Salvation of All Mankind? Jesus Saves All? Is there a Hell? Is there a Heaven? What is Salvation? Does Christianity teach Universalism?
By Gary Amirault
This page was created to help people around the world discover the truly Good News that the whole world will be saved through the righteous act of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The subject of universalism centered on the Bible and Jesus Christ is difficult to find because of so much misinformation on the subject from tradition-bound church institutions.
Most people want immortality -- to live forever. And millions search the internet looking for information on how one can attain that. Millions of people around the world come to the internet asking questions about Christianity and what it teaches about salvation -- how to receive the eternal life Jesus Christ came to give. How does one receive eternal life? Most Christian denominations teach that only a small percentage of mankind will receive everlasting life in heaven. The rest of mankind, according to the traditional church, will receive immortality only be damned in a Hell of everlasting punishment. Some Bible verses seem to teach Hell, some plainly teach universal salvation through the finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ. What is the truth? Have men tampered with the Bible? When truth-seekers try to find articles or books teaching the salvation of all mankind, they have a hard time looking for keywords to find the subject. Here are some of the keywords used to describe the Biblical concept of Universal Salvation through Jesus Christ:
Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, Ultimate Reconciliation, Universal Salvation, Apokatastis, Apocatastasis, Universal Redemption, The Larger Hope, The Greater Faith, Paul's Gospel, the Glorious Gospel, the Gospel of Grace, Universal Restoration, Universalism, No Hell Gospel, Universal Reconciliation, Doctrine of Inclusion, Lavish Love, The Inescapable Love of God.
I wrote this brief article to help people who Google questions such as: Does the Bible teach all are saved? Is there a Hell? Will God save all? Can unbelievers get saved? Is there salvation after death? Does death stop God? Is there such a thing as the "Unpardonable Sin?" Does the Bible teach universalism? Did the early Church teach universalism? Will I go to Hell? Where is Hell? Where is heaven? Is there salvation from Hell? Is Jesus really the savior of all mankind?
Some of the names people might be searching for that are related to universalism are Origen, Pantenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Jerome, Gregory of Nissa, Gregory of Naziansus, Ambrose, Ditimus, John Eriscotus, Abraham Lincoln, Hannah Whitall Smith, William Barclay, Rob Bell, Jacob Boeme, James Relley, Hosea Ballou, John Murray.
Yes, Jesus really is the Savior of all mankind, not just potential savior, but actual savior of all mankind. I personally like the phrase "The Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ." I like it because it is Christ-centered; it is Gospel-centered; and it is truly Good News to all people. It is focused on Jesus' victory.
Unfortunately for most of church history, the church has focused on a Hell which makes Christ's victory really pathetic. Would you want to follow a leader who loses most of the time? According to traditional church, Jesus loses most of mankind. What a pathetic view of the Risen Savior! NO. Many times NO. Jesus saves all.
This page contains some of the words and phrases Christians have used throughout the centuries to describe the ultimate reconciliation of all things, in heaven, on earth and under the earth. Jesus will restore all things to God the Father, that He may be ALL IN ALL. 1 Cor. 15:28. And that my dear precious child of our heavenly Father, includes you, your friends, your family and yes, even your enemies. Rejoice.
What does the Victorious Gospel of Jesus, the Chosen One sound like removed from the "tradition of men which make the word of God of no effect? Matt. 15:6-9.:
Christ, to whom, in whom, and for whom are all things will reconcile all things unto God (Colossians 1:15-20). He makes all things new. (Rev. 21:5) Hence His work is the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21); He is Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2); in Him not only all nations will be blessed (Galatians 3:8), but even every family of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:32; 28:14); for the Father has given Him authority over all flesh, to give to whosoever was given to Him eternal life (John 17:2); and so all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:6) since the Father has given all things into His hands. (John 3:35) Therefore, contrary to popular Christian opinion, we do not find billions in a Hell cursing God but we find every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and UNDER the earth saying blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb (Rev. 5:13). We find every knee of things in heaven and earth, and under the earth, bends to Him and every tongue confesses Him as their Lord (Philippians 2:10) and we know that no one can confess Jesus as Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3).
For God, Whose counsel is immutable (Hebrews 6:17), Whose attitude towards His enemies is love unchanging (Luke 6:27-35), will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 2:4, KJV); and all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); and has shut all up unto unbelief, in order that he may show mercy upon all (Romans 11:32); for (out) of Him, as Source, and unto (or into) Him, as End, are all things whatsoever (Romans 11:36); and He has, therefore, put all things into subjection under Christ's feet (Ephesians 1:22).
And so we are assured that God will gather into one all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10); and His grace comes upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:18). So Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands (John 13:3), promises by His Cross to draw (drag in the Greek) all men unto Himself (John 12:32). For having, as stated, received all things from the Father (John 3:35), all that was given come to Him shall come to Him and He will lose absolutely no one (John 6:37-39); but if any stray, He goes after that which is lost till He find it (Luke 15:4). Despite the fact that many of God’s chosen and elect believe God’s hand is too short to save (Isaiah 50:2) God’s hand is not too short to save (Isaiah 59:1; 63:5).
He comes in order that all men may believe (John 1:17); that the world, through Him, may be saved (John 3:17); His grace brings salvation to all men (Titus 2:11); for He takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29); gives His flesh for it's Life (John 6:51); and, because the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance (Romans 9:29), He gives life to the world (John 6:33); is the light of the world (John 8:12); is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2); is the Savior of all men (1Timothy 4:10); destroys the works of the devil, not some of them only (1John 3:8); abolishes death (2Timothy 1:10); puts all His enemies under His feet including death (1 Cor. 15:26), is manifest to put away sin (Hebrews 9:26); and thus subduing all things unto Himself (Philippians 3:21; the context clearly shows this subjection to be conformity to Himself); does not forget the dead, but takes the gospel to Hades (1Peter 3:19); of which He holds the keys (Revelation 1:18); for He is the same (Savior) for ever (Hebrews 13:8); thus even the dead are evangelized (1Peter 4:6).
Thus all are made alive in Him (1Corinthians 15:22); for Christ finishes, completes His work (John 17:4; 19:30): restores all things (Acts 3:21); and there is no more curse (Revelation 22:2-3); for the creation is delivered from the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21); and so comes the end when Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God, Who is then All in All because ALL God’s enemies are defeated, the last enemy being death, NOT eternally alive being endlessly punished. (1Corinthians 15:24-28).
Salvation is a gift from God, it is not of works lest anyone be found boasting (Eph 2:8) and that gift has been given to all men despite the fact that some of God’s own people don’t like such generous grace. (Rom. 5:8; Matt. 5:1-16)
We can be assured of all these wonderful and glorious things because nothing is too difficult for Him (Luke 1:37) and while many things are impossible with man, nothing is impossible with God. (Matt. 19:26) Furthermore, God is love (1 John 4:8), a love that love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8), a love that lays down His life for not only His own, but His enemies as well and commands His disciples to do likewise.. (Matt. 5:38-48) Therefore, for God to endlessly punish His enemies would make Him a hypocrite commanding less powerful and less loving human beings to do what He is not willing to do. (Matt. 23)
There is nothing that can withstand His will and no plan of His can be thwarted. (Job 4:42) The Son came to save the world and not condemn it (Luke 5:59). Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him (all of us) (Luke 23:34) The Father has laid the iniquity of us all upon the Lamb of God (Isaiah 53:6). Jesus died for all of us. (John 1:29) To punish us now would be double jeopardy. Indeed, we can enter into His peace, believing that it is indeed finished! (John 19:30) The gift of life has been given to everyone. (Rom. 5:18) (Taken from Unbelief: The Greatest Christian Sin)
And for biblical proofs to attest of that fact, visit:
Rejoice!! Jesus truly is the Savior of the whole world. That includes you, my friend. If you want to discuss this, visit the Tentmaker Discussion Board