Scriptural Reference:"
"for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God"
Romans 3:23
“if we or an angel
from Heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached
to you, let him be accursed"
Galatians 1:8
“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 who is in heaven. 22 Many will
say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name
and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you
evildoers!’
Matthew 7:21-23
"Jesus answered,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me"
John 14:6
Reflection:
Over many years there have been just as many Universalist Preachers.
Those who tech that everyone has the chance and option of entering heaven.
They seem to believe that to enter heaven one needn't accept and embrace
Jesus the Christ as their Lord and saviour. Here is a short but not
conclusive list.
Andrew
Michael Ramsay January 9, 1686–May 6, 1743 Roman Catholic
Thomas Potter 1689–1777 Baptist, later Universalist Church
of America
Gerrard Winstanley 1609–September 10, 1676 Digger and Quaker
George Macdonald December 10, 1824 - September 19, 1905
Congregational
So what do Universalist's
believe? How do they justify their doctrine? It seem the Universalist's
believe that it's impossible that a loving God would elect only a portion
of humankind to salvation and doom the rest to eternal punishment. They
insisted that any punishment in the afterlife was for only a limited
period (Purgatory?) during which the soul was purified and prepared
for eternity in the presence of God. So essentially we all can go to
heaven as long as we spend some time getting adjusted? If that is the
case why than did Jesus the Christ die on the Cross?
Within universalism
there are the usual divisions. Each has developed their own logic and
theology based on their expectations of God and heaven. One division
is between the belief that everyone goes immediately to heaven at the
moment of death (called “ultra-universalism”) and the belief that many
or most people first undergo postmortem suffering. Apparently in the
19th century this issue was debated in America. An issue that Universalist's
have yet to resolve. In what aspect of the argument for a Universalist
view of salvation states that purpose in creating the world would fail
if just one intelligent creature should be separated from God. So using
this line of logic not only would every sinning human find their way
to heaven; but also every fallen angel. We would than expect to see
Satan and all the fallen angels with him in paradise? Interesting and
very humanistic.
What as Christians
we need to stay focused on is not what the world tells us. All of which
sounds warm and fuzzy, but not Biblically sound. Jesus stated clearly
in John 14:6 that He is the 'only' way to be reconciled with God. Jesus
Himself explained what would take place and what His followers and others
would need to look and focus on Him and only Him. We are also told that
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. As well as on that
day there will be many who will call out to the Lord claiming salvation
and a place in heaven based on many logical reasons. Many will point
to their good works and that God is all about love so he wouldn't really
reject them. But Jesus states that they will be turned away. While some
will seek to be included because they preached to the masses. Yet they
too may be cast away when they had taught false doctrines that had lead
many astray.
Oddly we can read
in the book of Revelations how many miracles and miraculous signs. Where
people will be awestruck by a range of actions that misdirect them and
lead them to false doctrines and evil machinations of Satan. Yet many
of the ones who will perform such amazing acts will face God and His
Son Jesus. They will claim as in Matthew 7:22-23 that they had did such
acts in the Lords name. They too will be shocked when the truth is shown
for all to see. They did such acts out of self pride and motivation.
They too will not enter heaven.
As Christians we
need to do three things that are vitally important and I'll keep focused
on sharing;
- Base
their faith wholly and completely in Jesus the Christ and
His commandments
- Live
their faith in such a way that it will be clearly for the
world to see is active
- Teach
the Gospel and the message of John 14:6 that Jesus is the
'only' way
All else is a false
hope and will not lead anyone to heaven. The Universalist who claims
that everyone can enter heaven has deluded themselves and created yet
another false doctrine. One that sadly was eluded to in CS Lewis' book
"The Great Divorce". For all the wonderful books Lewis had
written over the years, this one seems somehow out of step with the
Gospel. I'll leave it to you to decide if Lewis missed the mark or not.
Just keep in mind that it's not my opinion or yours, but that the Bible
will always have the last word on such contentious issues.
Prayer:
Lord,
it is your name that,
Keeps me safe in life's storms,
Teaches me the truth and gives light,
Is the only way to approach God,
And is the foundation of my salvation.
Show me the way
that leads to heaven,
Teach me the truth of the Gospel,
In you I find my life everlasting.
May I point the
way to others,
May I live the truth for all to see,
And may I share the Gospel of life.
In your loving
name I pray there things,
Jesus the Christ my Lord and Saviour.
Amen