Universal Reconciliation- what is it??

[kimilmela]

I have never come accross this doctrine before, at least not with that name anyway, and am wondering what it is???
I gather from many threads on this forum that it's not scriptural, but would like to understand what it says in case I come accross it in any other situation, and have to answer it....
Can anyone explain briefly to help me, please?

[Paul_born_again]

I'm not very familiar with it, so I might be slightly off on some of this; but basically it is the belief that hell is not eternal (such as purgatory), and all souls will eventually find their way to God.

It is a teaching that is against the Bible from all that I have studied.

My thinking on the matter is this: even if it is true (not saying that it is), would you want to take that risk? Or would you want to take the risk of giving someone that false information and they only find out it is not true after they have died and it is too late?

[Sold Out]

In Christian theology, universal reconciliation or universal salvation, is the doctrine or belief that all will eventually find reconciliation and salvation with God. It is believed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides atonement for all sins. This concept is often called universalism, but is distinct from Unitarian Universalism.

[enarchay]

I have never come accross this doctrine before, at least not with that name anyway, and am wondering what it is???
I gather from many threads on this forum that it's not scriptural, but would like to understand what it says in case I come accross it in any other situation, and have to answer it....
Can anyone explain briefly to help me, please?

It's the belief that the ultimate fate of all of humanity, including the wicked, whether by faith or chastisement, is to enter into harmony with God in New Jerusalem, i.e. all of humanity will eventually go to Heaven.

[enarchay]

My thinking on the matter is this: even if it is true (not saying that it is), would you want to take that risk? Or would you want to take the risk of giving someone that false information and they only find out it is not true after they have died and it is too late?

Good point!

I remain open on the subject; that is, I see Universal Salvation as a possibility, for all things are possible with God. However, whether eternal torment, annihilation, or Universal Salvation, the lake of fire is not somewhere you want to go.

[enarchay]

In Christian theology, universal reconciliation or universal salvation, is the doctrine or belief that all will eventually find reconciliation and salvation with God. It is believed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides atonement for all sins. This concept is often called universalism, but is distinct from Unitarian Universalism.

Yeah, your definition is a little better than mine

[justsurfing]

"Jesus is the Savior of the world... not merely in word but in deed."

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Not a "definition"... but just the heart of a child (God's child, me) saying what it means to me.

I mean, I used to read these things like the above scripture in the Bible. I thought they were nice ideas... a "potential"... which would never be realized.

You know, His death was all-sufficient for all sins... but life just didn't work out that way.

So, in practical reality, I didn't really believe the testimony the Father gave of His Son. (I thought it was just a "nice idea"... doomed to end in eternal misery; not for me, but for most everyone else... the majority.)

I've since repented of mine unbelief.

"If Jesus said it I believe it... His Word cannot lie. If it's written in the Bible, I'll believe it til I die!" (A song we'd sing in church with Bibles held high. Since then I've learned I didn't believe what God said... but I did believe what man said.... what translators had said. Sigh. I'm still grieved a bit over that.)

I would have believed that testimony the Father gave of the Son... that He is sent by the Father to be the Savior of the world... without reservation.

I don't care how "remarkable" it is. If Jesus said it I believe it. (My 2 cents.)

I'm a Christian. What the Bible says, I'd lay my life down to say is the Truth. I'm going to believe it... and not question. Just believe.

Love in Christ,

js

[God_of_Hearts]

I have to be honest I have no knowledge about it but I did do some research and came up with a couple of links that I have reviewed and they give some pretty in depth information on it.

http://truthcontinuum.tripod.com/Universal.html

http://www.richardwaynegarganta.com/...Part%20One.htm

Hope this helps!
God Bless!!

[heart hammer]

I am new here but I would like to just jump right in.

What was the first lie recorded in the bible?
Genesis 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, 'ye shall not surely die:"
Consider the fact that Satan is speaking here of physical death, whereas when God said that Adam would die, He was referring to spiritual death. As is always the case. God speaks of the spiritual ("God is Spirit, those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth"). Satan always appeals to the flesh.
The notion of universal reconciliation is one rooted in the original lie which Satan told in the beginning and continues to convince man of even today.
Ye shall not surely die.
Now fast forward to Revelation 20:14-15 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Just something to consider when speculating that such things might indeed be true.
By the way; Hi I am Heart Hammer

[kimilmela]

Ahh thanks peeps! I have come accross this before then- just not with a posh name! It's basically part of the lead-on to saying that all religions lead to the same God, so it doesn't matter which you follow/ don't follow, as they all have the same end result....
If this doctrine is correct, it negates the whole of the gospel and the need for Jesus....After all, if we are all destined to find peace with God and salvation eventually, no matter what, God would never have needed to send His only Son to die a cruel and terrible death, with all the pain and heartache that caused Him as a parent etc, to provide the only means of salvation for us....
But as God went to those lengths to give us access to that relationship with Him, then it was obviously needed....we could not do it on our own, nor would it just happen eventually automatica,ly
Therefore, according to my very simple logic, this doctrine is patently false teaching!
Thanks for your help!

[EarlyCall]

The mistake many make regarding God's word, and it always amazes me, is to take some scripture, isolate it from all other scripture and then call it truth. It is not truth - only the whole of God's word is truth.

God's word is very clear that many will go to hell. It is also very clear that hell is forever.

It is that simple. The only way to think that all will be eventually saved is to disregard all of God's word. When people ignore the scripture concerning hell, then they are free to take other scripture and quite simply misunderstand it. But when all of God's word is taken together, then the scripture some isolate to make it mean what they want makes perfect sense.

There is a day coming, a day of judgement, when Jesus will say to some to depart from Him for He never knew them.

Anyone able to explain how and when they will get to know Him so they can enter into heaven? If in this life, the life when we make our choice for Him to be our savior they did not do so, how and when will they once they have entered into hell? They will not nor is there any scripture supporting this.

It is always the case that anyone claiming such a thing uses some scripture that seemingly supports their argument, but what you never see them able to do is to take all the scripture on hell and scripture that says many will be there and the scripture that says it is forever and get them to explain that.

They quite simply ignore it and claim it doesn't mean what it says. So on the one hand they claim scripture does mean what they say it means but other contrary scriputre means somehting else - what it means they cannot tell you.

All will not be saved, and those that are lost will be lost for all of eternity.

There is simply too much in God's word clearly saying that hell is real, it is eternal and many will go there - and there they will remain for all eternity.

[heart hammer]

When presented it can be a rather formidable doctrine to refute. It took several people and several days to scripturally refute it. Those who adhere to this doctrine are well equipped to throw out numerous verses as well as passages of scripture to back up their claims. However, the scriptures are still misconstrued [Think: "Yea, hath God said..."]. Some of the most profound lies are the ones with the most truth mixed in.
Some of the verses which are used are. Christ did not die only for those who don't believe but for the sins of the whole world. This is in scripture. But once we realize that the only unforgiveable sin is the one which condemns the unbeliever is actually blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To Blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to attribute the Work of the Holy Spirit to a lie or a work of the devil. For example; the purpose of the Holy Spirit is to bring the truth of Jesus Christ and His attonement for our sins, as well as to convict the unbeliever to a point of repentence. If we reject Jesus Christ we are calling the true and faithful witness of the Holy Spirit a lie. Satan was a liar from the beginning and the father of them. Do you see what I am saying?
Another point to be made here. Christ died for the sins of the whole world. In the parable of the treasure and the field.
Matthew 13:44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
The field is the world which Christ bought with all that He had (His very life), we (as believers) are the treasure buried in the field. He paid for the whole world so that we could be redeemed out of it. Christ is the King over all of Creation, not just those he owns.

Glory be to God for His righteous plan of salvation which has been wrought for us in the precious blood of Christ.
Take Care and God Bless

[Joyfilled]

I have never come accross this doctrine before, at least not with that name anyway, and am wondering what it is???
I gather from many threads on this forum that it's not scriptural, but would like to understand what it says in case I come accross it in any other situation, and have to answer it....
Can anyone explain briefly to help me, please?

It's the belief that the wicked will be refined in the fires of hell and all will be saved int he end. It is so unbiblical, but unfortunately, a very popular teaching.

[Joyfilled]

The mistake many make regarding God's word, and it always amazes me, is to take some scripture, isolate it from all other scripture and then call it truth. It is not truth - only the whole of God's word is truth.

God's word is very clear that many will go to hell. It is also very clear that hell is forever.

It is that simple. The only way to think that all will be eventually saved is to disregard all of God's word. When people ignore the scripture concerning hell, then they are free to take other scripture and quite simply misunderstand it. But when all of God's word is taken together, then the scripture some isolate to make it mean what they want makes perfect sense.

There is a day coming, a day of judgement, when Jesus will say to some to depart from Him for He never knew them.

Anyone able to explain how and when they will get to know Him so they can enter into heaven? If in this life, the life when we make our choice for Him to be our savior they did not do so, how and when will they once they have entered into hell? They will not nor is there any scripture supporting this.

It is always the case that anyone claiming such a thing uses some scripture that seemingly supports their argument, but what you never see them able to do is to take all the scripture on hell and scripture that says many will be there and the scripture that says it is forever and get them to explain that.

They quite simply ignore it and claim it doesn't mean what it says. So on the one hand they claim scripture does mean what they say it means but other contrary scriputre means somehting else - what it means they cannot tell you.

All will not be saved, and those that are lost will be lost for all of eternity.

There is simply too much in God's word clearly saying that hell is real, it is eternal and many will go there - and there they will remain for all eternity.

Believe it or not, they try to redefine the world "eternal". But the problem they have is that they only want to redefine it when it concerns hell not heaven. So they paint themselves into the corner. I have debated many of them and they end up name-calling those who say there's an eternal hell.

[matthew94]

In the early church there were Christians who believed in universal reconciliation, Christians who believed in conditional mortality (annihilationism), and Christians who believed in eternal torment. I, personally, consider it a secondary issue worthy of a good debate but certainly not worth dividing over.

It was said above the people who believe in universal reconcilation have to ignore all of Scripture. That's certainly a severe overstatement. There aren't even hundreds of verses about the fate of unbelievers. We have a somewhat limited amount of information to work with. I think all can agree that there is some Scriptural support for all 3 major views. It's just a matter of deciding which view has the 'most' Scriptural support and in recent church tradition that is the eternal torment view.