My take on Universalism

I was shocked to see a well known Christian trending on Twitter the other day. His name is Rob Bell and he has courted controversy in the past with books such as Velvet Elvis, The Gods Aren't Angry and his latest offering Love Wins. I don't really know him that well and have nothing against him.


He was trending because his latest book confirms his belief in Universalism.


I have looked into this and will explain why Universalism does not add up Biblically and is therefore an incorrect doctrine.


Universal Reconciliation - the idea that all will be reconciled to God no matter what, the penalty for sin is not everlasting and that everyone will eventually go to Heaven is a major belief of Universalists.


My question to that is, if the penalties for sin are not everlasting and everyone will go to Heaven then why did Jesus have to die? Because if the Universalists are right then Christ died for nothing.


Nowhere in the Bible is a verse found that suggests our sin doesn't last forever and we will all go to Heaven. 


Jesus made it clear to Hell does exist and some have to go there because of their own choice to reject God.


Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.


Jesus also says that there is such thing as eternal sin


Mark 3:29
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”


Universalists also believe that we pay for our sin in Heaven, which simply isn't true. For Jesus told many in the Bible that their sins were forgiven.


Matthew 9:2
Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”


Actually, anyone believing in Christ and accepting the sacrifice of His blood is forgiven. My take on forgiveness is that the sin is gone once you have been forgiven. You don't then pay for it afterwards!


Matthew 26:28
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.


Christ died because the 'wages of sin is death' (Rom 6:23). God is LOVING but He is also JUST. Just like we want to see pedophiles & murderers punished for their crimes, God is also passionate about justice and that every wrong should be punished.


But because God also Loves us and wants us to go to Heaven...Christ came, God Himself, to die and take the bill for all of our sins so that we could go to Heaven because God Loves US!

Key Elements of Friendship #4

LOVE

Without this elements every other element I have written about are useless.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Just as we are called to love God more than anything else in our relationships with Him, we are called to love others as we love ourselves. I always take that to mean to love others as I myself would like to be loved or like to see others be treated by people.

I love the way 1 Corinthians 13 described Love because I find it exactly right and exactly how God is and exactly what we should aim to be in our friendships.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails.

I cannot stress highly enough how important it is to love others. I literally believe we can change the world, enrich people's lives and reveal Christ to many who previously have not known or not know fully of His Wonderful Love for us. That, in turn, changes their lives completely...just like mine was changed in the most amazing way just over five years ago. I'm up for this, Are you?

One more thing, Christ wants friendship with all of us. If we have it, let's make more of it...if you don't...the door is always open for you to let Him in. I keep saying this because I don't want anyone to miss out on the blessings in this life or in the next life...

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am not a part of the anti-Romeo group who hate Valentines Day. Often people who hate this day are people who are bitter over not being fussed over. Even though I haven't received a card or a present, I am not one of this group. I love LOVE and I rejoice that I have the Greatest Love in Jesus Christ.

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Whether you are lucky enough to get a card or not today, there is a beautiful gift for all of us from someone who loves us more than any other.

The greatest love ever shown was Jesus Christ, God Himself, on the cross paying the price for our sins so that we could go to Heaven to be with Him.

Ask Him into your life tonight and I guarantee the greatest Valentines Gift of all time, one that cannot be matched!

Hebrews 9:22 - In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Series on friendship concludes tomorrow!