How does the false teaching called Universalism survive, given the so very clear statements of Jesus, like these recorded by Brother Luke in his Gospel?

Luke 13:23-30. How many will ultimately be saved? A few? Many? All depends on whether you are talking actual numbers or percentages. Sounds like percentages in this passage. Many will not enter. Many will demand entrance into the Kingdom on the basis of their personal/physical knowledge of Jesus from His days on earth. They will think that they have celebrity status because they had once walked in a crowd where Jesus walked, once witnessed a healing that Jesus did, once ate some loaves and fishes miraculously provided.

It won't work. Jesus will say to them what He will say to so many others. "I don't know you. You never repented of your sins. Leave Me." Sad, sad, words that will produce eternal frustration. To be so close to Heaven, and yet miss It.

Luke 14:16-24. The Great Supper story. Many, many invited. All give inexcusable excuses. All find that their excuses have cost them their place at the table. Universalism would have it this way: This man invites people to his home to eat. They make excuses. They don't come. The host covers all their food, freezes it, and tells them, "Hey, whenever you're ready, it's here. You decide, I'll be waiting."

Is that Biblical grace? Is that mercy? Or is that man's idea of who God is? Is this not the God that man has created in his own image? Why, we say, I'd not put demands on a person like that. I'd let him come any time he wants.

Maybe. But eventually your freezer gets full and your patience runs out. Or the electricity goes off. Or the house burns down. Even gracious you cannot guarantee that the food will be around forever.

The God Who is holy and true has given an unequaled invitation of mercy already. Dogs like us are invited to a royal feast of unparalleled value. God has ordained that if we refuse this feast, He'll eat without us.

That's just how it is.

Luke 15:4-7. Using this parable, it's become fashionable to add 99 to 1 and get 100, percent that is, and announce to the people of God that 100% of mankind will be saved. The story of Jesus here says that the shepherd had 99 sheep that were not lost and only one that was. When he found that one, everybody was now accounted for. Bingo! Universal salvation.

Not so fast, not so fast. 99 to 1 is certainly not the ratio of believers to unbelievers in the world today. Never has been. We've already established in Luke that there are few who will come to Christ, percentage wise. Jesus came out and said that there are few that find the narrow way.

This is not a parable about who gets to be saved, but about the compassion and priorities of the Father, a compassion He wants us to share.

But in the context, and that word is the most overlooked of all by Bible readers, the context seems to say He is comparing the proud Pharisees to men who know their needs. Does it not seem strange to you to hear Him talk of a group of people "who need no repentance" ? Is there such a group?

It seems He was saying to them, I'd much rather share my evening with a group of tax collectors and sinners who are convicted easily of their sin, than a whole month with you who think you need no repentance at all.

The 99 and the 1 are not the point of this message! And the message is confirmed in the rest of Luke 15. Ten coins. Nine of them in no obvious need. One is lost. Two sons. One has never strayed away. One has.

Go after the lost. Care deeply about them, as the Father does. Then deal with the ones who believe they were already found. Maybe they are, maybe not. 99 sheep. 9 coins. And one bitter son, the ending of whose story we are not given.