Yesterday I wrote about the very popular doctrine of Universalism. The belief that eventually everyone will be saved and make it to Heaven. It certainly has a happy ending! Just like many fairy tales. Everyone loves a good fairy tale. Unfortunately, the hope that all people are one day going to be saved is just that - a fairy tale. And certainly not reality. So, on what basis is Universalism wrong? As Shakespeare once said, ‘Let me count the ways’.
First of all, universalism goes against the clear teaching of the Bible. Yesterday, today, and in tomorrow’s post I have put at the top of the page some Scriptures that speak of the eternality of Hell. Verses such as Matthew 25:46 where Jesus says, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Sort of hard to get by that one. And there are many other verses as well. When it comes to Hell the Bible uses terms such as ‘eternal’ and ‘forever’. Certainly not words that have a time limit attached to them. Rather they are time-less. Besides, doesn’t it seem hypocritical to believe in an eternity in Heaven but not in Hell? If Hell is taken to be temporary then what makes us so sure that Heaven isn’t as well?
First of all, universalism goes against the clear teaching of the Bible. Yesterday, today, and in tomorrow’s post I have put at the top of the page some Scriptures that speak of the eternality of Hell. Verses such as Matthew 25:46 where Jesus says, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Sort of hard to get by that one. And there are many other verses as well. When it comes to Hell the Bible uses terms such as ‘eternal’ and ‘forever’. Certainly not words that have a time limit attached to them. Rather they are time-less. Besides, doesn’t it seem hypocritical to believe in an eternity in Heaven but not in Hell? If Hell is taken to be temporary then what makes us so sure that Heaven isn’t as well?
Secondly, Universalism undermines the character of God. Basically it says that God doesn’t really mean what He says. If God says that people who don’t put their faith in Jesus are going to suffer eternally in Hell, and then changes His mind and lets them into Heaven, on what other issues might God change His mind? Might He eventually decide to cast some people out of Heaven? Might He decide to just pull the plug on everything and start all over again? Or just go back to the way everything was in eternity past, when only the Godhead existed? In Numbers 23:19 we are told, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Part of our understanding of God is that He is perfect. Perfection implies that He never makes a mistake. It also implies He never changes His mind. If God has said that unrepentant sinners will spend eternity suffering in Hell, it will happen. If it didn’t then we would not be able to believe anything that God says. And since God would no longer be perfect, He would no longer be God. At least not the unique God that Scripture portrays Him to be. I don’t think we want to go down that road.
Thirdly, Universalism undervalues the holiness of God. The longer I live the more convinced I am that we, as humans, know precious little about this aspect of God. The reason is simple. We are humans. We are sinful. That about does it. In our sinful, fallen state we are so conditioned to sin that we have lost our objectivity. What is holiness? No sin. None. Not even the tiniest bit. Not even in its most innocent form. The fact is that God cannot stand sin. He hates it. It cannot exist in His Presence. So what is to be done with sinful human beings who reject God’s offer of forgiveness? Those individuals who persist in their sin? Who embrace it? Who enjoy it? Who come to embody it? Clearly something has to give, and it isn’t God. Now, I know that God is going to get beat up over this - the fact that He won’t let sinful people into Heaven - but, again, if God were to do this He wouldn’t be God. He cannot compromise His holiness. So, if sinners cannot be in God’s Presence, then where will they be? The short answer is, Hell. For all eternity. More thoughts about this subject in tomorrow’s post.
Lord, I pray against Satan who is ultimately behind the doctrine of Universalism. As Jesus said, he was a liar from the beginning. And the truth is not in him. Help people to keep from being deceived that Hell is not literal. That it doesn’t involve suffering. And that it isn’t for eternity. This is a lie from the pit of Hell itself. Help people to see through the deception and to respond to Your offer of forgiveness and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thirdly, Universalism undervalues the holiness of God. The longer I live the more convinced I am that we, as humans, know precious little about this aspect of God. The reason is simple. We are humans. We are sinful. That about does it. In our sinful, fallen state we are so conditioned to sin that we have lost our objectivity. What is holiness? No sin. None. Not even the tiniest bit. Not even in its most innocent form. The fact is that God cannot stand sin. He hates it. It cannot exist in His Presence. So what is to be done with sinful human beings who reject God’s offer of forgiveness? Those individuals who persist in their sin? Who embrace it? Who enjoy it? Who come to embody it? Clearly something has to give, and it isn’t God. Now, I know that God is going to get beat up over this - the fact that He won’t let sinful people into Heaven - but, again, if God were to do this He wouldn’t be God. He cannot compromise His holiness. So, if sinners cannot be in God’s Presence, then where will they be? The short answer is, Hell. For all eternity. More thoughts about this subject in tomorrow’s post.
Lord, I pray against Satan who is ultimately behind the doctrine of Universalism. As Jesus said, he was a liar from the beginning. And the truth is not in him. Help people to keep from being deceived that Hell is not literal. That it doesn’t involve suffering. And that it isn’t for eternity. This is a lie from the pit of Hell itself. Help people to see through the deception and to respond to Your offer of forgiveness and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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