What is it about universal redemption that annoys so many Christians? Shouldn’t we be happy that God’s love and mercy are wider, higher, deeper, and broader than we could ever imagine? 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?
You would think so but it seems from the recent threads on Christian Universalism that this is not the case. Why is this?
Here are some of the reasons that have been expressed in the threads:
1. ”If everyone is or will be saved, what’s the point in following Jesus?”
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?
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)
2. "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?
3. ”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.
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?
There 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.
But what did our Lord JESUS Christ say about His eternal Kingdom, the Kingdom of GOD? Well. JESUS is GOD, understand? JESUS is the Word made flesh. The Word is GOD, understand?
Hebrews 1:v.1-3 and 8:
1 God, who at sundry times and
in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days
(in these last TWO Days or last 2.000 years) spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed HEIR of ALL things, by whom also GOD made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding ALL things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
8 Unto the Son he-
God the Father-saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Matthew 25:v.31 to 46
31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, ... then shall he sit upon the throne of His glory:
32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye CURSED, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his messengers:
What JESUS said above will fulfill LITERALLY in this current Day, the third Day after He had been sent by the Father to preach the Gospel of GOD's kingdom, which will be established from now on, day by day, in this seventh and last Day, the LORD's Day, or seventh and last millennium, the millennium of Christ, the millennium of Judgment, the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the millennium of Vengeance.
Don't you know?We are in the beginning of the FIRST century of the seventh and last millennium.
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:v.8 combined with 1Tim.4:v.1-2, and 2Tim.4:v.3-4 among others.
Be careful or GET READY
