The best news ever: G-d gets along with all people.
There can be no greater G-d than One who achieves His goal. That is the very essence of G-d. He is the One who assigns everything its place, who not only created everything, but also sustains it and will one day bring it to its destination. It is astonishing that many people still vehemently reject this, even though the biblical references to it are unmistakable.
The Bible speaks of G-d reaching His goal with all people, and that changes everything. It changes the outlook of faith and confidence in this world. It makes a difference whether I consider my child, my neighbor, my spouse to be “lost” or someone whom G-d will one day set right, just as He will me. I have hope, even expectation, for this world. This expectation is based on the Bible. More on that in a moment. A G-d who brings back everything, finds everything that was lost, makes everything that died come alive, straightens everything that was crooked, such a G-d is Great and Almighty.
It is therefore astonishing that many Christians are often unaware of the Bible's statements about the salvation of all people and the reconciliation of all things. Many even feel compelled to agree with the doctrine of damnation in hell. That is truly strange.
Quite a few people conclude that universal reconciliation is wishful thinking. They base this conclusion on the following assumptions: Hell is unpleasant, but it is biblical truth, and universal reconciliation is a heresy whose proponents are well-meaning but misguided people. These universal reconciliation supporters may have good intentions, but they do not know the vengeful G-d who demands justice from everyone, according to the internalized doctrine of hell. Furthermore, grace is a concept that was developed only for believers. All others will eventually fall into disgrace.
Then there are people who hover “between the fronts.” They are not sure and are convinced that the Bible does not offer a definitive answer either. Of course, one does not want to completely dismiss the hope for a happy ending to the story, because hell is a terrifying image that one does not wish for oneself, one's children, one's family, or the many “unbelievers.” One realizes that talk of G-d's love is at odds with the idea of hell. Perhaps one also realizes that in the doctrine of hell, G-d's justice is played off against G-d's love in such a way that G-d's love has an expiration date, but justice demands eternal consequences.
In this group, one hears statements such as
“Those who doesn't believe in the restoration (of all things) are oxen; those who teach it are donkeys”
(presumably
Christian G-ttlob Barth, 1799-1862).
This reflects not only ambivalence, but also a fear of openly and freely standing up for what one believes. It should also be borne in mind that quite a few people do not want to commit themselves to any particular direction because they are particularly good at adapting to different points of view and do not want to be involved in theological trench warfare.
It is wise not to get involved in trench warfare. I can understand that very well. Some people, by temperament, cannot make up their minds or do not want to take a stand. We should accept that, because we are all different people. Faith and trust in G-d do not arise from doctrinal disputes.
However, if you have burning personal questions or are responsible for others, then clarification is needed. There is no clarification without examination, and there is no liberation without decision. The process of clarification requires taking a stand.
After all, there are many people who, like myself, have come to the conclusion after thorough examination that the doctrine of hell is actually heresy, while the much-maligned doctrine of universal reconciliation is in fact taught in the Bible. This is a true paradigm shift. Incidentally, this is not a frivolous statement, but came after careful consideration and examination of all relevant Bible passages, including the corresponding interpretations of various points of view.
In my understanding, an examination is not completed by reading a study that confirms one's own thoughts. That would be wishful thinking, seeking only self-affirmation. For example, one responds with a quote from a book “that one likes,” but does not endeavor to examine the relevant Bible passages in a more neutral way.
Admittedly, it is a real challenge to question internalized thoughts. The doctrine of hell is an ideology. It prevents quite a few people from accepting G-d's grace for themselves and not excluding it for others. What would be your motivation to explore these questions in depth so that you can come up with your own answers?
One cannot have a greater G-d than One who achieves His goal, as I wrote at the beginning. Such a perspective arises when the clouds disperse and the sun breaks through, when questions are clarified and answers are found. Perspective arises through faith. Faith in the passages of the Bible that speak of the justification of all people.
These include:
• Romans 5:18 (all justified)
• Romans 11:32 (G-d has mercy on all)
• Romans 11:36 (all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him)
• 1 Corinthians 15:22 (all who descend from Adam are made alive in Christ)
• 1 Corinthians 15:28 (G-d will be all in all)
• 1 Timothy 4:9-11 (G-d is the Savior of all people, specially believers)
• Philippians 2:9-11 (All will confess Jesus as Lord with all their hearts)
• Colossians 1:20 (G-d reconciles all things, making peace through the blood of the cross)
Each statement in this list can be well justified from its respective context. It is striking that all of these passages come from Paul's letters. Although there are similar statements elsewhere in Scripture, Paul describes it most clearly. He has the broadest vision and speaks deliberately about final things, while other writers look less far ahead and report on intermediate goals.
Grace is amazing. Paul experienced this firsthand on his way to Damascus. He understood and proclaimed that grace cannot be earned. G-d's grace is a gift. It cannot be earned (Eph 2:8). This is no different for me than for anyone else in this world. No one is righteous (Rom 3:10), but all are justified (Rom 5:18). This is the foundation of salvation. It rests in the work of G-d in Christ and does not impose any further conditions, for that would diminish the essence of His righteousness.
Not only is universal reconciliation mentioned directly in Scripture, but there is only One who can actually reconcile all things, G-d Himself. This is what Paul writes in Colossians 1:20. If there is salvation, no human being can achieve it. But what is impossible for humans is possible for G-d (Mark 10:27). Those who trust that G-d can get along with all people are firmly anchored in reality. People cannot bring this about, but He can.
When Paul writes that G-d is the Savior of all people, he adds “specially of those who believe” (1 Tim 4:9-11). This is to make it clear that there are indeed differences. Not that today's faith or unbelief impairs G-d's work, but that we who believe already have a glimpse of what is to come. We are privileged to be able to unwrap the gift today.
A theology of the cross must end up with universal reconciliation because, as Paul mentions in Colossians 1:20, G-d reconciles the universe to Himself by making peace through the blood of the cross. Universal reconciliation is much more Christocentric than the doctrine of hell, which does not credit G-d with anything.
Lovers of hell usually refer to the Gospels, because there was no hell before the Gospels and the apostles do not write about it afterwards (with the exception of the imagery of Gehenna in the Epistle of James). Paul, who is considered the most important theologian of the first century, does not mention the supposed hell with a single word. Even in the Gospels, there is no mention of hell, but rather a reference to Gehenna, which is something completely different. Jesus did not speak of hell.
Once freed from theological baggage, one can then breathe a sigh of relief in amazement. G-d's nature is love, and it will pour out into every human being. His goal is not to become something in only a few people, but to be everything in everyone. This is not G-d's wishful thinking, but His declared goal. How does He achieve this?
By making peace through the blood of the cross, G-d will reconcile everything to Himself (Col 1:20).
What kind of G-d do you have, do I have?
What does that mean for our lives and the people we love?
And what does that mean for the course of this world, for all the people who have never experienced peace, never known justice, or who had to leave this life far too early?
What about the unborn, the sick, the people who have never heard of Jesus and the gospel of grace?
What about the followers of a hell who do not trust G-d but consider human achievement to be decisive?
I have faith that G-d will do what is right with you, with me, and with everyone in this world. I base this faith on the statements of the Bible. It has opened my heart, inspired my confidence, and broadened my understanding. Everything is from Him, through Him, and to Him. It's the best news of all time. Therefore, Glory be to Him for ever and ever (Romans 11:36).
