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Why universalism is heresy and deception. I am presenting a study:
Quote:
The deception and heresy of Christian Universalism
Posted on April 28, 2016 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff
8 Therefore it says,
“ When HE ascended on high,
HE led captive A host of captives,
And HE gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:8-10 NASB)
I have always taught here that the Bible very clearly refutes universalism, which denies the existence or permanence of the Lake of Fire or Hell. What prompted this study was two separate encounters with professing Christians who disagreed with our understanding of the Gospel, God, Man, and Eternity claiming that they had a better more correct ‘vision’ that was given to them by God Himself. These visions stated that our teaching of the Gospel was wrong and contaminated by churchianity and was , therefore, not the genuine Gospel as taught by Christ and the Apostles.
It wasn’t long ago that universalism was regarded as an extreme minority position held by Unitarians and a few cults. However, a new version of this heresy has emerged which we refer to as Christian univeralism. What is the difference?
Christian universalists, unlike Unitarian universalists, believe that the only path to the Father in heaven is through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Like Unitarian universalists, the basic doctrine of Christian universalism centers around the belief that all men will finally be saved without the emphasis of religious relativism of the Unitarian beliefs. The Christian universalist believes those whom die a temporal death without receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior will come to repentance in the many ages to come in the after life. Christian universalism claims that God’s qualities of divine love and sovereignty demand satisfaction and that the only way this can be accomplished is through the salvation of all peoples throughout history. Christian universalism also advances the like idea, that since universalism is true, then, the doctrine of an eternal conscious hell is false.
Within Christian universalism there exist three different views as to how the ultimate salvation of all peoples is accomplished. The majority view is that the wicked dead are placed in the lake of fire either for a set duration (an age) determined beforehand at a judgment, or until they repent of their sins and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior in submission onto God. The minority view within Christian universalism denies the lake of fire altogether; stating that wicked man will be slowly purified in the age to come through the transcendence of ages to come until which time they may fully join with God. It is at this time that God shall be “all in all” (ref. 1 Corinthians 15:28). Yet another faction of universalism which denies the existence of a literal hell holds that the punishment of sin is administered in this life and that God’s role in our lives is for the purpose of purifying all of mankind through correction. These same universalists also hold that this process of purification is nothing of our own merit and is not counted towards our actual salvation which has already been attested to through the work on the cross. Rather a persons receptiveness towards God’s purifying ministrations will determine their eternal rewards in heaven, with those who did not receive Christ as their Savior receiving less that those whom have and obey His voice.
The doctrine of universalism is of ancient origin and has existed among many schools of Christianity. There are biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments which are interpreted as furnishing Scriptural authority for the belief. Such men as Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, Diodorus, Theodore of Mopsuestia and others laid the foundations for the belief system. They taught that punishment was remedial, that the nature of God was love, and that the Divine mercy could not be satisfied with partial salvation or everlasting punishment.
The doctrine of universalism was condemned as heretical at the Fifth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in the sixth century (553 A.D.) and was largely neglected during the Middle Ages. It was revived during the latter part of the 18th century and was transported to the New England colonies where it was organized into a church largely through the efforts of George DeBenneville, a physician, John Murray, an excommunicated Wesleyan evangelist, and by Hosea Ballou. Ballou wrote a work entitled Trestise of the Atonement (1885), which gave Universalists their basic philosophy of belief. Ballou based his doctrine on the errors of the Unitarians. Universalism has became wide-spread during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The modern movement of Christian universalism originated in England, being a logical development of anti-Calvinistic teaching. It carried the Wesleyan system of free grace to the point where the grace of God would be accepted by all. (ref. Encyclopedia of Religion, ed., Vergilius Ferm, Philosophical Library, New York, 1945, p. 805.)1
Why should we be concerned about this? What does it matter that a few people believe that there is no Hell as long as they believe in the necessity of the cross? It is wrong because it is heretical. It is not what the Bible teaches. It changes the very words of our Lord and the Apostles to appease the demands of people to be included into God’s family who refuse to repent and believe the Gospel. No matter how it is dressed up, it is still a lie with it’s roots in Genesis 3:4:1-5
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “ From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die. ’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5 NASB)
We know what happened after this don’t we? This is the original sin which cast all of Adam and Eve’s descendants into fallen separation from God. Universalists challenge the Word of God by misinterpreting vast numbers of passages to suit their desires while ignoring others that refute what they teach. Universalism is rooted in Satan’s original lie and no matter how new and exciting its proponents try to package it, it is a very old heresy.
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9 NASB)
What is the synagogue of Satan? I have had a few visit Possessing the Treasure who have vilified what we teach and hold here claiming that we are the synagogue of Satan. Jesus is speaking to the Church at Smyrna here about their coming tribulation and persecution. These who say they are Jews, but are not are of this synagogue and they are a big part of the persecution coming upon this church. Our Lord knows all things. What was He speaking of here and what has this to do with universalism?
When Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus in 70AD many Jews fled to Egypt. The City of Alexandria was the cultural and intellectual center of the Roman Empire during this time, rivaling even Ephesus, Athens, and Rome itself. A survey of Alexandria in the 2nd Century revealed over 800,000 Jews living there.The culture at Alexandria was Greek. Greek philosophy was at its height. During the period after 70AD some Jewish thinkers who had become greatly influenced by their Greek culture worked to combine Greek philosophy with Christianity. This movement heavily influenced Clement of Alexandria and his pupil Origen. This form of philosophy was highly allegorical and Origen became an expert at it. Later, Origen was proclaimed a heretic by the Church. Why? The basis of universalism was laid down by him.
Origen desired to provide his students with a superior education. Thereby he endeavored the study of the most celebrated pagans in the land. Considering such Scripture as “Learn not the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah 10:2), Origen:
felt it necessary to make himself more extensively acquainted with the doctrines of the Grecian schools, that he might meet his opponents upon their own ground, and for this purpose he attended the prelections of Ammonius Saccas, at that time in high repute at Alexandria as an expounder of the neoplatonic philosophy, of which school he has generally been considered the founder. The influence which the study of philosophical speculations exerted upon the mind of Origen may be traced in the whole course of his after-development, and proved the fruitful source of many errors which were afterwards laid to his charge, and the controversies arising out of which disturbed the peace of the Church during the following centuries.
Origen pilfered many errors that give rise to the utmost suspicion, but one the lighter side, Origen’s perverted interpretation of Matthew 19:12 led him to castrate himself. This is the most unlikely application of the passage -especially if he had read Deuteronomy 23:1. Edward Gibbons, concerning himself with Origen’s preference for allegorical interpretation, made the ironic observation of, “It seems unfortunate that, in this instance only, he should have adopted the literal sense.”
So it is impossible for flesh and spirit to reside as one? This is your clue. It is super ego vs. id, our animal natures vs the purity of the spirit. The kingdom is within each one of us. Research the above, about our super egos then maybe it will make sense.
Speaking of NOT making sense....a loving God creating people just to torment them forever with no hope at all for these miserable souls??? How sadistic is that? Think of it...billions screaming out in agony forever and ever and ever and God saying to Himself......Now I am happy. Look at all of the suffering. Makes me feel big and powerful.
If you don't know what I am talking about then why on Earth are you proclaiming it??? Answer me. Why does God doom so many? You must have the answer because this is your constant message. Surely you know what your talking about, right?
"The Christian universalist believes those who die a temporal death without receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior will come to repentance in the many ages to come in the after life. Christian universalism claims that God’s qualities of divine love and sovereignty demand satisfaction and that the only way this can be accomplished is through the salvation of all peoples throughout history."
The restitution of the radical all of fallen mankind flows from the One who has purposed within Himself to restore that which is lost.
When the Scripture uses a word such as perish or destroy, the original word is apollumi. The koine Greek word apollumi means to lose, or to be lost. It is the same word Jesus used when He said
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 15:24).
and
"Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7).
The word, apollumi, is used to describe a sheep which was lost and then was found and restored. Christ uses this same exact word in the following verse,
"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28-29). (The word translated as "Hell" in this verse is actually gehenna, the city dump outside of Jerusalem)
The original koine for destroy here is apollumi which means to lose or be lost. This verse is not speaking of an eternal annihilation of a soul, but of a temporary losing of the soul, just like the lost sheep that was later found. It is the same with all the times you see Jesus speaking of someone perishing, such as in John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
A better translation would be whoever believes in Him should not be lost. We are all lost until God finds us.
Those who die yet unbelieving will experience further apollumi, or being lost in the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. But God has promised to destroy all death once and for all and grant belief to all at the consummation of the ages.
If apollumi meant destruction according to the traditional definition by those who believe in eternal torment or annihilation, then Jesus is lost forever,
"But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy (apollumi) Jesus." Matt. 27:20
So then, will you hold to the "traditional" view which makes the word of God of no effect? Or will you have the courage to go against the traditional hell-fire or annihilation view which denigrates the glorious victory Jesus bought through conquering death on the Cross for all mankind?
Those who are lost or perished, are like the lost sheep.
The lost sheep was perished, but the shepherd sought it out and restored it. We are all like the lost sheep before God finds us. Even now we are. We are all apollumi, or lost and perished as the lost sheep was. We are separated and alienated from God. But the lost sheep did not stay that way. And neither does anyone else.
The Good Shepherd does not stop looking until He has found the last one.
When the Scripture uses a word such as perish or destroy, the original word is apollumi. The koine Greek word apollumi means to lose, or to be lost. It is the same word Jesus used when He said
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 15:24).
and
"Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7).
The word, apollumi, is used to describe a sheep which was lost and then was found and restored. Christ uses this same exact word in the following verse,
"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28-29). (The word translated as "Hell" in this verse is actually gehenna, the city dump outside of Jerusalem)
The original koine for destroy here is apollumi which means to lose or be lost. This verse is not speaking of an eternal annihilation of a soul, but of a temporary losing of the soul, just like the lost sheep that was later found. It is the same with all the times you see Jesus speaking of someone perishing, such as in John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
A better translation would be whoever believes in Him should not be lost. We are all lost until God finds us.
Those who die yet unbelieving will experience further apollumi, or being lost in the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. But God has promised to destroy all death once and for all and grant belief to all at the consummation of the ages.
If apollumi meant destruction according to the traditional definition by those who believe in eternal torment or annihilation, then Jesus is lost forever,
"But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy (apollumi) Jesus." Matt. 27:20
So then, will you hold to the "traditional" view which makes the word of God of no effect? Or will you have the courage to go against the traditional hell-fire or annihilation view which denigrates the glorious victory Jesus bought through conquering death on the Cross for all mankind?
Those who are lost or perished, are like the lost sheep.
The lost sheep was perished, but the shepherd sought it out and restored it. We are all like the lost sheep before God finds us. Even now we are. We are all apollumi, or lost and perished as the lost sheep was. We are separated and alienated from God. But the lost sheep did not stay that way. And neither does anyone else.
The Good Shepherd does not stop looking until He has found the last one.
Both the article and it's source argue against UR from a lack of spiritual understanding of who or what man (soul) is (ie: a physical body having a "flesh"-ly nature taken from the earth + the "spirit" of man derived from the breath of God).
Nor do they discuss, with any spiritual depth, how God created all things in and for Christ, the soul's nature (flesh and spirit), how the soul was subjected to vanity - in hope, and how all creation was elected in the elect one, Christ - our hope. The judgments that are taken against the flesh to the saving of soul's spirit, etc. And, until those fundamental principles are clearly understood, you'll not be able to understand UR and the scriptures that affirm it.
I think that might be because you are so caught up in your Calvinistic mindset which is limiting your understanding
Universalism is built from fantasy and dreams, a sandy foundation indeed.
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Think of it...billions screaming out in agony forever and ever and ever and God saying to Himself......Now I am happy. Look at all of the suffering. Makes me feel big and powerful. 
