I have seen Universalists making a big fuss about the greek word "aiōnion" and claiming that it does not mean "eternal". Which I believe that it does it is confirmed by the early church fathers and by lexicons and all translations in english. I refuse to believe that all major translations for centuries have all erred on the meaning of "aiōnion" and thus lead Christianity as a whole into false theology.
However I thought it would be fun to make a post highlighting the verses that refute Universalism that do not use the word "aiōnion" :
1. Luke 13:23-28 : "And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out."
^Jesus is asked a direct question, one that we would expect would affirm Universalism if Jesus taught it considering someone is asking Jesus if only a few people will be saved. If Jesus taught Universalism we would have expected him to respond by saying that all people will be saved and not just a few.
However, Jesus did not say this because he did not teach Universalism. Jesus said that many will seek to enter through the narrow door unto life eternal and will not be able to. They will fail to enter.
Well if they fail to enter through the narrow door and Jesus says that they will not be able to, which completely rules out the idea of them eventually going through it. But if they fail to enter through the narrow door (salvation) where will they be? The lake of fire is the only other place for the unsaved to go and they will be there for eternity and never get into heaven because Jesus says that they “will not be able ” to enter through the narrow door and receive eternal life.
Given the question that prompts it, Jesus’ answer cannot be interpreted to mean anything other than that many will not be saved. There is nothing conditional about Jesus’ answer. Jesus does not say, “If someone does this then he will be damned” or “Anyone who does this will be damned.” He says that there are many who will fail to enter — the context is salvation.
Verses 25-28 solidify Jesus' response in verse 24. Once the head of the house has risen and shuts the door those outside will being banging on the door to get in the kingdom but will not be allowed but will be told to depart and will be cast into the lake of fire. If post mortem salvation is true like Universalists propose then God should have let them in because they wanted to but they were not allowed and will never be allowed because Jesus says they will not be allowed in. This door shuts at death because all judgments that are given to us in the bible show that we will be judged and sent to heaven or hell based on the choices we make in this life alone (Romans 2:6-10 ; 2 Cor. 5:10 ; John 5:28-29 ; 1 Cor. 6:9-10 ; Matthew 16:27 etc.) and not on some choice we make after death for nothing after death matters or has any effect only what we do in this life matters, that is the deciding factor to salvation.
2. Philippians 3:17-20 “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
^Those who walk not according to Christ but follow after their sinful desires they are enemies of the cross of Christ! Paul says that their end is destruction. If their end is destruction than it cannot be salvation for the end means their final state. If the enemies of Christ are going to be saved like Universalism says then their end is not destruction but salvation. We cannot force Universalism into this passage without calling Paul a liar and mangling his words.
Compare the fates of the two groups presented by Paul. The first groups are those that are the enemies of the cross of Christ and their end is destruction. When we keep reading to verse 20 we see the contrast when Paul declares “But our citizenship is in heaven”. The second group, the believers will be in heaven while the other group, that is the enemies of the cross of Christ, will be eternally damned.
Enemies of the Cross of Christ = end is destruction
Believers = citizenship is in heaven
3. Matthew 7:21-23 : "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
^Jesus can't be any clearer that there will be many who do not enter the kingdom of God they will be told to by Jesus to depart from him and into the lake of fire they go. Now the Universalist will just throw a post mortem salvation card and say that they will get another chance but that is all speculation and not taught by Jesus. Jesus rejected them because of what they did on earth that is evident because he says they were "workers of lawlessness" and it makes no sense for Jesus to say that many will not enter the kingdom of God only for Universalists to say that isn't true those who are told that will eventually enter the kingdom. Jesus doesn't use the word eventually but instead says that they will not. Those who fail to do the will of God on earth will never enter in the blessedness of heaven.
4. John 8:21,24 : "So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come…I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
^Jesus here explicitly denies Universalism by telling unbelievers that unless they believe in him they will die in their sin and if they die in their sins they cannot go where he is going which is to the Father in heaven (John 7:33 ; 16:27-28 ; 17:11). If you die in your sins you will not go to heaven.
We know that this place that unbelievers are being told that they cannot go is not an earthly one because Jesus says that they cannot go to this place if they die (physically) in their sins that is without being forgiven by Jesus Christ. They would face the penalty or wages of their sins which is eternal death (Rom. 6:23), eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.
Jesus does not say “if you die in your sins you will eventually go to heaven”. Jesus says explicitly that if these unbelieving Jews die in their sin that they cannot go to heaven. Just like John 3:36 affirms they will not see eternal life! This is total exclusion. Once physical death has struck the opportunity to accept salvation is gone (Luke 16:19-31).
John 8:21 is consistent with the rest of scripture which is that there is no repentance after death. If there was then this statement from Jesus makes no sense. For what would it matter if you die in your sins, you can just repent after you die and you can waltz into heaven after being in Hell (possibly) for a little while.That obviously is not what Jesus is communicating Jesus is making it clear that if you die in your sins that is unforgiven you cannot enter the blessedness of heaven. Jesus says that whoever denies me before man, I will deny before my father who is in heaven.
5. Matthew 26:24 : "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
^Why would it have been better for Judas to have never been born? It would have been better for Judas to have never been born because he wouldn't have betrayed Jesus and as a result suffer eternity in the lake of fire. But according to Universalism it was better for Judas to have been born and have gone through whatever sufferings, temporal punishment or trauma because no matter what Judas will ultimately be saved. This makes no sense, the universalist makes no sense of Jesus’ words here.
Some have objected and make it seem that Jesus is just saying this about the sufferings in this present life but still wouldn’t it be better that he had been born because he will be in heaven in eternal bliss for all eternity (Rev. 21:4) if Universalism is true. No matter what suffering and pain and humiliation that Judas went through in this life it is still better that he was born because according to universalist doctrine Judas will be in heaven with God.
Even Judas suffering in Hell for a temporary amount of time is still better that he was born because he will be allowed into heaven according to Universalists. So this statement for our Lord is very scary and serves as a warning to all those who reject Christ.
6. John 3:36 : "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
^The Universalist is quick to respond by saying that they will not see life as long as they don’t believe that it is true you can have everlasting life if you turn to Christ and follow him but they don’t think there is an end to that opportunity. But scripture makes it clear that there is and that is at the end of one's life. Once you have died your fate is sealed you cannot repent now and accept Christ. This is evident based on a multitude of passages that speak about judgment being based solely on what we did in this life alone (Matthew 25:31-46 ; Romans 2:6-10 ; John 5:28-29 etc.) and not on some choice that we make after death. Jesus never tells us that there is another chance after death. As a matter of fact in Luke 13:23-28 Jesus makes it clear that once the head of the house has gotten up and closed the door you will not be allowed in which means that there will be those who are eternally separated from God and never allowed in. They are banging at the door to get in but aren’t allowed and this ties in with what Jesus responded to in verse 23-24 which is will only a few be saved. Jesus responded by saying “that many will seek to enter but will not be able” Many will not be able to enter heaven. The denial is final.
Lastly, in Luke 16:19-31 the Rich Man in hades is told that he cannot cross over to paradise confirming that at death our fates are sealed for eternity and that is consistent with the rest of scripture which testifies that it is this life that determines our eternal abode.
"And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’"
This passage is nonsensical if post mortem salvation is true, what Jesus should have said is "You can cross over once you repent" but he doesn't and also we see the Rich Man once accepting this start pleasing with Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers to repent so that they do not come to this place of torment clearly showing that he is doomed. This text is not identified as a parable. But even if its parabolic in nature, treating it as an unreliable source ignores the one who is giving the account. Should we believe that Christ would engage speculative imagery on such a serious matter?
God Bless.
However I thought it would be fun to make a post highlighting the verses that refute Universalism that do not use the word "aiōnion" :
1. Luke 13:23-28 : "And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out."
^Jesus is asked a direct question, one that we would expect would affirm Universalism if Jesus taught it considering someone is asking Jesus if only a few people will be saved. If Jesus taught Universalism we would have expected him to respond by saying that all people will be saved and not just a few.
However, Jesus did not say this because he did not teach Universalism. Jesus said that many will seek to enter through the narrow door unto life eternal and will not be able to. They will fail to enter.
Well if they fail to enter through the narrow door and Jesus says that they will not be able to, which completely rules out the idea of them eventually going through it. But if they fail to enter through the narrow door (salvation) where will they be? The lake of fire is the only other place for the unsaved to go and they will be there for eternity and never get into heaven because Jesus says that they “will not be able ” to enter through the narrow door and receive eternal life.
Given the question that prompts it, Jesus’ answer cannot be interpreted to mean anything other than that many will not be saved. There is nothing conditional about Jesus’ answer. Jesus does not say, “If someone does this then he will be damned” or “Anyone who does this will be damned.” He says that there are many who will fail to enter — the context is salvation.
Verses 25-28 solidify Jesus' response in verse 24. Once the head of the house has risen and shuts the door those outside will being banging on the door to get in the kingdom but will not be allowed but will be told to depart and will be cast into the lake of fire. If post mortem salvation is true like Universalists propose then God should have let them in because they wanted to but they were not allowed and will never be allowed because Jesus says they will not be allowed in. This door shuts at death because all judgments that are given to us in the bible show that we will be judged and sent to heaven or hell based on the choices we make in this life alone (Romans 2:6-10 ; 2 Cor. 5:10 ; John 5:28-29 ; 1 Cor. 6:9-10 ; Matthew 16:27 etc.) and not on some choice we make after death for nothing after death matters or has any effect only what we do in this life matters, that is the deciding factor to salvation.
2. Philippians 3:17-20 “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
^Those who walk not according to Christ but follow after their sinful desires they are enemies of the cross of Christ! Paul says that their end is destruction. If their end is destruction than it cannot be salvation for the end means their final state. If the enemies of Christ are going to be saved like Universalism says then their end is not destruction but salvation. We cannot force Universalism into this passage without calling Paul a liar and mangling his words.
Compare the fates of the two groups presented by Paul. The first groups are those that are the enemies of the cross of Christ and their end is destruction. When we keep reading to verse 20 we see the contrast when Paul declares “But our citizenship is in heaven”. The second group, the believers will be in heaven while the other group, that is the enemies of the cross of Christ, will be eternally damned.
Enemies of the Cross of Christ = end is destruction
Believers = citizenship is in heaven
3. Matthew 7:21-23 : "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
^Jesus can't be any clearer that there will be many who do not enter the kingdom of God they will be told to by Jesus to depart from him and into the lake of fire they go. Now the Universalist will just throw a post mortem salvation card and say that they will get another chance but that is all speculation and not taught by Jesus. Jesus rejected them because of what they did on earth that is evident because he says they were "workers of lawlessness" and it makes no sense for Jesus to say that many will not enter the kingdom of God only for Universalists to say that isn't true those who are told that will eventually enter the kingdom. Jesus doesn't use the word eventually but instead says that they will not. Those who fail to do the will of God on earth will never enter in the blessedness of heaven.
4. John 8:21,24 : "So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come…I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
^Jesus here explicitly denies Universalism by telling unbelievers that unless they believe in him they will die in their sin and if they die in their sins they cannot go where he is going which is to the Father in heaven (John 7:33 ; 16:27-28 ; 17:11). If you die in your sins you will not go to heaven.
We know that this place that unbelievers are being told that they cannot go is not an earthly one because Jesus says that they cannot go to this place if they die (physically) in their sins that is without being forgiven by Jesus Christ. They would face the penalty or wages of their sins which is eternal death (Rom. 6:23), eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.
Jesus does not say “if you die in your sins you will eventually go to heaven”. Jesus says explicitly that if these unbelieving Jews die in their sin that they cannot go to heaven. Just like John 3:36 affirms they will not see eternal life! This is total exclusion. Once physical death has struck the opportunity to accept salvation is gone (Luke 16:19-31).
John 8:21 is consistent with the rest of scripture which is that there is no repentance after death. If there was then this statement from Jesus makes no sense. For what would it matter if you die in your sins, you can just repent after you die and you can waltz into heaven after being in Hell (possibly) for a little while.That obviously is not what Jesus is communicating Jesus is making it clear that if you die in your sins that is unforgiven you cannot enter the blessedness of heaven. Jesus says that whoever denies me before man, I will deny before my father who is in heaven.
5. Matthew 26:24 : "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
^Why would it have been better for Judas to have never been born? It would have been better for Judas to have never been born because he wouldn't have betrayed Jesus and as a result suffer eternity in the lake of fire. But according to Universalism it was better for Judas to have been born and have gone through whatever sufferings, temporal punishment or trauma because no matter what Judas will ultimately be saved. This makes no sense, the universalist makes no sense of Jesus’ words here.
Some have objected and make it seem that Jesus is just saying this about the sufferings in this present life but still wouldn’t it be better that he had been born because he will be in heaven in eternal bliss for all eternity (Rev. 21:4) if Universalism is true. No matter what suffering and pain and humiliation that Judas went through in this life it is still better that he was born because according to universalist doctrine Judas will be in heaven with God.
Even Judas suffering in Hell for a temporary amount of time is still better that he was born because he will be allowed into heaven according to Universalists. So this statement for our Lord is very scary and serves as a warning to all those who reject Christ.
6. John 3:36 : "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
^The Universalist is quick to respond by saying that they will not see life as long as they don’t believe that it is true you can have everlasting life if you turn to Christ and follow him but they don’t think there is an end to that opportunity. But scripture makes it clear that there is and that is at the end of one's life. Once you have died your fate is sealed you cannot repent now and accept Christ. This is evident based on a multitude of passages that speak about judgment being based solely on what we did in this life alone (Matthew 25:31-46 ; Romans 2:6-10 ; John 5:28-29 etc.) and not on some choice that we make after death. Jesus never tells us that there is another chance after death. As a matter of fact in Luke 13:23-28 Jesus makes it clear that once the head of the house has gotten up and closed the door you will not be allowed in which means that there will be those who are eternally separated from God and never allowed in. They are banging at the door to get in but aren’t allowed and this ties in with what Jesus responded to in verse 23-24 which is will only a few be saved. Jesus responded by saying “that many will seek to enter but will not be able” Many will not be able to enter heaven. The denial is final.
Lastly, in Luke 16:19-31 the Rich Man in hades is told that he cannot cross over to paradise confirming that at death our fates are sealed for eternity and that is consistent with the rest of scripture which testifies that it is this life that determines our eternal abode.
"And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’"
This passage is nonsensical if post mortem salvation is true, what Jesus should have said is "You can cross over once you repent" but he doesn't and also we see the Rich Man once accepting this start pleasing with Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers to repent so that they do not come to this place of torment clearly showing that he is doomed. This text is not identified as a parable. But even if its parabolic in nature, treating it as an unreliable source ignores the one who is giving the account. Should we believe that Christ would engage speculative imagery on such a serious matter?
God Bless.
