Universalism

My brother was recently admitted to the hospital for unknown medical problems and I sent out a massive prayer request via e-mail. On the e-mail I first and foremost asked for folks to pray for his salvation and then for the doctors to figure out what was causing his mysterious illness. One of the e-mails that came back was very interesting and I thought I would share it and comment on it. Names have been removed to protect the identity of the individual(s).


Wayne,

At this time, all your family - especially your brother - are very much in our thoughts and prayers.

May I share something with you? I have had TWO powerful epiphanies/revelations I experienced, many years ago. The Lord Himself assured me in both, that life is everlasting, and that ALL of humanity would eventually be saved. This was a 'white light' - out of body experience - information was TRANSFERRED to me totally convincingly, without words. I understood clearly, that our belief in Christ is of paramount importance - but that we must NOT
be judgemental of non-believers. That He will safely deliver them, that He can move freely in time, that no creature of His will ever be permanently lost. That our doubting His power to do this is limiting Him, as well as our faith - both at the same time!

These experiences have helped me cope far better with the loss of my agnostic father, as well as several dear friends over the years. No matter how we read the Gospels, we should be aware of Christ's mercy and flexibility to people OUTSIDE the Jewish faith, as well as to all sinners.
The conditions for 'being saved' have been subsequently misunderstood by us. I would venture to say, that your brother and all other doubters and unbelievers will be saved eventually, through His Mercy and Compassion - although their lives on this earth would be a lot more fulfilling, if they would accept Him prior to the end of their earthly lives, and live them out
in faith!

This e-mail caught me by surprise but it supports a growing trend I have noticed over the past year or so; Universalism.

From Dictionary.com -

Universalism
3.(initial capital letter) the doctrine that emphasizes the universal fatherhood of God and the final salvation of all souls.

The doctrine of Universal salvation for all sinners is not taught by the Word of God. I am no theologian by any respect, but I can break down this e-mail simply by using the Word of God Himself.

*The Lord Himself assured me in both, that life is everlasting...* I can agree to that; life is everlasting. Jesus said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And again in John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

There is eternal life in Heaven, but there is also eternal life in a real place called hell. (All bolding mine)

Paul say's in 1Thess 1:7-9, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

We can read in Jude 7:4-7, "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

And in Matthew 8:18, "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Yes - There is everlasting life. The real issue is where one will spend it.

*.....and that ALL of humanity would eventually be saved. This is a lie straight from Satan himself. We can read in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. And again in Matthew 22:14, "For many are called, but few are chosen," And again in Luke 13:22-27, "And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Not all people will be saved.

*The conditions for 'being saved' have been subsequently misunderstood by us. I would venture to say, that your brother and all other doubters and unbelievers will be saved eventually, through His Mercy and Compassion - This is the most disturbing part of the e-mail. Not only is this not Biblical, it's not even reasonable. First of all, the author of the e-mail is guilty of breaking the first Commandment; 'Thou shall not have any other god's before Me.' When you start making up an idea about how your god will save everyone even if people are doubters and unbelievers, you have created your very own god. Secondly, the Bible is very clear through many of the Scriptures that I have already shown, that not everyone will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. The Scriptures say in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." This is very plain to me and it is very easy to understand. As a matter of fact, this is everyone who not repented of their sins and put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save them from the wrath to come.

So if you stumbled upon this blog and made it this far, you might be wondering, if not everyone is saved from God's wrath for their sins, how does one get saved?

Jesus said in John 3:3, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus said we must be 'born again.' Why? Why must we be born again?

Simple - You have broken God's Law's. You know, the Ten Commandments. If you are honest, you will say that you have lied (9th Commandment), you have stolen something sometime in your life (8th Commandment), you probably have coveted (10th Commandment), looked with lust at someone (7th Commandment), probably have taken the Lord's Name in vain (3rd Commandment). These are just Five of the Ten Commandments. If you have broken just one of them, you are guilty of breaking them all.

Because you have broken God's Law's, you will have to answer for that one day when you die. And you will die won't you? Hebrews 9:27 says, And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." You are going to have to stand before a Holy and Righteous Judge on judgment day; God. And it's not just you either. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

When your standing there before God on judgment day, your are going to have to pay for your sins (breaking the Law). The Bible says in Romans 6:23. "The wages of sin is death...." This 'death', is not just only an eternal separation from God, but eternity in hell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in the lake of fire.

But there is hope my friend. 2000 years ago, God did something truly amazing. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, born of a virgin to be a sacrifice on your behalf. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. There it is! We need to be made righteous before God.

How do you do that? Repent of your sins. Acts 17:30, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" Repent and turn from your sins. and call on the name of Jesus. Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Pray to the God who gave you your first life to give a second life. This is the only way to have everlasting life with God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

God's Word is true. Repent of your sins and call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved.