Essential Doctrine According To Christian Universalism

[@AlphaTribeBand]

Thank you so much for these insights. I have struggled with the doctrine of hell as eternal punishment from an early age. To hear about universalism and it's place in the early church are truly enlightening.

[@donbouchard6695]

Thank you brother for this very well explained view on the NIcean creed, the Lord unveiled to me the truth of universalism almost 22 years ago now, and I am still in hot debates with a lot of my fellow brethren who believe in eternal damnation. God bless and keep up the great work.

[@HonorableMention83]

Interesting. Why are you saved and when did you get saved. After you accepted, right?

[@donbouchard6695]

@@HonorableMention83 Why I am saved is because of His grace and His sacrifice and because of the love of Our father. And of course I got "saved" after I repented and accepted Christ as my Savior and chose to reconcile with Our Father. It was and is by Grace alone, for well over 40 years now.

[@kevinrombouts3027]

Excellent once again. I would certainly go to a church that allowed all three viewpoints to be considered objectively.

[@JRDS214]

Awesome well done Godspeed bro Maranatha ❤❤❤❤❤

[@HonorableMention83]

Modern-day evangelical charismatic self-determination salvationalist Arminianist. Maranantha. Ok AW bulldozer. CS Lewis Greg Laurie Skip Heitzig. All frauds.

[@Inverted.surfer]

Thankyou for providing ongoing food for thought...

[@selfwitness]

Thank you for your very clear and eye opening talk. What I understand is this: if ALL shall kneel and bow and recognize/believe Christ as Lord, isn’t that the door to salvation for all? Isn’t that the primary prerequisite for salvation by faith? “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:25 So if ALL knees shall bend and recognize Christ as Lord, it makes sense that there is universal salvation.

[@Inverted.surfer]

Thankyou for saving my energies in writing a meaningful comment. We shall call it... The Universalist creed😇😁

[@selfwitness]

@@Inverted.surfer Thank you for your work! 😊😇 May God bless you and yours! Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us. Amen 🙏

[@HonorableMention83]

Prerequisite. Do you understand what you're typing? Read this, ye conditional election followers. Psalms 5, 5. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. The ad is crap and so is the author. God hates sinners. Psalms 5, 5. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

[@HonorableMention83]

​@@selfwitnesslost stillborns. Read Psalms 5, 5. God hates sinners. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

[@AlphaTribeBand]

@@HonorableMention83 That is the old covenant.

[@hermanessences]

Love your channel

[@HonorableMention83]

5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

[@kerrybrown6640]

Just curious, what books on or by the Cappadocian Fathers would you recommend?

[@optimisticbear9617]

Amen, the question is will the foolish stay that way for eternity?

[@alwaysadawg6488]

Very doubtful.

[@stanfordespedal9251]

Aloha! I'm curious... are you aware that every single one of the ancient Christian universalists -- including Saints Athanasius of Alexandria, the "Father of orthodoxy" , and Gregory of Nyssa, the "Father of Fathers" per Nicea II -- were all Catholic (all the essential doctrines & sacraments, sacramental understanding of the holy Church, hierarchical structure of the Church, as from the Beginning)? And conversely, to my fellow Catholics of all ritual Churches, are YOU aware that every single orthodox-catholic Christian in the "primitive" Church was also universalist (to one degree or another)? The true, holy, apostolic Tradition of the universal Church - from the beginning - is Universalist! A Byzantine Catholic, from Hawai'i, here in SoCal. Mahalo for your witness, Sir!

[@jamesbarksdale978]

After 2000 years Christians are still arguing and bickering about the essentials of the Faith. I, for one, find the Nicene Creed adequate. To affirm much more than this as "essential" is problematic, and only encourages further dissension. Having said that, there is nothing in the Creed that prohibits ECT, Annihilationalism, or Universalism.

[@juliealoem]

I really hope universalism were true but I just can't come to believe it without having to read the Bible with biases. All I see in the Bible when I just read it on my own is annihilation. And I do admit I have issues with the fact any scripture used to "support" universalism is never from Jesus himself and from the synoptic gospels, and absolutely never from the Old Testament. It's always either one or two Church Fathers (including one that was considered heretical for some of his other beliefs) and Paul's writings, which are notoriously complicated, often unclear and always misinterpreted or taken out of context, twisted in a way to make them say what they don't say. And Revelation is on the contrary very clear about throwing sinners in the fire to be destroyed alongside death and Hades. I know about the translation issues, I read from Young's literal version and check Greek and Hebrew words when in doubt. It still doesn't show universalism. The "purifying fire" idea doesn't make any sense either, especially if death is to be thrown in it as well. Death must be destroyed, not purified. It's also a stretch, you can't just read and understand that, you have to try to see it to actually understand it that way and make all sorts of mental gymnastics. I do not believe in eternal conscious torment either. Can someone help me and share some more information on universalism if you have any ? I read and listened to anything I could find on this subject and I still cannot believe it even though I really wish this were true. I just don't see it.

[@MB777-qr2xv]

John 3:36 says, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Do you believe Universalism or John 3:36? You can't believe both.

[@davidlyons6235]

I think believing Jesus rose from the dead is rather easy. It's His death that flummoxes most everyone. A clue: death is the antipode of life. Death is the absence of life. Resurrection is our hope.

[@HonorableMention83]

Why do you think you believe? You're all tripping and I can prove it. Why? Why do you believe? When did you believe? B4 or after you read, heard or saw some liar for hire? And who's this yahoo speaking as an authority after he read biblical text. Blah. Who says you believe but you?

[@davidlyons6235]

@HonorableMention83 that is the most brain-dead comment I've seen in a while. Congrats. That's all you're getting from me though. I wouldn't know where to begin to unravel your tangled nonsense.

[@HonorableMention83]

18 Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment to condemnation came upon all men.. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. About time you knew the truth. I know, you all accepted Jesus by faith. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

[@Dracossack.]

Before asking my question, let me be upfront about my position. I was a devout Christian for many years and recently lost faith. I am however, still sympathetic to Christianity and would still like it to be true. My question for you is, if this doctrine is true why do you think God allow it to be largely suppressed throughout church history? Should we not expect the Holy Spirit to preserve such an important truth? I feel that if this doctrine was more universally accepted and promoted, Christianity would be as well.

[@thecoopfamily2475]

Hey there, I know you're not specifically asking me, but I felt compelled to share my own reflections because I resonate deeply with your question. One of the biggest struggles for me personally has been wrestling with this very issue: why are there such deep divisions in church doctrines regarding the Holy Spirit, and why do certain doctrines, ones I’d consider problematic-like Eternal Conscious Torment and Penal Substitutionary Atonement-dominate mainstream thought? While I don’t have definitive answers, I’d like to share some thoughts that have given me peace along my journey. 1. We Don’t Have All the Answers-and That’s Okay Accepting that we’re not meant to have all the answers can feel like a cop-out, but in reality, it’s just a reflection of our nature. We are limited beings trying to comprehend an infinite God; by definition, this is beyond our grasp. Our journey is like Jacob’s-wrestling with God and the very ideas we hold about Him. I believe that Jesus gives us the clearest picture of God we have, yet even he remains complex, often teaching in parables and metaphors, pushing us to think beyond simple answers. 2. Questioning Christianity Doesn’t Provide All the Answers Either Sure, I could leave Christianity or let go of following Jesus to find clearer answers. But where would that actually leave me? Would I suddenly understand the mysteries of consciousness, the origins of life, or the nature of time and existence? The core questions remain regardless. Christianity may not hand us all the answers on a silver platter, but it offers a path that, in my experience, feels rich with purpose and meaning even amid uncertainty. 3. God Respects Our Freedom and Humanity From the earliest days of the church, as seen in Paul’s letters, misunderstandings and turmoil have always been present. This division isn’t new, and in a way, the Bible is remarkably honest about human fallibility within the church. Unity didn’t come instantly; it unfolded gradually, organically, and sometimes painfully. Christianity, with its subversive, counter-cultural message, spread through history not by force but by the profound and paradoxical image of a leader who gave up his life. It seems God works through “slow” processes, respecting the rhythm of growth and development. From evolution to the Kingdom of God itself-which starts as small as a mustard seed but continues to expand-it makes sense that finding our way might take time. God’s approach, patient and non-coercive, honors our freedom and humanity. 4. Trust and Love Are Choices Like you, I want Christianity to be true. There’s something beautiful in the teachings of Jesus that feels deeply worth following. His life was a model of love, self-sacrifice, peace, patience, and kindness. He brought healing, embraced humility, and called for unity. Even with doubts, I see no harm-and only benefit-in striving to live like him. For me, it’s a conscious choice to trust and to hope in something that feels fundamentally good and transformative. 5. Embrace the Mystery I’ve come to realize that embracing mystery isn’t a weakness; it’s a form of strength. Living in the tension of not knowing everything allows for wonder, curiosity, and awe. Rather than striving for cold, calculated answers, sometimes it’s enough to sit with the beauty, mystery, and vastness of God. 6. Universalism Offers a Framework for Unanswered Questions For me, Universalism brings a hopeful framework to this imperfect, questioning journey. It allows for the possibility that, in the fullness of time, God’s love will overcome every division and misunderstanding within the body of Christ. We’re like children growing up-learning, stumbling, seeking. Someday, I believe, we will see Jesus clearly, understanding and embracing the love we’re meant to embody. In this view, we can be ambassadors of peace, freedom, and hope right now, helping others find freedom from darkness and bondage. But ultimately, God is salvation itself-Jesus means “God saves.” It is God who works in us and through us, accomplishing all He intends, and that allows us to rest, even in our doubts, knowing He is faithful to complete His work.

[@Dracossack.]

@@thecoopfamily2475I welcome your response. Appreciate the time it took to write it out. I can say right off the bat that I agree with you-what Jesus taught tapped into something transcendent. It’s a transformative ethic that does change lives. It changed mine, no doubt. But where I am right now, the evolution of the church over time looks a little *too* human for there to be any higher guidance. Again, I would expect God to put some kind of guard rails on issues of such supreme importance, especially if the Holy Spirit is indwelling people. I agree with your free will idea for the most part but I think inviting the spirit in should also implicitly invite correction Point 6 is why if I ever return to faith, it would be as a universalist. Think of how much someone can change in just a year for the better. If a year is enough, why would ten thousand or ten million not be?

[@MrCman321]

@@Dracossack.I had similar issues with the history of the church when I came back, but understanding human history a bit more, I think the Holy Spirit has been guiding everything exactly how it needed to be. We needed the early church fathers for the bedrock of the faith, Scholastic period to get science and the understanding of life, the reformation to get grace theology. And now, the Holy Spirit is bringing them all back into conversation. It looks like fragmentation right now, but I think in the next decades there will be a lot of theological integration that happens, including universalism.

[@stephengorman1025]

​@thecoopfamily2475 Thanks for that, having followed Jesus for over fifty years I have come to the same conclusion as you and resonate with each of the points you make. The picture of Jacob wrestling with God has been the perfect metaphor for growing in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ through the indwelling Spirit - 'I will not let you go'. Grace and Peace

[@mattr.1887]

Full disclosure: I am a former believer myself. But very sympathetic to UR, as it is actually consistent and logical compared with the two other main alternatives. The fact that there are so many different competing theologies is part of the reason that I suspect the traditional Christian view of God is quite inadequate. I don't say this to insult anyone; it's just an honest observation after many years of searching. I have my own views on God, but would probably be at odds with everyone here.

[@HonorableMention83]

5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

[@HonorableMention83]

Mr. Who. Who are you to say who is or who isnt? Because you read? Because you heard? Why do you believe? When did you first believe? Will you give the traditional answer? Please, I know your answer. You're well versed in Romes theology or a branch of reformed theology. Things you say: claim. Require. Faith. Believe. Why do you believe? And when did you first believe? Obviously after you read or after you heard, correct? Its my opinion you believe because you one day decided.

[@randychurchill201]

If I were a universalist, I would not use Origen. Origen was condemned in three councils and taught many false doctrines. One of them being absolute divine simplicity. I would stick with better Orthodox Fathers for my beliefs.

[@christianuniversalist]

That’s actually NOT accurate. There is an excellent article about it here 👇 SAINT ORIGEN by David Bentley Hart (October 2015) Also, Al Kimel has done excellent work on this as well. And let’s not forget that EO saw it fit to venerate the murderous thug Justinian, so discernment isn’t always a strong point in corporate religion.

[@HonorableMention83]

God hates sinners. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

[@thejerichoconnection3473]

I keep hearing that the universalist view was widespread in the first 5 centuries but the only names you can come up with are always the same two: Origen and Gregory of Nyssa. The first was eventually anathematized for his heretical ideas. Not sure what your idea of “widespread” is, but two fathers, one of whom condemned as heretical, doesn’t sound like a great support for universalism. Universalism has always been a thin minority in Christianity, more tolerated than accepted as orthodoxy and completely disappeared from the radars during the centuries. Universalism is not based on Scripture. Universalism is based on an a-priori (delusional) idea of God. You are free to continue in that delusion but there’s absolutely no way of squaring universalism with Scripture.

[@orthodoxuniversalist]

Thanks for the comment! I give a more thorough timeline of universalist history for the first 500 years in the video, “What Is Christian Universalism.” As to it not being biblical, obviously I can’t agree. Colossians 1, Romans 5, Philippians 2, etcetera all have clear implications which (unless we carry the conventional view of eternal torment into those texts with us) point conclusively to universalism. Thanks for the feedback!

[@stephengorman1025]

I suggest more reading. On the Incarnation by Athanasius and A Larger Hope by Illaria Ramelli are good places to start. Also in the 17 Gospel proclamation recorded in Acts not one mentions eternal constant torment as motivation to repent. TheLord bless you and keep you.

[@thejerichoconnection3473]

@ thanks for the suggestions. The point you bring up is common argument from silence: it bears almost zero weight. If you are honest, you will admit that universalism is not a doctrine you derive from Scripture. Universalism instead stems from an a-priori view of what a merciful God should or shouldn’t be doing based on our intuition. Reality is, that intuition clashes irremediably with the divine revelation. Now, I totally understand that uneasiness of realizing that our intuition about God is off. However, when our intuition clashes with divine revelation, we better drop our intuition and accept the divine revelation. Universalists do the opposite: they stick to their intuition and try to find a desperate way to twist Scripture into aligning with their intuition. I get the motivation. I get it. But I also have to call out it’s just a (pious) delusion, nothing more. God bless you.

[@handsomedevil4928]

@@thejerichoconnection3473 I don’t believe in universalism, but I do think someone can make an argument for it from scripture.

[@thejerichoconnection3473]

@@handsomedevil4928 sure. Anybody can make any argument from Scripture. You can read anything you want into Scripture. Just look at how many different Christian doctrines have been circulating in the past 2000 years, including the most outrageous heresies. All of them had their Bible verses that supposedly supported them. Heretics always argued from Scripture. This is not the point. The point is: can anyone honestly read Scripture as a whole and conclude that Scripture teaches that all will be saved? The answer is a resounding no. Unless you already have your preconceived ideas, and you desperately try to read them into Scripture. What I’m asking universalists is to at least be honest: they don’t believe that all will be saved because Scripture teaches so (in fact it clearly teaches the opposite); they believe all will be saved based on a preconceived philosophical principle (a merciful God will never etc.). That’s all I’m asking: intellectual honesty.