{"id":24014,"date":"2020-07-20T17:57:51","date_gmt":"2020-07-20T22:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=24014"},"modified":"2020-07-20T17:57:51","modified_gmt":"2020-07-20T22:57:51","slug":"is-conditionalism-a-possibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-conditionalism-a-possibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Is conditionalism a possibility?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

Is Luke 16:19-31 another parable in the series of the chapter?<\/p>\n

Does I Timothy 6:16 mean that we are not immortal?<\/p>\n

I ask because conditionalism looks very attractive, especially after reading Al Maxey’s reflections.\u00a0 But I have some doubts about it because if hell is not eternal, can we expect heaven to be? Also if people are tormented in hell for a while, shouldn’t they go to heaven after paying for their sin through torment?<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

Conditionalism is the idea that people do not have an immortal spirit; rather, God gives people whom He saves the ability to live eternally. The philosophy also teaches that the wicked are destroyed and will cease to exist.<\/p>\n

Regarding Luke 16:19-31:<\/p>\n

The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is a well-known illustration of Jesus. Through it, we learn about what life after death is like. At times you will find some who dismiss the significance of the story by stating that it is only a parable. However, it is not called a parable in the Scriptures and it contains one feature that makes it different from the parables that Jesus told: this story names one of the main characters. In Jesus\u2019 parables, an illustration is given from life, but the illustrations are generalized. They are something that could easily happen, but Jesus is not talking about one particular event. In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, details are given about a particular event. Even if this was a generalized tale, it doesn\u2019t mean the things discussed are not true or only imaginary. All other parables are based on real events. Labeling this story a parable does not make it any less real.<\/p>\n

Regarding I Timothy 6:18-19:<\/p>\n

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed<\/em>” (I Timothy 6:18-19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some manuscripts have “eternal life” and others have what is “really life.” The difference is not critical to our understanding. Doing the works of God allows the righteous person to gain heaven. Heaven is repeatedly called “eternal life” while Hell is sometimes called “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46). The point is not that people become immortal, but which type of eternal existence are they striving for. See What Is Hell Like?<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Punishment doesn’t pay for sin. It is the consequence of sinning (Romans 6:23). You don’t have less sin because you are punished. You only can have your sins removed or forgiven and that can only occur through the sacrifice of Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: Is Luke 16:19-31 another parable in the series of the chapter? Does I Timothy 6:16 mean that we are not immortal? I ask because conditionalism looks very attractive, especially after reading Al Maxey’s reflections.\u00a0 But I have some doubts about it because if hell is not eternal, can we expect heaven to be? Also…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[1221,699,373],"class_list":["post-24014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-conditionalism","tag-eternal-life","tag-hell"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":93578,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/false-teachings-of-jehovahs-witnesses\/","url_meta":{"origin":24014,"position":0},"title":"False Teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jon Gary Williams They speak of Christ, the soul, hell, the resurrection, and other fundamental biblical ideas. But what they espouse regarding these and other biblical terms does not align with what the Bible teaches. Has a Jehovah's Witness ever knocked on your door? If not, someday they will.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56700,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/watering-down-hell\/","url_meta":{"origin":24014,"position":1},"title":"Watering Down Hell","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jim R. Everett An Answer to \"Conditional Immortality\" The modern, liberal theologian has joined the cultic religionist in seeking to \"water down\" hell and make eternal punishment nothing more than a momentary oxidation of the body. He inconsistently affirms the eternal nature of God and the future state of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27844,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/have-some-people-visited-hell-in-a-near-death-experience\/","url_meta":{"origin":24014,"position":2},"title":"Have some people visited hell in a near-death experience?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 25, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have recently seen a video on YouTube that took quotes from people who had near-death-experiences and had apparently \"been\" to Hell. And what they said about it just seems to me like it couldn't be. How could God let anyone, good or bad, be made to have that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30194,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-eternal-refer-to-quality-and-not-quantity\/","url_meta":{"origin":24014,"position":3},"title":"Can “eternal” refer to quality and not quantity?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: A conditionalist says \"eternal\" doesn't always mean duration, that it can refer to quality. He uses the eternal fire of Jude 7 to support his position since the fire isn't still burning now. Answer: \"Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41163,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-happens-to-people-who-die-without-being-baptized\/","url_meta":{"origin":24014,"position":4},"title":"What happens to people who die without being baptized?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I have been reading about the church of Christ and the issue of baptism. If baptism is required for salvation, what happens to people who die without being baptized? Thank you. Answer: What happens to a person who disobeys God? \"Do not marvel at this; for an hour\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63681,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-hell-like-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":24014,"position":5},"title":"What is Hell Like? (Sermon)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 10, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Read Luke 16:19-31 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In every parable of Jesus, the illustration is used to teach a larger message. But every parable is based on true facts. People do purchase fields, widows do lose coins. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notice the facts in this story: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Two men lived \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Two men died \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a03.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24014\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}