Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them (John 3:36).
The argument, the entire philosophy, sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want everyone to be saved? After all — God is love! Why would he send anyone to hell who he loves?
The Apostle John tells us himself, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). And for good measure, to make sure we got the point, John repeats this in verse 16: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them.”
"There is no such thing as being 'saved.'" "You don’t need to believe in Jesus because we are all going to heaven anyway. Jesus was just an example for us to follow."
All religions will get you there, or no religion will get you there because it is the same God. God is nothing more than us, who we are in our essence. And when we die, we will return to become part of the universe. So, let’s eat, drink, and be merry!
This, then, is indeed the primary argument of the liberal theology we know as universalism. Perhaps a bit exaggerated, but not by much.
What Is the Definition of Universalism?
Universalism is a doctrine that teaches all people will be saved. There are certainly variations of the belief — including there being no such thing as hell or that God will release the inhabitants of hell after a certain period of punishment and cleansing (in other words, purgatory).
Others believe that after death, people will be given another opportunity to choose God. In general, universalists also believe that all religions will get you into heaven. The study of universalism could take up pages and pages of discussion.
Many teachers of universalism decry the message of Jesus as Christ — or even the entire concept of “christ” as we know it. They argue that Jesus was nothing more than an “archetype” — an example for us all since we each could be our own “christ.”
I once heard one prominent universalist make the statement (on a CD) that he doesn’t understand why “Christ would come back again in fierce judgment since he didn’t come that way the first time.”
Such an argument directly contradicts the Bible — even Jesus himself. In John 4, the Samaritan woman at the well says to Jesus, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” To which Jesus replied, “I who speak to you am he” (v. 25-26, ESV).
In fact, universalism runs utterly contrary to the teachings of the Bible. The arguments of universalists make me want to scream out, “What Bible could you possibly be reading? And if it’s the same Bible as me, why are you insisting on tearing out pages and simply ignoring what it has to say about the difference between salvation and hell?”
That’s my reaction — and maybe yours too. But let’s face it, such would do little to persuade or defend what we truly believe. However, rather than argue, we can simply point defenders of universalism to the Bible — with specific verses and parables. And with two questions:
1. If everyone goes to heaven, then why can’t we live however we want to live here on earth?
2. If everyone goes to heaven — then why did Jesus have to be crucified, and what did his resurrection mean to us?
What Does the Bible Teach?
Universalism focuses directly and exclusively on God’s love, grace, and mercy — attributes for which we are all grateful — eternally.
However, universalist theology ignores his holiness, his justice, and his wrath. While we all know John 3:16 — reflecting God’s love — too often overlooked is John 3:36.
Universalists like to say, “we are all children of God,” yet this contradicts what the Bible says:
Yet to all who did receive him, (Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
Jesus himself taught about hell:
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out (Mark 9:43-48).
While it is called “hell” in the NIV, the actual word used by Jesus referred to “Gehenna” — the Valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem — a huge public rubbish dump where trash and dead bodies burned in permanently smoldering fires. Thus, Gehenna became the name for “hell,” as we use it today.
The Book of Revelation refers to this as the “second death:”
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death (Revelation 21:8).
Jesus’ Teachings about Hell
It might surprise you to know that Jesus taught more about hell being the consequence of God’s wrath than any other person in the Bible. He had more to say and teach about hell than anyone else. He likened hell, Gehenna, to a fire at least 11 times.
Three times, Jesus referred to the “outer darkness” where a person may be “cast out” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30), referring to them as places where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” — also using the expression a few other times as a description of the fate of the unrighteous at the coming of God’s judgment.
With all of this, most poignant perhaps are the parables of Jesus, wherein he taught about the Day of Judgment and our need to be ready. Here are a few among many:
1. The Wheat and Tares. God’s field of wheat is endangered by the weeds planted by Satan. At the harvest, the wheat will be gathered, but the weeds will be thrown into the fire. Jesus taught the day of judgment is coming (Matthew 13:24-30).
2. The Sheep and the Goats. Foretelling the great judgment, the Lord welcomes the righteous sheep on his right to the glory of heaven but dismisses the wicked goats on his left to the fires of hell (Matthew 25:31-46).
3. The Parable of the Net. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a fishing net thrown into the sea and pulled in full of all kinds of fish. The fisherman proceeded to separate the good – which they kept – from the bad, which were thrown away. “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous….”
The message being — while God is very forgiving, he will make his judgment on people when the kingdom of God comes (Matthew 13:47-50).
4. The Wise and the Foolish Bridesmaids. Ten bridesmaids await the arrival of the groom, oil lamps in hand. Five were wise and carried extra oil; five were foolish and unprepared. When the groom returned, his words to the foolish, “depart from me; I know you not” (Matthew 25:1-13).
Perhaps the most direct and poignant parable of all…
5. The Rich Man and Lazarus. A rich man who had been insensitive to the poor — to Lazarus (not the one Jesus raised from the dead) — ends up in hell.
Looking, he sees Abraham standing there with Lazarus and begs him to send Lazarus with water (failing to ask to come to heaven, even then). He still looks down on Lazarus and sees him as an errand boy.
Abraham states, “A great chasm has been set in place…” that none can cross over. Importantly, Abraham’s words to the rich man about his relatives, those like him: “they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:19-31).
What Should Our Response Be?
Though constantly taught and preached by Jesus and throughout the entire Bible, the themes of hell, death, and eternal damnation, our need to be ready, and our need for Christ are all too seldom spoken of and taught. Yet, we have been warned.
In what is often referred to as the Olivet Discourse, in Matthew 24, Jesus describes events that will take place before his second coming — before the Day of Judgment.
Indeed, Paul warned us too that in the latter days, we would be all too willing to listen to what sounded good…to us (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
Jesus gave us the answer to what we should do, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44).
What should a Christian’s response to universalism be?
Take heed! Be on guard! Be alert! Watch; and pray. Be prepared (Mark 13).
For further reading:
Is Universalism a Biblical Concept?
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