Is universalism biblical?

Universalism is a doctrine which is gaining grounds and many people are supporting this particular teaching in this 21st century. The question is, what is universalism? Universalism is a doctrine which asserts that every single person in human history will eventually be saved and end up in heaven with Christ. 

An excellent theologian defined a universalist as "someone who believes that every human being whom God has created or will create will finally come to enjoy the everlasting salvation into which Christians enter here and now"-- J.I. Packer. 

Universalists rejects the mainstream Christian teaching on hell. They do not believe that a loving God can ever punish anybody in hell, because they rejected Christ for salvation. Is the teaching of universalism biblical? Is it true that there is no such thing as eternal damnation, as the proponents of universalism teaches? Let us scrutinize this particular doctrine of universalism to what is written in the holy writ, to ascertain whether this doctrine is true or false.

Some of the scriptures used in support of universalism 

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive"-- 1 Corinthians 15: 22

"Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"-- 1 Timothy 2: 4

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him"-- John 3:17

"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers"--- 1 Timothy 4:10

Scriptures cited and carefully exegeted

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive"-- 1 Corinthians 15: 22

In the context of the verse, the apostle was speaking about the resurrection. Some doubted the resurrection, but the apostle was making his case for the resurrection of the dead. He wrote this: And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished-- 1 Corinthians 15:17-18. And he continued by saying: For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive". So you can see that " in Christ all will be made alive". In Christ here refers to believers, to Christian's who have fallen asleep in Christ Jesus and shall be made alive. The text doesn't speak in favor of universal salvation in anyway. 

"Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"-- 1 Timothy 2: 4

The fact that God desires the salvation of all men, does not mean all men will be saved. He desires the salvation of all men, but has not ordained that all men should be saved.

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him"-- John 3:17

This text is not in isolation, but intertwined with the other texts which comes before and after it. The verse sixteen says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. The text reads, "whoever" which means that some will and others will not. And the verse eighteen says: He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God''. We can see that some will believe in the Son of God and will escape condemnation, whiles others will be judged severely because of their rejection of the Man Jesus Christ. The verse seventeen of John chapter three is not a verse which supports universal salvation.

"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers"--- 1 Timothy 4:10

This text means that salvation is readily available to all, but is only effectual to those who exercises saving faith in Christ Jesus. 

The bible verses which proponents of the doctrine often uses to buttress their point, in truth those verses does not mean what they want it to mean. What they do is to force those texts to suit their interpretation, and in theology we call this eisegesis. 

Scriptures about eternal damnation carefully quoted and explained 

As I have written afore, universalists rejects what the bible teaches about hell and eternal separation from God. Let us have a deep dive into what the bible teaches about this important subject.

"And to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power",-- 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9

From the passage, it is clear that there are certain group of people who will experience eternal separation from God, because of their rejection of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This passage is not in agreement with universalism.

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels--- Matthew 25:41

These are Jesus own words. A time will come that he will cast the unbelievers, those who rejects the message of the gospel into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. This text also is in opposition to the universalistic view of salvation.

"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire-- Revelation 20; 15

There are some whose name are in the book of life, but those whose names cannot be found in the book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire. This text also contradicts universalism 

"And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come"-- 1 Thessalonians 1:10

There is a wrath to come which God will pour out on those who do not believe the salvation offered to them in Christ through the gospel. 

You can see clearly without obscurity, that the doctrine of universalism is not taught in the bible, and must be rejected as an heretical doctrine. 

Universalism is inconsistent with God's word 

To the universalist, God is too loving to dispense judgement against the despisers and rejecters of the gospel of Christ. What they fail to fathom is that God is not only a God of love, but he is also a just God, who will not suffer sin to go unpunished. The universalist cannot reconcile God's love and mercy with his justice without any contradiction. Their view of the scriptures is too shallow and they offer false hope to unbelievers, who will perish, unless they turn towards God in repentance and to have faith in Christ Jesus. 

Supporters of universalism also undermine the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ and the gospel as a whole to their disadvantage and to the destruction of the lost. The truth is that you either pay for your own sins in hell or you can put your trust in Christ alone, for him to be your sin bearer. Universalism is inconsistent with the truth of the gospel and must be rejected with passion on our part. Universalism is a false doctrine with many loopholes in them. God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

Universalism is a false doctrine with many loopholes in them

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