Not in scripture: everyone goes to heaven?

Not in Scripture

Universalism is the heretical belief that all are eventually saved. This is not just the hope that everyone will be saved, but that they ARE saved. Nor should this be confused with redemption, which was purchased with our Lord’s blood on the cross. Christ died for all, every person without exception, but sadly not every person accepts His offer, His gift, His sacrifice for their salvation. Loving us as He does, He has granted us free will and does not force us to accept Him.

If universalism were true, you are saved regardless how you live your life. Salvation is in no way contingent on faith. Were a person an unrepentant mass murdering, torturing, Satan worshiper – heaven still awaits them.

Universalists conflate God’s will that all are saved and the merits of His Son with individual salvation. Holy scripture speaks frequently of the reality of hell and the many who choose to go there by rejecting God’s grace. Let’s see what it would look like if universalism were true. Not in scripture are words shown in strike through. Words shown in bold actually are in scripture.

The narrow gate.

Enter through any the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to eternal life destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that also leads to life. And those who find it are few.

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough so they will be let in. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, “Lord, open the door for us.” He will say to you in reply, “I do not know where you are from but welcome friend.” And you will say, “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.” Then he will say to you, “all are welcome I do not know where [you] are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!

And there will be universal joy wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves among them cast out.

On discipleship.

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven and the one who does not.

The witness of the prophets.

And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the Israelites were like the sand of the sea, all only a remnant will be saved; for decisively and quickly will the Lord will welcome all mankind execute sentence upon the earth.”

As foretold in Psalms.

The LORD is revealed in his unconditional mercy making judgments: by the deeds they do or fail to do, all are saved the wicked are trapped.

Reproach to the unrepentant.

Then he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.'”

“For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

“Just kidding.”

The rich man and Lazarus.

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and also from that place from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

The above verses scratch only the surface of this topic. There are far too many to include them all here. The bottom line: hell is real and those who consign themselves there do so forever.


The specific word of God notwithstanding, sometimes folks read Holy Scripture as if certain words and phrases have been removed – or as if others have been added. I am here to help!

I call this series not in scripture. These are Bible quotes with a twist: words and phrases not actually present are shown with strike-through. Scripture simply does not say that! Conversely, words that are actually in scripture (but sometimes overlooked) are shown in bold.


Comments

  1. I loved the “JK”! :)

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