There are basically only three views of salvation:
1. Calvinism – some will be saved, God chooses (elects) who will be saved and we have no choice in it.
2. Arminianism – some will be saved, each person has a choice in it, those who believe in Jesus will be saved and those who reject Christ will not.
3. Universalism – everyone will be (or already are) saved. We have no choice in it, or if we do have a choice then God somehow persuades everyone to choose to believe in Him and thus be saved.
Both Calvinists and Arminianists believe that those who are not saved go to hell. Some Universalists do not believe in hell, but most believe that hell is just a place of purification (and they often reject the term “hell”), and believe that all who go there will eventually leave and be saved. For the various views on hell and why we reject the universalist view of hell, see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/avoid-judgment/ .
Calvinism
Calvinism is based on five points, TULIP:
T: Total Depravity, sometimes called Total Inability
U: Unconditional election
L: Limited atonement
I: Irresistable grace
P: Perserverance of the saints
We reject Calvinism, for the following reasons:
- Total depravity is the idea that everyone without Christ is depraved and unable to receive salvation. Although it is true that unbelievers are condemned already (John 3:18), all are loved by God (John 3:16) and made in His image (Gen 1:27). Jesus died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2), thus all are able to receive salvation if they believe on and receive Jesus.
- To say that people are elected (or chosen) to be saved without any conditions is to deny that we need to believe in Jesus to be saved (Mark 16:16, Acts 16:31 etc).
- We reject limited atonement, i.e. the false notion that Jesus’ death on the cross was only for a select few people and does not cover the sins of the entire world and make salvation available to everyone.
- The claim that grace is irresistible denies that we have any choice in whether we are saved, i.e it denies freewill. This is unbiblical, see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/freewill.
- Perseverance of the saints means that all who are elected remain saved – “once saved, always saved”. This is not biblical, see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/once-saved-always-saved/
Elements of Calvinism are of course Biblical such as predestination, i.e. that God knows who will believe on Jesus and therefore predestines them to receive eternal life.
Universalism
Universalism is basically the idea that all are or will be saved. There are two main types of universalism: Unitarian Universalism and Christian Universalism.
Unitarian Universalism rejects the death and resurrection of Jesus, and thus teaches that we don’t need to believe in Jesus to be “saved” or live forever. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism.
Christian Universalism, on the other hand, sometimes called universal reconciliation is that all are or will be saved because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Universalism. Included in this teaching is that all are saved, they just don’t know it, or that they need to realise their true identity or that they are already saved so that they can enjoy their salvation (this variant of Christian universalism is often known as the gospel of inclusion or inclusionism). It also includes the idea that everyone will in the future be persuaded to believe in Jesus and thus everyone will be saved (sometimes incorrectly called “the restoration of all things” teaching). Many Christian Universalists also believe in hell, but that hell purifies and restores such that all are saved in the end. The three views of hell are explained very well here: http://rethinkinghell.com/forum/2-general-discussion/1689-steve-gregg-three-views-of-hell-book
Another slight variation on universalism is hopeful universalism, which is the hope that everyone is saved.
The idea that all are or will be saved is not true or logical in our view:
- If universalism was true, then everyone is or will be saved then why would Jesus and Paul say that only those who believe in Him and are born again are saved? If everyone is going to be persuaded to believe in Jesus and be saved in the future then it seems there is little point telling anyone they need to believe right now. It thus does away with evangelism in our view. See the following verses:
Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 10:9-13, 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that all upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
There is no point in telling anyone they need to believe in Jesus if everyone is going to be persuaded to believe in Him and be saved anyway. - If universalism was true, then why live a holy life? Why then would Paul to tell us to yield to God and our members as instruments of righteousness and to be filled with the Holy Spirit if everyone was saved or is going to be saved anyway? See the following verses:
Rom 6:13 yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Eph 5:18 be filled with the Spirit;
2 Cor 7:1 let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. - If universalism was true, then why did Jesus say that there are few who find the narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:14) and when he said that many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). Gal 5:19-21 show that those who continue in the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. Why say this if everyone is going to be saved? Mark 16:16 says “he who does not believe will be condemned”. If everyone eventually believes in Jesus it would be pointless to say this. For further scriptures that teach this, see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/many-people-not-saved/
- If universalism was true and everyone is or will be saved, then why did Paul, Peter and John say people needed to repent or cast off the works of darkness? For example in these verses:
2 Cor 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Rev 2:20-23 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
It would be pointless to turn away (ie repent) from sin if everyone is saved anyway. - If universalism was true and people can go from Hell to Heaven, then why did Jesus, Paul and John talk about judgement, eternal fire and separation from God and being outside the New Jerusalem in Matt 7:23, Luke 16:22-28, Matt 25:41, Rom 1:32, 2:5-12, 2 Cor 5:10, Rev 14:9-11, 21:8? Rev 21:27 and 22:15 show that many people are outside the Holy City, whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of Life and who defile, cause abomination and a lie.
- If universalism was true, then why did Jesus tell us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, so that people can believe on Jesus to be saved (Mark 16:15, Matt 28:19)? There seems little value in preaching the gospel if everyone is already saved.
The idea that all can be saved and go from hell to heaven after they die and that hell purifies we believe is also not Biblical, see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/avoid-judgment/
Benny Hinn calls the idea that the whole world is saved, they just don’t know it (Universalism, as is taught in John Crowder’s “Hell Revisited” video – see http://spiritbodysoul.com/hell-revisited/) a “very deadly doctrine”, a “very devilish teaching”, “heresy”:
Franklin Graham (Billy Graham’s son) calls Rob Bell a false teacher and heretic – Rob Bell believes in hopeful universalism and that there is a way out of Hell:
Arminianism and Conclusion
Freewill is Biblical – there are many scriptures to prove this, see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/freewill/. Arminianism is in fact basically the closest to the Biblical view of salvation, i.e. Jesus died for the sins of the world, He has offered the free gift of salvation to everyone, but only those who believe/repent/receive Jesus are saved, see https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/believe/ and https://word.spiritbodysoul.com/repentance/.
Please note that this is not an attack in any way on any one individual who is preaching these universalist heresies, as many people have preached these heresies for many years, these are age old heresies. Also, those who teach these errors may teach a lot of truth. We love everyone, whatever they teach, and hope and pray that they read this and come back to Biblical truth. However, we believe this is a very serious issue, striking at the very foundation of our faith, and that is why we feel it is necessary to discuss it in this way. We are still learning and would appreciate and will consider any constructive comments you may have on this, including encouragements, questions, corrections and clarifications, so please add your comments below.
For another excellent blog on this subject see http://escapetoreality.org/2012/03/07/jesus-savior-of-the-world/ . We also recommend E W Kenyon’s excellent book New Creation Realities, http://hopefaithprayer.com/books/NewCreationRealities.pdf or available from Amazon.