How serious of a heresy is Universalism?

December 14, 2020 by Stephen Davey

Leland from Virginia asked: How serious of a heresy is Christian Universalism?

Well, Leland, It's a huge problem. I’ll begin by stating that it's an oxymoron to put the terms “Christian” and “Universalism” together. One is heresy and one is the truth.

Here are some references to consider:

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12: ESV)

That's the gospel. That's the message that we share with our friends, neighbors, and world.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 ESV)

How can I know that I’m not condemned today? Is it because I'm a good person? Or because I'm sincere in what I believe? Will God give me credit for following a false god, because at least I'm trying?

No. Romans 8:1 says:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

Universalism is a heresy that's been around for centuries and will continue to spread. Why? Because the message of Universalism is that everybody makes it to heaven. The problem is that God’s Word, while teaching that heaven is real, also teaches that hell is real. Both are realities. Universalism is a dangerous heresy because it leads millions to hell while giving them the false hope of heaven.

Salvation is something we need to be precise about, and follow God’s Word exactly. If you get it wrong, you go to hell. If you get it right, you go to heaven.

Thanks for your question, Leland,

Stephen

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Comments

Greg Shlapak says:

I suggest you do a little studying on this because you don’t seem to get what this teaches at all. First, it was an opinion held by a majority of the schools of Christian learning in the first 5 centuries. It is based on many many Bible quotes that declare all will be saved eventually, THROUGH Jesus Christ, not without faith in Him. They teach that God will allow those who never heard of Jesus or did not understand the gospel to be taught from Jesus Himself in the next age, or after death. There are not any verses that say God cannot do this, but many that say God wants all saved and He will not stop seeking even one lost person until He finds them, such as in the parable of the good shepherd. God will be all in all, for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things, He will restore all things, He will make all things new, every tongue will swear allegiance to Him, confess Jesus is Lord and bow their knee in obedience to Him, all flesh will come to Him, all shall know Him, every created being will honor and praise and worship Him! (Rev 5:13) He will wipe away tears from all faces (Isaiah 25:7) the spirit of all will return to God who gave it. Here are all taken directly from the Bible, man many more, afterlife correction is only for an age or God ordained period of correction, never stated as eternal in the original languages of the Bible. Do our own research. God will do all of His pleasure,, and it pleases Him to save AlL!

Brett Honeycutt says:

No where in scripture is universalism taught. Complete heresy. Read those passages in context Greg.

Skip Holcombe says:

Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven (Matthew 25:46). The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Psalm 76:10). Those who are in hell will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (Deuteronomy 32:3-5). Yes, hell is real. Yes, hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16, 18, 36).

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