Universal Salvation

Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Universal Salvation
Tuesday 4th July 2023

Universal Salvation

Universal salvation or universalism, is the belief that all people will go to heaven when they die. The universalist believes "all roads lead to heaven"…….in the end.

The rationale for this position is relatively simple:-

Because God is all loving, therefore He would not cause anyone to go to hell. Further Christ's death was an atonement for all people at all times and in all places irrespective of what they believe or how they behaved in life. The key text is 1 John 2:2 (NLT). "He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

As we all know, you can find a bible verse or even a few verses to validate pretty much anything you want. The logical result of this belief is that we will all get to heaven (eventually) and heaven will be populated by Christians along with murderers, adulterers, rapists, liars and cheats. Further universalism takes all responsibility of sin off an individual and it may go so far as to say that hell does not exist. The universalist believes there is no ‘separation’ at the end of this age.

Here is a very brief summary of the biblical (orthodox and creedal) response to universalism, as I understand it.

1. God deeply desires for all people to be saved…..to experience His free gift of salvation. 2 Peter 3:9, John 3:16
2. Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of redemption and died for the sins of the world making salvation possible. 1 John 2:2
3. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is reached through faith in Jesus only; no other god or religion will lead a person to heaven. Acts 4:12, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9
4. Sin separates us from God. Romans 3:23, 6:23
5. Salvation in Christ is a free gift offered to all people. But it needs our response. It must be received, believed and lived. Ephesians 2:4-10, 1 John 4:8-10

Do you know what you believe on this subject and why?

Further Reading. Here is a more in depth article with extensive foot notes published by The Gospel Coalition.

Headlines Only

Women in Leadership. My mind boggles at the hard line the Southern Baptist Convention is taking on this matter. Here is a superb article by Tosha Williams who is co-senior pastor with her husband of Vanguard Church in Colorado Springs – a SBC member church. No wonder the largest denomination in the world is losing members head over heels.

Trust in Institutions is less. No real surprises here but a very interesting report on Social Cohesion in NZ and here is a summary of the report from Josie Pagani.