What is Universalism?
- Chad Smith
- May 16
- 4 min read
Universalism is a funny word that has nothing to do with the universe. There’s a belief making its way through the Christian church called universalism, which says that everyone is going to Heaven. It usually parallels with the “all religions lead to the same god” theory. I thought we should go to the Word of God and see what it says.
I’ll be really honest. I don’t like the idea of anyone going to Hell for eternity. I can’t stand the idea of a friend or family member being punished for not receiving the free salvation that’s offered through Jesus. But, if you’ve read the Bible, it’s unfortunately the case.
Universalism caught my attention when the previous Pope wrapped up a three-day visit to Singapore by declaring that “all religions are a path to God.” This comes directly from the Catholic Herald website.
Pope Francis made his remarks during an inter-religious meeting with young people held at a Catholic junior college. He went on to say, “They (different religions) are like different languages to arrive at God, but God is a God for all.” He added that since God is a God for all, “we are all children of God.”
It was quite controversial in that it calls into question the Catholic church’s own doctrine on Christ as the Savior of the world. It also undercuts missionary efforts to bring people to the faith.
The Bible puts it this way in Acts 4:12, saying, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, “I am THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
As you may have guessed, many people hold to universal salvation and believe that all people end up in heaven. Got Questions says it might indeed be the fact that people just can’t handle the thought of people being in hell for eternity.
The Bible is pretty clear on the topic. Unredeemed people will dwell forever in hell. Matthew 25:46 says, “Then they (the unsaved) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” This verse makes it clear that the punishment of the unsaved will be just as eternal as the life of the righteous.
“But a loving God wouldn’t send people to hell.” That is a prevailing cry in the American church today, but unfortunately, it’s not the whole story.
Yes, God is loving and merciful. He’s shown that to me on so many occasions, I’ve lost count. It’s His love and mercy that led Him to send His only Son to die on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins.
God is loving, but He is also holy and just. We forget about the second part a lot these days. The Billy Graham organization website puts it like this:
“God isn’t only kind and loving. He is also holy and just. And because He is just, you can be confident that evil will not go unpunished. Do you honestly believe that God should ignore the evils of a Hitler or Stalin? Should He overlook the evils of a child abuser, terrorist, or swindler?”
Randy Alcorn of Eternal Perspective Ministries says one of the biggest dangers of Universalism is that it diminishes the gravity and necessity of spreading the gospel and striving for holiness in this life. “If I believe that everyone eventually will be saved, I will neither comprehend nor regard the importance of exhorting the saved or unsaved in the way of truth,” he said.
Alcorn went on to say, “Personally, I don’t like believing anyone will suffer in hell for eternity. But I take God at His Word, and I trust that God is good whether or not I understand how everything fits together. I must not try to improve on what Jesus Christ said.
“To not believe in an eternal hell is to deny the truth God has revealed through His Word. We are in no position to displace the Bible with our own understanding of what fairness demands. Who are we to try and hold God to our own fallen standards?”
The Billy Graham organization says it well – “Don’t take lightly either God’s love or God’s justice. Both are true.”
There’s an easy way to avoid suffering in Hell. Give your life to Jesus Christ today, before you enter eternity. It’s too late then. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that,“Now is the time of God’s favor, and now is the time of salvation.”
He loved you enough to make a way for you to live forever with Him. That’s what it’s all about. We can’t do it on our own, and the Good News is we don’t have to!
All it takes is surrendering your life to Jesus, repent of your sins, and ask Him into your heart as Savior and Lord. It takes a prayer along the lines of this one:
"Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sins, and I now turn from my sins to follow You. Please save me and forgive me. Please be my Savior and Lord of my life. Thank you for saving and forgiving me. In your name, Amen."
Here's downloadable audio from the GotQuestions.com website further explaining universalism.
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