Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | The excluded man at the feast was saved | Matt 22:11 | Eagle One | 29573 | ||
Greetings to RTB56 and the Christian brothers that have submitted their spiritual insight, I believe the following about the man that the Lord rebuked. (1) He was a saved man. A born again christian. (2) He was a totally carnal christian. The total number of unselfish good works that he ever did in his entire christian life was probably "very few" to "none". (3) He probably died without repenting of his sins. Please allow me to express my conviction in my own words, after which I will list some solid references. (a) I believe the wedding feast in this scripture represents the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" rather than the "Kingdom of God". This is a parable and in Mt. 22:8 the Lord said, "My wedding reception is ready, but those invited have proved unworthy. (The nation of Israel) Verses 9-10 describe the invitation going out to the gentiles. We can assume that many refused the invitation but many responded to it. (Many refused the invitation of salvation and many accepted it.) Only those who accepted the invitation were there. (b) The man had no wedding garment because the garment represents the total unselfish good works done during his life on earth. [1 Corinthians 3 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.] This man is described in this scripture. "he himself will be saved". (c) Vs. 12 tells us that the Lord called him "Friend". The Lord does not call the unsaved, "Friend". (d) Regarding vs. 13. "Binding hand and foot" and "weeping and gnashing of teeth", please allow me to repeat the words of Joseph Dillow, author of the book, THE REIGN OF THE SERVANT KINGS, Schoettle Publishing Co. Pages 350-352. "Matthew leads us to imagine a great feast of rejoicing. This joyful banquet is portrayed as occurring in the evening in a brightly lit banquet hall. Outside the banquet a relative physical darkness prevails. This darkness is not literal, but is a metaphor for the exclusion of the carnal Christian. It is not the darkness of hell. What is the meaning of "wailing and gnashing of teeth"? Those Christians who are not "sons indeed," who lack wedding garments at the wedding banquet, will not only be excluded from the joy of the banquet but will also experience profound regret, "wailing and gnashing of teeth". This phrase does not refer to the experience of the unsaved in hell in this passage. The phrase "wailing and gnashing of teeth" is found seven times in the New Testament. Even though it is used on three occasions of the experience of the unregenerate in hell, [Mt. 13:42, 50; Lk 13:28], it is also used on four occasions of the regenerate in the kingdom. [Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30. The notions of heaven or hell are simply not part of the semantic value of the words. The fact that the non believer can experience profound regret in hell in no way implies that the true Christian cannot experience profound regret in the kingdom. We are repeatedly told that, when the Lord comes, He will reward us "good and bad" [II Cor. 5:10] and that some may draw back in shame at His coming [I John 2:28]. Some Christians are going to be saved "but only as one escaping through the flames" [I Cor. 3:15] It seems that these verses adequately explain the experience of profound regret for the unfaithful Christian which Matthew calls "wailing and gnashing of teeth." Thank you. I will appreciate your responses. In Him, Eagle One |
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2 | The excluded man at the feast was saved | Matt 22:11 | Reformer Joe | 29578 | ||
Eagle: I think you may be reading two much into the parable. In a parable (as opposed to an allegory), everything in the story does not represent something else. So when the king uses the term "friend" in the story, we cannot immediately assume that we are referring to a believer. Secondly, the fact is that someone who is a life-long "Carnal Christian" is not a Christian at all. There is no such thing as a Christian that God justifies and then does not gradually sanctify between the time of his conversion and the end of his life. True, our sanctification is not complete until we are in God's presence, but God does not save us into a live of unrepentant sinfulness. God saves us unto good works which glorify him, and they are the marks of a true believer in Christ. I hold that all of the passages referring to the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" refer to hell. There is no reason to think that Jesus would use exactly the same terminology to describe the eternal punishment of hell and an alleged "outer area of heaven. that just doesn't make any sense at all. So I agree with point 3 of your assertion, but reject points one and two, because to be a born-again Christian, repentance is the "flip side of the coin" of our saving faith. --Joe! |
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3 | The excluded man at the feast was saved | Matt 22:11 | Eagle One | 29586 | ||
Greetings Joe, I agree with you that not everything in a parable does not represent something else. And particularly in this parable, the Lord addressed the man as "Friend". The word is hetairos, or clansman, comrade, fellow, friend. Regarding my statement about the man's lack of unselfish good works, we know there are many carnal Christians and I know of no scripture that tells us that all carnal Christians will go to hell. In addition there are many Christians that "walked the walk" for a period of time followed by a "back slidden" period of time. I've known people with this experience and I've been through it myself. I also believe that there are people who love the Lord but live undisciplined lives. Some of them die before they return to a life of walking with the Lord. I was horribly back slidden for many years. By His grace I am once again walking with Him. In any case I appreciate your thoughts. In Him, Eagle One |
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4 | The excluded man at the feast was saved | Matt 22:11 | kalos | 29613 | ||
I am just curious. Could you cite ONE verse of Scripture in the New Testament in which the word "backslide", "backslidden", "backsliding" or "backslider" is used? Does any form of the word backslide appear anywhere in the NT? If so, could you please give the book, chapter and verse where it does. Thank you. | ||||||