Universalism

[Tikatu]

Okay, I'll admit I'm confused.

Universalism is something I've heard about recently, and here on SFL it seems to be the counterpoint to predestination, i.e. where predestination says that God has already chosen those who will be saved, universalism teaches that he offers salvation to everyone. (Not that God will be surprised at who is saved... He sees the beginning to the end, after all.)

However, I've recently come across a preacher (SBC, a non-fundy in an increasingly fundy association; I admire many of his stands on the non-essentials) describe universalism as something completely different. He says that a universalist claims that all people not saved while they lived will have the opportunity to come to salvation after death. You can read his short article on the subject here.

So, which is it? Please explain.

[exIFB]

Universalism is the belief that all will be saved, or ultimately reconciled.

Calvinism typically holds to the view of predestination you described.

The third view (and there are fourth, and fifth etc, but these three would consititute the majority of believers) - I hesitate to call it Arminianism, because it's often such a broad blanket term that Calvinists call anything that is not Calvinistic, but generally, the non-calvinist belief is that salvation is offered freely to all, even though God knows that not all are saved. Arminians do not believe that man is good, or saves himself by hearing the word. The Father still draws, the Spirit still convicts, the Son still saves. Salvation is all of God. There are other views of predestination as well. I hold to what I believe is a little known but biblical view of predestination, especially in light of verses such as Ephesians 1:4. The last calvinist thread really upset me, so I hope this one doesn't become another one, but stays on topic. I just felt the need to clarify that Calvinism wasn't the beacon of orthodoxy it purports to be (ie, it has everything right and everything else is Arminian - a claim I have heard thousands of times). There are other views that maintain the fundamentals of the faith, but view the nature of election & predestination in a different light.

I don't think you will get a definitive answer on "which is it"... Unless you are asking what Universalism is. Universalism is the teaching that all will be reconciled. Personally, I don't think it is a scriptural position, although there are a few verses which appear to teach it.

[chris1000bc]

Sorry for being confusing.

exIFB did a good job of explaining three of the main views. I had a friend who was reading up on universalism (I think in hopes of becoming one). One of the verses he mentioned to me was 1 Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." The universalists take the second "all" in that verse to mean all.

I think proponents of universalism can be Calvinistic or Arminian. I have heard of several universalists who came to their position because the idea of people going to Hell was so abhorrent to them. Though I am sure people become universalists just like they become anything else...for many reasons. By the way, I agree with exIFB in that one's not being a Calvinist does not necessarily make them an Arminian. It is just sometimes easier to use the terms to describe two broad groups. I usually just say "non-Calvinist" so no one feels the need to come back and say "I am not an Arminian."