Jeremiah speaks of God’s judgment - “I’m bringing disaster and
widespread destruction ...” (Jeremiah 4:6). This message comes to us as a
word of warning, a plea to the people to return to the Lord and find
His mercy - “So put on sackcloth, mourn and cry because the Lord’s
burning anger hasn’t turned away from us” (Jeremiah 4:8). This is the
call to repentance. We read of God’s burning anger, and we wonder,”Is
there still the hope of God’s blessing?” God is speaking of His judgment
- “Nation of Israel, I’m going to bring a nation from far away to
attack you,declares the Lord, I won’t destroy all of you” (Jeremiah
5:15,18). God’s Word concerning the threat of judgment is a call to the
people to honour Him as God: “Pay attention to My warning, Jerusalem,
or I will turn away from you. I will make your land desolate ...”
(Jeremiah 6:8). The ministry of Jeremiah differs from the ministry of
the false prophets. They say, “Everything is alright!” He says, “It’s
not alright! (Jeremiah 6:14). Jeremiah calls upon the people to make a
new beginning with God - “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask which
paths are the old reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings. Live
that way, and find a resting place for yourselves” (Jeremiah 6:16).
The question of universalism in Barth’s theology has been raised directly by J D Bettis in his article, “Is Karl Barth a Universalist?” (Scottish Journal of Theology, Vol. 20, No. 4, December 1967, pp. 423-436). This article requires to be carefully discussed not only for its significance as an interpretation of Barth’s thought but also because it presents a serious misrepresentation of Berkouwer’s criticism of Barth. Bettis writes, “Modern protestant theology has defined three basic answers to the question of the particularity of election: double predestination, Arminianism and universalism” (p. 423). By attempting to fit Berkouwer into “this structure of alternatives” (p. 423), he misrepresents completely Berkouwer’s criticism of Barth. According to Bettis, Brunner and Berkouwrer hold that “because Barth fails to accept either Brunner’s Arminianism or Berkouwer's double decree, he must be a universalist” (p. 426). There are two misrepresentations of Berkouwer here. (...
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