Inclusivism
Please post your comments and suggestions for this article.
Comment by Alvin Fisher on July 28th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
You might want to add to your inclusivism article from what I have at my website (which I don’t know how to update right now) and from the wikipedia article that I have updated as follows:
* “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” John 1:9 Similarly Titus 2:11 says, “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
* God loved entire world and Jesus came to save it, not condemn it (John 3:16, 17.)
* Psalm 19 presents general revelation, as exemplified by the sky and sun, in parallel with conversion. Verses 1-6 show the transcending of the barriers of language and geography. Verses 7-8 declare that the internalizing of the perfect law of the LORD can be efficacious in “converting the soul…making wise the simple…rejoicing the heart…enlightening the eyes.”
* Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18) and the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-13) are examples of people who believed in God even though they were not part of the covenant people.
* Cornelius already believed in God before Peter came and preached to him (Acts 10:1-48.) “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality, But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Acts 10:34-35
* The parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) portrays the judgment of the nations as being based on each individual’s compassion on others, not on their religious background. The blessings pronounced upon the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, those hungering for righteousness, etc. (Matthew 5:3-10) can also be understood as applying without reference to religion. Similarly, James 1:27 says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
* Paul said that the Greeks had been worshiping God without knowing it. He said that in their semi-enlightened condition, they might grope for God and find Him, since He was not far from each one of us. Their own poets had declared that they were God’s offspring. This shows that He was somewhat known to them. Acts 17:23-28
* And he said, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” Romans 5:18
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