I received this question
from an internationally, highly regarded, theologian. He said that
there is reticence on the part of many to agree with the premise of
Biblical Universalism because the first two Biblical Facts that I
offer to support this view are contrardictory.
Dear Neal,
Greetings! I enjoyed your email and feel much in agreement
with your concerns as you know.
As to the reticence, it may be due to a feeling that
what you are proposing is not coherent. The two biblical facts
are contradictory. If the first is true, all must be saved.
But according to the second they are not. It is repugnant
to believe contraries. Would this explain the reticence?
God Bless _________________
MY RESPONSE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY THIS:
Greetings ___________,
I am highly honored whenever
you respond to any of my postings. Much appreciated.
'The two facts' are not contradictory. I invariably refer
to the passages (e.g. Romans 5:18) as the 'SO-CALLED universalistic
passages' because they are not universals. They are generalizations.
A generalization is a universal
declaration that has known exceptions. Therefore it is not so that
'If the first is true, all must be saved.'
The three major theological
traditions have made the error of viewing these passages as 'true
universals.'
ABSOLUTE
UNIVERSALISTS say those passages refer to 'the salvation for
all persons without any exception.'
ARMINIANS
say those passage refer to 'a potential or possible salvation for
all persons without any exception.'
TRADITIONAL
CALVINISTS have made the same error. They say those passages
refer to 'All elect persons without any exception.'
The Absolute Universalists are correct in their reading of
the so-called universalistic passages of Scripture. If it were
not for the exceptions that MUST BE acknowledged from the broader
context of the Bible we would be compelled to believe that all
persons will be saved.
Arminian and Calvinist exegetes
have fought the battle about these so-called universalistic passages
for more than 400 years and not one iota of progress toward a resolution
has been made as a result of this struggle. We must call a halt to
this fight. These passages speak of an actual or certain-to-be-realized
salvation and they do so in terms of all persons. This can not be
reasonably denied!
We make a very serious error either if we do not accept what
these passages say or if we refuse to recognize the exceptions
that are found in the broader context of the bible.
You evidently do not have
a copy of my book 'What's Good . . .?' It has a chapter entitled 'Generalizations.'
I cite passages in which generalizations are used in the Scriptures.
'All things are lawful for me,' says Paul. We know there were exceptions.
This is the perspective of Christian Liberty with which Paul now views
his relationship to the law. He sees his life in Christ as a freedom
to do all things, except those things expressly forbidden for a child
of God.
The classic 'generalization'
is I Cor. 15:27 "For he 'has put everything under his feet.'
Now when it (the Bible) says that 'everything' has been put under
him, it is clear that this does not include God himself who put everything
under Christ."
In a completely parallel
fashion when the so called "universalistic" say "As
in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all made alive," it
"is clear that this does not include" those whom the Bible
elsewhere says will not be "made alive."
The only exceptions to the
so-called "universalistc" texts are those who willfully,
persistently and finally reject or remain indifferent to whatever
revelation God has given of himself to them, whether in nature/conscience
or gospel proclamation. This is the firm nonspeculative biblical basis
for Inclusivism.
I will place a copy of my
book in the mail tomorrow so that you can see how I believe the bible
uses generalizations and the purpose they serve.
Cordially, Neal
- - - - - - - - - -
Further discussion of the
above question is found in Posting # 4.
- - - - - - - - - -
* BIBLICAL
UNIVERSALISM is the teaching that all persons are elect in Christ
except those who the Bible expressly declares will be finally lost,
namely, those who ultimately reject or remain indifferent to whatever
revelation God has given of himself to them whether in nature/conscience
or in gospel presentation.
Biblical Universalism is based upon these three biblical facts:
1) The so-called "universalistic" texts speak of a certain-to-be-realized
salvation as Calvinist have consistently maintained and they do so
in terms of all persons as Arminians have always affirmed (Posting
No. 2).
2) We must accept the so-called "universalistic" texts as written.
We may allow only those exceptions that are necessarily imposed upon
these passages from the broader context of the Scriptures as a whole
(Posting No. 3).
3) All persons, except Jesus Christ, are liable for and polluted by
the imputed sin of Adam (original sin). However, the Scriptures do
not teach or imply that anyone is consigned to eternal damnation solely
on the basis of their sin in Adam APART FROM actual, willful and persistent
sin on the part of the person so consigned (Posting No. 4).
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Neal Punt at: whenindoubt1@charter.net
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2001 by Northland Books. Box 63, Allendale MI 49401. Unlimited permission
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