Most Christians I know do not believe Jesus will save all people. Often when the subject of Jesus being the Savior of the world is brought up, non-universalist Christians ask, "Who else believes in universalism?" They want to know if there are any "famous" Christians alive today who are universalists. Are there any TV preachers or best-selling Christian authors who are universalists? I don't know that there are. But does that really matter? I know some very famous people who are universalists that have complete confidence in God's ability to save all people. I'll briefly list some of them.
Daniel (somewhat famous)- Chapter 2:35,44 35"Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." These verses speak of God's righteous kingdom ending all of man's wicked kingdoms, filling the whole earth, and standing forever. See also Daniel 7:14 & 27.
Jesus (He's pretty famous) In Luke 9:56 He said, "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save." Jesus said this to two of his closest followers, James and John, after they wanted to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans who did not receive Jesus. You can see the difference between man and Jesus when it comes to how they treat their enemies. Man destroys; God saves.
John the Baptist (somewhat famous) said of Jesus in John 1:29, "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world." John knew why Jesus came--to take away our sin--all of it.
John the (famous) Apostle wrote in John 5:21-23 these words of Jesus, 21"For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he will. 22For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honours not the Son honours not the Father which has sent him." Through His righteous judgments Jesus will cause all people to honor Him. And when Jesus completes His work all people will be more than happy to honor Him.
Apostle Peter (another famous guy) preached about Jesus in Acts 3:21, 21"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." All things will be made right in God's time.
Apostle Paul (yeah, he's famous too) wrote in 1 Timothy 2:4, "[God] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." What God wants is good--the salvation of all men. Believe that God will get what He wants, because He will. He truly is the Almighty.
Moses (famous) wrote about God's command to Adam in Genesis 1:27-28, 27"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" Even though Adam did not accomplish God's plan to fill the earth with very good people bearing the pure image of God, God hasn't changed His original plan. It will be completed by the "last Adam," Jesus. Read the very encouraging verses in 1 Corinthians 15:21-28 to see how He will do this.
Isaiah (wow, another famous guy)- Chapter 26:9, "...for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. There will come a time when all people of the world will learn righteousness. Why not start now by getting to know Jesus and following Him? If you come to Him now you can escape the wrath to come and the judgments that are part of that wrath. God cannot overlook our sin as if it isn't real. The only way to be forgiven of our sin is through faith in Jesus.
Daniel (somewhat famous)- Chapter 2:35,44 35"Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." These verses speak of God's righteous kingdom ending all of man's wicked kingdoms, filling the whole earth, and standing forever. See also Daniel 7:14 & 27.
This is enough "famous people" support for me to put my faith in God's desire and ability to save all men and complete His goal of having the earth filled with very good people who bear His pure image. All people will worship and obey Him with hearts full of love and gratitude for His mercy and grace toward all of us, though none of us deserve it. Praise His name!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hey, let's get the conversation going, post a comment.