Sermon Central
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Peter, James, And Jude On Universalism Series
Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: What did early church leaders think about the doctrine of Universalism?
Because He really wants everyone to be saved. He wants everyone to repent. The damnation of the wicked gives Him no pleasure, but so it must be.
Does God always get His way? Absolutely not. Abortion and homosexuality are rampant in my country. Rape and murder abound. Poverty and sickness are everywhere. Are these God's will? Of course not. But they are here anyway.
So when Peter tells us that God does not want anyone to be lost, He is not saying that, therefore, no one will be lost! He is communicating the great love of God for us, the love that sent Jesus to Calvary, that "whoever believes in Him shall not perish..."
But those who do not believe will suffer eternal loss. His Word cannot change. He cannot lie. He will judge the ungodly.
Acts 15:16-19. A word from Brother James. By this time in the book of Acts, the apostle James has been martyred by Herod. The James mentioned here is the half-brother of Jesus, brother of Jude (Judas). He became a leader in the first Jerusalem church, and is here giving some advice to Peter and Paul about how to deal with Gentiles. In doing so, he says some things that could set off a Universalist...
Actually it is a quote from the prophet Amos (9:11-12). Amos says that one day the tabernacle of David will be restored so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, specifically those Gentiles who are called by His name.
James says that since there are Gentiles turning to the Lord, we Jews better leave them alone. This is the beginning of what God said would happen.
What the Universalists want to grab from the passage is the portion which reads "...all the Gentiles who are called by My name..." In their thinking, the "who" is not there.
But a simple reading of text and context assures us that it is not every Gentile, but a select group, that comes out for the Jewish Messiah.
Jesus, Peter, James, Jude all agree that not all will be saved. That leaves for us the words of Paul and John, which encompass the rest of the New Testament. Will they follow suit?
