Universalism Gnosticism and Platonism

[ronniegreen]

Thank you so much for your channel. I'm 66 and have been a believer for my whole life but had questions about portions of the Bible that just didn't fit into what I had been taught. Christian Universalism and Restoration makes so much sense. Please continue to tackle these difficult subjects.

[kevinrombouts]

I really value your insightful study and careful presentation. I am a convinced Christian Universalist and I am in the process of bringing the arguments to many skeptical Christian friends. You are a big help here and elsewhere.thanks again.

[mochamarie]

Right now, we got psychopaths running the Earth, wanting us living in fear and constant exhaustion. Jesus Christ gave us life and wants us to thrive and keep getting the Gospel out.

[jasonegeland]

I feel like I've said some things previously that weren't intended to be insulting in any way at all, but I wanted to apologize to you, Michael for whatever that may have been (There's almost nothing worse than being misunderstood, especially when your heart is in the right place). My goal is to always maintain positive dialog with others, even if I manage to mess up here and there. I love your messages and your videos (including this one!), it's just sometimes I have questions and I often go off into tangents. Hope we're cool and you're enjoying the holidays! All the best!

[suburbanrapper]

this is so relevant, real time interactive and substantive.. What an example of the great value of this open platform we have currently in usa you tube... may The Lord allow the degree of openness to remain or increase. PTL!!! You are a good steward of your heartbeats and are an inspiration to many in the body of Christ.... God Bless You mightily in Jesus' name.. amen and amen.

[justin]

Absolutely loved this one! I have to say one thing that makes me really respect you is your insistentance on love for the church. For example one of your previous videos you encourage us to still seek fellowship despite minor doctrinal differences, and you constantly make your points through humility and patience. Keep up the good news!

[mattr.]

I actually think Christianity in general, especially the endless torment camp, can be argued to be a form of Gnosticism.

ie, you save yourself by obtaining special knowledge (the gospel).

Anyway, I really enjoy this challenge. It's a heavily underrated gem on YouTube!

[scotthaynes]

I’ll take Gregory of Nyssa over Augustine any day.

[storytime]

Merry Christmas my brothers and sisters and Michael thank you for everything your doing, have a merry Christmas and happy new Year! May God's Grace and mercy and blessings be given to you all!

[thepositeer]

Thank you for posting all of these videos. You have really help me a lot in the Journey. God bless

[benjaminwhitley]

It’s a fascinating piece of Christian history that Augustine’s mother let him live at home despite his promiscuity, however, when he followed Manichaeism for a short period, she kicked him out. Oddly enough, the doctrine of endless torment reflects manichaeism’s teaching that evil and good will endure for eternity. Christian eschatology rooted in scriptures assures us that God will destroy evil in all its forms. The Second Death is where Death and Hell go to die and all that has been contaminated and corroded by sin will be purged and restored anew. The silver and gold of human souls must be purged of the corrosion of sin through cleansing, refining fire. The fire of God’s love. For God says “Look, I make all things new!” This IS the Christian Hope. Evil in all its forms is overcome by The Good.

[storytime]

The lie of internal damnation is one of the main things people run away from Jesus for. It made me run at a time before I was saved. I am glad I now know the truth of Jesus' mercy and grace.

[marcob]

I may not know everything you’re talking about, but what I get from Scripture is that I know God will save all at the end . and that includes Satan, thank you for another sermon. Please continue we need you teaching Ń universal salvation, it is hard to teach people, they were taught by their parents, there country and their church, they were taught from Constantine‘s history of hell fire torture of sinners, it’s hard to change a persons belief, and they been taught as a young child, a different belief all their lives.

[kieranswift]

thank you for taking the time to explain these things

[doriesse]

The point the Gnostics were making was that creation was not a work of God, but of the accidental Demiurge.

[thecasualmystic]

Do you have any videos about how to deal with the depression/isolation of coming to universalism? I see hope and clarity, but I'm scared that I'm wrong and I'm scared that I cannot find a church near me that doesn't preach hell as the central motivation of the gospel.

[a.crawley]

Thx for ya research and sharing. Saying all gnostics believe the same thing is very incorrect in my understanding, and surely many gnostics. Inner knowing, may be and is most likely different for all. Many paths to the top of the mountain/Christ consciousness.

[Freesurfer]

Very interesting video. I can only speak from my direct experience, but it seems that most actions are involuntary. For example. breathing, beating heart, cell growth etc. The same with thoughts and feelings, most of the mind seems subconscious. Where do thoughts and desires spring from and can we control our thoughts and desires or are they involuntary and just happening?

Please don't misunderstand me, when I say that religions and faiths seem to impose double binds which seem to condemn us. For example Paul talks about the power of the Law which condemns us. But doesn't the comandments to pray and trust in God? If you trust God what is the point of prayer? Maybe anxiety or fear? If you do pray, then you are not trusting God, but on the verge of doubting God or have selfish motives? Where does that come from? Perhaps faith in God is the motivating force out of fear of judgement? But isn't this motive to save one's skin?

Perhaps everything that happens is out of our control? In which case our actions and thoughts which seem random to us are not ours but God's will?

[Kuudere-Kun]

Infernalism is what actually comes from Plat, he taught it clearly in Gorgias.

And I have seen no primary evidence that ANY ancient Gnostics were Universalists, the name itself refers to their belief that you need to have special Knowledge to be saved.

[SovereignLove-yf]

Ironically - Regarding the charge of being "rooted in Platonism" - there is absolutely no part of the Church that has been more deeply influenced by "Platonism" than the Eastern Orthodox Church!
Plato is often the "whipping boy" of many apologists who oppose universal reconciliation - and is either very misunderstood or misrepresented by those who make such charges. The influence of Plato is "just there" even in many of the writings of the New Testament - and the early Church Fathers. I do not find that in the least scandalous - but always and everywhere acknowledge that "all Truth is God's Truth". Platonism - in God's providence - helped prepare the way for the full and final revelation of God in Christ. "Christian Platonism" does not adopt wholesale the philosophy of Socrates (recorded by Plato) - but take the truths revealed to him through natural revelation and intuition - then elevate them to (transpose them, if you will) into a "higher register" - as we find in Christ alone the reality of which Platonism is but a "shadow" - but to which it so strongly points...
Thanks for this another wonderful video presentation!