What is it about universal redemption that annoys so many Christians?
Salvation is selective and specific. Let’s examine the selective nature of salvation. Salvation is specifically limited to:
those who are the elect (Matthew 24:31; 2 Timothy 2:10, 19; Titus 1:1-3; 1 Peter 1:1-3), chosen since before the beginning of the world (Ephesians 1:3-12), and predestined for salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 Peter 2:7-9)
those who are chosen (Matthew 22:14; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17; James 2:5; Revelation 17:14)
those who are appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48)
those who heard the word of salvation and believed (John 5:24; Ephesians 1:13)
those who believe (Luke 18:14; John 1:11-13; 3:16, 18; 36; 11:25-26; Romans 10:11; Acts 10:43; Romans 1:16; 3:22-26; 1 Timothy 1:16; Hebrews 3:19; 6:12; 11:1-40; 1 Peter 1:5; 2:6; 1 John 5:5; etc.)
those on whom God has mercy (Romans 9:18)
those whom God calls to himself (Acts 2:39; Romans 1:5-6; 8:30; Hebrews 9:15; Revelation 17:14)
those to whom it is granted by God (2 Peter 1:3-4)
those who are known by Jesus (Matthew 7:23)
those for whom a place has been prepared (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:40)
those to whom the truth is revealed (Luke 10:21-24)
those who receive Him (John 1:12; Revelation 3:20-21)
those who are born again (John 3:4-8; 1 Peter 1:3)
those to whom Jesus gives life (John 5:21)
those whose eyes have not been blinded by God (John 12:39-40) or their minds hardened (2 Corinthians 3:14-18)
those who do not reject salvation (Hebrews 2:3) or harden their hearts (Hebrews 3:7-15)
those who were given to Jesus (John 17:2, 6, 9, 10, 24)
those who call on the name of the Lord (Acts 2:21; Romans10:13)
those who received the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11)
those who persevere in the faith (Matthew 10:22; Romans 11:17-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 3:14)
those whose names are in the “book of life” (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 13:8-9; 17:8; 20:15)
those who are not deluded and thus condemned (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
those who confess Jesus (Romans 10:9; 1 John 4:15)
those who have the Son (1 John 5:10-12)
those who do not deny Christ and are thus not designated for condemnation (Jude 4,5)
those who are faithful (Revelation 2:10; 17:14)
those who repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31; 1 John 1:9)
those who love God (Deuteronomy 7:9; Romans 8:28; James 2:5)
those who love others (1 Corinthians 13:2-3; Galatians 5:6; 1 John 4:12, 20, 21)
those who enter through the narrow way (Matthew 7:12-14)
those who do not deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of truth (Hebrews 10:26-27)
those who have not rejected God the Father (Romans 1:18-32), God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29), or God the Son (John 3:36; John 8:24)
those who are obedient (Deuteronomy 7:9; 9:16-18; Nehemiah 1:5; Psalm 25:10; 103; 11-19; Ezekiel 18; Matthew 5:19-20; 6:19-21; 7:16-27; 10:38; 12:36-37; 12:50; 13:36-43; 16:25-27; 18:23-35; 25:31-46; Mark 8:34-35; Luke 6:46-49; 10:25-37; 11:28; John 5:29; 8:51; 14:21-24; 15:1-6, 10, 14; Acts 5:32; Romans 1:18; 2:1-16; 6:1-23; 8:13; 14:17-18; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 6:9-11; 7:19; 9:24-27; Galatians 5:19-21; 6:7-9; Ephesians 5:3-14; Philippians 2:12-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; 2:10; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:21-22; Titus 1:16; Hebrews 3:6-18; 10:36; 12:14-17; James 1:12-15; 2:17-26; 1 Peter 1:22; 2:1-2; 1 Peter 4:17-19; 2 Peter 1:10-11; 1 John 1:6-7; 1 John 2:29; 3:16-24; 5:2-3; Jude 1:7; Revelation 2:2-11; 3:8-12; 21:5-9, 27; 22:14-19)
God isn't contradictory hes simple and incomprehensible.
Shouldn’t we be happy that God’s love and mercy are wider, higher, deeper, and broader than we could ever imagine?
But it already is even with condemnation.
We all sin at times so shouldn't we welcome the thought that God is not going to annihilate or eternally torment us if we don't “accept,” “trust,” “repent,” “believe,” well enough to appropriate the grace of God?
Eternal damnation isn't what my church teaches Heaven and hell are not understood as physical places in which we are sentenced for all eternity, but an actual state of being when we encounter the Almighty God of Consuming Fire. God’s loving and fiery presence either causes us to withdraw within ourselves or to reach out and be consumed and healed.
You would think so but it seems from the recent threads on Christian Universalism that this is not the case. Why is this?
Because its heresy and leads people astray and false hope which the bible doesn't defend.
God is a god of love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; etc.). But God hates sin and indeed throughout the Bible we see that God is also a god of wrath (Psalm 2:4-6, 5:4-6, 7:11, 11:5, 89:46, 90:7-11; Proverbs 6:16-19, 12:22, Ezekiel 36:16-21; Hosea 5:10, 9:15; Nahum 1:2-6; Zephaniah 3:6-8; Malachi 1:3; Matthew 21:40-45, 23:29-39; John 3:36; Romans 1:18, 9:22-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; Hebrews 10:30-31). He is not simply a grandfatherly figure in the sky that gives out candy. While some may hope for a different God than the God of the Bible, God’s nature is one of justice. We must infer that for God to forgive, without repentance and faith before God Almighty, the heinous crimes of Hitler or ISIS, or serial rapists, or child molesters—is contrary to God’s nature—and indeed, contrary to common sense.
To me, anyone who thinks this must see following Jesus as a heavy burden, one that needs the reward of heaven to make it worth the hassle. But shouldn't following Jesus and having a good relationship with him here and now be its own reward?
I dont think thats the case people who holds that position probably assert that works in spirit is proof of grace in Christ.
It's also a misunderstanding of Christian Universalism to think it says that we don't have to receive the saving grace of Christ in order to be reconciled to God and to each other. It just says that if we don't manage to do this in this life there will be boundless opportunities to do so in the next one and that eventually every one will accept forgiveness and repent of their sins... ”that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth" (Phil 2:10)
Not even everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” enters the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21; James 2:19).Also God said that salvation are for his elect.
All my hard work at being a Christian has been undermined".
This is very much like 1. Shouldn't any work we do be done out of love for God, not for any personal eternal rewards?
Thats pride anyone who says that are equal to the pharsees.
”If there is an 'us,' there has to be a 'them'"
This may be true about some things such as football: I support Manchester United so I hate Manchester City (I'm from the UK, apologies) but it needn't apply to matters of faith. If we are going to heaven when we die there doesn't have to be a group who go to hell.
not a group all who arent Gods elect wont see salvation.
These three reasons seem to have something in common and that's judgementalism. They're all essentially saying "Look, I'm a good Christian and my hard work and sacrifices has earned me membership into the very exclusive club of heaven and, sad to say it, but most other people haven't done anywhere nearly as enough as me and so, unfortunately, missed out on the opportunity." This makes you think of the work vs. faith debate ironically but, moving swiftly on from that, isn't it true that being judgemental is wrong and if that's the main reason behind our objection to Christian Universalism, shouldn't we consider that we might be misunderstanding it?
I agree pride is wrong but to say all will be saved would diminish the teachings of Jesus and the Old Testament in general.
here are biblical arguments that can be made for and against Christian Universalism but there are plenty of existing threads discussing that so, assuming anyone wants to respond!, I'd be more interested in hearing what your gut, visceral reaction is, whether for or against, when you hear the words "Christian Universalism". For me, it's basically relief that God is a loving God and not a monster after all.
Not seeing salvation doesn't make God a monster. Quite the opposite.
