The Truth of God's Word stands outside, independent and in authority above man's "truth filter" and individual interpretation.Biblical Truth is not relative, nor is it impacted by time.
I agree.But each man's ability to percieve the Truth will vary.
Using an extreme example to illustrate, Mr X may be a very healthy, very intelligent, very alert person. In fact, he may have a refined, expanded heart and a wide open mind to the degree that he could be called a saint. Mr Y may be physically unhealthy, mentally ill, nearly mentally retarded, very tired, with a cramped and miserable heart and mind from poor education and abuse as a child. I find it easy to imagine Mr X reading the Bible and being overtaken with gratitude, commiting his life from that point on to devotion to the Lord. I can also imagine that Mr Y might read the same scripture and dismiss it out of hand as a well-meaning fairy tale. If he's sufficiently dull, he might even think he's reading the phone book. Most people will fall somewhere between Mr X and Mr Y.
My point is, it is unavoidable that we each see according to who we are, though, as you say, the Truth itself does not change. I raise this point because whenever I ask this question, many people will reply that there is no reason to doubt, as the Bible is perfectly clear. I'm sorry, but what is perfectly clear to one man may not be to another, and I'm not going to accept someone's reading just beacuse he asserts to me that he's right.
There is historical documentation, manuscripts and copies that show that the Bible we have today, including Jesus's words, is significantly, almost perfectly, accurate.
I don't see why I should accept an interpretation of the Bible because it is popular, either. Widely accepted ideas are wrong all the time. Without Jesus being here to correct or affirm my views, I can only give it my own best effort at understanding, as we all do.
We can only know God and become familiar with Him by studying His Word....not by pondering in our fallible minds about how we perceive God.
Our fallible minds (and hearts) are all we have, and they were given by God. I'm trying to understand the Word. I brought in points about perception because I'm being asked to accept other's perceptions.
Do you have a specific verse/verses that you are interpreting that suggests that unbelieving sinners get a chance to repent at the Judgement Seat of Christ? Or are you just making an unfounded statement based on how you want to believe salvation and judgement work? (Please cite specific passages.)
No, I can't cite any verses. I'm making a statement based on my best understanding of the concept of eternal damnation. It's not based on some kind of wishful thinking. I just honestly don't see how an eternal punishment could be given for an offense that happens in the blink of an eye, relative to the scale of all time. Why would God not accept repentance after a person's physical death?
My best speculation is that the soul continues to evolve after we die, and that turning to God is possible for it at any time. Until it does, it is hell. Obviously, it's not possible for a specific Mr X to survive death, that body is gone, and in that sense that person is doomed for eternity. But if his soul lives, I cannot see God not accepting it when it turns to Him. I know what the Bible seems to say on this to many people. I find it easier to understand that that is a wrong interpretation than to understand that God could, apparently be infintely cruel.
I'm out of time so I can't respond line by line to the rest of your post, but I appreciate the scripture quotes.
I know that many will find my thinking on this to be vain, worldly, speculation, used as an attempt to deny the Word of God. I don't think I'm denying anything or Anyone. I just feel it would be sinful to turn off my God given brain.
Indeed!
Just realize that it's an antenna for input from both sides.