Universalism

Deuteronomy 6:4-18

We have found ourselves in this position, we are a blessed people who have forgotten our God. We live in such a way as there is no dependence on Him so our trust lies within ourselves and our strength. We come to church on the weekends and have no pursuit of Him during the week because our assumption is that He is only interested in our attendance. So when we find ourselves in the quietness of night with our head on our pillow we feel a longing in our souls. We wonder if there’s more for us out there. We don’t assume that the more can be found in God Himself because we go to church; we’ve “tried Him.” And in those moments our mind wanders to other things to fulfill that longing. “Maybe there’s another way, maybe there’s something better out there that I just haven’t tried yet.” Friend, the better is found in Jesus. The deepest longing of our soul is only found in Him. God’s not after your Sunday attendance, He’s after your heart and He’ll settle for nothing less than your all.

Are all people going to heaven?

No, separation is clearly spoken about from Jesus Himself

Matthew 7:23 “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Matthew 8:12 “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Mark 9:43 “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:”

John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Who gets into Heaven then?

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Romans 10:12–13 “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Should we be seeking wisdom from other places?

Wisdom or enlightenment?

All should first seek wisdom from the Lord

Psalm 1

Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord giveth wisdom: Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

James 1:5–6 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

There is no enlightenment outside of God

Jeremiah 10:2-16, 23-24

1 Corinthians 10:20–21 “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”

Why should we not seek enlightenment outside of God? Why should we be careful about wisdom outside of the kingdom of God?

Pursuit of wisdom outside of the Lord can lead one to confusion and idolatry.

Exodus 20:3–6 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

Jonah 2:8–9 “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

Habakkuk 2:18 “What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; The molten image, and a teacher of lies, That the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?”

Galatians 4:8–9 “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”

God made this world. God made this life. There are not answers that He does not have. Why seek answers away from the source? What can we trust more that Him?