A DIVINE INTENTION
The Gospel Without Limits
By Michael Clegg
INTRODUCTION
"We are unable to fully walk in the finished work of Christ
because we keep trying to finish HIS work".
"The reason I do not believe in Eternal Torment is because I know God".
A believer in Biblical Universalism is one who believes that God is big enough,
loving enough, powerful enough, wise enough, and resourceful enough to
ultimately be sovereign enough to rule over all His creation not just a part of
it.
A Bible-centered Universalist believes that Jesus Christ is Who He said He is . .
. the Savior of the world. He is not the potential Savior of some men but He
did in fact accomplish His purpose. He believes that the same "all" who were
dead in Adam would be made alive in Christ (1 Cor. 15:22) and the same "all"
that were subject to unbelief would receive God's mercy (Rom. 11:32). He
tends to accept that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 18:
18); that even Sodom would be restored to her former estate (Ezek. 16:55);
that all will turn to the Lord (Ps. 22:25-29); that Jesus will fill all things (Eph. 4:
10); that of Him, and to Him and through Him are all things (Rom. 11:36); that
Jesus through His Love on the cross will ultimately draw (drag in the Greek) all
mankind unto Himself (John 12:32); and that when God's plan is perfectly
carried out, He will completely be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28)! A Biblical
Universalist knows that all will be saved because of Jesus Christ's work on the
Cross and God’s full Redemption and not any other way.
Which of these statements can you accept as truth?
1. God’s redemptive love extends to all men equally in the sense that He
sincerely wills or desires the redemption of each and every man.
2. No man can thwart God’s redemptive love or resist forever, therefore,
God will triumph in the end and successfully accomplish the redemption of
all of those whose redemption he sincerely wills and desires.
3. Some men will never be redeemed but will instead be separated from God
forever.
So which is it—number 1 or 2? Should we limit the scope of God’s love, as the
Augustinians do? Or should we insist that God’s will suffers an ultimate defeat,
as the Armenians do? If neither of these options seem acceptable; then the
one left is the belief that God loves all equally and that His will cannot be
thwarted forever which is Universalism.
Universalism
Universal Reconciliation (the Gospel of Inclusion, Absolute Reconciliation, and
Biblical Universal Salvation) maintains that Christ's death accomplished its
purpose of reconciling all mankind to God. As a result, whatever separation
now exists between man and the benefits of God's grace is subjective in
nature; it is illusionary, existing only in man's unregenerate mind, his
unenlightened or uniformed way of thinking. The message (Good News or
Gospel) people need to hear, is not that they simply have an opportunity for
Salvation, but that they, through Christ, in fact, have already been redeemed,
reconciled, and saved; and that this information, (Good News) frees them to
enjoy the blessings that are already theirs in Him. Most Christians believe in
the atonement but do not realize that "atonement" is simply another word or
expression for "reconciliation." The terms are basically identical in both
Hebrew and Greek. Reconciliation is not something which is to be—it is an
accomplished fact, a present reality! It was accomplished by Jesus as His
commitment to His Father God, for which He was duly awarded. (Philippians 2:
5-11)
Most people who accept Universal Salvation understand the following
statement. “My desire is to know God totally rather than selectively. I'm even
willing to suspend what I think I already know about God, in order to know
Him in a way I have never imagined”. When The Universal Reconciliation of
All is studied and accepted as Biblical truth you will inevitably suffer isolation
from traditional religious members. A crisis in truth is a crisis in trust. Our role
is to create environments that are conducive to the work of the Holy Spirit in
the hearts, heads, and hurts of people. This will promote the heart of
Universal Reconciliation.
What has Faith got to do with it?
This is the fear of most traditional religionists. Our faith is removed from the
equation. We must ask ourselves, does believing make a person born again or
does being born again make you a believer? Does the Gospel make a person
righteous or does it simply reveal a condition already accomplished by the
blood of Jesus Christ? I am not challenging redemption, I am challenging what
act or fact produces the other.
Paul, in Romans 3:3 asks another question regarding the role of faith in the
salvation and identification process. He asks, "What if some did not have faith?
Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness, (trustworthiness or
creditableness)?
Paul answers in the 4th verse, "Not at all! Let God be true and every man a
liar."
His point is that God's faithfulness to Himself, His Word and His ultimate Will
regarding the redemption of the human race, is not affected by man's faith or
lack of it. That is a tough pill for tradition to swallow.
The Level of Authority the Father has given Jesus
Matthew 28:18 says that the Father gave Jesus “All Authority” and this
authority includes “in” heaven and “on” earth. Throughout Scripture the level
of that authority is demonstrated, for example, He has the power “on earth”
to forgive sins (Mk 2:10); He has the authority to make man God’s sons (John 1:
12); and finally, He has control over His own life and death (John 10:18). It is
evidenced that this “All Authority” is “all” encompassing and “all” possible
authority.
John 17:2-3 says that Father God has given Him authority over “all flesh” and
that He (Jesus) is going to give ‘eternal life’ to as many as have been given
Him. Verse 3 defines the ‘eternal life’ as knowing the Father and the Son.
Incidentally, the phrase ‘eternal life’ is translated “Life of the Ages” (WEY),
“Life age-abiding” (ROTH), and “Life age-during” (YLT). What has the Father
given into the hands of Jesus? According to John 3:35, all things have been
given into His hands (Mt. 11:27, John 6:37). This “authority over all flesh” that
is given to Jesus is restated in the Scriptures saying that God is the Father or
God of all spirits (Jer. 32:27, Job 12:10, Num. 16:22, Ecc. 12:7, Heb. 12:9).
This authority and power upholds all things (Heb 1:3) and it is the glue that
maintains universal order (Col. 1:17). There is no angel, principality, or power
that does not hold its authority but by direct permission and appointment of
God (Col. 1:16-21, John. 1:3).
Biblical Universalism causes adjustments in one’s “Christian” thought. It
makes God bigger and truly Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. It
causes re-evaluation of many religious traditions such as “once saved always
saved”, “the rapture”, hell, and other accepted dogma. It causes one not to
make excuses about evil and events in the world “to take the heat off” of
God. It lets God be God in all of His glorious attributes.
"We are unable to fully walk in the finished work of Christ
because we keep trying to finish HIS work".
"The reason I do not believe in Eternal Torment is because I know God".
A believer in Biblical Universalism is one who believes that God is big enough,
loving enough, powerful enough, wise enough, and resourceful enough to
ultimately be sovereign enough to rule over all His creation not just a part of
it.
A Bible-centered Universalist believes that Jesus Christ is Who He said He is . .
. the Savior of the world. He is not the potential Savior of some men but He
did in fact accomplish His purpose. He believes that the same "all" who were
dead in Adam would be made alive in Christ (1 Cor. 15:22) and the same "all"
that were subject to unbelief would receive God's mercy (Rom. 11:32). He
tends to accept that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 18:
18); that even Sodom would be restored to her former estate (Ezek. 16:55);
that all will turn to the Lord (Ps. 22:25-29); that Jesus will fill all things (Eph. 4:
10); that of Him, and to Him and through Him are all things (Rom. 11:36); that
Jesus through His Love on the cross will ultimately draw (drag in the Greek) all
mankind unto Himself (John 12:32); and that when God's plan is perfectly
carried out, He will completely be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28)! A Biblical
Universalist knows that all will be saved because of Jesus Christ's work on the
Cross and God’s full Redemption and not any other way.
Which of these statements can you accept as truth?
1. God’s redemptive love extends to all men equally in the sense that He
sincerely wills or desires the redemption of each and every man.
2. No man can thwart God’s redemptive love or resist forever, therefore,
God will triumph in the end and successfully accomplish the redemption of
all of those whose redemption he sincerely wills and desires.
3. Some men will never be redeemed but will instead be separated from God
forever.
So which is it—number 1 or 2? Should we limit the scope of God’s love, as the
Augustinians do? Or should we insist that God’s will suffers an ultimate defeat,
as the Armenians do? If neither of these options seem acceptable; then the
one left is the belief that God loves all equally and that His will cannot be
thwarted forever which is Universalism.
Universalism
Universal Reconciliation (the Gospel of Inclusion, Absolute Reconciliation, and
Biblical Universal Salvation) maintains that Christ's death accomplished its
purpose of reconciling all mankind to God. As a result, whatever separation
now exists between man and the benefits of God's grace is subjective in
nature; it is illusionary, existing only in man's unregenerate mind, his
unenlightened or uniformed way of thinking. The message (Good News or
Gospel) people need to hear, is not that they simply have an opportunity for
Salvation, but that they, through Christ, in fact, have already been redeemed,
reconciled, and saved; and that this information, (Good News) frees them to
enjoy the blessings that are already theirs in Him. Most Christians believe in
the atonement but do not realize that "atonement" is simply another word or
expression for "reconciliation." The terms are basically identical in both
Hebrew and Greek. Reconciliation is not something which is to be—it is an
accomplished fact, a present reality! It was accomplished by Jesus as His
commitment to His Father God, for which He was duly awarded. (Philippians 2:
5-11)
Most people who accept Universal Salvation understand the following
statement. “My desire is to know God totally rather than selectively. I'm even
willing to suspend what I think I already know about God, in order to know
Him in a way I have never imagined”. When The Universal Reconciliation of
All is studied and accepted as Biblical truth you will inevitably suffer isolation
from traditional religious members. A crisis in truth is a crisis in trust. Our role
is to create environments that are conducive to the work of the Holy Spirit in
the hearts, heads, and hurts of people. This will promote the heart of
Universal Reconciliation.
What has Faith got to do with it?
This is the fear of most traditional religionists. Our faith is removed from the
equation. We must ask ourselves, does believing make a person born again or
does being born again make you a believer? Does the Gospel make a person
righteous or does it simply reveal a condition already accomplished by the
blood of Jesus Christ? I am not challenging redemption, I am challenging what
act or fact produces the other.
Paul, in Romans 3:3 asks another question regarding the role of faith in the
salvation and identification process. He asks, "What if some did not have faith?
Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness, (trustworthiness or
creditableness)?
Paul answers in the 4th verse, "Not at all! Let God be true and every man a
liar."
His point is that God's faithfulness to Himself, His Word and His ultimate Will
regarding the redemption of the human race, is not affected by man's faith or
lack of it. That is a tough pill for tradition to swallow.
The Level of Authority the Father has given Jesus
Matthew 28:18 says that the Father gave Jesus “All Authority” and this
authority includes “in” heaven and “on” earth. Throughout Scripture the level
of that authority is demonstrated, for example, He has the power “on earth”
to forgive sins (Mk 2:10); He has the authority to make man God’s sons (John 1:
12); and finally, He has control over His own life and death (John 10:18). It is
evidenced that this “All Authority” is “all” encompassing and “all” possible
authority.
John 17:2-3 says that Father God has given Him authority over “all flesh” and
that He (Jesus) is going to give ‘eternal life’ to as many as have been given
Him. Verse 3 defines the ‘eternal life’ as knowing the Father and the Son.
Incidentally, the phrase ‘eternal life’ is translated “Life of the Ages” (WEY),
“Life age-abiding” (ROTH), and “Life age-during” (YLT). What has the Father
given into the hands of Jesus? According to John 3:35, all things have been
given into His hands (Mt. 11:27, John 6:37). This “authority over all flesh” that
is given to Jesus is restated in the Scriptures saying that God is the Father or
God of all spirits (Jer. 32:27, Job 12:10, Num. 16:22, Ecc. 12:7, Heb. 12:9).
This authority and power upholds all things (Heb 1:3) and it is the glue that
maintains universal order (Col. 1:17). There is no angel, principality, or power
that does not hold its authority but by direct permission and appointment of
God (Col. 1:16-21, John. 1:3).
Biblical Universalism causes adjustments in one’s “Christian” thought. It
makes God bigger and truly Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. It
causes re-evaluation of many religious traditions such as “once saved always
saved”, “the rapture”, hell, and other accepted dogma. It causes one not to
make excuses about evil and events in the world “to take the heat off” of
God. It lets God be God in all of His glorious attributes.