Universalism may have come about in part as a reaction to hyper-Calvinism. Unfortunately it developed into a rejection of Paul and other Bible writers. Paul sounds a lot like Calvin, you know... or is it the other way around?

Romans 9:14-22. As Paul begins discussing what God knew and didn't know, and the judgments He made in eternity past, a thought arises in the minds of carnal men: This is not fair! Paul questions that conclusion here. There can be no unrighteousness with God. He can do as He wills, and our puny attempts at re-interpreting His motives, protecting His image, or whatever it is we are doing when we twist Scriptures, won't work. Let's leave God's Word alone. It is what it is and we cannot change it.

Who are we to reply against God? Good question, Paul. Notice his further totally unacceptable - by our standards - comments. There are, he says, some people that have been prepared for destruction. God is enduring them, letting them go for now. But destruction is theirs.

Not only the Universalist cringes at such talk but many who claim to love the truth of God's Word also get a bit nervous. Destruction? Prepared for destruction? The merciful God prepared people for destruction?

I'm not going to clean that up. Let us rejoice in our salvation but never forget, as we have concluded over and over, that not all are saved now, and eternity will not change their status.

Romans 10:16, 11:5. The point is made here that not everyone will obey the Gospel, that there is only a remnant who will. That remnant is according to an election of grace. Let's struggle with that if we must, but not attempt to change it.

Romans 11:11-32. Here again is a passage seized by the Universalists and made to fit the mold they have created. We enter it with the Light we have already gained from Paul. He will not contradict himself.

Let's follow his argument:

First, Israel as a nation has fallen. No question about that. Because of their fall, all the other nations were invited into the Kingdom. Paul calls this event the "reconciling of the world." Indeed, God so loved the world... We must never dispute that. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Whoever desires to come to Jesus is welcome to come. God will receive all sinners.

But will all sinners receive Him? This is where we part company with Universalism. No, not all will receive Him. They will choose to stay in their sins and pay their own way, a price they cannot afford.

Second, after Israel's hardening and God's grace to the Gentiles, Israel shall once more come to the Father. Jesus Himself will deal with them in the wilderness situation described by the prophets and John (in Revelation). It will be Ezekiel's bones resurrected from the dead. God will have mercy on "the remnant" of Israel.

But by this time Israel, using Paul's tree analogy, will have had a myriad of branches - Gentiles - attached to it. This will be the fullness of Israel, all Israel that God foresaw from the beginning.

And all of the true Israel will be saved. As for unbelieving Israel, as well as unbelieving Gentiles? They are not truly Israel at all. God's Word has not suddenly changed regarding them.

The Universalist grasps for verse 32 and of it makes his creed:

"For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all."

Does this mean that every Jew and every Gentile of all time, all of whom have been disobedient sinners, will in the end be called up to God's glory, totally forgiven, and forever bask in God's mercy? Every one?

Would this include Judas? The antichrist? Hitler?

Truly every knee will bow to Jesus. But will every heart and mind hear the Father's "well done" ?

Yes, every one. Everyone, that is, who calls upon the name of the Lord. Therein is the miracle. Therein is the grace and mercy of our God. All who come to Jesus will receive abundant pardon.

Did Jesus invite two men to Paradise at his death, or only one? Only one. The one who wanted to go there. The other one wanted only to curse his way into a godless grave. Jesus has shown us here the heart of the Father. Again, it is whosoever will! Such grace! Let no Universalist be allowed to cheapen this gift by crying that so many are left out, that God is unjust if He punishes sin in this drastic way. They are left out because they want to be left out. They reject the Creator and are therefore refused that which was created for His children.