October 25 Luke 5-6, John 5, Matthew 12 Evangelical Universalism

I have been confronted with a somewhat new resurgence of what some call "Evangelical Universalism." There is a very small stream of evangelical Christians who believe all will be saved. They believe that after death, the love of Jesus will be made manifest to all unbelievers who will be overtaken and become after death believers.

It is my opinion, that to believe this, one has to cast aside some pretty clear passages and some strong verses like one in today's reading - John 5:28-29 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

Revelation 20:10-15 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I don't want to impugn the motives of Evangelical Universalists, but i do think their view of Scripture is wrong. More importantly, their error can lead their adherents to lose their missionary zeal. Ideas have consequences!