There is an increasing sentiment for the dangerous theology of universalism.

What is universalism?

In a nut shell, it is the theory that God has reconciled every person, having already forgiven every person’s sins (no repentance or faith in Jesus is necessary), and everyone is going to be saved and live happily ever after.

One of the scriptural texts taken and twisted by the universalists is 1 Corinthians 15:22:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The universalist interprets this text as saying, “just as all men died (spiritually) in Adam, even so, all men (literally every human) shall be made (spiritually alive) in Christ.” Some universalist go as far as to make claim that every person is in Christ and Christ is in every person.

This is a fallacy.

In 1 Corinthians 15:22, Paul is expounding on the resurrection to come. Paul does this by way of comparison that just as every man who is in Adam, dies; every man who is in Christ shall be made alive.

Paul is not teaching that every human being is in Christ, and therefore will be made alive.

Paul states that he preached that Christ had risen from the dead and this is what the Corinthians had believed. He then asks how is it that there are some among them who claim there is no resurrection of the dead, since Christ was preached to them that he was raised from the dead.

Paul then expounds on the resurrection and concludes with these words:

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (be physically dead), but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth US the victory through OUR Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Paul makes reference to this same mystery of the resurrection in his 1st epistle to the Thessalonians.

14 For IF WE BELIEVE that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead IN CHRIST shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

The dead “in Christ” who raise from the dead, and those who remain (still alive) at the coming of the Lord, are those who (in verse 14) believe that Jesus did and rose again.

Reading into chapter 5, we see that there is a difference made between those who are, in Christ, who will be gathered to the Lord when he comes, and those who are NOT in Christ, and will not be partakers of the resurrection.

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

³ For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

⁹ For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰ Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Paul’s reference to the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 is not a reference to every human being. Neither is it scriptural to say that every human is in Christ and Christ is in every human. Neither is every person a child of God as taught by universal theology.

Such ideology is deceptive, misleading, and demonic.

This teaching is in response to the author of The Shack: William P. Young. In his new book, Lies we believe about God, Young makes the assertion that God is not in control and God doesn’t have a plan for your life.

On the contrary, the scriptures reveal God’s sovereignty and that he has specific plans for us. God said the following to Abraham:

Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. ~ Genesis 15:13-14

Notice that God declared his plan to Abraham regarding Abraham’s descendants before they were born.

All throughout the old testament we see God working out his plan and purpose of redemption (which was ordained before the foundation of the world) through the lives of those he called. Many times in scripture, God declared what he was going to do in advance through those whom he raised up as prophets. This absolutely speaks to the truth at God is in control.

For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that THE PURPOSE OF GOD according to election might stand, not of works, but of HIM THAT CALLETH;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. ~ Romans 9:9-12

While I do think we sometimes misunderstand how God’s plan for our lives is worked out, the notion that God doesn’t have a plan for us, is totally unscriptural.

The very fact that God calls some of us to do one thing, and others to do another, is evidence that God has a plan for our lives. The apostle Paul said: “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” ~ Galatians 2:8 Paul embraced God’s plan for his life by embracing his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles.

In Acts 16 we read the following concerning the ministry of Paul and Silas:

6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were FORBIDDEN of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but THE SPIRIT SUFFERED THEM NOT.

8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, COME OVER TO MACEDONIA, AND HELP US.

10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, ASSUREDLY GATHERING THAT THE LORD HAD CALLED US FOR TO PREACH THE GOSPEL UNTO THEM. ~ Acts 16: 6-10

Paul and Silas were forbidden by the Spirit of the Lord from preaching in Asia and Bithynia. Instead, they were led by the Spirit of the Lord to preach the gospel in Macedonia. This speaks to the truth that God had a plan for Paul and Silas. He wanted them to preach the gospel to the Macedonians, rather than going to Asia and Bithynia.

In 1 Peter 5 we read the following from the aged apostle Peter:

The elders (Shepherds or Pastors) which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. ~ 1 Peter 5:1-3

We know that Peter was an apostle, and Peter was also a Pastor who was personally commissioned by Jesus to “feed My Sheep.” 

Consider the following from the gospel of John.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, FEED MY LAMBS.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, FEED MY SHEEP.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, FEED MY SHEEP.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

19 THIS SPOKE HE, SIGNIFYING BY WHAT DEATH HE SHOULD GLORIFY GOD. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, FOLLOW ME.

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and WHAT SHALL THIS MAN DO?

22 Jesus saith unto him, IF I WILL THAT HE TARRY TILL I COME, WHAT IS THAT TO THEE? FOLLOW THOU ME. ~ John 21:15-22

According to John, Jesus has a specific calling for Peter’s life: feed my sheep. Peter was not to concern himself with the call on John’s life, but was told by Jesus: follow me.

The ideology that God doesn’t have a plan for our live’s is completely contrary to scripture. When we consider the many servants of God throughout the pages of the Bible we quickly see how wrong this claim is.

Consider that God called Noah to build an Ark because God was going to bring a destructive flood upon the world, and Moses was chosen by God to deliverer the children of Israel out of Egypt.

God made Moses the leader of Israel, and through Moses, God gave Israel the Law. God chose Aaron and his descendants as priests, and the tribe of Levi as their servants in the ministry.

God chose Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the promised land, and God gave each of the tribes of Israel a specific plot of land to possess within the borders of Canaan’s land.

All throughout scripture, God chose specific people at specific times to do specific tasks according to his will; such Gideon, Samuel, and David.

God said concerning David: I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall FULFILL ALL MY WILL. ~ Acts 13:22

God spoke to Jeremiah and said: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. ~ Jeremiah 1:5

God then told Jeremiah: I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. ~ Jeremiah 1:10

According to the Bible God had a specific plan for Jeremiah, and that plan was wrapped up was God’s calling of Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations.

When Mr. Young denies that God has a plan for our lives, he not only contradicts to the testimony of scripture concerning the lives of the servants of God recorded in the Bible, he also contradicts every teaching in the Bible concerning God’s will with regards to how we are called to live as children of God.

For instance, the apostle Paul says the following to the believers at Colosse: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD UNTO ALL PLEASING, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God… ~ Colossians 1:9-10

In Ephesians, Paul says: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what THE WILL OF THE LORD is. ~ Ephesians 5:15-17

And to the Romans Paul wrote: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, WILL OF GOD. ~ Romans 12:1-2

All throughout the new testament, we are given specific instructions concerning what the will of God is, and how we are to live in a manner which is pleasing to the Lord.

Paul tells us that it is the will of God that we live a life of sanctification because God has called us to holiness ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.

Paul also tells us that it is the will of God that we be thankful in every thing ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Peter tells us what the will of God is when we suffer as Christians ~1 Peter 4:14-16 .

Ironically, William Young, who disputes that God has a plan for our lives, also teaches (in the Shack) that Jesus doesn’t want to make us Christians. Yet, when Paul testified of Jesus before King Agrippa, the King said to Paul: You are almost persuading me to be A CHRISTIAN. ~ Acts 26:28

The apostle Paul wanted King Agrippa to become a Christian. William Young is opposed to God wanting people to becomes Christians. As a Christian, I prefer the apostle Paul’s credentials over that of William Young.

Paul, who almost persuaded King Agrippa to become a Christian, believed that God had a plan for his life, for he repeated claimed that he was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles according to the will of God.

God absolutely has a plan for our lives!

17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

There is a growing sentiment within the American church toward the all inclusive message of universalism, 

What is the Universalism?

In a nut shell, Universalism is the theory that God has reconciled every person, having forgiven every person’s sins, and everyone is going to be saved and live happily ever after. 2 Corinthians 5:18 -19, referenced above, is one of the main “go – to” texts for those who teach and for those who accept universalism.

The universalists zeros in on certain words and phrases at the expense of the context, emphasizing certain portions of a text to create a theological narrative not supported by the whole counsel of scripture.

For example the words, God was in Christ, RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM, is used to advance the ideology that God has already forgiven everyone; and everyone is already reconciled to God. 

However, in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul’s intent is not that all humanity is already reconciled to God with all their sins forgiven. Rather Paul’s message is, in Christ, God has provided atonement so that all who will believe the gospel will be reconciled to God. This is why we are to make appeal to people to “be reconciled to God” as Paul says in verse 20.

In Christ alone there is the forgiveness of sins for those who humble themselves in repentance.

When Paul says God was in Christ reconciling the world, not imputing their trespasses unto them, he is referring to the work of God in Christ as the offering for our sins. Jesus gave himself as our sin offering and was accepted by God on the behalf of all who will believe and repent.

No where in scripture, neither in the old testament or in the new, will you ever find any servant of God preaching that God has done it all, and you are right with God no matter what your response is.

In the new testament, we see John the Baptist preaching repentance and warning of the wrath to come. Jesus preached the gospel and called men to repentance. Throughout the book of Acts, the gospel was never preached as an announcement that “you are already forgiven and reconciled to God.” In Acts, the gospel message was preached with a calling to faith and repentance.

Universalism is predicated on random biblical texts taken out of their context, which creates a theology which can not be supported by the whole counsel of scripture. It is, instead, condemned by the whole counsel of scripture.

The Universalist believes that God holds nothing against anyone even though this is inconsistent with the words of Jesus to the church at Pergamos:

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things AGAINST thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. REPENT; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will FIGHT AGAINST THEM with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:13- 16)

It doesn’t take a theologian or a scholar to understand that Jesus held things against those in the church at Pergamos.

When Paul says God was in Christ reconciling the world “not imputing their trespasses unto them” he is not teaching God will never hold people accountable for their sins. On the contrary, Paul is preaching Christ as the gift of God for all who believe. We will all be held accountable, and without Christ, all will be condemned.

This is why Paul says: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Corinthians 5:11)

Paul never preached that God had foregone the judgment of the ungodly. Paul believed that we are called to come out from the ungodly and live for God to be accepted by God.

Consider Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 6:

¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

¹⁵ And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

¹⁸ And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14- 18)

In universalism there is no difference between the godly and the ungodly. There is no difference between the children of God and the world. Therefore the world, rather than the church, is sanctified and made holy.

Someone actually told me recently, “Jesus made the world holy,”  but nothing, could be further from the truth.

According to Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 6 (which is found in the very next chapter after the text which tells us that God was in Christ reconciling the world not imputing their trespasses unto them) we are commanded to come out from among them and be separate, AND THEN, we will be received by God, AND THEN,  we will be the sons and daughters of God.

If all people are already reconciled to God, and all people are going to be saved, because everyone is already forgiven, and no one will be judged, there would be no differentiation made between God’s people and those who are not God’s people in the scriptures.

There would be no differentiation between those in the light, and those in darkness. There would be no differentiation between the church and the world. Yet the Bible repeatedly makes a differentiation.

According to 1 John 2:15-16 we are instructed: love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

In 2 Peter we read that through our union with Jesus Christ we have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4)

Peter then tells us that if after having escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, people are again entangled therein, and overcome by the world, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (2 Peter 2:20)

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that the devil is the god of this world and has blinded the minds of them which BELIEVE NOT, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 John 5:19 tells us: the whole world lieth in wickedness. And in Ephesians 2:2, we read that the prince of the power of the air (Satan) is behind the course of this world.

We can see from these references above that the world is in opposition to God, and in opposition to the the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 1 John 2:17, we are taught that the world, along with its lust is going to pass away, but those who do the will of God will abide for ever.  John also says the following, contrasting the children of God from those in the world: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)

John also tells us to “marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” (1 John 3:13)

In 1 John 4, the apostle John tells us how that many false prophets have gone out into the world, having the spirit of anti-Christ. John tells us that we have overcome them because we have the Spirit of God.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:4-6)

The world is not holy. The world is under the influence of the wicked one, and is the spirit of error. Only those who know God, through faith in Jesus Christ, have overcome the world.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:4-5)

The new testament writers make a clear distinction between those who have the Spirit of God and those with the spirit of this world.

Consider the words of Paul from 1 Corinthians 2:12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

In John’s gospel, Jesus made a clear distinction between his followers and the world in his prayer in John 17.

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I PRAY NOT FOR THE WORLD, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (John 17:8-9)

Jesus also says: I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:14-17)

James tells us that pure religion and undefined before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

James rebuked the recipients of his epistle for their wordiness, saying: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)

If God has made the world holy, how does friendship with the world make one and enemy of God?

The world is not holy, on the contrary, Jesus gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. (Galatians 1:4)

In Titus, the apostle Paul tells us that the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts:

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ… (Titus 2:11-13)

Through Jesus Christ, God has called out a people from the world. Only those who obey that calling – believing on Jesus and following him – are made holy. Through the cross of Jesus Christ, God has revealed that the world’s wisdom is foolish, for through his wisdom, God has chosen to save those who believe through the preaching of the gospel (see 2 Corinthians 1:20-21).

The message of universalism is worldly. It is in no way Christian. Everyone is not saved, and neither will they be.

Does God love the unrepentant murderer or rapist with the same affection as he loves someone who humbles himself before him and seeks him with all his heart?

Most of us have been taught that God loves everybody the same, but is this the teaching of the Bible, or is it something that we just haven’t taken the time to to think through and search out in the scriptures?

Allow me to present the following texts to you:

In the Bible God is revealed as a holy God, and all who enter into his presence must be clean.  In the Old Testament, God gave Israel the tabernacle to sanctify the people so that he could dwell among them.