Hell: Universal Reconciliation

Today Dr. Will Ryan and Matt tackle Christian Universalism, or
Ultimate Reconciliation, Or Universal Restoration, Or Patristic
Universalism. This view states that all shall be saved. It is not
pluralism which means all roads lead to God. This Christian view
of universalism states that through faith in Christ alone all
shall be saved. This view affirms all cardinal doctrines of the
Christian faith and believes in judgement and many believe in a
literal Hell, Universal Restorationists (UR) just believe that it
won’t last forever.    


Strengths 


• Consistent with the character of God who is love 


• Scripture seems to support the possibility of all being
saved 


• Affirms God is powerful and able to accomplish what he wants
to 


• Give a sense of Hope for the world 


• If God truly does love all and save all then it really motives
followers of Jesus to see people in a reflection of that love and
not just see them as people God wants to judge.  


• Can make sense of the death passages and the salvation
passages 


• Makes sense of Retributive and Restorative justice passages
 


Weaknesses 


• All doesn’t always mean all. Sometimes it means all kind. Like
as in the gospels where it said, “all of Jerusalem came out to
see Jesus”.  


• Tradition following the 4th century has been pretty silent for
UR 


• May decrease evangelistic efforts. But do we need Hell to
convince people? The disciples didn’t use it in Acts, they simply
proclaimed Jesus’ kingship. 


• If we are all saved why not live however we want to?  


• UR has a hard time explaining the 2 paths and gates and point
of no return passages. Some arguments seem to be a stretch.
 


• Free Will- Does God override people’s will? He seems to give
them over to their desires if they don’t want Him and allows
their heart to be hardened. Will he force himself on them through
torment (at gunpoint?)? UR seems to go against free will that
hold to God’s non-coercion (but to His persuasion).   


• Hitler and the Satan will be saved? 


• Some will say that this makes the cross useless without
(capitol) punishment.  


• A lot hangs on post modem repentance. The bible neither affirms
not denies this. Maybe it depends on the amount of light given?