The notion of universal salvation is a concept that few Christian theologians have fully embraced. From a strictly Biblical perspective, I think that the universalist is frustrated by the weight of the scriptural evidence. After all, there are a number of scriptures which clearly contradict such a notion:
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." --Matthew 7:13-14
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." --Revelation 21:8
"And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts." --Malachi 4:3
"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." --Ezekiel 28:18-19
Moreover, it seems to me that the notion of free will demands the option of rejecting God and his offer of salvation. In other words, logic would dictate that failure has to be a possibility.
Also, the notion that there are many paths to salvation is frequently associated with this doctrine. And, as with the notion of universal salvation, Christian theologians often quote a number of scriptures to defeat such a concept:
"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 saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." --John 14:6
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." --Acts 4:12
Nevertheless, having said all of that, there is also abundant evidence within Scripture to suggest that there will only be a few individuals who will ultimately not be saved. Take just a moment to consider the implications of a few of these:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." --John 3:16-17
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." --II Peter 3:9
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." --I Timothy 2:4
"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" --Romans 11:26
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." --Psalm 100
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." --I Corinthians 13:4-8
And, just as it is inconsistent with free will to preclude the possibility of someone choosing to reject God and his salvation, it is also illogical to entertain the notion that many would make such a choice. For, in order for free will to be truly operational, the person must fully understand God and what he is offering - otherwise he/she could not be said to be making an informed decision. And, given that information, we have to conclude that most would choose to receive God and his gift.
Moreover, if the majority of mankind fails (and hundreds of millions or billions of folks end up in Gehenna/Hell), then we would not be able to characterize God's plan of salvation as anything other than an abysmal failure! After all, whatever our failings, God is the one who designed us, and the plan is his. And what is to preclude everyone from eventually accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior? Remember, for free will to be truly operational, you have to fully understand what is at stake.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." --Matthew 7:13-14
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." --Revelation 21:8
"And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts." --Malachi 4:3
"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." --Ezekiel 28:18-19
Moreover, it seems to me that the notion of free will demands the option of rejecting God and his offer of salvation. In other words, logic would dictate that failure has to be a possibility.
Also, the notion that there are many paths to salvation is frequently associated with this doctrine. And, as with the notion of universal salvation, Christian theologians often quote a number of scriptures to defeat such a concept:
"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 saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." --John 14:6
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." --Acts 4:12
Nevertheless, having said all of that, there is also abundant evidence within Scripture to suggest that there will only be a few individuals who will ultimately not be saved. Take just a moment to consider the implications of a few of these:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." --John 3:16-17
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." --II Peter 3:9
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." --I Timothy 2:4
"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" --Romans 11:26
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." --Psalm 100
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." --I Corinthians 13:4-8
And, just as it is inconsistent with free will to preclude the possibility of someone choosing to reject God and his salvation, it is also illogical to entertain the notion that many would make such a choice. For, in order for free will to be truly operational, the person must fully understand God and what he is offering - otherwise he/she could not be said to be making an informed decision. And, given that information, we have to conclude that most would choose to receive God and his gift.
Moreover, if the majority of mankind fails (and hundreds of millions or billions of folks end up in Gehenna/Hell), then we would not be able to characterize God's plan of salvation as anything other than an abysmal failure! After all, whatever our failings, God is the one who designed us, and the plan is his. And what is to preclude everyone from eventually accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior? Remember, for free will to be truly operational, you have to fully understand what is at stake.
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