Question:
Dear Greg,
Some
members of my Bible study group here in England have a friendly debate from the
Scriptures. What do you think of
the “Universal Salvation doctrine” where ALL die in Adam but ALL live in
Christ?
Does
this mean that ALL men will live for eternity as Christ died for the whole world
and for everyone to live? Would
appreciate your comments on this for the Bible study group that likes to search
the Scriptures with an open mind.
Jeremy
Answer: Dear Jeremy,
Universalism
is the belief that all humans, in the end, will be restored to God and a
Universalist is one who believes in such a thing.
Several
issues to consider:
1.
Universalists do not generally believe in predestination, in terms of
human
choice,
freedom of choice, freedom of the will--over against the predestination of five
point Calvinism. Calvinism
essentially denies the choice Universalists would normally favor. Yet Universalists are saying, in this case, that no matter
what happens all humans will be saved. Thus
they are not consistent with their own general position.
If all will be saved, then no human has a choice.
2.
The Bible does speak of a judgment, and the Bible does speak of a
difference
between
life and death. While passages on
this topic are debated, there is not much room for the Universalist to argue his
or her position in a number of clear passages.
While Christians may and do debate about the exact location, definition,
etc. of both heaven and hell, Christians agree with each other and disagree with
the Universalist that there is such a thing as heaven and hell—however those
“places” may be defined. Most
Christians would agree that heaven can be defined as eternity spent with and in
the presence of God, while hell can be defined as separation from God (whether
it is eternal is debated among Christians, not whether it is.)
3.
For example, a few passages: Hebrews 9:27 speaks of a judgment,
2
Thessalonians 1:7-9 speaks of “everlasting destruction”.
Matthew 25:46 uses the word eternal of both heaven and hell (this is a
parable, and while parables do not specifically impart doctrinal teaching, they
are Scripture and profitable for “reproof and instruction”).
Another parable, Luke 16, speaks of Lazarus and the rich man, and of
course there are differing ideas about what Jesus is saying and not saying, but
in the context of Universalism it is interesting to note that there is a
“great gulf” between heaven and hell—some distinction.
Many passages speak of judgment.
4.
Some believe that Romans 5:18-19 speaks of Universalism when Paul speaks
of
“all men.” But the context of
Romans itself speaks of those who are without excuse (1:20) and those who will
perish (2:12), and that the wages of sin is death (6:23).
Paul believes that many of his own race would be accursed (9:3).
The whole point of Romans is that the only way to be justified is by
belief in Christ (3:21-26, 1:17, 9:14-26).
5.
Some believe that Paul taught universalism in 1 Corinthians 15:25-28,
saying
all
things would be put under Christ, but “all in all” (vs. 28) does not mean
that everyone will be “in Christ”. Neither
does the “all things” of Colossians 1:20 refer to universalism, for simply
the reconciliation that Christ accomplished (see also 2 Corinthians 5) does not
mean that all humans are forced to accept it.
There is a difference between the universal rule of Christ—the
universal sovereignty of Christ—and universalism, that all will be saved
regardless of their acceptance of Christ. Christ
is and will continue to be Lord of all—but that doesn’t mean that all now
accept him, or that all will ever accept him.
6.
The Bible does teach that God desires all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9
and 1
Timothy
2:4), but the Bible also shows that not everyone accepts God’s grace—see
Matthew 23:37 and Matthew 7:13-14. The
parable of Matthew 25:31-46 speaks of sheep and goats, and both groups do not
seem destined for the same judgment or place!
Hope
this helps.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht