Eternal Punishment, Part 3

Shawn McCraney's teaching emphasizes the division of humanity into two groups based on their acceptance of grace through faith: those who are "saved" from the second death and those who are not, with the latter destined for hell and the Lake of Fire. He clarifies that "being saved" refers specifically to being spared from eternal punishment rather than suggesting universal salvation, and he insists on the significance of individual belief in Jesus Christ's teachings to avoid this outcome.

God desires individuals who genuinely seek and love Him and wants everyone to choose Him freely, knowing beforehand who would do so, but He did not create some to accept Him and others to reject Him. True believers, referred to in scripture as "the elect," "the chosen ones," and "heirs of God," among other terms, gain inner peace during life and, after death, escape hell and the second death, entering heaven as joint heirs with Christ through a process of genuine faith, humility, and love, which involves self-sacrifice.

Salvation, according to Shawn, is found through God rather than nationality, moral efforts, or religious affiliations, culminating in being recognized as God's children, heirs, and the elect through Christ's finished work. Emphasizing the importance of seeking God in spirit and truth, Shawn challenges traditional views of eternal damnation and highlights the need to understand God’s love and desire for all to be saved, prompting a reevaluation of interpretations that align with biblical teachings.

Shawn's teaching explores the ultimate submission of all things to God, as seen in the resurrection narrative where Christ reigns until all enemies, including death, are conquered, thus fulfilling God's purpose of unity and salvation for all humanity. He challenges the perception of exclusive salvation by highlighting God's inclusive plan through history, such as the election of Israel and the opening of salvation to Gentiles, questioning traditional views on eternal damnation and emphasizing the broader divine plan of salvation for all people.

Shawn teaches, using scriptures such as Psalms 115:3, Ephesians 1:11, and Daniel 4:35, that God fulfills His will, creating all things for His purpose, which is highlighted by the Calvinistic view of predestination and the notion of irresistible grace. He contrasts this with passages like James 1:13 and 1 John 1:5, suggesting that God is inherently good and does not tempt or create darkness, raising questions about the presence of free will in the context of divine omnipotence.

God, in His infinite love and knowledge, aims to reconcile all people to Himself, despite human free will and evil, as suggested by biblical passages like Isaiah 55:8-11 and 2nd Peter 3:9, which emphasize His superior ways and long-suffering desire for all to come to repentance. Shawn encourages believers to harmonize these scriptural insights, suggesting that God's ultimate purpose is to draw humanity to Him through His Son, regardless of traditional interpretations or church doctrines.

This teaching questions the concept of the Trinity by emphasizing God's manifestation in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, and seen by angels, suggesting that these aspects contradict the idea of separateness within the divine. It highlights that Paul's epistles mention only the Father and the Son, which is used to argue against Trinitarian beliefs, implying a singular rather than a triune Godhead.