Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to SOME people?

Saint Steven said:

Yes, I suppose they do.
That majority also believes that only a minority will be saved.
Very convenient for them on both counts.

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Jesus himself was clear on this. Few are those that will enter the narrow gate and find life. Yes in comparison to the entire population of the earthz few will be saved.

Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. - Matthew 7:13-14,21-23 Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 7:21-23 - American Standard Version

But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.For many are called, but few chosen. - Matthew 22:11-14 Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 22:11-14 - American Standard Version

In this parable Jesus is also clear. That those that have the garments of a wedding guest are allowed in. Those that do not are cast out with the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things?I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem.And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them,Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets;and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. - Luke 13:1-5,22-28 Bible Gateway passage: Luke 13:1-5, Luke 13:22-28 - American Standard Version

Jesus tells us is that only those who repent will be saved. And he does not indicate anywhere in these passages that all will repent. In fact he goes on to say not all will.

He even says some will try to get in and they won't be able to. Cause the door to God is shut.

Saint Steven said:

That agrees with UR. More ignorance on your part. Time to do your homework.

Keith DeRose
https://campuspress.yale.edu/keithderose/1129-2/

Saint Steven said: ↑
Universal Restoration (UR) does not claim that one does not need to believe to enter heaven. Your quote below indicates your misunderstanding on this. You may be confusing Unitarian Universalism with Christian Universalism. Two different things.

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Universal restoration
(Theol.) the final recovery of all men from sin and alienation from God to a state of happiness; universal salvation.
See also: Restoration

Where am I misunderstanding then. If the final recovery of all men to universal salvation of all men occurs, it means all men will eventually believe does it not. You say you agree that belief is necessary for salvation. And then UR says every man will be saved, that translates to all men will believe.

I think I got it right. Where am I wrong on this?

Saint Steven said:

Do you realize what you are accusing God of doing?

Do you believe that God with malice and forethought created a world whereby he would predestine the vast majority to eternal conscious torment with no hope of escape? This is sadism on a level seen nowhere is human history. Is your god really worse than any human that ever lived? I hope not.

Do you make God out to be some kind of cosmic tyrant in need of anger management help?

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Ahh.. the old God is a monster theory.

The truth is God is loving enough not to force anyone to be with him who doesn't want to be there.

People choose. And God is loving enough to allow us to.

And I am not accusing God of anything. That is you who are accusing God.

Is Jesus not being truthful? Is he being dishonest, deceitful?

Are the apostles being dishonest?

Of course not. It us who deceive ourselves. God is not mocked, we will reap what we sow. If we sow wickedness we will reap the rewards of that.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21 Bible Gateway passage: Galatians 5:19-21 - American Standard Version

Note Paul is emphatic. They will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. He didn't say, someday they will. He said they won't. Why?

Because they are lovers of themselves and not lovers of God. And there is no scripture that says they will have a chance to live God and accept Christ after death. And no where does scripture say everyone will accept Christ before they die. In fact it says the opposite.

Saint Steven said:

All three views of the final judgment have biblical support, and all three are in conflict. Consider this.

Anyone who has knees to bow and a tongue to speak, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (in the realm of the dead), will whole-heartedly, and without reservation, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. No one can say that “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” you will be saved. Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. (the reason for the bodily resurrection) Scriptural support below.

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 14:9
For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that
he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Note on "acknowledge" in Philippians 2:11 from Strong's Concordance
S1843 eksomologéō (from 1537 /ek, "wholly out from," intensifying 3670 /homologéō, "say the same thing about") – properly, fully agree and to acknowledge that agreement openly (whole-heartedly); hence, to confess ("openly declare"), without reservation (no holding back).

Further reading: (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10, Revelation 15:4)

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Note in Romans that Paul says "declair with your mouth and BELIEVE in your heart."

A declaration of Jesus as Lord does not guarantee salvation. Jesus said that himself. Someday every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Everyone will recognize it some day. But the word declairs that it's not the way of salvation.

Saint Steven said:

Ahh.. the old blame the victim theory.

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Victims of what?

Saint Steven said:

Seriously?
Who will be saved in your opinion?

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Every single person is who believes in Christ before they die.

Saint Steven said:

Are you not guilty of "enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions"?

UR was a common doctrine of the early church. Four of the six early theology schools taught it.

"The Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge"
by Schaff-Herzog, 1908, volume 12, page 96
German theologian- Philip Schaff, Editor:

"In the first five or six centuries of Christianity there were six theological schools, of which four (Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, and Edessa, or Nisibis) were Universalist, one (Ephesus) accepted conditional immortality; one (Carthage or Rome) taught endless punishment of the wicked. Other theological schools are mentioned as founded by Universalists, but their actual doctrine on this subject is not known."

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Please note that the wording here is practices. It's a lifestyle of action. The Greek here is clear on that. Do I sin? Of course I do, but I do not live a lifestyle of it. I follow I John. I repent and ask for God's forgiveness of I know whom I have believed in for my salvation.

Saint Steven said:

Do you believe that Jesus died to save us from God?

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How does that answer my question?

Saint Steven said:

Do you believe that Jesus died to save us from God?

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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16 Bible Gateway passage: John 3:16 - American Standard Version

That's why Jesus died.

And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:23-24).

Saint Steven said:

Where was Jesus for three days before his resurrection?

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Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water: - 1 Peter 3:18-20 Bible Gateway passage: 1 Peter 3:18-20 - American Standard Version