Predestination, Universalism or Evangelism?


There is a popular doctrine that has been around since the time of Augustine and was popularized by John Calvin.  It is called today by name as “Predestination” and others refer to it as “Calvinism”.  Whatever name we call it, it is the belief that man is totally and completely depraved, and God is sovereign and has already declared and predestined who will be saved.  Therefore, man plays no part whatsoever in his own salvation.
And then there is the other extreme, that has been around since the 18th century, and is called today as “Universalism”.  This doctrine claims that God is a loving God and would never allow a person to go to hell.  With ‘Universalism’, the theology is based on much of the Bible, but also includes many different religious views and secular literature.  While, “Universalists” do not truly consider themselves as a Christian movement (they are not believers of the trinity), there are many Christian churches today adopting this doctrine and teaching it as a Christian theology.
And then there is Evangelism.  What is Evangelism and where are it’s roots?  Anabaptists were Protestant Christians and considered themselves radical and were reformed from the Catholic church of the 16th century.  The Anabaptists refused to adhere to the practices of infant baptisms.  The Anabaptists believed that a person had to be able to confess their beliefs before salvation was attainable.  Therefore, the practice of christenings and infants baptisms were not recognized in the sight of God.  This can be supported in the book of Acts 8:35-37.  The account of Philip being directed by an angel of the Lord, to go south to meet an Ethiopian Eunuch who was reading Isaiah 53:7 which is a prophetic scripture that talks about Jesus becoming the ultimate sacrifice for man’s sins.  Philip explains to the Ethiopian, that this passage is dealing with the Lord and Savior Jesus who has just died and has risen again.  He goes on to explain that in order for one to be saved, they must believe with their heart.  And the Eunuch confesses his own personal belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and afterwards he is baptised in water.  Only after the Eunuch has made a public profession of faith does Philip allow him to be baptised in the name of Jesus.  An infant has no reasoning abilities and no idea why someone is pouring water over him/her and will usually protest the event.  The Bible states that one must believe with their heart.  Romans 10:9 .. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
Most written accounts of Christian history, will gravitate towards the “Predistination” view.  One on one Evangelism was not supported by the Catholics, Lutherans, Zwinglians, or Calvinists, and these are the churches that have raised the nations today.  Most every person who has ever given any thoughts to as believing the Bible, will have been indoctrinated (without giving it much thought) into the “Predestination” view or the “Universalism” view. (You will read little about the Anabaptists and their Evangelical doctrine in the history books.)  There is much scripture to support the “Predestination” doctrine, but the Bible, when read in entirety and as a whole, will not support such dangerous doctrine.
What are the dangers of both “Predestinationists” and “Universalists” doctrine?  When we are convinced that God has already declared who gets saved and who does not, this will hinder our efforts in seeking God.  It is the desire of the flesh to believe in either “Predestination” or “Universalism”.  This puts the ball entirely in God’s court and whatever will be will be, and the initiative to reach out to God, will be minimal if at all.  A “Predestination” believer will think there is nothing they can do to change the destination that God has laid out for their life.  They will take no initiative to seek God for answers about their problems.  Therefore, they will reap the fruit of their efforts with God, which is very little to none.  They will not see the daily importance of feeding on the Word of God or of developing in their relationship with God.  Nor will they see the importance of prayer as a means of faith, hope and change.  Why pray when all is going to go as God has predestined?
An “Universalists” will think much along the same lines.  This believer will think that their eternity is safe and there is nothing they need do to improve their relationship with God.  They never reach out to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and Redeemer, and they have no help from the Holy Spirit.  They think that a loving God would never allow a person to go to hell.  However, they are denying the very love of God in their efforts to see Him as loving, when they fail to recognize His love in His only Son, Jesus.  Jesus is the very manifestation of God’s love towards mankind, and the “Universalists” are denying this love.

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6 Responses to Predestination, Universalism or Evangelism?

  1. ptl2010 says:

    Yes, we have a part to play in God’s grand design for our lives. He saves us and that is just the beginning of a great adventure in Him – we need to be remade(the first destroyed by sin) into His image and it is a process we must not deny for the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in His great love.

    • debradoo says:

      Amen PTL. All glory goes to Him. Without Him, there is no hope. He gives hope. But, we must desire the hope He gives and we must receive that hope. He has done everything to complete salvation. Now it is up to us. What do we do with all that He has provided?

  2. mtsweat says:

    Thanks for expressing some very valid concerns. We, as believers, must see the urgency of the gospel being proclaimed to all the world. Shame on us when we become apathetic about the only “Path to life, Jesus and His good news.” God bless

    • debradoo says:

      Amen mtsweat. Much of the reason I wrote this was as much for me as for anyone. I often find myself becoming complacent or apathetic about the gospel. It is up to me to keep the embers alive!

  3. 4hispraise says:

    What a really fine account of those important distinctions… and you really made the case for salvation.

    • debradoo says:

      Thanks for the lovely encouragement, 4hispraise. How can anyone reject or deny the love of God in the man of Jesus? They are missing out on the best love story ever told.

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