PAUL and UNIVERSALISM
14. Paul and Isaiah
With Paul we come to one who is used by both sides of the Universalism controversy for support. My sense is that the proof inclusivists have found is no proof at all. We begin with Paul's activities in the book of Acts.
Acts 13:47-48. It was in Antioch, in the present day land of Turkey, where Paul finally realized his call to go to Gentiles. The Jews consistently denied Paul's message and forced him to turn from them. He quotes from Isaiah to justify his action: "I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth."
Now that's a pretty sweeping statement. Very inclusive. But verse 48 narrows things down a bit. As a group, the Gentiles were glad that Paul's attention was turning their way. But it was only a percentage that actually believed and were saved, namely "as many as had been appointed to eternal life."
That all sounds very Calvinistic. Better to say it is Pauline, and from the Holy Spirit. I offer it as naked truth without explanation, as I would do with the invitation of John, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." There are denominations formed on both of those statements. I'll join none of them, thank you, but continue to believe that somehow the sovereignty of God and the free will of man are part of the same scheme of things.
But clearly implied in it all is that there are some "whosoever won't" folks too, those not "ordained" to eternal life.
Not everyone will be saved.
Acts 17:27-32. Mars Hill. The pagan philosophers. The free preaching opportunity. Remember? Paul tries to speak the language of the Greek gurus of the day by describing a God who created all men with the same blood, and gave them all a desire to grope for God. (His word.) Paul says that those who seek Him will find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
No, not far. But just far enough for a man to be lost if he tires of the search. Will all seek Him? Not implied here. Later he says God is commanding all to repent. Will all repent? Not implied here.
Judgment is to come, says the apostle. By a Man who was raised from the dead. Hearing of the resurrection, these Gentiles asked for another day to hear Paul. Implied: That day never came. In their wisdom they knew not God, and never shall.
If Paul is to be the one to proclaim universal salvation one day, he is certainly getting off to a bad start...
Acts 26:17-18. Once more the Gentiles (all the nations except Israel), via Isaiah, are singled out as Paul's ministry. They will be delivered from Satan's power, be forgiven, and receive an eternal inheritance.
But before the chapter is over we see at least one Gentile, Agrippa, who is not interested. His "almost" has become the subject of sorrowful song. Almost, but lost.
The discussion here merely states that Paul is to be sent to Gentiles to announce all the good things of God. Absolutely no mention is made of a universal acceptance of that message.
Acts 28:26-28. Jew and Gentile are contrasted in this final passage of Luke's history. The Jews reject Messiah, fulfilling Isaiah's words. But this salvation will be sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it, says Paul!
But wait. Did all Jews reject Jesus? No. The apostles about whom Acts is written, certainly did not. The entire first church was Jewish! But by and large, Israel said no.
Did all Gentiles accept Jesus? No. A Gentile church was formed that far outstripped the Jewish church even in that century, and such has been the case until our present day. Paul's prophecy stands. But myriads of Gentiles have joined unbelieving Israel in their doom.
As we will see later in this study, the word "all" is not all it seems to be...
15. The universal condemnation of mankind
I found something dealing with the subject of Universalism - actually the opposite thereof - in 12 of the 16 chapters of Romans. Truly this gem of the apostle Paul is key to a proper understanding of God's eternal program.
Romans 1:5-6,8. Once more the word all catches our attention. Paul has been called to bring the message to all nations, that people among them might be called to obedience. But immediately the contrast: "... among whom you also (people of Rome, Italy) are the called of Jesus Christ."
Did every person in Italy hear and obey the call? Not then, not now. It's a simple fact, but it is important to keep in mind, that God calls His people from among all nations, but also that not all individuals in the nations respond.
Paul uses another general verbal sweep in verse 8: The faith of the Romans is spoken of throughout the world. True. You could visit, in that day, any number of churches or synagogues, and hear people talking about the Roman Church. It was a real powerhouse. But did every creature on God's green earth know of the Christians in Italy? I think not.
All is not always all. Try to remember that...
Romans 1:16-18. God's power of salvation is for everyone! Everyone, that is, who believes. Faith is the qualifier, the divider, of earth's peoples. For all those unbelievers who will be without excuse because they suppress the truth about God, is reserved the wrath of God.
Romans 2 and 3. Paul's long discussion about man's deserved condemnation is very telling, but it tells us things we may not want to hear. God's judgment against all evil men is coming. Indignation, wrath, tribulation, anguish. It's all on the way, make no mistake.
But what of those who have never heard? The Universalist truly wants to upstage the Bible believer here with what he believes is the obvious answer to this centuries-old enigma: "Why, they will all be saved. This is a non-issue now."
Believing that all men will be saved from God's judgment eventually, certainly takes the teeth out of the Great Commission, and the entire missions history of the church of Jesus. Something in us wants to believe it, but it doesn't ring true when measured by other Biblical facts.
Without going further into that whole very difficult problem, let me just share Paul's short answer, here in Romans 2:12:
Damnation will come to those who sinned because they had no law, and it will come equally to those who had the law and sinned against it. Sin is sin. God's law is written in the hearts of even the Gentiles. They know what is right and wrong. God will judge every thought, every motive, of every man by the Man Christ Jesus.
Who will be able to stand in that day?
Paul says, in essence, no one. Righteousness is not obtainable by human effort. Only those who cling to the righteousness of Christ will be saved.
If there is a universalism in God's world, it is universal damnation. "...all the world may become guilty before God (3:19)." The planet is cursed with a curse. Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world... It was already condemned!
Out of this worldwide lost-ness shall be raised up a band of holy men and women from every nation on earth. It is this called-out assembly, the church, that cancels this original universalism, so that now no blanket statement covers all men of all time.
Many lost. Some saved. The righteousness of God is not poured on every man, but on every man who believes (3:22, 26, 28). Note the wording:
"...to all and on all who believe..."
"... the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus..."
"...a man is justified by faith..."
The teachers who promote a universal acceptance need to show upon what basis that acceptance comes. Certainly it is not based on the work of Jesus.
Jesus gave His blood for our sins. Without the forgiveness of sins, how can man be justified? Is it not obvious to even a child that not all men repent, that not all men believe? These who have not asked for God's forgiveness are still in their sins and shall be lost forever.
Salvation has always been a two-way covenant. God's grace and invitation are sent out. But men who despise such cannot ever hope to be swept into the Kingdom of God by default.
16. The people God saw: Us
Romans 4:14-16. We all know this theology of Paul. Salvation is by grace through faith. Those who remain under the law will not inherit anything except the wrath of God. How says the Universalist differently? Certainly Paul is not their ally!
We shall be saved by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, given to "us" who believe. The we and the us of Paul are the significant words here! Not all. Just us.
Follow that thought into chapter 5...
Romans 5. A battleground chapter. But really not so difficult if we go slowly and consistently.
First, the subject of the chapter is still we. We believers. We have peace. We are justified. We have access into grace. We glory in all our troubles. Christ died for us, while we were sinners. We will be saved from wrath. Which means there is a wrath from which to be saved.
He goes on. We were enemies. We have been reconciled.
Next, Paul has a discussion about origins that springs from all of this talk of our salvation. Let me break it down into as simple terms as possible:
• Adam sinned. Sin and Death came through him. "Many" died. In fact, all died.
• Jesus died. Now grace comes to "many." In fact, it comes to all. But not all receive it. That's why the term many can be used in both sentences and be appropriate. The word all would be confusing here, because the parallel would not be exact. All were condemned, but not all will be saved.
• For the many, abundance of grace will be received through Christ's righteousness. We established above that in this same extended discussion, "we" who believe are those people who receive such a gift. There are many of us. But we are not "all."
• Many is not all. Many is we. That doesn't sound grammatically correct, but theologically it's right on.
So where was the battle of this chapter, you ask? I mean, it's so obvious that Paul is talking about believers here. It's equally obvious that not all men have faith. Well, obvious to you and me, but the Universalist sees a free gift coming to all men without the responsibility for someone's faith being attached to it. The gift is given out whether we want it or like it or rejoice in it, or not. Imposed salvation. Imposed grace. Robotic servants.
No, this is not the truth of Scripture. The truth is, whosoever WILLS may come. Whoever WANTS TO be there shall be there.
Romans 6 continues the discussion, over and over using the word we to identify the recipients of God's grace. There is a we and there is a they. They are different as day and night, as saved and lost, as heaven and hell, as the next world and this world. They are not to be mixed into one pot. God doesn't. Universalists do, and herein is their grievous error.
Romans 8:14, 19, 33. Once more the division. There is a collection of people in the world called sons of God. They are the ones who have been filled with God's Spirit and are being led by that Spirit. All others are not the children of God. We call this first group the "invisible" church, the true church. Your denomination or group or movement is not the true church. Only this Sons of God Group.
God will never send any of His sons to eternal torment. God will not put His children in a Lake of Fire. There is no outer darkness for His sons. But not all are His sons. The rest of the world is in some way related to Lucifer. And ever shall be.
Meanwhile the world continues to wait for the revelation of these true sons. When Jesus comes, and they are revealed and placed in charge of the earth, the earth will be renewed and beautified and the government will be on His shoulder.
And one of the reasons all this will be possible is that the true Son Himself will have judged those unworthy of the dignity of being a family member, a dignity imputed to the family by Jesus' sacrifice and blood.
Universalism would destroy the boundary between true and false, would deny the entire doctrine of election and choosing and calling and church. How wrong can one doctrine be? This wrong.
"Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" The Universalist. He denies that they even exist. Give Calvin his due, though he went too far. There is a people that God has seen from eternity who shall be His eternal friends and family and loved ones. And there is another people who shall not.
17. Mercy on all.
Universalism may have come about in part as a reaction to hyper-Calvinism. Unfortunately it developed into a rejection of Paul and other Bible writers. Paul sounds a lot like Calvin, you know... or is it the other way around?
Romans 9:14-22. As Paul begins discussing what God knew and didn't know, and the judgments He made in eternity past, a thought arises in the minds of carnal men: This is not fair! Paul questions that conclusion here. There can be no unrighteousness with God. He can do as He wills, and our puny attempts at re-interpreting His motives, protecting His image, or whatever it is we are doing when we twist Scriptures, won't work. Let's leave God's Word alone. It is what it is and we cannot change it.
Who are we to reply against God? Good question, Paul. Notice his further totally unacceptable - by our standards - comments. There are, he says, some people that have been prepared for destruction. God is enduring them, letting them go for now. But destruction is theirs.
Not only the Universalist cringes at such talk but many who claim to love the truth of God's Word also get a bit nervous. Destruction? Prepared for destruction? The merciful God prepared people for destruction?
I'm not going to clean that up. Let us rejoice in our salvation but never forget, as we have concluded over and over, that not all are saved now, and eternity will not change their status.
Romans 10:16, 11:5. The point is made here that not everyone will obey the Gospel, that there is only a remnant who will. That remnant is according to an election of grace. Let's struggle with that if we must, but not attempt to change it.
Romans 11:11-32. Here again is a passage seized by the Universalists and made to fit the mold they have created. We enter it with the Light we have already gained from Paul. He will not contradict himself.
Let's follow his argument:
First, Israel as a nation has fallen. No question about that. Because of their fall, all the other nations were invited into the Kingdom. Paul calls this event the "reconciling of the world." Indeed, God so loved the world... We must never dispute that. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Whoever desires to come to Jesus is welcome to come. God will receive all sinners.
But will all sinners receive Him? This is where we part company with Universalism. No, not all will receive Him. They will choose to stay in their sins and pay their own way, a price they cannot afford.
Second, after Israel's hardening and God's grace to the Gentiles, Israel shall once more come to the Father. Jesus Himself will deal with them in the wilderness situation described by the prophets and John (in Revelation). It will be Ezekiel's bones resurrected from the dead. God will have mercy on "the remnant" of Israel.
But by this time Israel, using Paul's tree analogy, will have had a myriad of branches - Gentiles - attached to it. This will be the fullness of Israel, all Israel that God foresaw from the beginning.
And all of the true Israel will be saved. As for unbelieving Israel, as well as unbelieving Gentiles? They are not truly Israel at all. God's Word has not suddenly changed regarding them.
The Universalist grasps for verse 32 and of it makes his creed:
"For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all."
Does this mean that every Jew and every Gentile of all time, all of whom have been disobedient sinners, will in the end be called up to God's glory, totally forgiven, and forever bask in God's mercy? Every one?
Would this include Judas? The antichrist? Hitler?
Truly every knee will bow to Jesus. But will every heart and mind hear the Father's "well done" ?
Yes, every one. Everyone, that is, who calls upon the name of the Lord. Therein is the miracle. Therein is the grace and mercy of our God. All who come to Jesus will receive abundant pardon.
Did Jesus invite two men to Paradise at his death, or only one? Only one. The one who wanted to go there. The other one wanted only to curse his way into a godless grave. Jesus has shown us here the heart of the Father. Again, it is whosoever will! Such grace! Let no Universalist be allowed to cheapen this gift by crying that so many are left out, that God is unjust if He punishes sin in this drastic way. They are left out because they want to be left out. They reject the Creator and are therefore refused that which was created for His children.
Is there unrighteousness with God? None!
18. The judgments of God
You are to be commended for having traveled this far on the search for God's truth about Universalism. As we travel on, we'll see confirmation by Paul, the Hebrews author, and John, of the obvious truth of Scripture: There are two separate groups of people spoken of by the Spirit, with two separate destinies.
I Corinthians 1:18, 24-26. Note the two classes of people identified by Paul: "Those who are perishing," "us who are being saved." Later he speaks of the "called", otherwise known as the elect.
I Corinthians 3:15-22. See here that it is "you" being addressed, the church at Corinth. It is the church, the called out, that is the Temple of God. God will destroy anyone who defiles that Temple. It is "you" who are Christ's, and Christ Who is God's. This is a very exclusive group.
I Corinthians 5:5-6:11. Judgment. God is a perfect judge and all judgment must be committed to Him. But some of it He passes back to us to do in His name. Notice the clear delineation between the judgment of Christians, and that of unbelievers.
A sinning Christian is to be brought before the Church and publicly reprimanded. And more. He is to be dis-fellowshipped. Cut off from the protection that a Spirit filled church affords, and thus susceptible to the Enemy's ravages.
Even so, when the physical punishment has worked its work in the offender, "his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." We assume repentance to follow such an ordeal, sorrow for sin that our loving Lord always embraces. And even though the person dies, he shall go on to be with the Lord.
The Universalist here again wants to see "second chance" after death, but it's not there. This is correction followed by remorse followed by reconciliation.
Quite different is the judgment talk of later verses where God tells His people that they will judge the world, even angels! The final outcome of that series of judgments will be that no evil person will be allowed to enter the Kingdom. Period.
I Corinthians 10:1-12. A Hebrews-like warning. God was not well pleased with Israel, and their bodies were eventually scattered all over the wilderness. But that's Old Testament, you say. Paul makes it New Testament teaching. He warns us not to do the things they did, lest we suffer the same fate. We should not desire what they desired, give ourselves to idols, commit sexual immorality, tempt Christ, murmur...
It's hard to comprehend in our modern atmosphere that these warnings were given to "Spirit-filled" believers in a gift-filled church. But that's another subject. The point here is that we must stay connected to Jesus in faith if we expect to see the Promised Land. Are we truly in the faith? If not, we are in that other group.
I Corinthians 11:31-32. Once more the contrast between judgments. There is a difference between a Father's spanking, and a King's wrath.
I Corinthians 15:19-25. I was surprised to learn that Universalists put 15:19 forward as one of their "proofs." It says there that if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we're in bad shape. They try to make the text say that we need the next life to finish what God started, and in that life we will finally be reconciled to God.
That is certainly not the demand of the context, at all.
This is a passage about the resurrection. Christ's, ours. Imagine that Christ never rose from the dead. He did not conquer death. His blood did not atone. God was not in the death of that prophet from Galilee. It was all in the minds of the writers of the histories, but is all just a myth. Imagine.
If that is true, you've been living a lie. You have nothing to live for. Your body will remain in the grave. This life is all there is! Yet in this life, because we have connected to Christ's message in some way, we are hated and abused and killed. This is everything, and everything is miserable! What a bad deal!
How the false teachers twisted that one is beyond me.
Just for the record, Jesus did rise from the dead. And he shall reign. And all enemies will be placed under His feet. So there it is again. The friends of Jesus, and His enemies. Two groups. Two destinies.
19. Reconciled and separated
Our trip through the New Testament now brings us to the second letter to Corinth, where a surprising number of passages address the demise of Universalism.
II Corinthians 2:15-16. Paul speaks here of two classes of people in the world: 1, those who are being saved, and 2, those who are perishing. We Christians smell like death to the latter, and life to the former. The apostle could not have been more specific in crushing the main tenet of Universalism.
II Corinthians 3:7-17. Paul's discussion here and elsewhere of the New Covenant must not be viewed as condemnation vs salvation for all. Though true it is that the Law of Moses teaches us that no one can be saved, and the love of Christ teaches us that all can be saved, the word "can" is the operative one here. Covenants are entered into by two parties. Only when "one turns to the Lord" , v.16, is he a part of that covenant. As we have seen repeatedly, there will be many who will not enter that covenant. All the evidence points to the fact that most of humanity will be left out on that awful day of His return.
II Corinthians 4:3-6. Here he mentions the perishing again. These unbelievers have been blinded by the god of this world, and the light of the Gospel will never penetrate the darkness that surrounds them. In contrast, Paul adds that God's light has shined directly on our hearts. A humbling fact.
II Corinthians 5:10-11. Another "we" passage. We must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We will receive rewards for things we did. We are well known to God. He speaks here of believers, and mentions in passing "the terror of the Lord." Fear. The knowledge that, standing before Him, even believers will tremble at what He might say. A wake-up call for the church of Paul's and our day. Important to recognize here is that Spirit-filled New Covenant Paul reminds us that our God, in this day, is to be revered, not taken lightly. Even though this is the judgment of the church, it is a serious one by a serious God, Who has much more in the way of judgment for the unbeliever.
II Corinthians 5:18-21. Here's one the Universalists might want, but we will take from them. It's all about reconciliation. The key is the little word "us" in verse 18. He reconciled us through Jesus. Us. The believers in Christ. That same group has been given the ministry of reconciliation, personified here in Paul and the apostles around him.
His was a ministry of reconciliation. There was no way God could save people through the present system, Judaism. The law is just too holy. No man could keep it. Everyone needed a Saviour. And everyone got one. God Himself was in Jesus reconciling the world to Himself. Now that phrase, "the world" is the key for the Universalist. Their heart races just a little faster when they see words like that. You see, God is going to save the whole world!
Yes, He would have liked that. We have already agreed that God loves the whole world, from John 3:16. But Paul's impassioned plea later in this passage lets us know that the call to reconciliation is an open invitation. Invitations can be rejected. He has reconciled "us." But not "them", those who refuse to be reconciled.
II Corinthians 6:2. Now is the day of salvation. Today, if you will hear His voice. It will not always be like this. It was not like this before. This is a special time, an age of grace. Things will change one day, maybe soon. Irreversible changes. This is our day to spread the word about universal salvation. For that universe will shrink one day. The day of salvation will end. Free grace will end. Then will come the time of the justice of God, the righteous rule of our King. And all those who do not want the King to rule over Him will be destroyed forever.
II Corinthians 6:14-18. The doctrine of separation - and it is still a doctrine of the Christian Church - suffers greatly at the hands of Universalists. The clear boundaries between good and evil people are blurred, and the mixture dominates. This is the mixture that will give rise to a one-world religion, ecumenical and free. Free of truth also.
Paul once more draws the line. There are two groups. Believers and unbelievers. Righteousness and lawlessness. Light and darkness. Temple of God and idols. Clean and unclean. My children and not My children. It will be this way forever. We must recognize it now.
II Corinthians 13:5. One more look at the differences. An admonition to self-examination. Are you in the faith or not in the faith? Both are possible. Jesus is in you or not in you? Again, equally possible. Qualified or disqualified? In or out?
20. All nations will be blessed
Paul continues to share his insights about the salvation of mankind, now to the Galatians and the Ephesians.
Galatians 1:4. He sounds a familiar note here when he talks about how we who are saved have been delivered from this present evil age. Obviously not all are saved, not all delivered, or there would be no evil left at all.
Galatians 3:7-14. Those Universalists who jump immediately to verse 8 have something to crow about: It says that the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the nations by faith. It quotes the promise to Abraham that in him all the nations shall be blessed.
But verse 7. Only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And verse 9. "Those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."
The words of Paul interpret the words of Paul. All the faithful within all the nations will be blessed as Abraham was. That connects perfectly with the happenings on the Day of Pentecost, when representatives from all the nations were filled with the Spirit. And the other end of church history recorded in Revelation 5, where a new song is being sung to the Lamb, part of which sounds like this:
You have "redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation..."
Out of. That's the ticket, as my British brothers might say. That's the key. We, the church are the "called out of". That's what the Greek word for church means. All the nations have been blessed. All the nations get to hear the Gospel. And those out of all those nations that respond with love to the loving God's call will be saved. And only those.
No, we do not close the door to the lost. The lost themselves close it.
Another possible look at this verse is the view of the Millennial Kingdom. There, all the nations still in existence will be blessed. The entire world will then be the Kingdom of God. Because of Abraham's faithfulness. Christ's work. Our acceptance of it...
...that (verse 14) "the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles..."
Galatians 4:21, 5:4. Paul confirms here what we have suspected all along. There are people who desire to stay under the law, under the old way, under the "I-will-save-myself-thank-you" method. To stay under the law is to stay under the curse, and to be lost.
He says there are even believers who try to go backwards and let the law justify them, as they do so many good works and begin to depend on those works for their salvation.
He says they have fallen from grace. So much for Paul being a Calvinist...
Galatians 5:21. Another reminder that unrepentant sinners simply will not be a part of God's Kingdom, whether that is here, or later.
Ephesians 1:1-19. Back to grammar lessons for this passage. We must remember the pronouns "we" and "us". Then when Paul seems to be making sweeping statements, we remember the context is always, the believing church. Look at this first:
Verses 1-9: The letter is directed to the saints, the holy ones, the faithful in Christ. Obviously there are unholy, unfaithful people, but this letter is not addressed to them.
He chose us in Him... that we should be holy... having predestinated us... he has made us accepted... in Him we have redemption... according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us...
Only in verse 10 is the text unguarded by the first person plural. Here the Universalist swoops in, raptures it up to himself and claims it to be eternal truth that all things will be gathered together in Christ in the fullness of times. Period. End of discussion. Everyone gets to be saved.
Wrong in every way. God is going to gather together as one everything in Christ, everything that pertains to Jesus. And what pertains to Jesus more than those "we" and "us" folks of the first nine verses?
Then, to be sure you don't misunderstand, he throws in another "in Him" at the very end of the verse!
And that verse continues uninterrupted into verses 11-14, where the pronouns resume in abundance, even adding a "you" to personalize even more the owners of this salvation:
...we have obtained an inheritance... we who first trusted in Christ... you were sealed with the Holy Spirit... who is the guarantee of our inheritance...
All this long passage is telling us is that one day, when the time is right, Jesus is going to gather us all together to be with Himself. He predestined us, He redeemed us, He poured out HIs grace on us, told us His will, promised us an inheritance.
Wouldn't it be a little strange for Him to make all these wonderful claims about "us" , then turn around and give away the blessings to someone else who had no interest in salvation?
Ephesians 2:13-14. Context: Salvation of Jews, salvation of Gentiles. The Gentiles were up against a wall. On the other side of that wall was God and the entire commonwealth of Israel, the called of God. Jesus broke that wall down, and established communications and relationships. Gentiles and Jews will now be saved.
Not all Jews. Not all Gentiles. Only those "in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 4:13. The Universalist reminds us of ants at a picnic. They just show up everywhere and take our focus off the fun we are having. One sugary morsel that really appeals to them is the word "all". And here is that word again in Ephesians 4:13.
Some day, we all will come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. Need I repeat myself? The letter is addressed to believers. When "we" is used in a passage, it refers to those believers. One day the church will stop fighting, stop arguing, about what is true and false. There will be perfect unity among us.
'Nuff said.
Ephesians 5:5-6. As in Galatians, Paul categorically states that there are many, many people, who will never be a part of God's Kingdom. They are called here "sons of disobedience" and are subjected to the wrath of God. They will not be saved.
21. Christ in all
Philippians and Colossians will be the next focus, where the word "all" is used quite a lot. Let's see what it means.
Philippians 2:10-12. Every knee will bow to King Jesus. Every tongue will confess He is Lord. That's a brand of Universalism that I can see well. Before we allow ourselves to be swept into the modern heresy, though, let's take a look at the passage Paul was quoting in Isaiah (45:20-25). This would be a good study in the Deity of Christ, by the way, since Isaiah's Lord demands the same thing as Paul's Jesus regarding knees and tongues.
But what we glean from the prophet is that he is speaking in judgmental terms. He gives a stern statement to the nations, then an almost threatening invitation, "Look to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth!" The following statement about every knee bowing is a warning as much as a promise. The idea is that it would be better for you to come voluntarily to the Lord, but if you don't, know that you will bow before Him one way or another.
Paul carries over some of that same feeling. God has exalted Jesus. You will confess Who He is one day. That's why we approach our salvation, says Paul, with fear and trembling. The tone is entirely different here from the simple invitations to come to Jesus found in other portions of Scripture.
In the sense of public admission of Who Jesus is, every man, woman and child is involved. God will be glorified.
Philippians 3:18-19. Paul here describes a group of people who are enemies of Christ, and whose end will therefore be destruction. No future salvation is suggested.
Colossians 1:16,23 (and Romans 16:26). I saved the Romans passage until now because it is so similar to the ones in Colossians. Both statements are pretty startling. Paul claims that the preaching of the mystery of Jesus Christ has been made known to all the nations, that it is in all the world.
I believe Paul is saying that the Message of God is no longer limited to the Jews. This is not a local story. It's being released now to all of humanity. He was not, obviously, telling us that every person in the world of his day had heard this story. He was even then in the process of getting the Word out.
I bring this in because once more we need to understand the scope of that little word "all." It's not what you think, and that will help in the next passage.
Colossians 1:19-23. Universalist territory here. Verse 20 in particular. It says there that because of what Jesus did on the cross, all things are now reconciled to God.
The fact is that there is much of the world that is not reconciled to God and never shall be. Talk to your neighbors. It's clear. But once more Paul is using "all" to speak of potential, not actual.
The peace has been proclaimed. The war is over. The world is invited to Jesus. Just come and be saved. That's the effect of Calvary. Universal salvation proclaimed.
But look again at this passage. You Colossians have been reconciled, and will be presented holy to God one day. If. If. Definitely not Calvin speaking here. If. If you continue in the faith and are not moved away...
And then there is the unspoken "if", the one that applies to all who have not yet said yes to Jesus. This salvation all applies to them too, but only if they will repent and bow their knee to Him.
Stories are told through the generations of soldiers who kept fighting because they did not know the war was over. And of others who decided they could not participate in the truce, and kept fighting for the cause they loved.
Whether man keeps fighting God or not, the peace has been made. This is the day to accept it. Today is the day of salvation.
Colossians 3:4, 6. The contrast has often been made, but let me bring it out once more. When Christ appears, we (believers) will appear with Him in glory. But the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
Colossians 3:10-11. Christ is in all. That's the Universalist short version of this passage. The full story is that there is a new man that believers "put on." That new man, Christ in us, is made in the very image of God. And that new man is not a Jew or a Gentile, not a slave or a free man. That man is Christ. All of that man is filled with that Christ. Christ is all and in all.
Rather than being a statement of universal salvation, this is a proclamation of the fullness of the new life in Christ.
22. Will antichrist too be saved?
I Thessalonians 1:10, 2:16, 5:7-9. Wrath is coming. God is very angry. Evil has proliferated on the planet He created to be a haven of His love and joy. All of these verses tell us that Jesus has delivered us from this wrath. But if the "us" means everyone, with whom is God still angry? Is there to be no judgment after all? Universalism turns everything upside down.
II Thessalonians 1:7-10. False teachers, especially those who deny eternal judgment, should take note of these vehement ideas from the apostle, words that are ultimately from the Spirit of God:
1. One day Jesus, an angry Jesus, will be revealed from Heaven. He is coming to judge the earth!
2. Those who do not know God and those who do not obey the Gospel will face a reward of flaming fire.
3. The punishment will be far from merely corrective. It will be everlasting destruction. It is awful when those two words are placed together. The Universalists have challenged the meaning of "everlasting" in the Greek. Of course they must, for it is key to their argument. The New Testament is clear that punishment is forever. We'll look at that word study just after the book-by-book commentary.
4. Forever these evil ones will be separated from the presence of the Lord.
5. From that day on He will be surrounded by and adored by all those who have believed in Him. And no one else.
II Thessalonians 2:9-12. More seriously bad news for the Universalist. These verses are what would be called in the world of baseball "no-doubters". Over the wall. Out of the park.
First, the lawless one. The antichrist. Now, he is, after all, a man. He will be a man full of the un-holy spirit, but still a man. Would the Universalist be so brash as to conclude that even this man will one day be reconciled to God? If so, let me, or rather Paul, dash that hope to the ground right here:
When the Lord comes the very brightness of His coming will destroy the antichrist. Consumed by the breath of Jesus' mouth. Zap. Gone. And remember that, in the context of II Thessalonians, and I believe, all of the New Testament, this destruction is an everlasting destruction. Being destroyed once is a horrible thing. Being destroyed forever...
Not only the man of sin, but all men of all time who did not receive the love of the truth, they too will perish eternally. They did not want to be saved on Christ's terms. Now they find that these were the only terms available. Lost forever, says Paul.
Not only so, but also (and those who cringe at anything sounding Calvinistic must here close their ears) God will be involved in allowing their deception, as with Pharaoh, because of their hard-hearted response to God's truth. They wanted their own pleasure more than the righteousness of God. So God will give them the desires of their evil hearts, then condemn them to the devil's hell.
Universalism is wrong. It is leading souls to the very hell they say cannot exist for them. Beware of this poison!
II Thessalonians 3:2. How it could be possible for Paul's readers not to get what he was saying in chapters 1 and 2, I do not know. But one little post script here in chapter 3 seals it up for us:
(verse 2) "....not all have faith." The Bible's statement against universalism in four easy words.
23. Most are not willing
We now examine letters written to young fellow-leaders of the early church. What did Paul want Timothy and Titus to know and teach about eternity?
I Timothy 2:4-6. The false teachers of Universalism have made much of Paul's comment to Timothy that God wants everyone to be saved. He wants all men to come to a knowledge of the truth. And two verses later, he says that Jesus gave His life a ransom for all.
Indeed. How He loves the human race. How He desires us. The question begs to be answered here, Does God, even God, always get everything He wants? Think before you answer. Better yet, take a listen to and a look at Jesus. See Him in tears over the city of Jerusalem. Almighty God in the flesh, broken over the sins of man. Seemingly powerless to save His favorite city, filled with His chosen people.
Do you remember His words? How often, He says, how often would I have gathered you to Myself like a hen gathers her chicks. I wanted you to be Mine, all Mine. I wanted you to have fellowship with Me. I wanted to bless you, teach you, love you.
So why didn't you, Jesus? What stopped the transaction? Hear the terrible accusation: You were not willing.
God wants everyone to be saved. Oh that we could see His heart! But most men are not interested. And they will perish.
I Timothy 4:10. Here is another key verse, and the response to it must be as above. Paul calls our God the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
Why does he make the distinction here? Salvation is salvation. One is either saved or not saved. I think that in the light of all we have found in the New Testament - and my, there is a lot of light - his distinction is obvious:
There are two groups of people in the world. Believers and non-believers. God wants to save all of them, He died to save all of them. In that sense He is the Savior of all men. But only the believers can appropriate that salvation. In that sense He is especially the Savior of believers.
Here is where Calvinism goes south. It is clear here and elsewhere that Jesus died for all, not just "the elect." He truly does want everyone to come into the Kingdom. His arms are open wide.
But for most, the door might as well be closed, for their rebellion trumps His invitation.
It's so easy to understand, really. When the lunch truck shows up at your place of work, the driver is furnished with lunch for all. But the few who show up at his window and produce cash, they are the ones who will go back to work full.
The truck has arrived. Your cash is your faith. Bring it to the driver, and be satisfied. Ignore Him, you'll be eternally hungry.
II Timothy 1:9, 2:11, 2:19, 4:8. Repetition can be boring but it is truly instructive at the same time. Over and over the apostles divide the world into "we" and "they." God saved us. He called us. His grace was given to us. Paul speaks here of the people of God, the believers.
He describes this group in various ways. They are the ones who have died with Jesus, and therefore will live with Him. They are the enduring, the faithful.
But wait, he says in 2:13 that Jesus will remain faithful to those who are faithless! It's OK. He's still talking about "we." Often believers are not totally full of faith. They stumble and fall. Jesus does not turn His back on them. After all, they are His own. His Spirit lives in them. How can He deny Himself?
No, it is clear, as Paul says, that the Lord knows those who are His. Remember the haunting words He says to a group of would be Heaven-dwellers? Depart from Me. I never knew you.
A final description of those who will go up when Jesus comes down has it this way: A crown of righteousness is reserved for those who have loved His appearing.
His first coming? They love reading their Bibles about what Jesus did when He was here? His second coming? They are excited about what will come on the earth when Jesus returns? The Kingdom of God? The reign of the saints with Jesus?
Take it any way you need to. There's a group of people who long to see Jesus. They and only they will be rewarded with eternal righteousness, eternal life.
Titus 2:11. God's grace has appeared to all men? See under Colossians 1:6, lesson 21.
Titus 2:14. Here Paul has the redeemed in mind, when He says that Jesus gave Himself for us. Yes, Jesus is still the Savior of all men. But, logically, if that is true, He gave Himself for us, too. Universal invitation. Not a universal salvation. No, we are a special people, set apart for Him.
Titus 3:3-7. For those who may need it, here is a "before and after" picture of a Christian man. The point for us is that most of the world is still in the "before" stage, and will remain there. Paul shares with Titus how God calls certain ones by His mercy and grace. And whether we subscribe to Calvin or not, we all agree that it is definitely only the mercy and grace of God that saved us.
