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article Second Clement "If we do the will of Christ, we shall obtain rest; but if not, if we neglect his commandments, nothing will rescue us from eternal punishment" (Second Clement 5:5 150 AD). Second Clement (150 AD) "But when they see how those who have sinned and who have denied Jesus by their words or by their deeds are punished with terrible torture in unquenchable fire." 160 AD Mathetes "When you know what is the true life, that of heaven; when you despise the merely apparent death, which is temporal; when you fear the death which is real, and which is reserved for those who will be condemned to the everlasting fire, the fire which will punish even to the end those who are delivered to it, then you will condemn the deceit and error of the world" (Letter to Diognetus 10:7). 177 AD Athenagoras speaking on the hope of Christians then says . . . or if we fall with the rest [of mankind], a worse one and in fire" (Plea for the Christians 31). 189 AD Irenaeus of Lyons "The penalty increases for those who do not believe the Word of God and despise his coming ... [I]t is not merely temporal, but eternal. To whomsoever the Lord shall say, 'Depart from me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire,' they will be damned forever" (Against Heresies, 4:28:2). Hippolytus "Standing before [Christ's] judgment, all of them, men, angels, and demons, crying out in one voice, shall say: 'Just if your judgment!' And the righteousness of that cry will be apparent in the recompense made to each. To those who have done well, everlasting enjoyment shall be given; while to the lovers of evil shall be given eternal punishment. The unquenchable and unending fire awaits these latter, and a certain fiery worm which does not die and which does not waste the body but continually bursts forth from the body with unceasing pain. No sleep will give them rest; no night will soothe them; no death will deliver them from punishment; no appeal of interceding friends will profit them" (Against the Greeks 3). Doesn't sound like inclusivism from some of the more well-known theologians of the church. And the reason is because neither does the Bible say this. The point is that one can find some obscure statements to try and prove their view but universalism was neither the majority view nor a widely held view in the early church, especially by those who stood on the Bible's revelation. It was held by but a few who had no real influence on the church. Many other quotes could be cited. Pearson also states: The mainstream church believes there is only one salvation--that from sin. That is where the error is. It is true that salvation is primarily from sin, which is the offence of Adam, but there is also a need for salvation from works of the flesh, which are bad or unGod-like habits and hobbies, because of that original sin." This is the same thing, as the sin nature works its ways through our physical life. The fact is an unrepentant sinner not trusting in Christ's atonement will end up going to hell. He may even appear to live a more pure life then some Christians in some respects but because he has neglected to accept the way, he will not enter. Pearson also states, Hell was prepared for the devil (or slanderer) and his angels (or messengers) (Mt. 25:41). Don't be so quick to send your fellow man to Hell, especially if God is not desiring to do so Himself (2 Pet. 3:9). Hell is a bad place, so why is mainstream Christianity OK or comfortable with "the lost" going there? I don't think anyone is comfortable with it and making an argument from what is not a held belief doesn't help this position. We are to be uncomfortable enough to tell people so they can avoid going there. In fact if you look at the Scripture cited it is people that are being consigned there, not the devil and his angels. The point is the Bible says it was made at first for the Devil and the angels who were the first sinners in the universe. Jesus warned of men going to the same place "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:41) God's mercy is narrow, not wide, the deception is wide. Every time Jesus uses the word wide it's a bad thing. Matt 7:13-15 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. He goes on to teach about false prophets in sheep's clothing who are really wolves, and likening people to trees he states, "every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire." The eternal torment view of mankind who rejects Christ has been held as the majority view since the beginning of the church. The main Scriptures are: Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 9:38-48; Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 12:24-36; John 3:35-36; Revelation 19:19-21; Revelation 20:7-10; Revelation 20:11-15. selah Salvation is not limited to mean only going to heaven for one must be forgiven of their offence to God in the first place. This is a misunderstanding of how serious our sin is and the effect it has on us. That's not my opinion that's God's absolute word on this. (Jn.3:) Pearson believes the granting of sanctification is conditional, based on the choice of the individual. But yet one cannot be sanctified without first being justified, and this according to God's word which he tells us he is using. This theology creates a two class system of people who are going to heaven. Those who have never heard of Jesus Christ that have other religious beliefs that are false according to Jesus. The "sanctified" persons who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ seem to attain a higher level. What's the difference of those who actually knew Him and followed Him on earth if they both receive the same outcome? The answer is simple, it doesn't substantially matter. Pearson states --The Apostle Paul, whose teachings were the first to be referred to as heresies in Acts 24:14, was the first to teach the message of universal reconciliation, as he tried to convince Jews and Jewish Christians that the Gospel was inclusive of all of Humankind and not confined to a so-called "faithful few." It is Romans 5 that universalists love to use apart from Pauls other writings. Let's read his almost 2000-year-old words: Romans 5:12 -21: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." His mistake is a common one. Though Adam means mankind, there was an individual named Adam who was the one who bought sin into the world that affected all mankind. Gen 3:17 "And unto Adam" the noun is used for the first time as a proper name without the article. The scripture is talking about a particular person Adam as it is Moses. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, corrected that mistake--all are forgiven for the offence which came through the first Adam (1 Cor 15:45) if they put their trust in Jesus' sacrifice, there is a qualification that universalists seem to ignore. Rom 5:8-11 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."The blood has to be applied just as it was in the first Passover in Egypt. Here is the same Paul qualifying what he meant in Romans by stating in 1 Tim 1:15-16 "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life." Paul is giving himself as an example for the worst kind of person having God's mercy given if they believe on him. Paul certainly believed on Christ Jesus and taught others to do the same. It is true as those who are in Christ live but to come into Christ one must choose to do so. Romans 5 "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! "In Adam all are condemned, in Christ all live Through His sacrificial death, the gift of eternal life is offered to the many." The trespass passed to all indescrimanently, it is inherited. This becomes an issue of what is called the sin nature in all people. We are not punished because of Adam's transgression but for our own sin which we have inherited from him, we are all in the same boat-- all have sinned. We are all sinners because we have inherited the fallen nature of Adam. Our being born with this sin is a proof of our guilt in Adam the fallen man. As the Book of Romans teaches "THEREFORE, just as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners, Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Rom 5:12) We die because we are already spiritually dead, which God calls us sinners. Rom.5:15 "But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many." The many is meaning the whole race; both Jews and Gentiles. The many to whom grace abounds, who receive the gift of righteousness, (the many means the same for both Adam and the gift offered results in justification. Paul has already told us how to be justified in Rom 5:1-2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Notice By faith we are justified and have access into his grace. Paul is not confused on this issue the universalists are. When Paul states THEREFORE, it is a summation of what he previously wrote. Barnes' commentary states Rom 5:15 "In order that the Universalist may draw an argument from this, he must show that it was the design of Christ to destroy ALL the effects of the sin of Adam. But this has not been in fact. Though the favors of that work have abounded, yet people have suffered and died. And though it may still abound to the many, yet some may suffer here, and suffer on the same principle forever." (from Barnes' commentary) V.16 "And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. The two groups in this verse do not refer to everyone the same way. The first many includes all who became subject to death as a result of Adam's trespass. By the one offense of Adam brought sin and judgment to all, and all are now condemned. The free gift of Christ, on the other hand, removes the many offenses, not just one that came from Adam. However, there is a qualification to have this free gift. Paul makes a parallel, a comparison between the offence of Adam and its consequence; and the free gift of God and its distribution to its recipients. Adam's offence, is not more powerful than the Gospel grace. Paul says where sin abounds grace abounds much more. There is a resemblance in the manner of the two things compared. Guilt and condemnation came by Adam, but justification and righteousness come by Christ. Not that we all are recipients automatically, we must do something to be transferred from Adam into Christ.From the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The many means all who become members of the new creation, through Christ the new Federal Head, the last Adam. It includes only those to whom God's grace has been applied by faith-that is, true believers. They will know their life has changed because they are following the life-giver.(Romans 6 takes us through this). All the whosoever will passages become meaningless if everyone makes it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ insists upon obedience to His Word, all these commands become options not necessary for salvation when one adopts a universalist viewpoint. Christ Jesus died for every man; salvation is free for all; Rom 5:17 "For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." It is received in the gospel by Christ. In other words everyone inherited the sin of Adam with no choice in the matter. But the gift is not the same in that one must choose to receive it, it is found in Christ. The gift is not in its nature and effect like the offence. It is absurd to take the position, that "the all" in the latter extends with "the all" in the former. The plain sense of the scripture is, that all found in Christ should be made alive in Him. Even as all mankind, or all represented by Adam, had died in him when he sinned. To whom "grace abounded" in v.20 are obviously the same with those in Rom 5:17, for Paul clearly affirms "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23) All mankind are in some sense benefited on account of the atonement of Christ: yet fall short of "saving benefit." We are in the age of Grace and God is withholding judgment but Paul says he will judge one day, and if you are still in the first Adam you will receive the penalty. Universalists are unable to interpret the apostle's reasoning, supposing that Adam and Christ represent exactly the same company; Adam was representative of the whole human species, because they are his posterity; Christ, is representing the chosen remnant, which has become one with him by faith in his sacrifice. 1 Cor 15:21-22 "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." You will remain in Adam unless you exercise faith, yet you will experience the resurrection. But some will be resurrected to eternal life others to eternal condemnation. This purpose is to show them the things they did in their body. Paul qualifies what he states in Rom.5 elsewhere so there is no cloudiness to what he means unless one isolates his writing with everything else he wrote. Rom 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." One is not a son unless they are adopted, no one is born automatically into Christ's family, only in Adam's. John 1:9-13 "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Paul says to test yourself to see if you are in the faith. You can't receive the benefits of being in Christ unless you are in Christ by faith. This includes salvation and heaven. Gal. 3:26 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Not everyone is a son in the family of God with a relationship to God. Go to page three of Carlton Pearson and universalism Or return to Universalism Main Page |
