Understanding the events of the end of the age can be confusing and takes a lot of study. But if you are born of God’s spirit you have the Spirit of Truth residing within you and is more than able to give you knowledge, wisdom and understanding. I pray that you would be given revelation concerning these events and that our Father would answer all your questions so that you will not be confused.

If you have specific questions you’d like to ask, please do so. I am more than happy to help with answers if I can.

God Bless You!

I understand your difficulty in seeing how Universal Reconciliation fits in with many of the other topics this blog discusses. However, this teaching is not new and was in fact an important doctrine of much of the early church. If anything, this teaching was buried during the “Dark Ages” of the church where men sought to control others through fear and emphasized teachings on hell and eternal torment.

The Old and New Testaments both continuously point to a time of restoration of all things (see Acts 3:20-21, Colossians 1:19-20, Romans 8:19-23). The time of apostasy and gross darkness that we are now facing is simply a precursor to God’s ultimate plan to restore his entire creation back to himself through Christ. Sin and rebellion in the world and the church must be judged and purged. God will not be mocked. He will not allow men to continually sin without reaping the results of their actions. This is the purpose of the strong delusion and the prophecied tribulation the world must endure before Christ’s return. But, it does not end there. The biblical pattern is that judgement precedes restoration (see Jeremiah 29:10-14). The greatest example of this is seen through Jesus who took the judgments of the world upon himself and after three days was resurrected (restored) to his rightful place at the right hand of God. This is a picture, a type of what will happen with the entire creation when all things are summed up in Christ (see Ephesians 1:9-10, Philippians 2:9-11).

Universalism must be reclaimed from the empty promises of those who seek to enter into God’s kingdom through some other means but Christ. It is because of Christ’s preeminence over creation and his promise to put all enemies under his feet in order to reconcile all things to God that this great promise underlies my hope. The signs of the times are pointing to tribulation, but tribulation does not last forever. God’s ultimate plan is not to leave his creation in ruins, but to restore it to glory. Jesus’ sacrificial life and death on the cross was indeed for the whole world, not just a select few from the billions of people that have lived. The few who receive salvation in this lifetime are the first fruits unto God but there are harvests that must be reaped at later times to yield the full measure of the harvest.

Thanks for your comment. I hope this reply helps with understanding my position and the teaching of Universal Reconciliation.

It’s wonderful that you have not given up on community. None of us should. The church is the Body of Christ not any particular fellowship, denomination, etc.

As far as the tithing issue, there are many facets of the Old Testament practice of tithing that are not being practiced today. This is why I believe it is hypocritical to practice tithing the way much of the organized church does today. It violates the spirit of the intended purpose of the tithe and is serving to make a few of the church leadership rich.

With that said, I subscribe to the New Testament principal of giving that we should give freely as purposed in our own hearts. For some this will be 10% of our income, for others it could be more or less. No one has a right to judge what an individual determines in his/her heart to give.

The collective members of the church should see to it that orphans, widows, and the stranger should be taken care of. Unfortunately, this does not happen as much as it should largely because of the unscriptural way many churches are structured. I commend your fellowship for doing so, but please don’t presume that I am ignorant of these scriptural principles and do not practice them also.

I’m sorry if the article or my comments afterward were confusing. Perhaps this means I need to do a better job of communicating.

I would like to address your comment on Romans 5:18-19 before I discuss Matthew 7:15-23.

In reference to Romans 5:18-19 you stated, “It does not prove that all will in fact be saved, but that the plan is suited to meet all the evils of the fall. A certain kind of medicine may have an original applicability to heal all persons under the same disease; and may be abundant and certain, and yet in fact be applied to few. [in other words, you have to actually TAKE the Medicine for it to do you any good.]”

I understand your logic in this statement, but I will show that the universal medicine of Christ’s sacrificial death is in no way intended to only be applied to a few. If a worldwide pandemic were to threaten all of human life, it is certain we would not be able to produce enough vaccine in time to cure the disease before many would die. However, this is not the case with God’s provision. It was intended for all (the whole world) and will be experienced by all (in due time).

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19

I completely agree with you that Christ is the medicine we all need to take, but I am taking it a step further in saying that all will eventually take it. When you read the verses above, especially the underlined phrases, do you honestly believe that all is referencing only a few?

As I previously explained, the word all as used in these verses and many others throughout the New Testament is the Greek word πᾶς or pas, Strong’s 3956. The primary meaning is each, every, the whole. The secondary definition is some of all types.

If the meaning conveyed in these verses is the latter than what types of humans will be justified by Christ’s righteous act? If we think of God saving some of all types, this would certainly apply to the animal kingdom when God instructed Noah to preserve a few of all the different species of animals on the Ark so they wouldn’t be wiped out. But, this does not apply to humanity. There is only one type of human. We are all of the same species. We are all born of Adam no matter the race, nationality, culture or religion. We all share the stamp of God’s creation as a human being. So, the secondary definition of the word all does not apply to humans. This means that only the primary definition will work in the context of these verses.

Since the definition of all in the verses above means each, every, and the whole in reference to men (mankind) this means that the passage is specifically addressing the whole species of man individually. The context of these verses is the condemnation all men are under as a result of the sin of one man, Adam. There is no exception to the rule about all mankind being born in sin. This is something I believe all Christians can agree on. Consequently, the remedy for sin also applies to all mankind through one man, Christ. In both of Paul’s statements regarding Adam’s sin and condemnation and conversely, Christ’s righteous act and justification, all means all! All cannot mean few.

There are many more passages throughout the New Testament that support these statements. One of the more obvious is found in 1 Corinthians 15,

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. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 1 Corinthians 15:21-23

Paul again establishes the fact that Adam’s sin resulted in death for all men. This is not referencing some types of all men, but simply all men ever born. The curse of sin and death is universal and knows no cultural, racial, political, or religious boundaries. With this same train of thought Paul goes on to expound that Christ’s resurrection certifies that all who were dead in Adam shall be made alive. The key words in this portion of the verse is “shall be made alive.” This is a statement about something that will be accomplished in the future. It is obvious that not all men have been born again before they have experienced death in the life we know. Paul addresses this issue in 1 Timothy.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 KJV

Here Paul states that God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The Greek word used for the phrase “will have” is thelō, Strong’s 2309, meaning primarily to will, have in mind, intend. In addition it also conveys the following meanings:
(a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose;
(b) to desire, to wish;
(c) to love; and
(d) to take delight in, have pleasure.

If God wills, determines, purposes, and desires something to take place it will happen. Man is only gifted with limited free will and cannot ever thwart God’s plan and purpose. Paul states that it is God’s will to save all men and that Jesus is the means by which it will happen. He further clarifies that the realization of this occurrence will take place in due time. This indicates that there is a time when this plan will be seen by all although from God’s perspective it is already finalized. I find it interesting that one of the definitions of thelō is to love. This demonstrates that God’s desires and will revolve around love. John 3:16 and many other verses take on new meaning with this understanding.

The lynchpin of understanding Universal Reconciliation is in knowing that God is working his plan out in different eras or ages. This present age we are living in is not the first age nor is the last. There are ages to come.

…That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7 KJV

…having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him. Ephesians 1:9-10 KJV

…which He wrought in the Christ, having raised him out of the dead, and did set [him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all principality, and authority, and might, and lordship, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in the coming one; Ephesians 1:20-21 YLT

I hope I have explained these verses more clearly. Ultimately, only the Spirit of God can teach us truth. So, it is my hope that you will lean on the spirit for greater understanding.

I believe Matthew 7:15-23 (particularly verses 21-23) is one of the least understood passages in the Bible. In a nutshell, many claim to know Christ and really do not. The test is simply in their fruit. If we do not do the things Christ commanded then we can’t claim to truly know him. The mark of a Christian is not dependent upon the abundance of possessions, seminary degrees, large ministries, or financial success, but in simply obeying Christ to the point of bearing fruit for his Kingdom.

Many believe they will be among those having access to his Kingdom when in reality they will be rejected for a time. This is similar to the situation between Jews and Gentiles. Those Jews who would not obey Jesus’ teaching were rejected from participating in the Church Age that we now live in. They were disqualified as ambassadors of reconciliation because they did not obey Christ and practiced a form of lawlessness. They claimed to know the truth and have the blessings of God, but Jesus knew their hearts and they were passed over for “heathen” Gentiles to become the messengers of the gospel. The scriptures states that this rejection of Israel is temporary, that they will be grafted back in the vine (Christ) at a future time and that all Israel shall be saved. So, you could say those whom Jesus tells to depart in these verses will be very similar to the Israelites being temporarily rejected for the benefit of the Gentiles. God’s purposes in judgment are corrective and redemptive in nature. Those who are rejected from the Kingdom Age must repent and get to work in obeying Christ. I believe these situations will play out in the age to come and have nothing to do with Jesus sending people to hell to burn forever in a lake of fire.

I could write much more about this, but instead I will point you to others who have already done so. I hope you find these links helpful regarding this particular passage and the subject of Universal Salvation/Reconciliation as a whole.

http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/once_saved_always_saved_slagle.html

http://www.hopebeyondhell.net/order-books/

http://www.heart4god.ws/index_htm_files/Gods%20Plan%20of%20the%20Ages.pdf

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I value them all whether critical or not.