The Universalist Heresy?
"In doctrine, unity;
In opinion, liberty;
In all things, love.
In opinion, liberty;
In all things, love.
I am getting very frustrated with so-called orthodox Christians calling Universalism a heresy. I don't understand how anyone can consider the following five verses and still say that they are not saying that the scope of Christ's salvation does not extend to all of mankind.
Now keep in mind that I am fully aware that there are ways to get around the universal scope of the individual verses. I have ways of getting around the verses that are anti-universal. My point is that the plain meaning of these five verses taken together argues for Universalism.
I can also understand how someone with much greater intelligence than I have can understand how these verses teach that all are not saved by Christ's work on the cross, but I would much rather be called stupid than excluded from fellowship as a heretic.
2 Corinthians 5:18,19
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
1 Timothy 4:10
For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
1 John 2:2
and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
Romans 5:18
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
6 Comments:
It's just not the case that all are in Christ - consider Iscariot.
Thanks for you comment. I suppose that you are referring to
1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
I'm sorry but I don't see how this verse makes an exception for Iscariot. Can you explain a little more fully for me please?
Thanks,
Bill
Two verses of Scripture which have not yet been discussed but which direct one to the correct direction, both spoken by Christ himself:
//START OF SCRIPTURE//
Matthew 12:31-32 (NLT)
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
John 6:26-29 (NLT)
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.
They replied, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?"
Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."
//END OF SCRIPTURE//
The first of these (Matt. 12:31-32) demonstrates the first point: that yes, all sin was forgiven at the cross with the exception of one sin. That one sin is clear and largely understood throughout church history to be this: rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The objectives of the Holy Spirit is made clear elsewhere, but it draws people to Christ. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, telling them that what they were doing (rejecting the ministry of the Spirit) is dangerous business.
The second verse elaborates and expands this idea. Jesus suggests that something is needed of the people he is speaking to. This need, belief, is core to the message of Jesus and the Church. Jesus spoke of this belief to Nicodemus in John 3:16, "whoever believes will have eternal life." So the two are linked. Out of this belief comes change, and this change demonstrates to the believer and those around him that they do, in fact believe, and have in fact done the work God required of them. It is a wonderful fact, for the believer. A lot of people cannot accept it, because they feel they have to earn it. Others reject it because they do not feel they need it. Christ came to call sinners to repentance and to place their trust in him.
So, bottom line: All sins were forgiven and a new command was given men, that command was this: to change your mind about your sins and believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. That is how one attains eternal life, belief in the One who was sent. It is simple, but apparently not easy, since Jesus said "spend your energy" as though it could be a laborious soul-searching process. Grace and Peace.
I won't add much to the previous blog which did a good job of pointing out the reciprocal nature of salvation - namely that it requires OUR belief (i.e. acceptance) in what Christ has already provided. However, if you would, can you elaborate on your comment, "..I have ways of getting around the verses that are anti-universal.."?
When I engage most people in a discussion of this topic (Universalism), they usually discard scripture up-front and tell me something like, "I can't see how a loving God could subject his own creatures to eternal torment..." etc.
But it seems to me that our premise in the above statement about judgement is that everyone would CHOOSE eternal life over eternal destruction (damnation). I have a question then. Why doesn't everyone "choose" God now before they die? You might object and say that this decision must be made after one dies and sees God face to face on the other side of this world. Well, I think God gave us all a face to face(without our having to die) some 2000 years ago. At its core, the question of Universalism concerns our will and whether or not we have one that is free to choose to love God or reject Him.
Here are some passages I have found that refute Universalism that you would need to consider.
2 Thess. 2:5-12
Rev 20 11-15
2 Pet 3-13
Heb 12 25-27
Heb 10 26-31
Rom 4 23-24
Rom 2 5-8
John 6 36-40
John 5 22-30
Luke 16 19-31
Luke 13 22-30
Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your important question.
Love in Christ.
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