Is There Such a Thing as Christian Universalism?

Does the Bible teach that all people will eventually be saved. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

You can call us right now with your question. At 833.

The core our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes. Then Pastor Israel would love to talk to you again that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch us on YouTube and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Stephen Memphis, Tennessee hi Steve, what your question for Pastor Israel either castrated or overtly with little really enjoyed your program and operate a guy will continue to bless you and your minister greatly thank you concerns witnessing to young people in the age group of high schoolers. I would say, ages 14 through 18, which is roughly the great Lander 12 who seem to have a basic belief system that includes a belief that God exists, like all at least your knowledge of the saving grace of Christ, but from those who absolutely are demanding any existence or belief in God. How can we begin a dialogue with them so that they can at least thinking about the possibilities of God and hopefully start to get that closed door that they have open just see what what an excellent question, and one is near and dear to my heart because I really started walking with Jesus.

When I was in high school was Mike my sophomore year and I had a knowledge of God. My mother did you know everything that she could to to teach me a little bit about God.

She's a single mom, but I really didn't have a deep understanding of the Scriptures and it wasn't until Christian family really opened up their home to me and and you know were hospitable had me over for meals that I began to learn more about the Bible and so partly thank you note.

We depending on the kind of ministry that you're doing feeding. Teenagers always can can seem to attract and is honestly one of the things that it attracted me, but it opened up the door for me to hear the gospel, the word of the gospel, the word of God and we know that that's where the power is. Paul says in Romans chapter 10 verse 17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. And so anytime anyone believes whether there there. You know, young adult or or you know someone is older later in life. It's a miracle of the Holy Spirit and it's a miracle that God accomplishes through his word, and so I think building relationships opening up your home hospitality asking questions and responding to the questions that that young adults have teenagers have there a lot of questions that people have about God and so I think part of it is engaging in in the work of apologetics defending the faith responding to oftentimes really honest questions that people have that don't frequently get answered in the church and so we have to be sensitive to that in a one of the questions that are being asked and how can we respond to those questions from the Scriptures in a way that's that's intelligent and wise and and is true and so I think that those are some things that you that you could begin to do also. I mean, obviously, prayer is is key and I don't want to.

I don't want to just say that you know is if it it's just sort of a given right but II think oftentimes we we miss this you need to be.

We need to be praying for the people we want to see come to Jesus because ultimately, as I said earlier, it's a work of the Holy Spirit.

I think about what we read in acts chapter 16, where you note that the disciples are preaching, and one who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira seller of purple goods was a worshiper of God, the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. We need God to open the hearts of people so that they might listen to the word, and so you're praying for that you're praying that God would open the hearts of these young adults hear you're being hospitable you're sharing the love of Christ with them and in deed but also in word because you know that the gospel is what transforms lives and so from the things I would say that was really instrumental from yes I said just the hospitality of a Christian family, them opening up their homes. Initially they won't even know really trying to preach at me or anything like that. They were just befriending me and I really was wonderful and I got to be sort of a fly on the wall and see how their family operated you know they loved it.

To read the Scriptures, they would pray before they had meals in it. I began to ask questions and so I think your spending time with people investing in them and exposing them to loving Christian communities is a really important thing in and a good start, Steve. Are you involved in in some young adult ministry and in your neighborhood. All well but personnel you really have to start a really heartfelt love for young people.

We had come up a actuation young family member all rolled up in a non-Christian home and have been taught by their mom and that there is no God but only or anything about the Bible course about I dislike but that's just my writing and is trying to get through to young man and leadership style all just trying to figure out what's a good way to get him more receptive yeah well like I said a prayer and then and just I would say you know reaching out building a friendship or relationship investing in the people who we want to see know Jesus not not not loving them just so we can share the gospel with them, but loving them because it's the right thing to do and because sharing the gospel is the loving thing to do and so it sounds to me like the Lord is as late this individual maybe some other young adults on your heart, and I think that's that's a gift from God. You take that that burden that you feel when you turn that into prayer and you asked the Lord to give you opportunities to be able to share his love with with this young man and I see what the Lord does and may God bless you Steven and bless your family thanks you give us a call like to send Steve a copy of the book, or Christianity, which might be a great help starting point for him. We've also mentioned some other resources here in the past and including CS Lewis's book mere Christianity and the story of reality by Greg Cole call all those really give us a great starting point for apologetics and being effective evangelist so thanks so much Steve for your call. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Our phone lines are open right now for the next 20 minutes. 833. The core is the number 833. The core which if you want to dial it out it's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Paul in Johnston Rhode Island Paul.

Welcome to the program will have a question about being anointed with oil healing.

I haven't door and you I haven't anywhere in the group who where it when Jesus healed he used oil yeah well I I don't recall of any place in the New Testament. Neither were Jesus anoints someone with oil first and then he keels them. I typically heal. He'll lay hands on them. Or maybe you do something he doesn't even lay his hands on them.

It's it's interesting, but we just see very clearly that he is the great physician. The healer and the places in the Bible where it talks about anointing with oil certainly in the Old Testament talked about anointing in particular people to set them apart for particular offices. The kings were anointed that the priest, the prophets were anointed, but in the New Testament we are encouraged to anoint with oil in particular in James chapter 5 James chapter 5, beginning in verse 14, James said, is anyone among you sick let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord in the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up so anointing was this picture of being set apart. I think the oil is also a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. And this is very symbolic act there in James chapter 5 calling on the name of the Lord with faith and praying that God would raise up the one who is sick and in James is in the Lord hears your prayer the Lord, the Lord will heal.

Now we know that God doesn't always heal in every instance, but but there are instances where the Lord does healing work were encouraged to to pray in this way.

I think that sometimes in Christian circles, we can sort of have a view of anointing oil that that isn't necessarily biblical we treated as a sort of magic potion. You know, just anointing everything in our house that kind of thing and anointing ourselves and whatnot again in in the Bible that that's not really how it was used it wasn't this, this magical substance. It would just bring about healing that kind of a thing. It was is very symbolic. Jesus don't we call Jesus the Christ needs from the Hebrew word Messiah and really just means the anointed one, the one who is called by God, set apart, and in particular, set apart to fulfill the offices of the prophet he declares to us the will of God for our salvation of a priest. He he made atonement for our sins once and for all he ever lives to make intercession for us as his people and is a king. He governs us he rules and defends us the heat he cares for us. He gives us his word and spirit. And so we call Jesus the Christ were saying he is the anointed one, but you don't see Jesus in the Gospels going around just anointing other people that kind of thing he would heal them because he had the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit and through the power of the Holy Spirit, he would heal those who were sick. Paul, thank you for for your question brother and may the Lord bless you, thank you so much Paul for being a regular listener to core Christianity by the way, we should let you know that our program errors live but some radio stations aired on a delayed basis.

So if you want to call and talk to pastor Israel live on the air hears the time to call. It's 11:30 AM Pacific time, which translates in the 1230 mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that half-hour. You can call into the studio at our phone number which is 833. The core let's go to silky in Tulsa, Oklahoma hi silky how are you what your question for pastor. Israel and I like fellowship and wondering our door will likely allow heart allow will tell really do. Basically, thank you so much for giving us a call and one I praise the Lord that God is brought you to himself that you recently dedicated yourself to the Lord Jesus loves you, and he's given you his church, his body when we are united to Jesus by faith. We come into a relationship with Jesus Christ were not disunited to God were also united to the body of Christ that is the fellowship of believers and because that's the case, we should be you should be. As a Christian, a part of the local church where the word of God is faithfully taught where there are other brothers and sisters, with whom you can have community fellowship friendship. Those kinds of things and where you can continue to grow in your faith and so that's that's the first thing I want to say now is there anything wrong with you as a new believer. Having friends that are not Christians, why I think you you just have to ask. So it really is a wisdom thing here. Are they influencing me negatively in my newfound walk with the Lord if they are then maybe it's not the wisest thing for me right now to spend a lot of time with with these particular friends. If that's not the case maybe. Maybe they like spend time with you because they see the new joy that you have this relationship with God and you're having a positive influence on them than I would say, well, well, yeah, go for it. Maybe God will use you to to have a positive impact on on these friends, but we want to exercise wisdom here.

The apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 33's quoting from the Proverbs the bad company can corrupt good habits, we tend to reflect the people that we spend a lot of time with and Sophie surround ourselves with people who don't love and know God and that's where all of our time is spent. The reality is, it is easy to get sort of drag down in that and so and so I would encourage you to get plugged in to a local church where you can begin to build relationships, friendships with other believers who are encouraging you in your walk with God while not cutting off your non-Christian friendships.

I think you continue to love them room with Jesus that I came to seek and to save the lost. God showed mercy to you.

He showed mercy to me. He wants to show mercy to the people who are around us who are in need of his grace and mercy and you asked specifically, also, is it okay for me to date, no have have relationships with nonbelievers.

The apostle Paul said in second printing chapter 6, verse 14. Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers and I think I think. And in that context, there one of the things he's getting at is it you know were not supposed to be united in these kinds of relationship with a dating relationship or marriage with someone who is not a Christian.

The most important thing is what we say about Jesus Christ and you want to be in a relationship with somebody who knows Jesus who loves Jesus and who is gonna help you in your walk with Jesus continue to grow in your relationship with the Lord as I did, I would say you have friendships, you know that you can encourage and be encouraged by and even if those people aren't believers that that's okay but you have to exercise wisdom.

If there if they're bringing you down in your walk with the Lord. But in terms of romantic relationships don't don't pursue those with people who aren't Christians who aren't believers you want you want to pursue a relationship that's God centered centered on Jesus Christ limit just mentioned, you know the importance of being in a church.

Are you a part of a of a church yet. How was it that you recently dedicated her life to the Lord will I a lot of very like a lot of older people that I like how it ties the light now try to see even older member right now like I'll know for sure not sensitive to that and I know that that can be a challenge in terms of fellowship, especially if what you're looking for is is those friendships in the first and foremost, the key thing with with being a part of the local church is what is the church teaching is this church is that the teaching that I'm hearing here helping me grow in my relationship with God. In my understanding of what the Scriptures say that's that's the main thing you know, the primary marks of the church that we determine whether or not a church is a good church, a true church well is the word of God being faithfully taught. Are they worshiping Jesus in the way that he calls us to worship him. You know there's baptism. There's the Lord's supper are are are they encouraging are they are they exercising that sort of mutual fellowship, edification, expectation that we see throughout the Bible. Those are all important pieces.

The most important piece though is the preaching of the word. Now I would say you know if if you aren't able to get plugged in and and especially if if the word of God is not being taught faithfully for not growing in your understanding of God's word. Maybe there's another church nearby where there are other people around your agent and people that you can continue to build friendships with.

But where the word of God is also being preached really clearly that you might consider checking out. I do know that the fellowship piece is a really really important piece and so I want to pray for you right now just that the, the Lord would guide you to the perfect church to the place where you're supposed to be that she would surround you with that kind of fellowship and friendship that that you're looking for and that you would continue to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Let's let's pray right now for for silky Lord, thank you God for bringing this this sister into your family. Thank you Lord for the recent work that you've done in her life. Jesus, thank you for your love for her. Thank you for the forgiveness of sins.

Thank you for your church and I pray for my sister, Lord, that you would help her to get plugged into a church that he would lead her the would guide her to a place where you are going to be preached clearly where she's gonna grow in her understanding of your word and also Lord where she can be surrounded by brothers and sisters who can encourage her in her walk who she can have friendships with in and grow together with the Lord, would you please bless her with you guider would you protect are also from the evil one. We know that when anyone turns to you, Lord, that there is a celebration in heaven, but we know that that make Satan very upset and so I pray that you would protect my sister that you would surround her with your angels, and that you would continued to sanctify her to cause her to grow more and more Lord Jesus and your love and your word. We pray all these things, gracious father in Jesus name, amen and silky hang on the line. Would love to send you a copy of our book core Christianity as a relatively new Christian we know it will will find that helpful. We also have a great core question on our website on how to find a good church just look for the core questions and how to find a good church that will give you some really good guidance on finding the right type of church that God would have you plugged into this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez if you're a regular listener to this program and you find it helpful in your Christian growth. We would love to invite you to join what we call our inner core, yet it would invite everyone consider coming alongside of us is a member of the inner core were very thankful for each inner core member for their regular gifts to help us to accomplish our mission with people you know every single day sharing that the truth of God's word. New listeners discover core Christianity and your support helps us to keep reaching people all around the world with this radio program.

The podcast entire website and all the articles and resources we have over core, Christianity.com with your monthly donation of $25 or more and be part of the team that's making it possible for us to answer these questions and share the courtrooms of the Christian faith by signing up to be a member of the inner core will also send you a signed copy of the book that started all core Christianity finding yourself in God's story by our founder Dr. Michael Horton, a friend of mine and a wonderful theologian, much like our radio programming of this book is going unpack the essential beliefs that Christians share in a way that's easy to understand and it shows why these beliefs matter for our lives today and so would love to have you partner with us here at core Christianity by joining the inner core.

You can go to our website at core, Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more. That's core Christianity.com/inner core, or you can call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833 the court let's go to a voicemail received from one of our international listeners hi guys I church here, but I really share many dates is one thing but to mention the few days that go on Easter Sunday. In this usually come on long car because the vaccination said something like death, meaning spiritual death and hell do not exist anymore, anywhere that extend eventually on-site. My question is how can these picture I mean is this not some kind of universities about Matthew 713, 14, and the light bother to make efforts to prevent this because parts are bank people to faith in my real estate eventually thanking incense and thank you sister for giving us a call on the way from Romania. May the Lord bless you and continue to grow you in your faith. You know the question that you ask is universalism truths at Tottenham the Bible this idea that all people eventually are just going to be saved. The answer is is no that's not a view that is taught in the holy Scriptures universally. The church historically has also rejected this idea. There have been some people in the history of the church to try to suggest it in recent days there been more people who have been rejecting the doctrine of hell and embracing this idea of universalism, but it is just not biblical in the majority of Christians throughout church history of recognize that because the teaching of the Bible is so absolutely clear you think about the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 20 verses 11 through 14 talks about all those whose names are not written written in the book of life been cast into the lake of fire.

Those who reject the truth. Paul in second Thessalonians chapter 1 verse eight is of the very same thing to those who do not obey the gospel will face the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord Jesus himself repeatedly talked about hell as this place of eternal fire you think of Jesus's words and the gospel of Mark chapter 9 verses 42 and following you think even of of Jesus's is words, it would when he gives that the sheepcote judgment in the book of Matthew chapter 25 and he says you depart from. Yet you know those of you who are workers of iniquity to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels so it over and over again in the Scriptures.

It's absolutely clear that there is a place of judgment, a place of perdition.

And that's that's scary for a lot of.

I think I think you know it's it's not very comfortable doctrine. It's it it makes us uncomfortable. But the reality is we were thinking about who it is that we worship a holy God and what sin is. It's his transgression against the eternal one, the holy one that the free offer of the gospel that he gives to us is so wonderful, so good and yet to reject it, to turn away from God and to rebel against him is is such a heinous thing in a week. We have to have a higher view of God and and a greater understanding of the depths of our sin, and if we don't in the doctrine of hell is gonna be just really really confusing. Now let me say to you this as well sister, I praise God that you don't just take what people tell you like this priest. And in Romania but did you challenge it on the basis of what the Scriptures say. Paul said that Luke said in in acts 17 about the Peruvians. The Jewish people in Berea that they were more noble than those in Thessalonica, Thessalonica, because they receive the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if the things that are the disciples that were true and that's what you're doing, examining the Scriptures and testing what you hear, continue to do that and may the Lord bless thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together