The theology of universalism is the belief that all people will go to heaven, regardless if they have given their lives to Jesus Christ or not. Under this theology, it doesn’t matter what a person believes about Jesus Christ.
The Scriptures teach the opposite look at what John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Jesus plainly states that without believing in Him (John 3:16), no one can make it to the Father who is in heaven. The words “the way, the truth, and the life” reveals that a person has to direct their life toward Jesus. We must understand that the truth is found only in the Word of God. After setting your sight on Jesus Christ and walking in His direction, you will find the truth. After believing in the truth of Scripture and opening up your heart to Jesus, He will give you eternal life.
Universalism also teaches that not all, but a few, will go to hell for a short time. While in hell, they will be purified and then taken to heaven. Doesn’t that teaching sound familiar? Who teaches that false doctrine? The Catholic Church. It is called Purgatory. Now you know that Catholicism and universalism have similar teachings.
What does the Scriptures says about hell?
9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
-Revelation 14:9-11, NASB
Whoever rejects Jesus Christ automatically chooses the devil. In the time of the Great Tribulation, receiving the mark of the beast is a way of giving your heart to Satan, rejecting the Lord. The reward for such a choice is to be cast into the Lake of Fire that will never end. There will be no purification for the person to then get out of there and go into heaven. The Bible does not teach that.. In Revelation 20:15, it says, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
The Book of Life is a book that records the names of those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ and have received the Holy Spirit to guide them in doing God’s Will.
for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.
-Philippians 2:13, NASB
Everyone has to choose to follow Jesus to make it into heaven. Universalism says that you don’t have to follow Him. Below, faith is required to be saved.
In Ephesians 2:8-9, it says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
After the person is convicted of their sins they must decide if they will put their faith in Jesus Christ or not. Grace is the kindness of God, by paying for our debt of sin that we didn’t deserve, by sending His Son to die in our place on the cross so that the doors have heaven may be open to us for entry. All we have to do is accept the gift that Jesus offers.
The teachings of universalism is unbiblical and does not come from God. The Scripture refutes that teaching and calls it, “doctrines of men” which comes from demons.
And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
-Matthew 15:9, NASB
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
-1 Timothy 4:1:2, NASB
Teachings like the ones found in universalism, which obviously contradicts the Scriptures, should be outright rejected.
This is the reason why I say in some of my posts to stick to God’s Word without deviating to extra-biblical sources as you cannot know with certainty if it is biblical or not. Deception at times will be very hard to detect so that you will ingest it, causing your spiritual life to gradually die, as you won’t catch on to it until it is too late.
For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
-Matthew 13:12, NASB
Spiritual Minefield 