steve wrote:Whenever the Bible speaks of sin's penalty, it always identifies the consequence as "death."
Yes, but is this physical death, annihilation, or perhaps spiritual death? I believe it is speaking of spiritual death which occurs while one is still living.
1 Tim 5:6
But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
Eph 2:1
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
The consequences that I listed are some of the symptoms which accompany spiritual death (which is the wages of sin).
steve wrote:You mention "pre-mature death" in your list, but it is clear that many great sinners do not die prematurely.
Yes, no doubt this is true, but it is also possible that God could exercise judgment upon someone which puts him in great distress, but this distress might not be outwardly obvious to others.
steve wrote:Also, many of the consequences you list are experienced by good people as well as evil ones.
It is true that many good people suffer in this life either because of an act of nature (floods, earthquakes, disease), or as a result of someone else's sin. This has been and will continue to be a fact of life. But is is also true that a righteous man can sleep well at night in peaceful slumber, while the evil doer can't find rest for his soul.
steve wrote:The suggestion that people get what they deserve in this life is contrary to many affirmations in the wisdom literature of the Bible (e.g. Psalms, Ecclesiastes and, especially, Job). I can't find support for the "punishment-is-entirely-in-this-life" position, either in scripture nor in reality. How do you justify it exegetically?
Gal 6:7
Be not deceived ; God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap
I believe this is a true statement. It does not specify when or how he reaps what he sows, but we have confidence that he does. Paul speaks of "tribulation and anguish" for the evil doers. Is this before death or after? I do not find any plain scriptures which positively support post-death punishment.
steve wrote:I don't mean, "How do you harmonize such a predetermined assumption with the seemingly hostile witness of many passages?" but, rather, "How do you arrive at this position as the view demanded by the best exegetical treatment of all passages of the Bible?" That is, which passages, properly exegeted, positively teach this limitation on judgment to the present lifetime?
Giving a complete answer to this question would require a book. So I will suggest one for you to read. It is available on line for free.
An Examination of the Doctrine of Future Retribution, Hosea Ballou
http://books.google.com/books?id=yIAfAA ... &q&f=false
I didn't intend to hijack this thread, but I wanted to give at least a brief answer to Steve's questions, although I am sure my answers are inadequate. I finish with this quote.
Aaron wrote:Sin, as I think you'd agree, is mankind's enemy. But it's not the last enemy, for Paul tells us that death is the last enemy. If that's so, then when everyone is raised immortal and death is abolished, sin will have already been taken care of - which means those who are raised from the dead will be sinless. Paul even implies this when, in view of this "last enemy" being "destroyed," he asked rhetorically, "Oh death, where is your sting?" Since he identifies sin as "the sting of death," it is implied that sin will be absent from humanity after all are made immortal (1 Cor 15:54-57).
Todd
Further from the same source:
)
