Universal reconciliation. No greater doctrine of love and forgiveness exists. I ask that, for a moment, let's see if the scripture supports the doctrine of universal reconciliation. I will cite verses with brief comments. Imagine for a moment that these passages are all that exist in the scripture. If these passages were the only verses in scripture, would you not walk away thinking, "It's true; universal reconciliation is clearly true"?
Now, bear in mind, I'm not saying "Then it is true" (since these are not the only passages in scripture); but what I am saying is that, these passages are very clear support of the doctrine. So, no one can say "There is no scriptural support of the doctrine of universal reconciliation" but, they may try to refute it, contradict it, and/or attempt to support another doctrine that contradicts what these passages teach. But can it be done with substance? Do the arguments against really hold up to rigorous evaluation? Or can we merely offer up a different doctrine which leaves us with two doctrines with equal support, leaving us to determine which of the two is true? That question is what is to be evaluated in this thread. So let's get busy evaluating. Now, here is clear support of universal reconciliation:
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This word "draw" meaning "to drag" (even against the desire of the one being dragged); used elsewhere of "drawing" a net of fishes, and "drawing" men before councils: John 6:44, John 21:6, John 21:11, Acts 16:19, Acts 21:30, James 2:6: so everyone will be "dragged" to Christ; come willingly, or, be dragged to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
God is reconciling everything to Himself. Not just "believers" in the here and now, but the world entire. This word of reconciliation has been comitted to us who believe in the here and now.
Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
He is able to subdue all things; but is He willing, and will He perform that which He is able to perform?
1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
He will perform it, and subdue all things to Him.
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee; not some knees and some few tongues: every knee: every tongue will confess "Jesus is Lord":
1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Every confessing tongue will be doing so by the Holy Spirit; thus the Holy Spirit will be working in every tongue, of, every man, and every knee will bow.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
All die without choice in Adam; all will likewise be made alive in Christ. There is no putting off of either. It will happen to all to die in Adam; it will happen to all to live in Christ. No exceptions.
John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Not the "would-be" Saviour of the world; not the "almost" Saviour of the world; not the "Saviour only of them that now believe": but Saviour of the world. No one can be the Saviour of something without actually saving that something.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Not the "would-be" Saviour of all men; not the "almost" Saviour of all men. The Saviour of all men: especially them that believe; thus not only the Saviour of them that believe: but of all men, specially them that now believe.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Not willing that any perish but all come; willing that all be saved and come. Will the will of God be defeated?
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The will of God will not, and cannot, be defeated. What He wills is what is done; in earth as it is in heaven. Do you pray His will be done? If so, you must pray for universal reconciliation since that is His will.
Hebrews 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
All things are under Him; but not yet do we see it. Yet, we will see it: every man in his own order and time according to the will and purpose of God and God alone.
1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Now, bear in mind, I'm not saying "Then it is true" (since these are not the only passages in scripture); but what I am saying is that, these passages are very clear support of the doctrine. So, no one can say "There is no scriptural support of the doctrine of universal reconciliation" but, they may try to refute it, contradict it, and/or attempt to support another doctrine that contradicts what these passages teach. But can it be done with substance? Do the arguments against really hold up to rigorous evaluation? Or can we merely offer up a different doctrine which leaves us with two doctrines with equal support, leaving us to determine which of the two is true? That question is what is to be evaluated in this thread. So let's get busy evaluating. Now, here is clear support of universal reconciliation:
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This word "draw" meaning "to drag" (even against the desire of the one being dragged); used elsewhere of "drawing" a net of fishes, and "drawing" men before councils: John 6:44, John 21:6, John 21:11, Acts 16:19, Acts 21:30, James 2:6: so everyone will be "dragged" to Christ; come willingly, or, be dragged to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
God is reconciling everything to Himself. Not just "believers" in the here and now, but the world entire. This word of reconciliation has been comitted to us who believe in the here and now.
Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
He is able to subdue all things; but is He willing, and will He perform that which He is able to perform?
1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
He will perform it, and subdue all things to Him.
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee; not some knees and some few tongues: every knee: every tongue will confess "Jesus is Lord":
1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Every confessing tongue will be doing so by the Holy Spirit; thus the Holy Spirit will be working in every tongue, of, every man, and every knee will bow.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
All die without choice in Adam; all will likewise be made alive in Christ. There is no putting off of either. It will happen to all to die in Adam; it will happen to all to live in Christ. No exceptions.
John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Not the "would-be" Saviour of the world; not the "almost" Saviour of the world; not the "Saviour only of them that now believe": but Saviour of the world. No one can be the Saviour of something without actually saving that something.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Not the "would-be" Saviour of all men; not the "almost" Saviour of all men. The Saviour of all men: especially them that believe; thus not only the Saviour of them that believe: but of all men, specially them that now believe.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Not willing that any perish but all come; willing that all be saved and come. Will the will of God be defeated?
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The will of God will not, and cannot, be defeated. What He wills is what is done; in earth as it is in heaven. Do you pray His will be done? If so, you must pray for universal reconciliation since that is His will.
Hebrews 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
All things are under Him; but not yet do we see it. Yet, we will see it: every man in his own order and time according to the will and purpose of God and God alone.
1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: