Very well put. Since we know that God wills all men to be saved, then it is literally ungodly for us to wish them damned. Yasser Arafat, among other dreadful examples, may be in Hell, but our job was to pray for his conversion.
One of the hardest things to "internalize" about Christianity, I think, is that *anyone* can be forgiven if he sincerely repents, no matter what he has done.
Well I think we see that in the parable of the prodical son. It is a parable as much as the wild son as the "obedient" other brother and his resentment of getting the same reward for his faithfulness.
Also in the parable of the owner of the vineyard that hired men at the beggining middle and end of the day and paid them all the same wage, because that is what was the agreed price and the OWNER has chosen what price to offer.
Yes the battle of my will and flesh vs. Gods grace. I am sure we will be humbled when we review the game films and he shows us how much grace we actually needed to be there.
T-C says, 'One of the hardest things to "internalize" about Christianity, I think, is that *anyone* can be forgiven if he sincerely repents, no matter what he has done.'
I agree. And there may well be some who call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and repent the last few seconds of their life who will then be welcomed into Heaven. And that might come as a surprise to folks who saw how they'd lived their lives!
We don't want to be like the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son, (Luke 15:11-32) who pouted because the father was happier about his younger son's repentance than about the older son's squeaky clean record.
It's never our place to guard the door against sinners coming to real faith and changing their ways. The Blood of Jesus cleanses all who ask for His forgiveness. ALL.
Realistically, though, the power mongers who oppress and or terrorize average folk just might have seared their consciences to the point of no return.