Jesus vs. Universalism

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.   Thesis:
The Bible believing Christian cannot accept the concept of universalism because of what the Bible teaches.

*What is the doctrine of Universalism?
*The Bible, can you trust it?
*Jesus, the narrow way

Universalism

A church or community that calls itself Universalist may emphasize the universal principles of most religions and accept other religions in an inclusive manner, believing in a universal reconciliation between humanity and the divine.

Just as long as you are sincere and devout to your belief system, that’s what matters.  It doesn’t really matter what the object of your worship is.  It can be a moon, God, or a tribal system of worship based on nature, or other religious systems.  Universalism teaches there are many roads that lead to God.

In our politically correct and tolerant society, universalism has increased in popularity. It’s also a way to make peace with all the different belief systems out there thus increasing it’s appeal. (Matthew 10:34)

The Bible, Can you Trust It?

The scientific method is not the proper method to determine the accuracy of anything that has happened in the past.  Evidence must be collected and a logical, rationale decision must be made based on the evidence.

How would you “prove” that George Washington was the first president?

The Court of Evidence

• Artifacts from the time period
• Eyewitness accounts of his existence recorded in written form (because those people are dead now)
• Others writing about him, (like the diaries of England’s Generals).
• No logical person would say, “I can’t prove George Washington existed therefore I can’t believe it happened”

1. The Bible claims itself to be reliable--to set forth accurate, historical, eyewitness accounts

1 John 1:1-4
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

2 Peter 1:16
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2. It proves to be reliable on the basis of bibliographic, archaeological and historical tests.

There exists better manuscript evidence (a greater number of manuscripts, dated more closely to the original and with few significant variants) for the NT than for all of the other top ten pieces of ancient literature combined. (See Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell, ch. 1).

                                                                                                                      
The Doctrine of Inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to God’s Word."

The Bible Claims to be the Word of God

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20, 21
20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

• Evidence supports the Bible’s claim to be the word of God
• All time best seller, most translated book in history of world.
• Predicts the future (e.g., over 300 messianic prophecies)
• Unique in its survival through time and persecution
• Unique in its continuity (40 plus authors from all walks of life, over 1600 years, 3 different continents and languages, writing on hundreds of controversial subjects without contradiction, one unfolding story--reconciliation between God and man.)

World famous archaeologist Sir William Ramsey spent over 30 years examining the gospel writer Luke. He came to the following conclusion (stated in Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell, ch. 1): "Luke is a historian of first rank, not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, but this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians. Luke's history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness."

Other ancient historians substantiate the reliability of the NT (Cornelius Tacitus, Seutonius, Flavius Josephus, Younger Plenty, Julius Africanus A.D. 221 quotes Thallus 52 A.D.).

I have made the decision based on the historic evidence and the witness of God’s spirit inside of me to trust the Bible as inerrant. However, even if I had no inner witness I believe a person could trust the Bible as inerrant based on the evidence alone.

Jesus the narrow way

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. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. True and False Prophets 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.

John 10:7-9
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

John 14:5, 6
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We need to pray for our loved ones who don’t know the Lord yet.

John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

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45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124



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Universalism and Subjective Truth

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