Paul says that once one believes in Jesus as savior is “saved”, no works are needed for “salvation. Belief is all one needs to be righteous — belief is “accounted for righteousness”, according to Paul (Gal 3:6). If one’s sins are all forgiven and “under the blood”, how is it then that servant of the Lord will suffer their punishment with the unbelievers — some with many stripes and some with few?
In the following passages Jesus tells a parable of the faithful and unjust steward of the Lord
- Jesus is “his Lord” here, since he returns
Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
- That servant is one who serves “his Lord”
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
- That servant is cast forth from his Lord and is punished with the unbelievers
…and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Note the word “portion”, that could mean in this context, a part of the whole, considering the verses that follow: “few or many”. Portion is a part not the whole, or it could just mean to “take part”. But even taking part in something doesn’t necessarily mean that the part is to last “for ever and ever”.
- That servant is punished for a short or long time, but not for eternity
Luk 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.
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
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Anything countable can not be “eternal”
Many and few are what are called “countable” nouns. This means that there is a beginning and and end. The servants, whoever you interpret them to be, are receiving punishment that is NOT endless or eternal. If that servant were “unsaved”, then he would not not be serving “eternal” punishment with the unbelievers. In this case, those in “hell” (wherever or whatever that is) can not be eternal. Souls in “Hell” finally get out! If “that servant” refers to the “saved” then that means the “believers” are being punished with the “unbelievers” and some have a longer and/or more sever punishment than others. Whether “believers” or “unbelievers” they eventually get out. |
Jesus casts forth all those who don’t keep his commandments
21:9 “Though you be gathered together in my bosom, if you keep not my commandments I will cast you forth. For if you keep not the lesser mysteries, who shall give you the greater.”
Only those who do God’s will enter into the kingdom
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Can a believer “lose his salvation”?
If you go by the interpretation that the church teaches, it sounds like believers can “lose their salvation”. But consider this, Jesus said of the chief priests and the scribes, “the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you”. In other words, they will eventually get in to the kingdom of God, but it will take them longer to get in than it will the publicans and the harlots.
This leads to the teaching that there will be future lives to live and more lessons to learn and more evil to overcome before they are finally perfected through suffering.
69:2 They have overcome evil, and are made pillars in the temple of my God, and they go out no more, for they rest in the eternal.”
69:3 For them that persist in evil there is no rest, but they go out and in, and suffer correction for ages, till they are made perfect. But for them that have done good and attained to perfection, there is endless rest and they go into life everlasting. They rest in the eternal.”
God forgives only the servant who forgives others
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
God punishes the servant who refuses to forgive others
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Only the servants who do God’s will enter into the kingdom of heaven — just believing is not enough
“Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. For whosoever hears me and does my teachings, hears him that sent me. (Gospel of the Hebrews)
The righteous servants who do God’s will are rewarded and the disobedient servants are punished
And many will say to me, Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drunk in your name and done wonders? And then will I say unto them, ‘Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. Then shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth, when the righteous shall shine like the sun, and the wicked are sent into everlasting fire.
For many shall come in my name clothed outwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly being ravening wolves. He that bringeth not forth good fruit is cast down and thrown into the fire.” (Gospel of the Hebrews)
- The righteous are rewarded
- The wicked are destroyed
- The disobedient are purged in the fire — in the next life.