The other day on the radio, I heard a very well known Bible teacher make the comment that the doctrine of Universalism has now spread into the conservative end of Christianity.
When he said that, I just about fell out of my chair, as I thought the conservative end of the Body would be the absolute last ones to fall for such a demonic lie and doctrine.
As we all know, this false doctrine has infiltrated into the liberal end of Christianity. But with some of the more conservative Christians now starting to fall for it, this shows us how far this deadly demonic doctrine has now spread.
And then to top it off, we now have our current sitting president, Barack Obama, also believing in this false doctrine, as he has been quoted as saying that he is only saved if we are all saved.
And then when he was asked about his thoughts on hell, he made the comment that he found it hard to believe that a good and loving God would condemn 4/5 of the human race into hell for all of eternity.
From there, President Obama then added that he felt there are many “paths” to the same God. His exact quote was – “I believe that there are many paths to the same place.” He then goes on to say that all people of faith, whether you are a Christian, Muslim, animist, etc. all know the same God.
For those of you who do not know what this doctrine is all about, the doctrine of Universalism is the belief that we will all eventually be saved – and that is whether or not we ever accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.
Many people who believe in this false doctrine also do not believe in a literal hell anymore. Once you believe that every one will eventually be saved, no matter who or what they believe in, then it is very easy to go to the next step and completely do away with the doctrine of hell and eternal damnation.
When you really think about and meditate on the big picture, you can see how good, God-fearing people could initially fall for this kind of demonic lie. Once you understand that there really is a hell, and that it will be for all of eternity for the people who will end up going down there, you will want to come to the conclusion that you would not even want your worst enemy to end up going down there, since it will be for all of eternity with no chance of ever being able to make it back out again.
When people initially start to meditate on this kind of an extreme reality, it is very easy to want to try and find a way to explain it all away. And the false doctrine of Univeralism does exactly that, as it teaches us that everyone will eventually be saved and that no one will ever end up going into hell for all of eternity.
But if you believe that our Bible is truly the inspired and infallible Word of God, and that all of it has come down directly to us from God the Father through the Holy Spirit, then there is no possible way you can ever believe in this false doctrine, as the Bible specifically teaches us the exact opposite of this demonic doctrine.
The Bible is very clear in that there is only way and one path to eternal salvation with God the Father – and that one way and one path is only through His Son Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross.
There are not many paths to the same God as Barack Obama believes – there is only one path to God the Father – and that one path is only through His Son Jesus Christ and the blood that He has personally shed for all of us on the cross.
In other words, we either come directly through Jesus and the blood that He has personally shed for all of us on the cross or we do not come through at all!
For those of you who are seeing this evil false doctrine infiltrate the church you may be attending, let me use this article to give you some of the basic Scripture verses you will need so you do not ever get tempted to want to fall for this demonic doctrine as so many people seem to be doing these days.
I will break these Scripture verses down under the 5 captions below so you can have all of this information right at your fingertips if you are ever forced to defend your position on this extremely important issue.
1. All of the Bible is the Inspired and Infallible Word of God
The first two verses I will now give you will specifically tell us, without any other possible interpretation, that all of the Bible has been given to us by “inspiration of God” through holy men who were “moved by the Holy Spirit” to write what they wrote!
In other words, all of the words in the Bible have come down direct to us from God the Father through the Holy Spirit. The specific authors of the Bible then wrote under the guidance, inspiration, and illumination of the Holy Spirit.
And if all of the words of the Bible were really coming from God the Father through the Holy Spirit to all of the authors who ended up writing it, then this means that all of the revelation and knowledge that is contained in the Bible can be counted on as being pure, 100%, solid truth with no errors or mistakes in it. None whatsoever!!
And this is why some of these false doctrines are now starting to seep so easily into the different churches, because so many people are now questioning the reliability and authenticity of the Bible, believing that much of what is being taught in the Bible is now metaphorical and allegorical type of speech instead of literal speech.
So the first thing you must decide as a Christian is to decide whether or not you believe that all of the Bible is fully infallible and inerrant, and that all of it has really come down direct to us from God Almighty Himself.
Either all of the Bible is coming directly to us from God the Father or it is not. There are no in between answers on this. You now have to decide which side of the fence you are now going to stand on regarding this issue.
If you believe that all of the Bible is truly the inspired and infallible Word of God, then you will have no other choice but to believe everything that is in the Bible. And if you can then believe in everything that is in the Bible, then you will not fall prey to all of the different demonic doctrines that are out there such as the doctrine of Universalism.
Here are the two main verses from our Bible that will show you that all of the Bible is totally inspired and infallible, thus making all of the knowledge and revelation that is contained in it pure, solid, 100% truth.
- “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
- “… knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20)
If you can believe that all of the Bible has been given to us by God the Father through the Holy Spirit, then you will now be ready to believe the next set of verses which will tell us, without any other possible interpretation, that Jesus Christ is the only way to be able to receive eternal salvation with God the Father.
2. Jesus Christ is the Only Way to Eternal Salvation with God the Father
These next set of verses are without question, the true heart and soul of Christianity. If you do not believe in these next set of verses, then you are not a true, born-again Christian. These verses will separate the true, born-again Christian from all of the unbelievers in this world.
These next set of verses will tell us, without any other possible interpretation or spin that you can put on them, that Jesus Christ, and His sacrificial death on the cross is the only way and path to eternal salvation with God the Father.
Here are these powerful key verses, and I will also highlight some of the key words in some of these verses so you can see how they will show you that the doctrine of Universalism is a demonic false doctrine. The very first verse will say it all.
- “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
- “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all …” (1 Timothy 2:5)
- “There is one body and one Spirit … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4)
- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
- “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and find pasture … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:9)
- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25)
- Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
- And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
- “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)
- “… whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-16)
- “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)
- “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
- “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)
- “… And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11)
- “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:14)
When you read all of these verses together, one right after the other, there is simply no way you can come to the conclusion that there are many ways or many paths to God the Father. God simply could not make things anymore plain and clear with the way He has worded all of these specific verses.
If God was going to allow other ways and other paths into His kingdom, then He would have specifically said so in these kinds of verses. But with the specific way He has worded all of these verses, it is quite clear that He is not going to do so.
As a result, we have to interpret all of these verses very literally. These verses are not any type of metaphorical speech, they are all literal and in-your-face type of speech.
In other words, these verses are meaning exactly what they are saying and we cannot attempt to twist them around, add to it, or alter them in any way just because we do not like the doctrine of hell and eternal damnation.
Once again, the first several verses above simply say it all when it tells us that there is no other name under heaven by which man can get saved, that no one can come to God the Father unless they come through Jesus Christ, and that there is only one Mediator between God and man – and that one and only Mediator is Jesus Christ.
Again, if there were any other possible ways and paths to God the Father, then He would not be stating that there is only one Mediator between Him and us.
How any Christian can so easily fall for this kind of false doctrine when all of these verses are as plain and clear as they can be is simply beyond me. Again, if you believe that all of the Bible is truly the inspired and infallible Word of God, then you have to believe what these verses are telling you. And if you can believe what these kinds of verses are telling you, then you will never, ever fall for this kind of demonic lie and doctrine.
3. How To Receive the Gift of Eternal Salvation
This next verse I will now give you is the one main verse that will tell you how to get saved in the Lord so you can receive the gift of eternal salvation from God the Father.
When you look very carefully as to how this verse is being worded, you will see that it is a conditional type verse. in other words, there is something specific you must do on your end before you can receive the gift of eternal salvation from the Lord.
In my opinion, this verse in particular will completely disprove the doctrine of Universalism. The doctrine of Universalism says that everyone will eventually be saved, regardless of whether or not they ever personally accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
However, this verse specifically says that you have to believe in your heart who Jesus is and what He has personally done for you with His death on the cross. If you cannot believe directly on Jesus Christ and what His sacrificial death on the cross has done for you, then you cannot get saved. And if you do not get saved in Jesus, then you cannot receive the gift of eternal life from God the Father.
Again, if God the Father was going to allow any other ways or any other paths into His eternal Kingdom, then He would have never worded this verse the way He did.
Once again, here is this most powerful verse from our Bible:
“… IF you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Romans 10:9)
One of the key words to pick up from this verse is the very first word – “if.” IF you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart who Jesus is and what He has done for you with His sacrificial death on the cross, then you will be saved.
Again, the word “if” is making this a major conditional verse, which means that you have to do your part before God will save you and give you the gift of eternal life with Him in heaven. And your part is to simply be willing to believe on who Jesus is and what He has done for you with His death on the cross.
This verse is a verse that should be interpreted very, very literally. It is meaning exactly what it is saying and there is absolutely no other spin or interpretation you can put on it. If you do not do exactly what this verse is telling you to do, then you will never get saved with God the Father.
The false doctrine of Universalism is trying to take you away from this most important verse. For the people who are not actual Christians, it is telling you that you do not need to find or accept Jesus Christ in this lifetime. You can find eternal salvation in other religions like Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, etc.
Again, if God the Father was going to allow us to find Him through these other false religions, then He would have never worded these kinds of verses the way He did. With the way all of these verses are being worded, God the Father is telling us, in no uncertain terms, that we can only come directly to Him through His Son Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross. We cannot come to Him through any other religions, ways, or people.
4. The Doctrine of Hell
One of the main reasons the doctrine of Universalism is spreading so rapidly across parts of Christianity is due to the fact that many people simply cannot believe that a good and loving God could literally throw people down into a hell for all of eternity.
As a result, they start looking for alternate explanations that will completely take away the doctrine of hell and eternal damnation. But once again, if the Bible teaches us that there is a literal hell, then we have to believe what it is telling us. We have no other alternative. We cannot try and take out this doctrine or alter it in any way just because we do not like what it is telling us.
As we have said in our article on this topic, “The Reality of Hell,” this doctrine is without question, the most gut-wrenching and heartbreaking doctrine in all of the Bible. To think that a multitude of people are going to end up going down into this horrible place of torment and agony for all of eternity is enough to break your heart into a million pieces.
But if the Bible is telling us that hell is a literal place and that a certain amount of people are going to end up going down there, then we have to come to grips with it and allow it to become a part of our basic teaching. We cannot try to ignore it, or try to replace it with a false doctrine like the doctrine of Universalism.
If God is giving us specific knowledge on this horrible place of torment from His Word, then we have to teach this basic doctrine to the flock so they will have the full gospel underneath their belt, not just the parts that will make them feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Bottom line – if God the Father did not want us to have knowledge about hell, then He would have never put these kinds of verses in the Bible.
The reason God is putting all of these verses on hell in the Bible is so He can warn us as to exactly what will happen to all of us if we do not accept the redemptive pardon He is offering to us through His Son Jesus Christ.
He is putting all of these verses in the Bible all for of our own good so we will know exactly what will be awaiting all of us once we die and cross over – heaven for the saved and hell for the unsaved.
With God putting these kinds of extreme verses in the Bible for all of our own good, it would treasonous and blasphemous to try and take them completely out just because they make us feel very uncomfortable, or they do not fit into how we think the big picture should all be set up with God the Father.
For those of you who would like all of the verses on hell, go to our article titled, “The Reality of Hell.” In this article, we have all of these verses listed one right after the other.
5. Try to See This From God the Father’s Point of View
I will leave you with one last thought on the doctrine of Universalism. Either this doctrine is completely false or it is completely true. I personally believe that all of the above verses completely disprove this false doctrine.
However, there is now one more angle you can try and look at this from – and that one other angle is to try and see all of this from God the Father’s point of view, as His point of view is the only thing that will matter when everything is all finally said and done.
If the Bible is really the inspired and infallible Word of God – and if Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross is really the only way to be able to receive eternal salvation with God the Father – will God then cut people some slack if they want to try and come to Him through another way?
To answer this question, just try for a minute to imagine the horrific scene of God the Father watching His Son Jesus being slowly beaten, whipped, and crucified to a cross for a good 6 hours – which will now lead us right into the 50 million dollar question on this topic:
If Jesus’ physical death on the cross is what is going to give all of us eternal salvation with Him, do you really think that God the Father is going to allow us to come into His Kingdom through any other way – especially with how brutal, bloody, and barbaric His Son’s death was on that cross?
Do you really think that God the Father is going to send down His one and only Son Jesus to our earth to die in this most extreme fashion, and then all of sudden tell us that we can also come to Him through another person or another way?
I do not think so! And that is why the Bible is very specific in how we are going to receive the gift of eternal salvation from God the Father – and that one and only way is through the Person of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross.
To assume that God the Father will honor any other ways, religions, or people is a direct affront against Him – and woe to anyone who tries to preach the doctrine of Universalism, especially in any type of Christian church.
Once again, here are some very powerful verses from our Bible that will show us that it is only through the physical death of Jesus on the cross that will give all of us full remission and full forgiveness of all our sins and thus eternal life with Him in heaven.
- “For the life of the flesh is in the blood … for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)
- “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures …” (1 Corinthians 15:3)
- “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
- “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)
- “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13)
- “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
- “… and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:14)
- “But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins … By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:3,10)
- “… who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
- “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed … (Isaiah 53:5)
- “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
- “… that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil …”(Hebrews 2:14)
- “… and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father …” (Revelation 1:5)
- Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations …” (Luke 24:46)
- “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19)
- “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
- “… He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself … so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” (Hebrews 9:26,28)
Notice in every single one of these verses that it is specifically referring to the physical death of Jesus on the cross and the blood He shed for all of us that will give us full forgiveness of all of our sins.
All of these verses make it very, very clear that we either come directly to God the Father through Jesus Christ and the blood that He has personally shed for all of us on the cross or we do not come through at all.
Conclusion
As we said at the top of this article, it is very easy to want to fall for the doctrine of Universalism since no one wants to see any of their unsaved loved ones end up in a place called hell for all of eternity.
But this is how God has the big picture set up, and we cannot try and change it just because we do not like this kind of extreme outcome for the people who will refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
To try and take out the doctrine of hell and replace it with the doctrine of Universalism where every single person is going to be eventually saved has to be one of Satan’s greatest traps he has ever set. If you can believe in this false doctrine, then you will never have to find and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior in this lifetime because you will be granted automatic entrance into heaven once you die and cross over.
If all of the above verses are telling us, without any other possible interpretation, that you DO have to find and accept Jesus Christ in this lifetime in order to be able to receive eternal salvation – and then you have a false doctrine like the doctrine of Universalism telling you just the exact opposite – can you see how many people will be led straight into hell as a result of believing in this horrible lie?
This is why every single, Bible-believing, Christian church has to resist this demonic doctrine right at the outset.
If this doctrine seeps into the basic teaching of any church, and the pastor will not stand to be properly corrected and get this demonic doctrine completely thrown out from his teaching, this church will then become an abominable branch before the Lord, and I would not even want to fathom the consequences of a church and a people that would fall for this kind of evil and insane heresy.
If there are any of you out there who are attending a church that is starting to preach this kind of false doctrine, and the pastor will not stand to be properly corrected, then you need to leave this church at once and find another one that has not fallen for this demonic doctrine.
God will not have His central message on how we can all receive eternal salvation from Him through His Son Jesus tampered with or altered in any way, shape or form – especially with the bloody, brutal, and barbaric death His Son had to go through to get us this gift.
To think that this false doctrine is now seeping into the conservative branches of Christianity is just blowing me away, as I cannot see for the life of me how any well-educated pastor and teacher could fall for something that runs so blatantly against what the Bible is telling us on exactly how we are to receive eternal salvation from God the Father.
I do entirely agree that Universalism is a false doctrine. However, I do not agree with the sola scriptura aspect mentioned in the beginning of this article. The issue of sola scriptura is an interesting one, and is an issue I have thought a lot about over the course of my life. However, I have come to the conclusion that Sola Scriptura is also a false doctrine. This does not necessarily destroy your argument; the messages in the bible are infallible, as demonstrated so well by your quotes from Timothy and Peter. However, I have come to the conclusion that the first testament of the Bible is not a historical document, but was rather a collection of stories given to us by God to prepare us for Jesus Christ. This will be demonstrated here. All Bible quotes will come from an NIV, as I do not have a King James version on hand and the use of a catholic Bible may give rise to apparent ‘flaws’ in my argument from the viewpoint of Protestant readers.
Perhaps the best way to refute sola scriptura is to point out contradictions. For example, Genesis 1:24-27 states that animals were created before humans, whereas the second story of creation in chapter 2 states in Genesis 2:15-20 states that humans came first. There are two stories of creation with two different orders of events. Another descrepancy between the two involves the claim by one that animals and birds came from the sea and by the other that they came from the ground. That is a severe blow against creationism. They can’t both be true, as God created the universe in such a way that an event cannot happen two different ways at the same time. Another issue is Genesis 1:6-7, which states that astronauts should wear swimsuits rather than those big bulky white uniforms. Also, Cain’s wife appears to materialized out of thin air, and there is a serious problem with incest in the earliest generations of humanity according to the Bible. Incest leads to genetic defects. Two people is not a big enough gene pool to start a healthy society, or even a society that will last more than three or so generations. Furthermore, if the bible is historically accurate, the universe has only existed for less than 10,000 years. This is most definitely untrue. Carbon dating has dated humans back further than that.
During photosynthesis, plants consume atmospheric carbon dioxide. These plants are then consumed, and the carbon is distributed through the biome. When the plant dies, it contains a concentration of radioactive carbon-14 equal to the concentration in the atmosphere at that time. Carbon-14 is constantly created in the atmosphere by a reaction occuring when neutrons from cosmic rays collide with nitrogen. Thus, carbon-14 remains at a constant level in the atmosphere. When a plant dies, it stops taking in carbon dioxide. Most animals cannot go more than a few days without eating, so carbon dating animals does not produce a significant deviation in results. (Animals receive all carbon from producers(plants, protists, etc.) and none from the atmosphere.) Once the plant or animal is dead, it stops taking in carbon, and the carbon-14 is isolated. It then decays with a half-life of about 5730 years. That means half of the carbon sample disintegrates in 5730 years. In 11460 years, one-quarter of the original sample would remain. This carbon can be extracted from a fossilized organism and the concentration of carbon-14 can be measured. The concentration is then compared to the concentration in the air, and then the age of the sample is calculated from the half-life and the concentration. Carbon dating does work, I just explained how.
Human samples have been carbon dated to the very limits of the scale, which is 60000 years. After that point, all carbon-14 is gone and other methods of dating which I am less familiar with are used. In this way, the Earth is older than the entire universe should be. If the evidence does roundly defeat the notion that the Earth is 10000 years old, then the only recourse left to me is that God created the world to deceive us. I cannot believe that. If God wants to save everyone, why would he try to throw people off? He doesn’t need to test people-he’s omnipotent! He already knows the outcome. The devil cannot be responsible because the devil had no part in creating the world. God did it all. Dualism implies that God does not have omnipotence, which is a huge heresy, as I’m sure all my readers will agree. If God and the Devil are both omnipotent, then it would be as if an unstoppable force were to hit an immovable object anytime they tried to contradict eachother. This paradox cannot exist. Also, God created the devil (although originally as an angel). They did not emerge together. Thus, Genesis cannot be historically accurate. So what, then, does Genesis really say regarding creation?
One of the most amazing things I’ve found while studying the Bible is that the first chapter of Genesis agrees completely and entirely with science with the sole exception of the term ‘day’ used in the passage. As far as the order of events and what exactly happened is concerned, there is no conflict! It is unfathomable that one of the two could be false while the other is true and yet they agree so completely. Thus, the term that incites the conflict, ‘day,’ must be further examined. In the famous Scopes Trial, a minister involved with the prosecution testified under questioning that no one knows what a day is to God (in relation to Genesis. The Scopes Trial was about evolution). So, the term ‘day,’ as used in Genesis, may not refer to a literal 24 hour day. Also, it is important to remember that the Bible is a translation. In the case of the King James, it has been translated from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English. The NAB is a translation from Hebrew(or greek for the New Testament) to English. No one can claim to be a Biblical scholar unless they have read it in its original languages. None of us can argue scripture and truly know we have it right unless we have read the originals.
I apologize that I have not given a more detailed description. I may do so with another post at a later date. However, I feel contradictions are sufficient for now to address sola scriptura. There are other arguments, but it is hard to argue something at 2:00 A.M. when one also has to complete a great deal of homework before the night is spent. Good night.
@Anonymous, You have not thought much about these silly arguments. You think you found conflicts that no one else has ever resolved? My aren’t you special. Sola Scriptura is all we have sonny. The spirit of God given as a gift always works in conjunction with the word of God. In fact, Jesus said the words he spoke were spirit. You have as much spirit life in you as you have the word dwelling in you. Answers in Genesis explains the first argument you came up with, so you never looked very hard. The rest of your arguments are easily resolved by an exegetical study and analysis of the immediate and remote context. I haven’t got time for all of them. Pick one after you go to answers in Genesis to find out why it is you that is in error, not the Bible.
@Anonymous, you need to study the word of God, this sounds like a Catholic Catechism lesson rather than any true observation of the word of God. The Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into English, and the New Testament was translated from Greek, and then from Greek to English. The Catholics translated both into Latin, and then the Latin into English. The word of God can be trusted with our lives, because it is as Paul said the word of God that lives and abides forever. Peter said in 2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
I just figured it was important to point out this flaw in your argument, it could raise questions as to your credibility among some, especially Catholics. Your argument is sound otherwise from what I can tell.
Another important thing one must realize about the Bible is that the old testament was passed down by word of mouth for a very long time. Things get changed when that happens. The Jews don’t even consider the Old Testament to be historically accurate, and it is their main religious document. The Torah is the Old Testament. Yet another important thing is that much of the Torah was never written down. It, along with the ‘opening of scripture’ that occured on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:27, became tradition passed down through the church by word of mouth until it was recorded in the Catechism of the Catholic Church during Vatican II.
Alright, this time it’s good night for real. I just felt that that was very important and couldn’t wait.
Dear Tony,
Yes the world is one in Christ.
Everyone is different. Different languages, different cultures,
different religions, different politics, different talents,
different status, different situations, different ideas, different
educations, different ways of dealing with life, and so on …God
knows we differ one from another. However, He expects us to
manage with what life hands us, to do our best, to try, and try.
To grow in the love and grace of God.
Not to be bad, or selfish, or cruel, or greedy, or lustful, or
disatisfied. We have to do our best with what we have got.
This way, every level of society receives something of a gift
from God. We are told to love our neighbour.
there is an even more dangerous false religion that is spreading out the World mission society church of god. can you warn people about this too
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
When someone has a personal relationship with Jesus and is receiving messages to be shared with others it is a good thing. Maybe the Holy Spirit is not done talking so how dare we say this is where Scripture ends with the Bible. Apparently, the world is still spiritually polluted so now the Holy Spirit has to inspire someone who has a personal relationship with Jesus and get the message across in a different way to reach more people. It’s like many verses in the Bible that mean one thing but can be said two different ways. And with regards to there being a hell, the hell is planet earth. There are demons who pose as aliens (they look alien to us because they do not look human) and these demons have their own gods and their gods judge us, punish us and when we leave our physical bodies they control our souls and have us come back to hell on earth to learn “lessons” so to spiritually disempower us. These demons (aliens) seek to enslave humanity through mind control and have us searching outside of ourselves for salvation. The Good News is that when we believe in the true message of Jesus which includes believing that the Kingdom of Heaven is Within and conduct our lives using 100% of our heart which is where Christ resides for this is where the Prince of Peace is found and then through this doorway we get to The Father who is Divine Perfection = NonJudgemental. We need to clear out all the dark energy that the demons polluted our Spirits with so we can be prepared for the Rapture (ascension). Theme of giving is strong in the Scriptures. The words “give,” “giving,” “gift” and other such words occur at least 2100 times. The very first occurrence, however, is in connection with the giving of light. God placed the great lights in the heavens “to give light upon the earth” (Genesis 1:15). Light is the basic energy by which all creation functions but, so far as the earth is concerned, it is the particular light from the sun which energizes all earth’s processes. God Himself is the Light (Genesis 1:3; I John 1:5; Revelation 22:5) and that light antedates the sun, but He made the “lights;” He is the Father of lights.
He who has an ear let him hear!
AC – You paint a very broad brush with your post of “False Religions” and your KJV only rants. Neither of which are relevant to the subject being discussed and are much better served being posted elsewhere. So, just what is YOUR “religion” that is true and perfect? What do you label yourself that makes YOU alone right? You sound like a modern-day Pharasee at best and legalist at worst. None of us are going to be judged by denominational label we worship under nor the version of God’s Word we prefer. We will be judged by our relationship with and obedience to our Lord Jesus.
I will agree that SOME of the religions you mentioned are certainly “false” and a couple of the bible versions you mention have questionable passages also. But, your broad brush of condemnation only tells me that you have built an “Idol” for yourself and that is your self-righteous position. Don’t post the KJV only language here because you being divisive and are sinning when you do.
of course I don’t believe there are many ways to father in heaven. if you don’t accept jesus you are going to hell, for punishment until you are ready to accept jesus.
eternal hell is unbiblical. there is no scripture that proves that there is and don’t give me 2 Thessolossians 1:8-9 because everlasting does not mean forever. Jesus’s death on the cross was everlasting meaning it had an enduring impact, it does not last forever, it is finished.
those who have no name in the book of life must be those who god did not create, demons. all men are drawn unto jesus.
of course Obama doesn’t count because Obama isn’t a man, hes a demon.
I believe the universalists are correct. Jesus died not only for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world. He saves on the basis of what he did, not on the merit of what we believe. He did it all, gets all the glory, and all men will testify of his mercy in due time. Its the Pharisee’s of the world that believe in a condemning gospel, the good news which shall be for all men is Jesus is the savior of this world.
He died for the Sin of the world so that all who believe in Him might be saved.
John 17:25
Righteous Father, although the world has NOT Known You, I Know You, and they Know that You sent Me.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned ‘already’ because they have not believed in The Name of God’s one and only Son
John 17:2 Jesus’s Prayer Who is the Truth and cannot Lie for He is without Sin and was with The Father from before the world existed: “For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3 Now this is Eternal life, that they may Know You, the ONLY TRUE God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.…”
Proverbs 8:35
“For he who finds Me finds Life And obtains favor from the LORD.
1 John 5:10
Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.
The scripture states over and over agin, “ for those who believe “ for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever should BELIEVE in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. I know some universalist that think you will believe at Judgment, therefore you will then be saved, after being corrected in the lake of fire. The fire being for refining not torment… that just simply is not want scripture says.
There are not many paths that reach to God but only one path that reaches to God. That is through the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Universalism doesn’t believe in the Biblical Trinity neither do they believe in a literal Hell. God who is omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (all present) and omniscient (all knowing) is also a Holy and Jealous God also a consuming fire. Those who believe in Universalism are accepting a false gospel that has no conviction and no contrition in it. The true Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will always be an offence. Only the Bible which is still the World’s Best Seller and the Word of God can expose the hearts of man while having the answer to the solution for mankind and the sinful nature redeeming man back from the state of sin.
100 % a agree. No one, not one is Righteous. If Islam could also be true they make God to be a liar because they claim Christ was not Crucified. If Christ was not crucified, NO ONE can be saved because no one possess Eternal Life. One does not ‘Get’ it after they die, they must have it BEFORE they do. Granted there is a potential as given in the parable of the sheep and goats. (depending on how that parable is interpreted). If all religions were the same, the Christians around this world to this very day are dying as fools (!) to stand firm in the Faith as we have been told to do. Could anything be more cold and cruel that that? Likewise, that must mean ISIS is also of God and they will to ‘go to heaven’..have to say, there is no such thing as ‘Going to heaven”…if on is in Christ they are already THERE! See Ephesians 2:5-7; that must mean that ‘Go out and make disciples of all the nations is meaningless without reason or purpose other than to have the world hate us? The LORD himself stated, if the world hates you , just remember, it Hated me First, and I and the Father are One. The world ‘hates’ the True God for ‘the flesh is enmity with God’ and Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ..
You are obviously ignorant of christian universalism. We believe all the above scriptures as you. We also believe there is a hell. Just not eternal.
I dont believe in many paths to salvation. -Only Jesus.
I believe in the trinity.
You should read what Apokatastasis is (the restauration of all things), it is Pauls expression, but what many call universal salvation by Jesus.
I suspect there are ‘closet universalists ‘ out there in the christian community, perhaps even pastors. “Joel Osteen’ being an extreme template of that. Others, not so obvious. The other way to look at it too is, to Hindus and Muslims have a concept of hell? Yes. I won’t even count Buddhism as they can be atheists. So how do one reconcile that a Universalist should tell a hindu about universal salvation, since they don’t know about it. They would have to preach to them about Christ…so then they would believe in Christ would they not? It doesn’t make any sense. What about all the poor souls who were tortured and killed throughout the ages for the belief in Christ? Were they just stupid fools because Universalism is true. Christ said, The world cannot Hate you because it hated me first. Universalism, and horrifying ‘Christian Universalists’ only seem to be proving what he said. The First and Greatest commandment is you shall Love the LORD , ‘Your God’, with all your Soul, all your Mind, and All your Strength (as he would enable us)…Jeremiah 24:7 reads that A new heart I will give you , a heart to Know Me. That is the LORD, Our God. If he gives Everyone in the world a heart to Know Me…how can Universalism be true if when people are told about Him they reject Him? Can always go to the old fall backs of false teachers speaking what itching ears want to hear.
To be sure about the confession quoted, it might not hurt to point out that one does not say that with their lips TO GET saved, but at that point you already are. I was walking on the beach this afternoon thinking on this topic and simply Saw that Universalism does violence to the cross. There is no a Christian Universalism web page out there, two words combined that don’t make sense. Also there is Gnostic Universalism which sounds more like doubly sure that are not saved. It is also note worth they Christ ‘Tasted’ Death for us and that He who does not believe is ‘already judged” (some say ‘condemned’ for that do not believe). God know our hearts, people do not know themselves at all. There would be need for the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin if everyone is not already a sinner. The other issue is that people essentially see themselves as a ‘good person’ (more or less). Good people go to hell, sinners are saved. If you won’t to ‘go to hell’ or perdition or Eternal Darkness, do nothing.
There is a lot of christian sites with universal salvation of Jesus out there.
Check “tentmaker”.
Check the bible verses that claim that all will be saved.
Of course by the cross, of course by Jesus, of course by faith..
There are hundreds of bibleverses through the whole bible that claim all to be saved by Jesus.
This everlasting and neverending helldoctrine is nowhere to be found in the bible.
At least i can not find it, no not even once..
Check the greek and hebrew texts and that words we translate eternal does not mean eternal, no the length is not even the issue.
Olam and aionion points towards origin, state of mind, and possibly the absence of time we often call “eternity” as in heaven, as in God.
I call this argument over a bad backgroundcheck of the bible, at least a very bad check of what christians mean when they say that all will be saved.
I mean that the cross is the foundation of everything and everyone. It is the foundation of Gods children from the beginning, and i believe Jesus was successful and victorious and by that win all in the end.
The faith is by him, it is his work, noone can think good or wish something good exept by Jesus. Only God is good, thats why he went after us even into the deepest death and despair and hate and unbelief to find us and to be our way back to him.
You are right about hell. It means the covering, or the grave. Jonah was in hell because he thought he was about to die. Christ was also in hell, the grave, but he knew it was not permanent, because he said “Thou (YHWH) will not leave my soul in hell.’
Yes there is a hell…Yes there is aionion judgment…Yes we must believe in order to be saved..
And YES!!!
Jesus TRULY IS The Savior of the World. (Jn4:42/1Jn4:14/1Tim49-11)
Not everyone seeks salvation, this side of life. There is NO post-mortem salvation. Read your Bible
Can we believe the apostle Paul is telling the truth ? Yes we can . And what is his opinion on redifining the gospel ? Read Galatians chapter one. Anathema – doesn’t that mean condemned to hell ? He could not have chosen a stronger word. Are there people that will not be forgiven? Please read 1 Cor 6:9-11. Read from Gal 5:4 and 5:21. I’m not happy about these verses. God sets the rules. We do not. His love an His truth are equal
You have over simplified he universal salvation issue, and have not given hardly any verses to combat it. Universalists I know believe that the gospel will be preached to all, and by far most will accept and be saved. I do not agree, but they do have several scriptures that need to be challenged.
He doesn’t save on what we believe? Have you even read the gospels, Paul’s letters, or any of the other epistles? That is a universal, all inclusive response to the truth that is heretical and blasphemous! Jesus said, ” You must be born again or you cannot see the kingdom of heaven…That’s what he said to the pharisee, and he is sying it to you. I beg you to read and learn the truth before its too late.
Don’t take my word for it…Read Jesus’ words yourself. Please!
@Mark, there are multiple denominations in Christianity and the same goes for universalism, there are those who believe in a literal hell but just as you cannot lump all of Christianity into one group believing the same thing the same doctrines The same can be said with Universalist there are Universalist to do not believe in a literal hell and those would fall under liberal Universalist however conservative biblical Universalist believe in a literal hell they just do not believe that those in hell are without hope.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ”
Romans 8:38
The author of this article seems like he has never heard of the Christian Universalism, which is different from that which he is refuting. It is very Biblical and has thousands of verses in support, and no verses that really support eternal hell if you realize that only 3 verses actually seem to teach hell is eternal, and they all use the word aionion in the original greek, which is a word meaning “related to an age” not eternal, so these verses were mistranslated. The early church had many teaching this, because they had the Bible in the original Greek, it had not yet been butchered and mangled into the corrupt latin version which used eternal instead of “aionion”, Jerome’s Latin Vulgate, it was a mistranslation, look it up for yourself, don’t take anyone else’s word for it, you owe it to God to seek out the truth on this yourself!
So we have since believed in Universal salvation. Calling it demonic, and any other terms to sway opinion is like watching CNN. The truth is the teaching of Hell is an enemy of the cross of Christ. He died for the sins or ALL mankind. Probably the most know statement by any man in history. In Adam all died, so as in Christ all will be made alive. Paul said the flesh profits nothing. So according to the Hell teaching there’s something an evil minded, sex driven, you name it humans can do to earn salvation from God. No my friend it was a gift. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Colossians 1:19-20 I was pleased to dwell in him, reconciling the world to myself through the blood and peace of the cross of Christ. Phillipians 2:10-11 is your salvation verse if you really need it. He was given a name above all names, and all men in the earth, on the earth, and in heaven will confess that Christ is lord. Titus 2:11, and many more. In the end we’re not here to argue with our fellow brothers, and sisters in Christ.
I couldnt have written it better. You have totaly got it❤️ I have just been in a wordbattle with two universalists. Its a totaly false teaching leading people to damnation. I also have to comment Anonymous about solar scriptura. You ABSOLUTELY can read the bible without training(theology), in fact thats preferred
rather than get lost in bad or even horrible theology interpretation of the Godbreathed Bible.