Will All Be Saved?

Universalism is the religious belief that all humans will, in the end, be saved.  According to this outlook, there is no eternal hell. Universalism appeals to many because it undercuts claims of exclusive access to ultimate truth.  Thus it’s “culturally correct”; it follows today’s diversity rules so as to offend no one.  Further, it’s comforting to envision friends & loved ones in a happy final state.

If we imagine a human-centered universe, if we exaggerate God’s love and ignore his justice, and if we feel free to cherry-pick Bible texts to feature while ignoring others, then univer­salism could follow quite naturally.  But such presupposition-driven Bible reading is refusing to submit to God!  Jesus Christ & the consistent witness of Scripture and historic Christian doctrine have always stressed that people must place their trust in Christ to be saved.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him” (3:36).  Christ is clear about the necessity of personal, conscious faith in him.

So too the rest of Scripture—take the story of Cornelius (Acts 10-11):  although he was a devout religious man who feared God and prayed faithfully, it was not until he heard the Gospel that he was saved:  “He [Peter] will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved” (Acts 11:14).  Prior to hearing about and trusting in Jesus Christ, Cornelius was lost.

And consider Paul’s example.  He didn’t endure countless trials, including flogging, being stoned, serial imprison­ment, etc. (see 2 Cor 11:23-29), in order to reach remote, non-believing peoples at the far corners of the Roman Empire just to tell them they were already secure in God’s love!  NO.  He risked his life (& ultimately gave his life) because universalism is a heresy:  the lost must hear the message of Christ (Acts 26:18; Rom 10:13-17; 1 Thess 2:16).