Apokatastasis in the Bible

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1 Timothy 2:1-6
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 KJV
1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

This passage makes no statement of universal salvation. God desires all men to be saved, but that doesn't change what He's said so many times, that His gift must be received, as we believe in Jesus. Again, all are reconciled, but we have to receive the reconciliation.

 

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Romans 3:24 NIV
and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:19-28 KJV
19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Context!

 

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Romans 9:16 NIV
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

Context!

Romans 9:1-16 KJV
1) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2) That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

It seems Paul didn't hold to this idea of universal salvation.

4) Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7) Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8) That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9) For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
10) And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

This is not a statement of universal salvation.

 

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James 2:13 NIV
... Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Snippets of verses plucked to "prove" a doctrine in direct contradiction to their context.

James 2:10-13 KJV
10) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11) For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12) So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13) For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

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Matthew 18:11 NKJV
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 18:10-12 NIV
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
[11] [a]
12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

I guess you don't like the NIV so much here?

Matthew 18:10-12 KJV
10) Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12) How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And even so this is not a statement of universal salvation. It show's Jesus' intent, but not in contradiction to Jesus' teachings.

Matthew 18:1-9 KJV
1) At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2) And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5) And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6) But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7) Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8) Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

 

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Luke 19:10 NIV
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:9-27 KJV
9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11) And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12) He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14) But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15) And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16) Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17) And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18) And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19) And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20) And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21) For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22) And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23) Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24) And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25) (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27) But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

 

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Ecclesiastes 12:14 NIV
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV
13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14) For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

There is no statement of universal salvation, but yes, God will judge both good and evil.

 

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1 John 4:18 NIV
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:15-20 KJV
15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19) We love him, because he first loved us.
20) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

 

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Mark 9:49 NIV
Everyone will be salted with fire.

Mark 9:39-50 KJV
39) But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40) For he that is not against us is on our part.
41) For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
42) And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
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:
44) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45) And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49) For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50) Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

 

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Malachi 3:2 NIV
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?
For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.

Malachi 3:1-2 KJV
1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:


Malachi 4:1-3 KJV
1) For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3) And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

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That's not true.

In fact, the Bible does not teach universal salvation.

Your case is made by taking verses or even just parts of verses from the very contexts that show your assertion false.

 

[ScottA]

Luke 13

The Narrow Way​

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

 

[ScottA]

Mark 16:16​

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

 

[St. SteVen]

The error of such theology is that the darkness is not converted, it is destroyed and eternally separated from God.

Be careful.
Annihilationism is the gateway drug to full-blown Christian Universalism. - LOL

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[St. SteVen]

The Narrow Way

Does God make sport with our souls?
The majority of those who seek Him will not find Him? (few find it)
A high-stakes game of hide-and-seek?

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[ScottA]

Be careful.
Annihilationism is the gateway drug to full-blown Christian Universalism. - LOL

[

That would make for an oxymoron...not an accurate description of what I said at all.

 

[ScottA]

Does God make sport with our souls?
The majority of those who seek Him will not find Him? (few find it)
A high-stakes game of hide-and-seek?

[

You misunderstand. The seeking is over, and has been since before the foundation of the world--before the world began.

This now is not the act or time of actual seeking, but rather what was, now made manifest as a witness come to light before the Judgement.

 

[St. SteVen]

You misunderstand. The seeking is over, and has been since before the foundation of the world--before the world began.

This now is not the act or time of actual seeking, but rather what was, now made manifest as a witness come to light before the Judgement.

Are you claiming that God predestined the vast majority to eternal destruction?

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[shepherdsword]

I understand. The part I highlighted is what gives foundation to your comment, as I see it.

Much love!

I was pointing out that oftentimes the term "all" is a synecdoche limited by context.

 

[shepherdsword]

You misunderstand. The seeking is over, and has been since before the foundation of the world--before the world began.

This now is not the act or time of actual seeking, but rather what was, now made manifest as a witness come to light before the Judgement.

So we are not to seek anymore? Am I reading you right?