Below are some of the answers received from members of True Grace Ministries in response to that question. Other answers can be found in the article What Good Will It Do To Preach Universal Salvation? and the other articles found at Christian Universalism Articles Index .Each answer is the expressed opinion of that particular person and does not imply his full agreement with all of the answers by other people. Each person is responsible only for his own stated views, and does not necessarily reflect the views of everyone associated with True Grace Ministries.
Answer 1: From a Believer in Torrance, California, USA
God's over all plan is for all men to be saved; but that over all plan can only be carried out thru us as his body. By faith we are saved by grace, for Father to do his good will in and thru us to bring about the restitution of all men by being an example of God's truth and love to the world. The result is two-fold: we gain a continually more intimate relationship with Father thru Christ as we show the world thru our spiritual walk who Father is and what he wishes to do for each member of the world. Our walk in faith is progressive just as is the restitution of all men. It is a magnificient plan that needs, uses and wants the cooperation of all to attain - no one is left out. You might even refer to this as the ultimate-meant-for-good (and the only good) pyrimid plan! We each have a purpose in this plan.Answer 2: From a Believer in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Why preach the gospel if everyone will be saved anyway? The partialist preaches the gospel ideally driven by a love for his fellow man. Granted, there are worse motives, and no doubt Christian Universalism should include this as well. There is one feature of our grand theology that centers upon a more noble, pure and blessed motive. We preach the gospel driven primarily by, and for the glory of God. This world is not a spiritual bus stop or weigh station where we aquire our ticket and wait for the bus ride home. We have been placed upon this earth, and especially called as believers to glorify our Father in everything we are and do (1 Cor 10:31). Sin is a reproach to Him. Sin in our own lives and those around us should grieve our renewed hearts. We preach the gospel that mankind, now, today would be reconciled to God; that they would come to know, love and enjoy Him; that they would live holy and circumspect lives for His glory.Answer 3: From a Believer in Boise, Idaho, USAThe Lord taught us how to pray (Matt 6), and that for which we truely and sincerely pray must of necessity be the passion of our existance. How can it be otherwise?
"Our Father in heaven". In this we acknowlege the Fatherhood of God over all those who have been created in His image, and we pray not only for ourselves but for each one of our brothers and sisters as well. "Hallowed be your name". This describes that which must be the exclusive focus of our lives, that His name be hallowed, not only in our life individually, but in the lives of all His children.
"Your kingdom come". The Kingdom which was near to Christ and His Apostles has come. The glorious New Covenant age is upon us. Now we must pray and live in such a way that will see the Kingdom extended amongst the nations, and rule in the hearts and lives of those we have the privilege of touching.
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Again, that for which we pray must also of necessity be the passion of our existence. To pray for that for which we refuse to labour and sacrifice is a contradiction of the worst sort. Our passion must be in keeping with the spirit of the great commission. "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you".
And we do this not primarily for the good of our fellow man and society, but for the glory of our Father. And is He not worthy?
Universal Reconciliation should be taught within the church so that believers might be comforted. How many of us have been told that our unsaved ancestors are to this day burning in Hell and that also is the destiny of our unsaved friends, family, etc.Answer 4: From a Believer in the PhilippinesUniversal Reconciliation should not be taught to the world as this is not the message. The message is Jesus Christ & Him crucified. No other message needs to be preached than that. Not the "End Times", not Hellfire & Damnation, not UR, not entire sanctification just Jesus Christ.
The doctrine of universal salvation must be preached, because it is a truth that reveals Who God is, as a God of love, grace, wisdom, power, righteousness and mercy. It is a truth that glorifies our God and Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, and all such truths must be made known for whatever glorifies God is for the ultimate good and blessings of humanity and all creation.Answer 5: From a Believer in Rialto, California, USAThe ultimate felicity and bliss of the universe (including the whole of humanity - believers and unbelievers) are inseparable with the ultimate glorification and praise of God through Christ Jesus. Whenever and wherever God's glory and Deity is misrepresented and tarnished (such as in and thru the teachings of Endless Torment, churchianity, etc.), there, no real blessing could accrue toward us, His creatures. No showers of blessings could be manifested in the environment of errors and lies. The sunlight of God's blessings can't go side by side with the darknight of falsity. Darkness scatters away when light comes in! And with light comes life and blessings!
Those who don't understand the truth of universal reconciliation often reasons that "if God has intended that all will ultimately be saved, then to preach is of no use, because God's will knows no failure. What God has predetermined will be done irrespective of what His creatures will do!"
But it must be remembered that God's INTENTION and the MEANS for the accomplishment of that intention go hand and hand. The two are in fact inseparable. Let's use an illustration. If God, for example, has intended that a certain farmer will be harvesting abundant crops from his farm in the next year, God must have predetermined not only the OUTCOME (abundant harvest) but also the MEANS that will be instrumental for the accomplishment of His purpose for the farmer.
The MEANS includes good health and strength for the farmer for him to be able to work in his farm. God will also give him wisdom, knowledge, patience, industriousness, and expectation for his labour. Of course, our good Lord will also provide enough sunlight for the farmer's fields, and will see to it that no destructive storms will come to ruin his fields until the arrival of God's intended abundant harvest. It is not only the OUTCOME but also the MEANS for the effecting of it are and will be made sure by God's all-overseeing providence!
It will be therefore wrong for anyone to reason thus that "because God has predetermined that our farmer will harvest abundantly next year that the farmer need not concern himself with preparing his fields for sowing, watering, fertilizing, and all the necessary farm works!" God's predetermined intention includes both the END and the MEANS to reach that end! The two are included in the single plan!
Let's take another illustration. This time from the Bible. Read Acts 27:22-25. Note God's intention that had been revealed to Paul with respect to all the ship crews and passengers who were with him: "...there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship...lo, God hath given thee [said the angel to Paul] ALL them that sail with thee...[therefore Paul in confidence concluded] sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe, that it shall be even as it was told me." So we have a revelation of God's intention here, that is, ALL the crews and passengers, with Paul, will be saved.
Yet, we must remind ourselves again that God's END and MEANS go hand in hand. They are inseparable. So Paul knowing this truth preached the message which was God's MEANS for the salvation of those who were in the ship. "Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, 'Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.'" (Acts 27:31) This is truly amazing. Paul hindered those men who were trying to "flee out of the ship" and go on the life-boat (27:30), warning them that they will lose their lives if they will not heed his warning! Yet, Paul had already assured them beforehand that "there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship"! (27:22) God's END and MEANS go hand in hand. The GOD OF THE END is also the GOD OF THE MEANS! He is almighty and all-sovereign in both!
Again, we read that "Paul besought them ALL to take meat, saying, This day is the 14th day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat, for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you." (27:33-34) Note that eating "for your health" was included in God's MEANS for their salvation!
Paul didn't unwisely reason out that he need not concern himself with the health of his fellow-passengers, because "there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of them," but instead wisely concluded that they need to eat for that's included in God's MEANS for the sustaining of their lives, including the not falling of their hair! God's END and MEANS go hand in hand. He is both the GOD OF ENDS and the GOD OF MEANS!
Application: Why preach if all will ultimately be saved? and why preach universal salvation? Brothers and sisters in Christ, we must preach, because it glorifies our God and Father that His love, grace, mercy, wisdom, knowledge, power and Deity is made known. We must also preach because the proclamation of His truth is one of God's MEANS for the accomplishment of His eonian PURPOSE.
Of course, God, if He had chosen it, could effect His purpose apart from us, directly, because He is God. But isn't it wonderful that He had instead decided, in His wisdom, to use our weaknesses and our soil-and-clay frame as vessels for the conveyance of His infinite riches in Christ Jesus? The privilege and honor is in fact on our part! To be used of God in the ministry of reconciliation...what a rare opportunity and blessing for us, humans, who are most undeserving of such unique honor that the mighty angels of heaven themselves were not counted worthy of!
Brethren, let's use our God-given privilege to the utmost. Let's preach and live daily in such a way that Christ Jesus our Lord will be seen and heard thru and in us. I know it is impossible if only thru the strength of the flesh which is no strength at all. But we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us. It is Him in us Who can do the impossible as we continue trusting Him and Him alone!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Yours in God's matchless love & grace in Christ Jesus our Lord,
The Life Questions Site
I have been asked a varient of this question, which is why teach and preach salvation at all if everyone is going to be saved anyway. My answer has been that although everyone will eventually will be saved, still people who have not yet accepted Christ are yet unsaved. These people are missing out on the joy of relationship with God. They will have a significantly higher quality of life when they are saved--so why not teach and preach so they can be saved now?Answer 6: From Rev. Eric M. Kaple, D.D., a Believer in Ballwin, Missouri, USAAs far as teaching and preaching the message of universal reconciliation, I think first of all it gives the true picture of God's character and could perhaps be more effective in bringing those people to Christ who have been wounded by the church and its picture of God. (I know some of these people.) I also think it is important for our fellow Christians to hear, both because believing in universal rec. increases one's joy in the Lord, and because it could keep them in some cases from saying those things that turn sensitive and thinking people (e.g. the people I was referring to above) away from the church. That's my two bits on the ques.!
Thank you Rev. Allen for this very important question. This has been thrown at Christian Universalists for centuries. In terms of spreading the fantastic news of UR, what's the point?Answer 6: From a believer in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USAFirst of all, it's a means of informing people that God truly is compassionate and merciful. He will indeed save all. Countless numbers of people have been turned away from Christianity because of the "eternal damnation" doctrine. By teaching UR, they realize that the Christian God is worthy of thanks and praise. For example, many aboriginees died having no idea who Christ is. Should they be forever punished for their ignorance? Also, when did this so-called "eternal damnation" policy go into effect? The day after Christ ascended when 99.9% of the world's population had no knowledge of Him? It becomes quite obvious to the objective inquirer that forever torment, and annihilation for that matter, is irrational given an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God.
Building upon this, we can convey to folks how they can begin to enjoy the awsome experience of becoming a believer NOW. My life has become incredibly enhanced since I've embraced our doctrine. I want others to experience the same feeling of unconditional comfort and love.
And finally, friends, their is no quick and blissful transition into Paradise. All of us will have to give an account of our actions and thoughts in this life before we go to the promised land. It's better to correct ourselves now and get on the road to rightiousness, than to have to do it later. For all will come to an understanding of God, yet all may not reap equal amounts.
As an aside, it's been stated that UR, or any other hereafter belief, shouldn't be taught. However, given the above reasons, I believe it's imperative to let people know that God loves them and will comfort them regardless of their circumstances and ideologies in this life. Rev. Allen, you have my permission to print this response.
No teaching should take place if it is not given by the Holy Spirit. There are many who bath in fear and false teachings and confusion. So with ever teaching one should put in the foreground that STUDY TO SHOW YOUR SELF APPROVED...... Much Hay, Wood. and Stubble, along with the indoctrinated religion in us, comes out of us. John 16:13 and John 14:26 and John 15:5 should be included with every teaching.Let us take the names we give our selves and put them aside and allow the Spirit of GOD to reconcile ALL.