I’ll preface my remarks on that to say that, while it is surely true that we all have need of teachers, whether in the natural world or the spiritual, there comes a point when one matures to where an uncritical reception of one’s teachings yields to a substantive reality check, or at least it can. Not everyone does this. But whether in science, theology, or plain real life, one can learn to go outside the boxes and examine them, test them, and weed them out.

There may be a beloved writer who has helped on a great deal and who has laid a good foundation, but there’s a human tendency to accept whatever that man has said out of respect. But then one may start to reconsider some things. It may be whether an inherited folk remedy from grandmother really works or not, a scientific doctrine firmly held by the establishment but one detects a weak spot somewhere, or a biblical interpretation.

For the latter we have the scriptures. I, for one, also believe the Old and New Testament scriptures are essentially trustworthy. I only qualify that because one does really need to check the original languages, and then there are a few uncertain passages. A few, not many.

If we rely on the trustworthiness of the Bible as the written word of God, by means of which we are to test teachings and opinions, I suggest that there is a thrust of biblical emphasis. This word is saying something that ultimately is definite and unambiguous. It is not subject to multiple interpretations that are contradictory to one another. Yes is yes and No is no. If there seems to be a contradiction then there is something to be reconciled in our understanding.

Universal Reconciliation is an idea that I do not see firmly established in scripture. It is not an emphasis. There are a few hints but they are not substantial enough to establish anything solid, especially in view of the multiple passages that speak to the contrary. I won’t list any of these here because it is not the purpose of this blog as far as I know and, in fact, Saltsister basically closed it and is moving on.

So I won’t be taking up a debate on the subject and only want to say that “UR” is an unsubstantiated opinion. The subject is a mystery, and though there are more indications that there is real peril from neglecting God, the ultimate end of people like Jezebel or Judas is not exactly explained. It is somewhat hard to imagine that this God has been playing a farce with people all the way along but I want to leave it at that.

What seems preferable to coming down on one side or another on uncertain points is to focus more on what is positively stated in unambiguous terms, and there is enough of that to keep us focused.

About heresy, the Greek word really means an opinion, a siding with and separating from others on the basis of an opinion. It’s not, going by the simple definition of the word, what it became under Catholicism and later, namely a punishable violation of fixed doctrinal orthodoxy. It’s akin to sectarianism.

The trouble with certain teachings like this that are not soundly demonstrated in scripture and require long, roundabout explanations (books to read) to get them, is that they are inherently divisive and also that they draw people to be followers of men.

As for “the restitution of all things”, it’s a compelling statement that Peter made. It must refer to something but it is not elaborated further, and we should recall that it’s not any sort of stand alone saying. It was part of a discourse Peter gave just after Pentecost in Jerusalem and in the general context of calling his hearers to Jesus and to save themselves from that wicked generation.

The ultimate restitution (which evidently mean a restoration from a state of ruin) is really a new creation altogether, when a new heaven and a new earth come to pass.

A wise man once said that the most dangerous doctrine is God’s truth held carnally to exalt self, so I agree with you that our whole journey must be with a broken and contrite spirit.

I don’t know about you, but I know of nobody who has got all their doctrine directly from God without the benefit of godly teachers and the diligent study of the scriptures. Paul the apostle received the mystery of the gospel directly from God, and at the same time was a diligent studier of the old testament. He is an exception because he was chosen by God to be a foundational stone of his church along with the other apostles and prophets. We are stones built upon this firm foundation with Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. As soon as our doctrines differ to the doctrines as set out by His foundational apostles and prophets we are building a house with our own teachings as the foundation, and everyone else who builds upon that foundation is merely adding to the unsound structure. The structure may survive many years, but soon or later something will come along to cause the structure to collapse. Jesus did say that he would send the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, and praise God we have the new testament to complement the old testament, which God through his Holy Spirit gives us revelation.