In writing on God’s grace, love, and mercy, questions of universalism inevitably come up. I do not consider myself a blanket universalist. That is, I don’t think that people are automatically saved and that their actions have no consequences.
I believe that Jesus does “reward every man according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27). But this justice is rooted in love: “…and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work” (Psalm 62:12).
I see, then, the justice of God as being restorative, not retributive.
On occasion, and definitely more than I like, I have to discipline my children. I take a different approach than one set of my parents did, but I find it quite effective. Nevertheless, it’s not fun or pleasing for me to have to discipline my kids, so why do I do it?
Because of my steadfast love for them.
They have to learn that hitting is not okay. They have to learn that intentionally breaking something or making a mess isn’t okay. They have to learn how to be human, and how can they learn except I guide them?
The purpose of the discipline is not to satisfy my desire to punish them; it is to end in an embrace.
When I consider God as Father Almighty, my mind goes to passages like Hebrews 12:
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children— “My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when you are punished by him, for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves and chastises every child whom he accepts.” Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children, for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.
Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:5–11
“The Lord disciplines those whom he loves…he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.”
And who does the Lord not love?
Now, let me be first to say, as a father, that sometimes discipline sends the kids in the other direction, at least for a time.
Is it possible for someone to despise this discipline? to reject this holiness? to run away from the Father?
I believe so. I believe that love demands a choice.
At the same time, I believe the gates of the new Jerusalem are always open, and that the invitation is always offered to those on the outside:
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. Revelation 22:17
So while I don’t believe in the blanket salvation of all, I do believe in the potential realized reconciliation of all. Let me break this last statement down:
“I believe”—That is, to the best of my knowledge, which is fallible and always growing. I don’t presume to know.
“Potential”—That is, it is certainly within God’s character, nature, and power as I understand it to reconcile all to himself. God is Love, and God’s Love is more powerful than the works of the devil. Yet, it is potential in that God does not force love on any person.
“Realized”—That is, reconciliation is already accomplished in Christ, but this is not a realized reality for everyone, for, as the apostle says, “Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
“Reconciliation”—That is, discipline is part of the process. Sin does have consequences. Jesus does repay every man according to his work, but this is done from his lovingkindness and mercy. However, it is not that God needs to be reconciled to us; we need to be reconciled to God.
It is at this point that I must introduce my favorite book on the afterlife. It’s called The Great Divorce, and it is a wonderful little book by C. S. Lewis. You’ll find in it all the answers and ignorance and speculation and hope that I espouse here.
Now, I know that not everyone is where I am, if I’m anywhere at all, and that’s okay. I remain open-minded on all this. But I will say this: I would rather be accused of overemphasizing the life of Christ more than I would ever want to be found guilty of overemphasizing the death of Adam.
So then 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 5:18–19
As a thank you to my paid subscribers, I’m including a few thoughts on annihilation and conditional immortality as well as an excerpt from George MacDonald’s Unspoken Sermons. My plan is to write an expanded version of this in the future, so everyone will ultimately get this material. One frustrating thing about this, though, is that comments will only be open to paid subscribers for this one post.
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