in order to enter heaven.  Would not Christ no longer be the only sacrifice for sins?  And how would it be that Christ pays for their sins and yet they would still have to suffer for them in hell?  I know this is actually several questions, but they all relate to one another.

 

I am very unconvinced of universalism, but I still think those who hold to it have to deal with these questions in order to justify in their own minds this position.

 

D.R.

 

Jeff:  I'm not convinced of universalism, myself, but one could postulate, like George McDonald seemingly did, that unbelievers could receive eternal life some time AFTER Christ delivers up the kingdom to God.  That way, all the believers could receive their unique rewards of age-abiding glory, etc. prior to the final ressurection of the unbelievers.

 

D.R.:  Second, (and this one is more for Meph) How do you hold to a conditional punishment leading to eventual salvation when scripture clearly teaches that we cannot work our way to heaven or pay for our sin?

 

Jeff:  I think it is conceivable two ways.  If you believe in unconditional election, then the unbelievers would have to be punished for their works and then they could simply be converted.  If you're more Armenian, you could postulate that after unbelievers are punished for their works, they have a post-mortem chance of repenting.  In either case, it would be Christ's death that atoned for sin.  Even believers seem to be accountable for their works, so I think there is a distinction between judgement for works and eternal life. 

 

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wjs