Recently I ran across an article addressing the belief of
Universal Salvation, and I, frankly, became quite unsettled! Nowhere throughout
the article was one Bible reference or one Bible verse given to substantiate
this view of eternal salvation. But how could there be, there are none!
Universal Salvation is nothing more than a humanistic “wishful thinking” view of
salvation. A view totally contrary to God’s Word! Please understand, in no way
am I attempting to impugn any person’s integrity, but it’s quite apparent that
those who accept this view of salvation have little or no knowledge of God’s
Word.
The article of mention stated that by the goodness of God,
all people will be saved, forgiven of their sins, and granted eternal salvation.
I must ask, then, why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to die a brutal death on
an old rugged cross? What was the purpose? If there is nothing to be ‘saved’
from, and if God’s goodness and love promise eternal life for everyone, then
Jesus Christ suffered for nothing! Yet His Written Word states clearly “For
Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust.” (I Peter
3:18.)
For those who wish to refute Jesus’s sacrifice, history is
full of accounts of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. (Josephus, Jewish
historian, AD 37-100 approximately, etc.) Biblical references such as Jesus’s
obvious crucifixion wounds (John 20:27); after resurrection appearances (John
20:26); and precisely fulfilled prophecies concerning Jesus’s birth, death,
crucifixion and resurrection, provide solid proof of Jesus Christ’s earthly
ministry, and the purpose for which He came; to pay our sin debt! Unless or
until one believes in the Word of God, and trust in Jesus, those who allow
man-made theology to strangle God’s truths will not be saved from the horrors of
Hell, and ultimately from the Lake of Fire’s flames of torment! (Proverbs 14:12)
The unrepentant sinner will never experience everlasting life! “How shall we
escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; which at the first began to be
spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” (Hebrews
2:3) Ask yourself… ‘Escape from what if every individual throughout the world is
given salvation?’ Read Revelation 20:11-15.
As far as those who lived in Old Testament days, before the
Gospel, again the Bible has the answers. In the Old Testament, the people had a
sacrificial system. Understand. This system was powerless and DID NOT take away
sin, but it was a preamble to the day Jesus Christ would shed His precious blood
for all sinful humanity! (Hebrews 10:1-10) It was a system that required faith.
Due to disobedience, humanity’s first couple witnessed God slay innocent animals
in order that they could be covered with coats of skin. Innocent blood was shed
for their sins and Adam had faith in God, as did Abraham (Romans 4:3-8), David
and others of the Old Testament. Righteousness was accorded those who had faith
in God! Since Calvary, salvation is bestowed upon those who have true faith and
belief in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Nowhere in the Bible will one find God’s acceptance of any
method of eternal salvation other than real, true faith and trust in Jesus
Christ as Lord and personal Savior. Jesus Christ died for every human being, but
He did NOT die so idols can be bowed to in such religions as Hinduism, or for
worship of Allah, or to repudiate Christ as the Son of God, or to promote
Humanism with good works essential for salvation, or to deny God’s judgment upon
the unsaved. Such teachings are based solely on a foundation that leads to
everlasting damnation! The Scriptures put it quite simplistically. “For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I
Corinthians 3:11) “Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Concerning those who die without hearing the Gospel, God has
provided all of Creation to speak of a powerful God, and a conscience that
declares right from wrong. According to Romans 1:20 ”they are without excuse.”
As for the mentally challenged, God know one’s capability of understanding, and
judges accordingly. God is righteous! (Psalms 9:8)
Eternal salvation was, is and always will be rooted in the
death of Christ and no human opinion to the contrary will alter the solid truth
that “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that BELIEVETH
NOT the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John
3:36) Jesus Christ is our redeemer, our savior, our substitute for our ugly sin,
thus, we need only believe through faith in Him, and eternal salvation will be
ours! Without this belief, despite man’s wishful thinking, eternal punishment
will be heaped upon every unbeliever! (II Peter 2:9) Believe and accept the
Gospel (the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ), and salvation will
be yours!
“Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these
things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians
5:6)
