Frequently Asked Questions

Christian Universalism is the belief that God—through His Son, Jesus Christ—will reconcile the whole world, including every single person, to a loving relationship with Himself.

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (Romans 5:18)

“For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” (Romans 11:32)

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)

This is only a small sample of the many verses that point to the salvation of all people. One bible scholar has noted at least 47 passages affirming universal salvation in the New Testament alone.

No. God punishes sin. But the Christian Universalist believes punishment serves a purpose. And that purpose is to reconcile people to God. Like a good father who disciplines his children to improve them, God punishes disobedient sinners to correct them. When the correction is no longer needed, it ends.

In the Greek New Testament, the word translated as “eternal” or “everlasting” is the adjective aiónios (αἰώνιος), derived from the noun aión (αἰών). This Greek word simply means an ‘age’ or ‘agelong’. It denotes an indeterminate period of time. We get the English word ‘eon’ from it. The Greek word never meant ‘endless’ or ‘perpetual’ by itself. These two meanings were picked up when the original Greek New Testament was translated into Latin. The translators chose the Latin term ‘aeternus’ which in fact does denote ‘endless’, ‘everlasting’, ‘eternal’, and ‘without end’. The confusion began there and continues to the present day.

Hell will be destroyed. (Revelation 20:14) And in 1 Corinthians 15, we learn Death will be destroyed so that God may be ‘all in all’. This is crucial. Because if Hell is destroyed, and Death is destroyed, and God is going to be ‘all in all’, then how can millions or billions of people remain in a perpetual state of agony and separation from God? The answer is simple: They can’t. God will reconcile all people to Himself. And when accomplished, Hell and Death will be done away with. Their purpose will end. Their function will cease. Hell and Death will be vanquished. Then God will be ‘all in all’.

This question reveals a corrupt heart.

God desires a relationship with you; He desires what is best for you. Why wait to be reconciled to Him? Why wait for that joy? Why wait for something good?

Any path away from God or apart from God leads to pain and suffering both here in this life and in the next. Knowing the truth, yet continuing in sin only delays the good God has planned for you. And such obstinacy will even increase God's wrath against you. (Romans 2:5) The best thing anyone can do is accept Jesus now. The sooner a person trusts in Jesus and follows Him the better. Do not store up wrath for yourself; be redeemed.

Extremely! Sin is what separates us from God. All the brokenness of this world is the result of sin. Sin is the reason we experience death. Every sin, from the tiniest peccadillo to the most wicked abomination, will be addressed by the Maker of the universe. No sin will go unnoticed. This is a beautiful promise and a powerful warning.

Those who use the promise of future reconciliation as an excuse to continue in sin will receive greater punishment (Hebrews 10:29). They store up wrath for themselves because they have known the truth and turned away from it, not out of ignorance but out of a love for evil. God’s wonderful love and beautiful promises are never excuses to sin.