To watch the video of our Wednesday night discussion on Universalism and Subjective truth click here.
These two ideologies are very popular in the United States of America today and I believe it’s wise to address these false doctrines with the word of God.
Universalism - a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually go to heaven. If you are sincere and devout no matter what you believe you will be saved.
Subjective Truth – Truth based on peculiar experiences to a particular individual : personal : modified or affected by personal views, experience, or background. : arising out of or identified by means of one's perception of one's own states and processes.
Universalism
In a country ruled by extreme tolerance and political correctness these doctrines are very popular. After all, who can say that your religion is wrong? That’s not polite.
It has been said, “Tolerance is the last virtue of a totally corrupt society.”
Extremes in tolerance
Nazi Germany in relationship to Judaism. Extreme Intolerance wrong
Sodom and Gomorra in relationship to homosexuality. Extreme Tolerance also wrong
The proper way to handle ideas and lifestyles is with the Word of God.
If it’s judged in God’s word it has already been judged. I can condemn certain behavior not on my own authority but upon God’s decreed word. I’m not the judge I’m just telling you what the Judge has already proclaimed about the subject.
Should we go around killing people who don’t believe like us? Absolutely not. We love everyone but realize their thoughts and lifestyle when not centered on Christ and the Word of God will lead them in the wrong path and thus eternal destruction.
This is narrow minded. When can you afford to be narrow minded? When you are right.
Matthew 7:13-16
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
It’s interesting in the context of the narrow gate that Jesus immediately begins speaking about false prophets.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Pretension - a claim or an effort to establish a claim
Relative Truth or Universal Truth?
Is truth always truth or is it based on my interpretation of it?
The Sharp Knife Analogy
If I have a knife up here and tell you it’s sharp. And because you don’t believe it’s sharp you decide to drag it across your neck with 20 lbs. of pressure, will there be consequences? Maybe you think because you think it’s not sharp that will make it dull?
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Avoid deception by loving the truth.
Pilate asked Jesus, What is truth and Jesus remained silent. John 18:38
Some interpret this to mean that Jesus didn’t have an answer and it stumped him. I believe he chose to remain silent in accordance with Isaiah’s prophecy about the messiah.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
We know Jesus defined truth in himself in John 14:6 by saying, “I am the truth”. It’s interesting to note that Jesus then immediately addresses the doctrine of universalism. Let’s look at the scripture.
John 14:6,7
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus further defines truth as the Word of God.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
In John one we see that Jesus and the word are one. Jesus is the perfect representation of the heart of God.
Jesus is the Word
John 1:1-8
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
Many paths to God?
Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Relative truth is a convenient way for a sinful person to avoid speaking to you about Christ but it’s not a logical position to take. Jesus is the truth and if you disobey his ways you will reap destruction even if you believe that you won't.
There is no other way to be saved!
1 Corinthians 15:2a
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
If Buddha, Mohamed, Allah or Mother Earth could save you Jesus was the biggest idiot to ever walk the face of the Earth.
WHY WOULD HE DIE FOR YOU IF HE DIDN’T HAVE TO?
Maybe Jesus was a Lunatic?
Thinking he was something great but really being nuts? You know like the people in the state mental hospital who walk around telling people they are God. Understanding anything about Jesus makes a person know his teaching is the foundation for most of today’s psychology, leading people out of mental decay. It’s highly unlikely that Jesus was a lunatic.
Maybe Jesus was a Liar?
You know maybe he knew what he was doing but was purposely deceiving people. Playing some kind of diabolical scam on all of humanity. He’d be the worst kind of liar telling people he was the ONLY way to the Father but knowing he wasn’t. Playing with peoples eternity. Again this is a highly unlikely position to accept understanding all the moral virtues Jesus lived and died for.
The most illogical conclusion a person can draw about Jesus Christ is that he was some kind of HUMAN good moral teacher. Jesus and his closest followers made distinct claims to his deity. Proving this is the subject for another service but remember John 1. “The Word is God, Jesus is the Word”
The only logical conclusion a thinking person can draw about the life of Jesus Christ is that he is exactly who he says he is. “He’s Lord and God and the only savior of mankind.”
Receive him today.
Jubilee Family Church