Understanding Universal Salvation
Part 1
Does Scripture Teach Universal Salvation?

By Richard Wayne Garganta
RichardWayneGarganta.com

Universal Reconciliation, the restitution of all and universal salvation are all synonymous.

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Last updated on 9-9-2015
Go to Understanding Universal Salvation Part Two, part three or Universal Salvation University

Heresy Or A Differing View?

Universal Salvation is the doctrine that states the sacrifice of Christ was adequate to destroy ALL the works of sin and evil in whatever form. All judgments and punishments of God are remedial, corrective, cleansing and purgative and only last long enough to accomplish that end. This first document will help you know for certain whether scripture teaches Universal Salvation. If this teaching is studied with an open mind it is my belief that, even if one chooses not to accept it, they will have to admit that this teaching certainly has a strong scriptural and historical basis and, for those reasons, should not be considered heretical.- Richard Wayne Garganta

First A Question. Who Is Sovereign? Man or God?

I believe that all men need to be saved and the only way to salvation is through the truth which is Christ. In order to be saved, every man must repent and acknowledge the truth which is Christ. I do NOT teach that one can 'sin their way into heaven' nor do I teach one can live anyway they please without experiencing judgment. The judgments of God are sure, just and to be respected. All those shocked that I believe God and His Christ are more effective than evil and sin need to study this course. A most curious argument that I routinely get is, "Do you mean Hitler will be saved?" These same people have no problem believing that Adam is saved, yet Adam is responsible for every depraved human being that ever lived - including Hitler. Most of us were raised to believe in the sovereignty of man's will. You speak of the sovereignty of God's will, but you don't really believe it. Study this course and unlearn the fallacy of the sovereignty of man's will!

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Table of Contents:

1. All Creation And Salvation Is Inextricably Linked For All Eternity

2. How Jesus Handles Being Given Everybody And Everything

3. God's Mind, Will, Nature Purpose and Pleasure

4. Mankind's Condition And God's Cure

5. The Apostles Taught Universal Salvation!

6. The Holy Prophets From Ancient Time Spoke of Universal Salvation

7. What About The Judgments Of God?

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1. All Creation And Salvation Is Inextricably Linked For All Eternity

1.1 God's will is sovereign and scripture teaches that...

Luke 3:6 ALL MANKIND WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.

1.2 Christ's Preeminence Over Everybody and Everything

Col 1:15 - 20 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him everybody and everything were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - everybody and everything have been created through Him and for Him. He is before everybody and everything, and in Him everybody and everything is held together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everybody and everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everybody and everything to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, everybody and everything on earth or in heaven.

Notice Christ is referred to as both 'the beginning' AND the 'firstborn from the dead' giving him preeminence over all. Also notice that the Christ having first place in everybody and everything is mentioned as being progressively accomplished.

1.3 Christ, God's vehicle of creation, is heir of everybody and everything.

Heb 1:2 in these last days God has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of everybody and everything. Through Christ God also made the ages (all time periods).

1.4 Everybody and Everything is OF God, THROUGH God and UNTO God!

Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and unto Him are everybody and everything. To Him be the glory forever. Amen

Eph 1:22-23 And God put everybody and everything in subjection under Christ's feet, and gave Him as head over everybody and everything to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everybody and everything from within.

Note the words "of him" (Greek ex autou), "through him" (Greek di' autou), and "unto him" (Greek eis auton). By these three prepositions Paul ascribes the universe (Greek ta panta) with all the phenomena concerning creation, redemption and providence to God as the Source (ex), the Agent (di), and the Goal (eis).

1.5 God's Kind Intention

Eph 1:8-10 God made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed beforehand in Christ. God did this with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, which is, the gathering together of everybody and everything in Christ, whether they are in the heavens or on the earth.

1 Cor. 15:22 "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive"

Rom. 11:32 "For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."

Notice the kind intention of God in these verses. Would the overwhelming majority of people from all ages burning in literal flames without being consumed and remaining conscious and in torment be a "kind intention?"

1.6 Everyone Is Part Of The New Creation!

2 Cor 5:14-18, "For the love of Christ has concluded and mandates us to believe this: that one died for ALL, therefore ALL died. And He died for ALL so that they who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore I see everyone differently now; I don't see only the outward form. We knew Christ according to the outward form, but how our relationship with him has changed! As a result of all this, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things pass away; EVERYBODY becomes new. Now EVERYBODY is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.

Rev 21:5 "And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making everybody and everything new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Heb 2:10 "For it was fitting, in leading many sons to glory, that He, for whom and through whom everybody and everything exists, should make the source of everybody's salvation perfect through sufferings."

Let's take a closer look at the CONTEXT of 2 Corinthians. Note the repeated use of a certain Greek word ALL that is capitalized:

Everyone will end up in Christ! See Matthew 15:7-8 Isaiah 29:13 where God detests forced or phony worship. The worship mentioned in the following verses is genuine because God wouldn't force a worship that is insincere; that would be against his nature.

Phil. 2:10-11, "so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, and that includes all who are in heaven, on earth and even in the realm of departed spirits. And every tongue will confess, admit, acknowledge, and express agreement with the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

1 Cor 12:3, "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit."

Romans 10:9, "If we confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in the heart that God has raised him from the dead, we shall be saved."

1 John 4:15 "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."

1.7 The necessity for evangelism under Universal Salvation is the same.

2 Cor 5:19-21, "And He gave us the ministry of reconciliation and here is what we are to tell everyone: God was in Christ reconciling and restoring the world to Himself by not counting their trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the word of reconciliation and restoration of the divine favor of God. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ and God is making His appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be a sin offering on our behalf so that, in Christ, we might become the righteousness of God."

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2. How Jesus Handles Being Given Everybody And Everything

2.1 Remember, the Father's will is that ALL men be saved. Notice that Christ is to FINISH the Father's work. The Greek word for finish means to accomplish, to make perfect and complete.

John 4:34 "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work."

"Heb 10:7,9 Then I said, "See, I have come--it is written about Me in the volume of the scroll--to do Your will, O God!" He then says, "See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second."

2.2 Notice that everybody and everything was given to the Christ.

John 3:35 "The Father loves the Son and has given everybody and everything into His hand."

John 13:3 "Jesus knew that the Father had given everybody and everything into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God.."

Matthew 11:27 "Everybody and everything has been handed over to Me by My Father.."

2.3 Clearly everybody was given to Christ and Christ finishes God's work and gives them all eternal life. Also notice eternal life is GIVEN, not offered. Also, memorize Jesus' description of eternal life. In John 17:3 Jesus' description of eternal life was,

"This is eternal life that they may know and continue growing to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

John 17:2 "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You even as You [God] gave Him [Jesus] authority over all mankind, that to all whom You have given Him, He gives eternal life."

2.4 God gave everybody to Christ and Christ finishes the Father's work and fulfills His will by saving them all. All honor and recognition for the salvation of men goes to God Almighty and his Christ!

John 6:37-39 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise them up on the last day."

2.5 It is the Father and His finisher the, Christ, who has or will draw you in and complete your salvation. "Draw" in the Greek means to literally drag or reel in. You don't "find" God, he 'finds' you! The church always speaks of "giving your heart to the Lord" but it is the Father and His Christ who gifts you with Salvation by opening your heart, mind, soul and spirit through the mighty working of Holy Spirit!

John 6:44, "You're not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me--that's the only way you'll ever come. Only then do I do my finishing work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End."

John 6:65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father."

John 12:32 "If I am lifted up from the earth, I will reel all men in unto Myself."

1 John 4:10 This is the kind of love we are talking about--not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.

Matthew 11:27 "Everybody and everything has been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

2.6 Jesus seeks till he finds the lost one. He then carries it back!

Luke 15:4 "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Also see Matthew 18:11-14.

2.7 Jesus prayed for Universal Salvation.

John 17:21 [Jesus praying for all believers] "that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

John 17:23..."I in them and you in me so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

John 11:42, "Father, I know that You always hear Me."

John 10:16 "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring; and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd."

2.8 Jesus, not only offers, but GIVES life to the world.

John 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."

John 6:33 "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."

2.9 Christ is the light of the world - although some don't see it yet!

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

2.10 For now, remember these verses. They will be discussed later and in part two.

Rev 1:18 "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Rev 20:14 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire."

2.11 Even the dead were preached to. Orthodox theology has been dancing around these scriptures for centuries.

John 5:25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."

1 Peter 3:19 "in which also He went and preached the Gospel to the spirits now in prison"

1 Peter 4:6 "For the Gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God."

2.12 Christ, the finisher of our faith!

John 17:4 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do."

2.13 Death abolished - everybody and everything is being made new!

Rev 21:3-5 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making everybody and everything new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

2.14 Sinful man was barred from the Tree of Life because God could not allow man to live in a sinful state throughout eternity. The tree of life in this verse is available to the nations and the curse of sin is removed. If eons of people are burning in Hell - then the curse isn't removed, everyone isn't being made new, death isn't abolished and the majority of men are living throughout eternity in a sinful state!

Rev 22:2-3 "On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him"

2.15 But scripture teaches that Christ knows his sacrifice was successful!

Isa 53:11 "As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied"

2.16 Jesus clearly didn't preach the message that the overwhelming majority of the population will burn in hell forever as this scripture shows.

John 4:42 "and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world."

2.17 The word 'gracious' here means, "that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired.

Luke 4:22 "And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?"

2.18 See Matthew 16:6,12 where Jesus warned about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees who were known at the time to believe in endless torments, religion through fear, prejudice and favoritism. See Matthew 6:25-34 regarding how Jesus taught AGAINST fear of the future.

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love".

2.19 The works of the devil are sin and death. If the majority of people are burning throughout eternity in the second death because of sin, how is death rendered powerless and the works of the devil destroyed?

Heb 2:14 "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil"

1 John 3:8 "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil."

1 Peter 3:22 "Now that He has gone into heaven He is at God's right hand with angels, authorities, and powers subjected to Him."

Eph 4:10 "He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill everybody and everything."

2.20 Here Jesus tells the unrepentant Jews they have the Kingdom of God within themselves and they will see him again after they accept the Lord! Meditate on that.

Luke 17:20-21 "Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered the Pharisees and said, The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Matthew 23:37-39 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'"

2.21 Jesus made clear he was going to take EVERYTHING the devil had. This is an important teaching because standard theology teaches that the devil makes off with the majority of everyone that ever lived.

Luke 11:20-22 "But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. "But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his goods.

Matthew 12:29 "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will take everything in his house."

Also see Mark 3:27.

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3. God's Mind, Will, Nature Purpose and Pleasure

3.1 Listen to Paul talking to unsaved "heathen" gentiles. Does this sound like a hell fire and brimstone message?

"He has made of one blood, all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth." Acts 17:26

Act 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

Malachi 2:10 "Have we not all one Father? Hasn't God created us?"

3.2 By using three prepositions - over, through and in, (Greek'epi, dia, en') Paul has endeavored to express the universal sweep and power of God in men's lives.

Eph. 3:14-15 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name",

Eph 4:6, "one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

3.3 All souls belong to God!

"God is the God of the spirits of all men - and the spirits of all men return to God! Ezek. 18:4 "

"Behold, all souls are mine says the Lord. As the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine." Ecc. 12:7

"then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." "May the Lord, the God of the spirits of ALL flesh..." Numbers 27:16 and 16:22."

3.4 God's mind, will, purpose and pleasure to Abraham is unchangeable because first God swore by Himself and second God cannot lie. God's mind, will, purpose and pleasure in Abraham was that in Abraham's seed - the Christ - EVERYONE throughout all time would be blessed!

Heb 6:17-18 "In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise [people of faith] the unchangeableness of His purpose, ratified with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us."

3.5 Learn well God's mind, will, nature, purpose and pleasure toward his enemies. Does this sound like a God that loses his patience and torments forever? Is God like a hypocritical parent that tells his children, "Do as I say, not as I do?" Absolutely not! The thought of a Bible command to parents stating, "There will come a time when your patience will run out regarding your children and you are to throw them into literal fires where they will burn in indescribable agony throughout eternity" is unfathomable.

Luke 6:27-35 and Matthew 5:44-48 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for God Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Also see Luke 23:34; Exo 23:4, Exo 23:5; Job 31:29-31; Psalm 7:4-5; Pro 24:17, Pro 25:2, Pro 25:21, Pro 25:21-22; Matthew5:43-45; Act 7:60; Romans 12:17-21; 1Th 5:15

3.6 God's mind, will, purpose and pleasure is for all men to be saved, come to truth and experience repentance. The will of God is sovereign! Most of us have been raised to believe that the will of man is sovereign and overrides God's will. This is one of the biggest falsehoods of modern theology. God's will and man's will that is in alignment with God's will are the only wills that will prevail!

1 Ti 2:1,4 " I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,... God wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

1 John 5:14 "If we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us"

Pro. 10:24 "the desire of the righteous shall be granted."

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, unwilling for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

3.7 Jesus not only prayed for and taught Universal Salvation as seen in section 2, he also taught us to pray that the Father's will be done. Did He pray for and tell us to pray for something that He knew would never come to pass? One interpretation of Matthew 6:10 could be,

"As your will exists in heaven, so let it be done on earth. As above, so below."

Jesus told us to pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

3.8 It is God's will that is sovereign, NOT man's. God's sovereign will is certain to be accomplished irregardless of man's mind or will!

Romans 11:29 "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

Heb 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Daniel 4:35 "He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stop him or say to him, 'What are you doing?'"

Job 23:13 "But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him? He does what He desires."

Rev. 4:11 You created everybody and everything, and because of Your will and for your pleasure they are and were created."

Isaiah 53:10 The pleasure of the Lord shall be mightily and speedily advanced in His Christ.

Isa. 46:10 My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

Isa 14:24 The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, "Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand,

Isa 14:27 The Lord of Hosts Himself has planned it; therefore, who can stand in its way? It is His hand that is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

Eph 1:11 God works everybody and everything effectively in accordance with the counsel of His will,

Phi 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Isa 55:10-11 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sewer and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Psalm 33:9-11 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

Pro 19:21 Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.

Pro 21:1 A king's heart is a water channel in the Lord's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.

Psalm 135:6 He does just as he pleases-- however, wherever, whenever.

[See Job 23:13; Isa. 14:26, 27; 46:10; Acts 5:39; Heb. 6:17.]

3.9 God is absolute love and absolute justice all of which is intended for good. Both of these qualities were fulfilled to the max in His Christ!

1 John 4:8 "God is love."

Romans 13:10 "Love does no wrong to anyone and never hurts anybody. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law."

3.10 See Philippians 2:10-11, Romans 10:9-10, 1Co 12:3 and 1 John 4:15 proving God doesn't make things he can't fix!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

3.11 God Is Reasonable.

1 Corinthians 1:30 "...Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God"

Is wisdom REASONABLE?

Jam 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without favoritism or hypocrisy."

3.12 God is love. Could God take pleasure in the overwhelming majority of the population spending eternity in fiery torment?

Eze 33:11 "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.

3.13 Notice how God combines justice and mercy.

Isa 46:11-13 Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it. Listen to me, you hardhearted, far removed from justice: I am bringing My justice near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not delay. I will put salvation in Zion, My splendor in Israel.

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4. Mankind's Condition And God's Cure

The Condition

4.1 While man is made in the image and likeness of God, men since Adam also have an imprint from his sin nature.

Psalm 51:5 "I was born in sin and shaped in iniquity."

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth.

Genesis 5:3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, after his image; and he named him Seth.

Genesis 8:21 ..."the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth""

4.2 Man, though in the image and likeness of God, stands in need of correction.

Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Job 14:4 "Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!"

Job 15:14 Do you think it's possible for any mere mortal to be sinless in God's sight, for anyone born of a human mother to get it all together?

4.3 The Bible doesn't denigrate God's creation, it simply points out something we all know. A child requires little to no instruction to do wrong and much instruction to do what is right. The ability to lie appears naturally inherent in children, the ability to tell the truth requires nurturing and instruction. It is not healthy to involve oneself with flagellation over sin. It IS healthy to learn of God and His Christ, become a person of conscience, admit, confess and turn away from wrongs via the Grace of God and move on from there.

Romans 3:10-18 as it is written, "there is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips"; "whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; "their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery is in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of god before their eyes."

Romans 8:7 "because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,"

Eph 4:18 "being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;"

Romans 7:18 "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing to do good is present in me, but the doing of the good is not."

The Cure

4.4 The term "shut up" in the following verses means to "enclose as in a net." To believe is to receive. The Bible clearly teaches everyone will receive and believe at some point. SEE Philippians 2:10-11 Romans 10:9-10, 1Co 12:3 and 1 John 4:15.

Romans 11:32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

4.5 Creation - that means all of us - was subjected unwillingly to accomplish Universal Salvation. The same creation that was made subject is the same creation that is set free.

Romans 8:20-21 For the creation was subjected to spiritual emptiness, futility - a dead end street so to speak, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, looking forward to the creation itself being set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

4.6 Note "the many" that were made sinners are the same "many" that will be made righteous. The wages of sin was ALWAYS death, never eternal torments.

Romans 5:18-19 As through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4.7 Pay very close attention to these verses because many men teach that man's will is sovereign when just the opposite is true!

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me reels him in; and I will raise him up on the last day."

John 12:32 "If I am lifted up from the earth, I will reel all men in unto Myself."

1Cor 1:9, "God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

4.8 Jesus spoke of his coming bringing judgments. See Psalm 2:8-9, John 12:31, 9:39, 5:22, Matthew 19:26. It is clear the end result of the judgments was Universal Salvation.

John 3:17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

4.9 Orthodox theology teaches that sin is more powerful than Grace since it is taught the overwhelming majority will burn in eternal torment. Orthodox theology teaches Satan wins and the sacrifice of Christ was only effective for a minority. But what does Scripture really teach?

Romans 5:20-21 "The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God's kindness was even more powerful. Sin ruled by means of death. But God's kindness now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life."

4.10 Do the following verses sound like a God that delights in eternal torments?

Isa 57:16 "For I'm not going to haul people into court endlessly, I'm not going to be angry forever. Otherwise, people would lose heart. These souls I created would tire out and give up."

"the Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy." (Psalms 145:8)

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always contend; neither will He keep His anger forever." (Psalms 103:8,9)

Lam. 3:31-33 "For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men."

"He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love." (Micah 7:18)

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5. The Apostles Taught Universal Salvation!

5.1 Examples:

Tit 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men"

1 John 2:2 "and He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."

Prescribe and teach is another way to say, "spread the word and thoroughly explain it."

1 Ti 4:10-11 "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things."

5.2 The word destroy here means to set free, break up, dismiss, set loose something bound, untie.

1 John 3:8 "the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil."

Heb 2:14 "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,"

Rev 20:14 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire."

Heb 9:26 "Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the completion of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

5.3 Note that immortality here means incorruptible and an inability to experience corruption.

2 Ti 1:10 "but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,"

5.4 Notice our resurrected state is directly tied to Christ's power to subdue everything unlike him to himself. Everybody will require this process.

Phi 3:21 "who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the effective operating power that He has to subject everybody and everything to Himself."

5.5 Note the instructions here in Jude on how to deal with a wayward bunch. All church discipline had restoration as its goal as this and the example in 1 Cor 5:1-5,13 and 2 Corinthians 2:6-11 and 1 Tim. 1:20 makes clear.

Jude 1:21-23 "keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with sincere concern regarding their condition, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh."

5.6 The same all that die are the same all that are made alive. None, except the Christ, escapes Adam's curse and none will miss out on the life which the Christ brings!

1 Co 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive."

5.7 Universal submission to and recognition of the Savior results in universal salvation. Also, can it be any clearer that universal salvation includes everybody?

Rev 5:13 "And everybody which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and everybody and everything in these things, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

5.8 The restoration of all things is plainly taught. Nothing is beyond God's ability to fix.

1 Co 15:24-28 "then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For he has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all."

(Act 3:21) "whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of everybody and everything about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time."

5.9 Is God's will sovereign or not?

1 Ti 2:1-6 "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time."

1 John 4:14 "We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world."

5.10 The phrase 'the full number' in this verse is the same word used in "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."

Romans 11:25-26 "So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: a partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved"

5.11 The word Lord refers to someone that masters, owns, subdues and has sovereign authority over something. God's will be done - and his will is that all be saved!

Romans 14:7-9 "For nobody lives for himself, and nobody dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living."

Also see Luke 20:37-38 and Mark 12:27.

5.12 The word reconciliation in this verse means, "restoration to divine favor." The reconciliation is past tense.

2 Co 5:19 "that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us."

5.13 All the nations shall worship!

Rev 15:4 "Who shall not reverence and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]? For You only are holy. All the nations shall come and pay homage and adoration to You, for Your just judgments (Your righteous sentences and deeds) have been made known and displayed."

[See Ps. 86:9, 10; Jer. 10:7.]

5.14 Paul calls the resurrection of the just and unjust as, "a hope in God" and says the prophets of old agreed with him. Was this hope in the overwhelming majority being resurrected to be burned alive forever?

Act 24:15 "And I have a hope in God, which these men [the Prophets of old] themselves also accept and hope for, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous."

5.15 The word 'neighbor' in this verse refers to all men, not just the saved.

Eph 4:25, "Therefore reject all falsity and be done with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another."

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6. The Holy Prophets From Ancient Time Spoke of Universal Salvation

6.1 Total Reversal Of The Curse

(Act 3:21) "whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of everybody and everything about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time"

John the Baptist believed in Universal Salvation.

John 1:7, "John the Baptist came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that everyone might believe through him."

John 1:29 The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

6.2 Note the blessing promised through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is called the Gospel. Galatians 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying,

"ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU" quoting Genesis 12:3 and in Genesis 22:18, "In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."

The gospel was also preached to Isaac in Genesis 26:3-4

"for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed"

.

Jacob also received the Gospel in Genesis 28:14

"Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

The seed by which all nations and all families of the earth will be blessed is the Christ.

Galatians 3:16 "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.

As proof this blessing is salvation we have Act 3:25-26

"It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED. For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise.

6.3 Did the Law of Moses negate the promise of Universal Salvation? No because first, the law of faith in Abraham was established first and second, sin, death and the law are all abolished. The Law is abolished because it was the power of sin and death is abolished because it was the sting of sin and sin was abolished because disobedience of law brought death.

Galatians 3:21 "Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not!"

Galatians 3:17 "What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise."

Romans 5:20 "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more".

1 Co 15:56 "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law."

6.4 Speaking of Jesus the Psalmist says,

"Ask of me and I will give you the NATIONS for your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession." Psalm 2:8

Genesis. 49:10 "And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.""

6.5 Isa 45:23-24

"I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame."

6.6 The overwhelming majority burning in eternal torments would not be great joy and good news for all the people.

Luke 2:10 "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people";

6.7 Notice that the term "her seed" is used signifying the virgin birth. The head wound may be considered a wound to authority, the heel wound may be considered something that would affect someone's walk. Moses, one of the earliest prophets, foretold the destruction of all evil, when he represented sin under the figure of a serpent, whose head the seed of the woman was to bruise.

Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

6.8 All will worship!

"all the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindred of the nations shall worship before him." (Psalms 22:27).

"all kings shall fall down before Him (Christ), all nations shall serve Him,--men shall be blessed in Him, all nations shall call Him blessed." (Psalms 72:11,17)

Psalm 86:9 "All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name."

6.9 In Psalm 136, not less than twenty-six times,

"his lovingkindness is everlasting."

6.10 God is good to all!

"The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all his works." (Psalms 145:9)

Psalm 145:10, "All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You."

6.11 By "mountain," here, is meant the covenant of the Gospel; the place of the establishment of the ark is made a metaphor, to signify the Gospel.

(Isa. 2:2) "all nations shall flow into the mountain of the Lord's house," (Isa. 25:6) And in this mountain, shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees; of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well-refined."

(Isa 25:7) "God will destroy, in this mountain, the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil, that is spread over all nations."

6.12 Paul quotes these words, and applies them to the resurrection of the dead, in 1 Cor. 15:54.

"God will swallow up death in victory" (Isa. 25:8)

6.13 And the verses keep coming!

"The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces: (Isa. 25:8) Isaiah said, "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." (Isa. 40:5)

Isa 52:10 "The LORD has displayed His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God."

Isa 49:6 "I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

See all of Isaiah 61.

6.14 Everyone will know God!

"I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his Neighbor, and every man his brother, saying , know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:33,34)

6.15 Daniel said, of the reign of Christ,

"there was given Him dominion, and glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed. And ...His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.' " (Dan. 7:14,27)

6.16 Paul applies these words to the resurrection of the dead, at the last day. (1 Cor. 15:54,55) Hosea said,

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction." (Hosea 13:14)

6.17 More from the Psalms.

Psalm 145:21 "My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever."

Psalm 66:4 "The whole earth falls to its knees-- it worships you, sings to you, can't stop enjoying your name and fame."

6.18 Micah has his say.

Micah 5:4 "And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth."

6.19 Judgment Brings Salvation!

Zep 3:8-9 "Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD, "For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal. For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder."

6.20 Job has his say!

Job 12:16 "With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him."

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7. What About The Judgments Of God?

The judgments of God occur:

• As direct results and consequences of our conduct in this life.
• In circumstances Divine Providence puts in our path in this life.
• Through the process of death and dying during whatever aion (age) God sees fit.

All this proves the following:

(1) Christ came and claimed the entire human race as His own so He might save and restore, not a fraction but, the WHOLE.
(2.) He came with full power "over all flesh", having received power in heaven and on earth -- over all hearts, all evil, all wills.
(3.) He lived and died, and rose again, victorious in the fullest sense, "having FINISHED His work," as He expressly claims.

Now continue to part two where the most common objections and questionable verses will be dealt with.

But What About? (Part Two)

2 Things You Must Get Straight (Part Three)

Universal Salvation University

Oh my God! Is this Universalism?

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Also check out:

Is Gay Prejudice Taught In The Bible?

Tithing - Fact vs. Fiction

First Century Christianity

Richard Wayne Garganta