#cutoff_points
#abrahamsbosom
An
inquirer said, "At least twice I asked you what is the cut-off points to
qualify into Abraham's bosom. You can't even give me your answer. ..."
We
were discussing the Scriptures' teaching on the intermediate state, a
teaching that has been largely ignored, if not altogether rejected.
========
Brother...,
Indeed,
twice you asked me what is the CUT-OFF POINTS to qualify for Abraham’s bosom,
and both times I gave you my answers but not in the form you wanted to hear.
Cut-off points assume that deeds of righteousness and unrighteousness can be
quantified in numerical points. It doesn’t work like that in God’s reckoning
because of this principle, "to whom
much is given MUCH is required."
For
example, the thief on the cross knew little until the last moments of his life
– yet we hear these beautiful words “to day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”
Some may foolishly conclude that since the thief can get into paradise so
easily, therefore little is required for entry into paradise. "It will be
a breeze for me to get in too! Bingo.”
Luke
12:47 “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself,
neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.”
Many
of the Lord’s servants – already saved with eternal salvation – don’t receive
the many stripes they deserve here and now. Be patient, there is an
intermediate state to right things. That’s why all the solemn warnings to the
DISCIPLES.
If
I had acted as a fool and given answers likes, “The cut-off point is 50.00; if
you attain below that, you won’t qualify for a place in Abraham's bosom."
That wouldn’t have helped you; you still
need to apportion points (of merits and demerits) to various things, and how many
points to each one. Maybe, it was just a rhetorical question to shut me up and
make yourself feel good; knowing full well that there is no such “cut-off
points” answer from the Bible
You
felt vindicated because I can’t even give you the answer you wanted to your
question. But I did give you specific answers from the Bible, derived from the
Lord’s words in Mt 5:29,30; 18:8-9; Mk 9:43-46 to His own disciples.
Christ’s
solemnly exhorted His OWN disciples to take drastic measures to deal with
personal sins to avoid hell; that will assure one getting a few points above
the cut-off points, using your expression. It’s the spirit of godliness that
take sins/offences in one’s life seriously and deals with them; it's not knowing a
specific cut-off point; it is a spirit and life OF "denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this
present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2.
Doing
these will assure a disciple gains enough points (using your expression) for a
place in Abraham’s bosom.
Hell
during the intermediate state can be avoided by Christ’s disciples; Christ
repeated those solemn warnings many times. Still, not a few Christians will glibly
exclaim, "the warning is for the non-elect."
Now,
if you would permit me to ask you these related questions:
-
what is Abraham’s bosom? Is it identical to heaven itself?
-
What’s on the other side of Abraham’s bosom? (remember that the two sides are
separated by a 'gulf.')
-
The rich man who cried out “Father Abraham…”
from the other side, is he redeemed or not?
Thank you for the discussion.
