Motives of universalism:
1. Pastoral motive. Many believers have lost unsaved loved ones.
2. The exclusion of even one means God’s kingdom has been defeated.
3. To fix eternal destiny at death seems arbitrary.
4. Many have not heard gospel. Those in non-Christian religions.
Also, children, mentally ill.
(5) Bible verses:
1 Tim 2:4, 4:10 – God wants all saved.
Rom 11:32, cf 11:26 – God will show mercy on all.
Eph 1:10 – All will be brought under Christ’s headship.
Also John 12:32, Rom 5:12-21, 1 Cor 15:22, Col 1:20
Robinson and Hick teach that God’s love will provoke everyone to respond to God, even after death. It is really a revised form of purgatory.
Assessment:
Universalism has a strong positive pull. But it is a serious distortion of biblical teaching.
1. Jesus teaches that two destinies face all people.
2. Warnings are not “mythical” language.
3. Above verses do not teach universalism.
Some teach it is God’s desire to save all, period.
Context of verses makes universalism impossible. (examples given)
Faith is always required for salvation.
Critique of above motives:
1. Truth is more important than pastoral expediency.
2. Love means freedom, and people must be free to reject God.
Defeat for God?
C.S. Lewis – “What you call defeat, I call miracle: for to …
be capable of being resisted by his own handiwork, is the most
astounding and unimaginable of all the feats we attribute to the
Deity.” He adds, if the gates of hell are locked, they are locked
from the inside.
3. No biblical teaching of second chance. Rich man and Lazarus.
Heb 9:27 – one chance, then judgment.
We live in a real world where real choices must be made.
4. Most weighty argument.
It’s possible to affirm Jesus as only way, and yet allow for
salvation of those who haven’t heard. Hindus not saved by being good
Hindus, but by abandoning selves to grace of God.
Example of Cornelius. He found favor with God, and then he accepted
Jesus when he heard about him.
Universalism is attractive, but inadequate.