Looking at the New Testament
text, several passages and verses indicate the idea of Universal Salvation or Restoration. I will be mentioning few
examples (just a sample), which clearly state or indicate a Universal Salvation. Most
of the paragraphs focus on the impact of Christ’s redemption, and on God’s ultimate will for humanity:
Romans 3: 23-24
“For all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by
his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”
It is clear that all the people
mentioned, who have sinned (i.e. the total humanity that has fallen short of
the Glory of God) are justified by His grace.
Romans 5: 18
“Therefore, as one trespass
led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to
justification and life for all men”
he above paragraph makes
reference to the Biblical story of human fall into sin, and it clearly
indicates that the Sin of Adam that brought death to the world, and led to
condemnation to ALL MEN, in the contrast, Jesus with His act of righteousness,
brought salvation to ALL Men.
The proof which is linguistically
evident is that the mention of ALL MEN is repeated twice within the same
context. And any meaning given the first occurrence should be given to the
second occurrence. And since any logical look into the paragraph proves an “all
Inclusive” reference to the whole of humanity, which was impacted by the fall,
the same “all Inclusive” meaning should be attached to the second mention of
ALL MEN.
Thus, the above can be considered
a Proof of Universal Salvation.
1 Corinthians 15: 20-28
“But in fact Christ has
been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the
resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ
shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after
destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must
reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last
enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in
subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in
subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection
under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself
will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him,
that God may be all in all.”
The above paragraph states the
following truths:
1. Christ resurrection is the first of “those who fallen asleep”,
indicating that All dead will be raised as per his example.
2. In Christ ALL people are “made alive”. It is worth mentioning
that the word “alive” is a derivative of the Greek Word “Zoe” in the original
text, meaning “Divine Life”.
3. The passage also mentions that God will destroy every Rule and
authority and power, and the last will be the power of Death, which is the
“wage of Sin”. Thus, no more wage of sin is paid after that exact incident when
God will be All in All, and everything against the will of God including Death,
sin, fear will exist no more.
4. The victorious spirit in which the passage is written is a clear
indication that evil has lost, and God has won. This in itself can’t tolerate
the idea of Eternal torment in Hell, but rather is a sign that no one will be
left behind, exactly as the proverb of the lost sheep indicates.
Ephesians 1: 7-11
“In him we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance
with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all
wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the
mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he
purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their
fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In
him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the
plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his
will…”
Two remarkable points in the
above paragraph are worth noting:
1. God’s Mysterious Will, which is now revealed and it is “to bring
unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ”. Clearly God’s will is
to bring all creation together in unity with Christ. This is expressed in the
book of revelation when calling Christ the “groom” and calling the Fullness of
the Church “the Bride”. This divine wedding that reflects God’s Will, is the
purpose behind the redemptive act of Jesus on the Cross. Jesus reconciled the
entire world to God through himself, in His Body, through the death on the
Cross.
2. Some people might argue, that Unity of All creation is God’s
desire, but it will not necessarily be achieved. But the second part of the
paragraph indicates clearly that God “works out everything in conformity with
the purpose of His will”. Thus, God’s will definitely will prevail.
Philippians 2: 9-11
Therefore God
has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above
every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This passage indicates that the
result of Christ’s Humbleness and obedience to the Father will be that Every
Knee will bow to him, and every tongue will confess him (a parallel passage is
found in Isaiah 45: 23). This is Universal Salvation in its most beautiful
description will rebellion against God will cease and all humanity will come
into unity with the Groom (Jesus) in the divine marriage.
Colossians 1: 19-20
For in him all the fullness of God
was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of
his cross.
The same concept seen before in
Ephesians 1 is also reflected in this paragraph, where God’s ultimate will is
to Unite and gather and reconcile everything through the Son, Jesus Christ. It
is also noted that Paul shows that All-inclusiveness of this reconciliation
through specifying that includes those on Earth and in Heaven.
Some other New Testament
references that Indicate universal Salvation:
John 4: 42; John 12:32-33;
Romans 5: 10, 13; Romans 11: 32; 1 Timothy 2-3-6; 1 Timothy 4: 9-11; 1 John 4:
14.
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