On the other side of the coin, we must also realize the offense of the cross spoken of by Paul is not only that we do not have to follow the ceremonial laws of Moses including circumcision to be forgiven, but that Jesus is the only way to God and only sacrifice (Galatians 1:8-9 and 5:11-12). Galatians 5:11 reads: “But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.”
Also, Hebrews 10:8-14, 28-31 reads: “When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), then he added, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will.’ He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified….Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
This passage shows that only those being sanctified by faith in Christ will be perfected for eternity.
Let me say this: Believing that a loving God would put people in hell for all eternity is a very difficult thing for any person—evangelical or not—and is impossible for us to rationally comprehend, whether we believe in it or not. The most literal, fundamental Bible-believers among us would shriek in horror and not want to believe their unbelieving friends and loved ones have gone to hell for eternity if they were ever to experience hell for a few seconds! I personally think that most so-called Bible-believing Christians would live much differently if we really believe that such a place exists and that many we know are heading there for eternity!
Let’s examine some of the commonly used passages to justify belief in universalism or a “gospel of inclusion” and ultimate reconciliation for all humans. Here are passages commonly used to promote universalism, the teaching that all will ultimately be saved:
Examining the “whole world” salvific passages
Second Corinthians 5:19 says: “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
First John 2:4 says: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
John 3:16-17 says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Romans 5:18 says: “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”
The above mentioned passages can be taken at first glance to mean that all people will automatically be saved. But when read in context we find there are many other passages that say the opposite, teaching that a person needs to personally receive Christ to be His child (John 1:12-13); that a person must be born again to see the kingdom (John 3:3-6); and that it takes faith in the blood of Jesus to be personally saved (Romans 3:22, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9).
