Hell: Universal Reconciliation

Today Dr. Will Ryan and Matt tackle Christian Universalism, or Ultimate Reconciliation, Or Universal Restoration, Or Patristic Universalism. This view states that all shall be saved. It is not pluralism which means all roads lead to God. This Christian view of universalism states that through faith in Christ alone all shall be saved. This view affirms all cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith and believes in judgement and many believe in a literal Hell, Universal Restorationists (UR) just believe that it won’t last forever.

Strengths

• Consistent with the character of God who is love

• Scripture seems to support the possibility of all being saved

• Affirms God is powerful and able to accomplish what he wants to

• Give a sense of Hope for the world

• If God truly does love all and save all then it really motives followers of Jesus to see people in a reflection of that love and not just see them as people God wants to judge.

• Can make sense of the death passages and the salvation passages

• Makes sense of Retributive and Restorative justice passages

Weaknesses

• All doesn’t always mean all. Sometimes it means all kind. Like as in the gospels where it said, “all of Jerusalem came out to see Jesus”.

• Tradition following the 4th century has been pretty silent for UR

• May decrease evangelistic efforts. But do we need Hell to convince people? The disciples didn’t use it in Acts, they simply proclaimed Jesus’ kingship.

• If we are all saved why not live however we want to?

• UR has a hard time explaining the 2 paths and gates and point of no return passages. Some arguments seem to be a stretch.

• Free Will- Does God override people’s will? He seems to give them over to their desires if they don’t want Him and allows their heart to be hardened. Will he force himself on them through torment (at gunpoint?)? UR seems to go against free will that hold to God’s non-coercion (but to His persuasion).

• Hitler and the Satan will be saved?

• Some will say that this makes the cross useless without (capitol) punishment.

• A lot hangs on post modem repentance. The bible neither affirms not denies this. Maybe it depends on the amount of light given?