Our trip through the New Testament now brings us to the second letter to Corinth, where a surprising number of passages address the demise of Universalism.

II Corinthians 2:15-16. Paul speaks here of two classes of people in the world: 1, those who are being saved, and 2, those who are perishing. We Christians smell like death to the latter, and life to the former. The apostle could not have been more specific in crushing the main tenet of Universalism.

II Corinthians 3:7-17. Paul's discussion here and elsewhere of the New Covenant must not be viewed as condemnation vs salvation for all. Though true it is that the Law of Moses teaches us that no one can be saved, and the love of Christ teaches us that all can be saved, the word "can" is the operative one here. Covenants are entered into by two parties. Only when "one turns to the Lord" , v.16, is he a part of that covenant. As we have seen repeatedly, there will be many who will not enter that covenant. All the evidence points to the fact that most of humanity will be left out on that awful day of His return.

II Corinthians 4:3-6. Here he mentions the perishing again. These unbelievers have been blinded by the god of this world, and the light of the Gospel will never penetrate the darkness that surrounds them. In contrast, Paul adds that God's light has shined directly on our hearts. A humbling fact.

II Corinthians 5:10-11. Another "we" passage. We must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We will receive rewards for things we did. We are well known to God. He speaks here of believers, and mentions in passing "the terror of the Lord." Fear. The knowledge that, standing before Him, even believers will tremble at what He might say. A wake-up call for the church of Paul's and our day. Important to recognize here is that Spirit-filled New Covenant Paul reminds us that our God, in this day, is to be revered, not taken lightly. Even though this is the judgment of the church it is a serious one by a serious God, who has much more in the way of judgment for the unbeliever.

II Corinthians 5:18-21. Here's one the Universalists might want, but we will take from them. It's all about reconciliation. The key is the little word "us" in verse 18. He reconciled us through Jesus. Us. The believers in Christ. That same group has been given the ministry of reconciliation, personified here in Paul and the apostles around him.

Paul's was a ministry of reconciliation. There was no way God could save people through the present system, Judaism. The law is just too holy. No man could keep it. Everyone needed a Saviour. And everyone got one. God Himself was in Jesus reconciling the world to Himself. Now that phrase, "the world" is the key for the Universalist. Their heart races just a little faster when they see words like that. You see, God is going to save the whole world, they say!

Yes, He would have liked that. We have already agreed that God loves the whole world, from John 3:16. But Paul's impassioned plea later in this passage lets us know that the call to reconciliation is an open invitation. Invitations can be rejected. He has reconciled "us." But not "them", those who refuse to be reconciled.

II Corinthians 6:2. Now is the day of salvation. Today, if you will hear His voice. It will not always be like this. It was not like this before. This is a special time, an age of grace. Things will change one day, maybe soon. Irreversible changes. This is our day to spread the word about universal salvation. But that universe will shrink one day. The day of salvation will end. Free grace will end. Then will come the time of the justice of God, the righteous rule of our King. And all those who do not want the King to rule over Him will be destroyed forever.

II Corinthians 6:14-18. The doctrine of separation - and it is still a doctrine of the Christian Church - suffers greatly at the hands of Universalists. The clear boundaries between good and evil people are blurred, and the mixture dominates. This is the mixture that will give rise to a one-world religion, ecumenical and free. Free of truth also.

Paul once more draws the line. There are two groups. Believers and unbelievers. Righteousness and lawlessness. Light and darkness. Temple of God and idols. Clean and unclean. My children and not My children. It will be this way forever. We must recognize it now.