Yet in all this God is not willing to punish, Psalm 145:20 “The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.” Ps. 78:37-39 “For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.”

Some beleive that we should say that God only hates the sin but loves the sinner as if we accept anyone despite what they do. The Scriptures indeed tell us that He loves us, (1 John 4:8) but we are commanded to repent. It is better to accept the love of God found in Jesus than to reject it and suffer His wrath. The fact of the matter is that God is holy and righteous and He hates those who sin  and He punishes the sinner who does not repent of his sin. He does not punish sin apart from punishing the sinner. While we hear that we are to love the sinner and hate the sin, this part is true -- however Sin cannot be separated from the person, for it takes a sinner to do sin. Sin is rebellion in the person’s heart. Therefore, God must punish the sinner. Why? Because He is both Holy and just, the person who sins offends God. God's holiness and justice cannot allow Him to ignore the offense no matter how much he loves the person. Nor would He be just to give to the sinner the same end as those who repent to follow His ways.

The Law is a reflection of God's character. These commandments are not without punishments. A law without consequences is only good advice. To sin is to break God's Law it is an offence to his nature. To sin means to challenge His authority over mankind. God does not lie, neither is He mocked. His will keep his word He has said He will punish the law breaker and sinner. Isa. 1:28 “The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”

Pearson states: “A careful study of early church history will show that the doctrine of universal restoration was the prevailing doctrine of the Primitive Christian Church.” History does not show that the doctrine of universalism was a held by the Primitive Christian Church as he and others claim. It was Origen in the 3rd century who began to espouse this view as he held to a more allegorical interpretation of Scripture, but it was never held as an orthodox church view.

If we look at some of the more known names and theologians of the early church they certainly counter this view.

Some refer to Justin Martyr (1st century) in his Apology “an apocalyptic destruction of the whole cosmos, in order that evil angels, demons and men may no longer exist.”

Justin Martyr said: “We have been taught that only they may aim at immortality who have lived a holy and virtuous life near to God. We believe that they who live wickedly and do not repent will be punished in everlasting fire” “Hell is a place where those are to be punished who have lived wickedly and who do not believe that those things which God has taught us by Christ will come to pass” (First Apology, 21, 150 AD).

The Martyrdom of Polycarp “Fixing their minds on the grace of Christ, [the martyrs] despised worldly tortures and purchased eternal life with but a single hour. To them, the fire of their cruel torturers was cold. They kept before their eyes their escape from the eternal and unquenchable fire” (Martyrdom of Polycarp 2:3).

Second Clement “If we do the will of Christ, we shall obtain rest; but if not, if we neglect his commandments, nothing will rescue us from eternal punishment” (Second Clement 5:5 150 AD).

Second Clement (150 AD) “But when they see how those who have sinned and who have denied Jesus by their words or by their deeds are punished with terrible torture in unquenchable fire.”

160 AD Mathetes “When you know what is the true life, that of heaven; when you despise the merely apparent death, which is temporal; when you fear the death which is real, and which is reserved for those who will be condemned to the everlasting fire, the fire which will punish even to the end those who are delivered to it, then you will condemn the deceit and error of the world” (Letter to Diognetus 10:7).

177 AD Athenagoras speaking on the hope of Christians then says . . . or if we fall with the rest [of mankind], a worse one and in fire” (Plea for the Christians 31).

189 AD Irenaeus of Lyons “The penalty increases for those who do not believe the Word of God and despise his coming ... [I]t is not merely temporal, but eternal. To whomsoever the Lord shall say, 'Depart from me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire,' they will be damned forever” (Against Heresies, 4:28:2).

Hippolytus “Standing before [Christ's] judgment, all of them, men, angels, and demons, crying out in one voice, shall say: 'Just if your judgment!' And the righteousness of that cry will be apparent in the recompense made to each. To those who have done well, everlasting enjoyment shall be given; while to the lovers of evil shall be given eternal punishment. The unquenchable and unending fire awaits these latter, and a certain fiery worm which does not die and which does not waste the body but continually bursts forth from the body with unceasing pain. No sleep will give them rest; no night will soothe them; no death will deliver them from punishment; no appeal of interceding friends will profit them” (Against the Greeks 3).

Doesn’t sound like inclusivism from some of the more well-known theologians of the church. And the reason is because neither does the Bible say this. The point is that one can find some obscure statements to try and prove their view but universalism was neither the majority view nor a widely held view in the early church, especially by those who stood on the Bibles revelation. It was held by but a few who had no real influence on the church. Many other quotes could be cited. Our basis for truth is not men but the Bible; interpreted in its whole revelation not part and piecemeal.

Pearson also states: The mainstream church believes there is only one salvation--that from sin. That is where the error is. It is true that salvation is primarily from sin, which is the offence of Adam, but there is also a need for salvation from works of the flesh, which are bad or unGod-like habits and hobbies, because of that original sin.”

This is the same thing, as the sin nature works its ways through our physical life. The fact is an unrepentant sinner not trusting in Christ’s atonement will end up going to hell. He may even appear to live a more pure life then some Christians in some respects but because he has neglected to accept the way, he will not enter. 

Pearson also states, Hell was prepared for the devil (or slanderer) and his angels (or messengers) (Mt. 25:41). Don't be so quick to send your fellow man to Hell, especially if God is not desiring to do so Himself (2 Pet. 3:9). Hell is a bad place, so why is mainstream Christianity OK or comfortable with “the lost” going there?

I don’t think anyone is comfortable with it and making an argument from what is not a held belief doesn’t help this position. We are to be uncomfortable enough to tell people so they can avoid going there. In fact if you look at the Scripture cited it is people that are being consigned there, not the devil and his angels. The point is the Bible says it was made at first for the Devil and the angels who were the first sinners in the universe. Jesus warned of men going to the same place “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41) God’s mercy is narrow, not wide, the deception is wide. Every time Jesus uses the word wide it’s a bad thing. Matt 7:13-15 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. He goes on to teach about false prophets in sheep’s clothing who are really wolves, and likening people to trees he states, “every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.” The eternal torment view of mankind who rejects Christ has been held as the majority view since the beginning of the church. The main Scriptures are: Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 9:38-48; Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 12:24-36; John 3:35-36; Revelation 19:19-21; Revelation 20:7-10; Revelation 20:11-15. selah

Salvation is not limited to mean only going to heaven, for one must be forgiven of their offence to God in the first place. This is a misunderstanding of how serious our sin is and the effect it has on us. That’s not my opinion that’s God’s absolute word on this. (Jn.3:)
Pearson believes the granting of sanctification is conditional, based on the choice of the individual. But yet one cannot be sanctified without first being justified, and this according to God’s word which he tells us he is using.

This theology creates a two class system of people who are going to heaven. Those who have never heard of Jesus Christ that have other religious beliefs that are false according to Jesus. The “sanctified” persons who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ seem to attain a higher level. What’s the difference of those who actually knew Him and followed Him on earth if they both receive the same outcome? The answer is simple, it doesn’t substantially matter.

Pearson sates --The Apostle Paul, whose teachings were the first to be referred to as heresies in Acts 24:14, was the first to teach the message of universal reconciliation, as he tried to convince Jews and Jewish Christians that the Gospel was inclusive of all of Humankind and not confined to a so-called “faithful few.” 

His mistake is a common one. Though Adam means mankind, there was an individual named Adam who was the one who bought sin into the world that affected all mankind. Gen 3:17 “And unto Adam” the noun is used for the first time as a proper name without the article. The scripture is talking about a particular person Adam as it is Moses.

Rom 5:8-11 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” The blood has to be applied just as it was in the first Passover in Egypt.

Here is the same Paul qualifying what he meant in Romans by stating in 1 Tim 1:15-16 “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” Paul is giving himself as an example for the worst kind of person having God's mercy given if they believe on him. Paul certainly believed on Christ Jesus and taught others to do the same.

It is true as those who are in Christ live but to come into Christ one must choose to do so. It does not happen only by what he did, we must exercise faith after the good news is heard.

Romans 5 “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! “In Adam all are condemned, in Christ all live Through His sacrificial death, the gift of eternal life is offered to the many.”

The trespass entered to all indescrimanently, it is inherited. This becomes an issue of what is called the sin nature in all people.

Romans 5:12-19 the “Alls” in Adam and Christ

Rom.5:15 “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” The many is meaning the whole race; both Jews and Gentiles. The many to whom grace abounds, who receive the gift of righteousness, (the many means the same for both Adam and the gift offered results in justification. Paul has already told us how to be justified in Rom 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Notice By faith we are justified and have access into his grace. Paul is not confused on this issue, the universalists are. When Paul states THERFORE, it is a summation of what he previously wrote.

Barnes' commentary states Rom 5:15 “In order that the Universalist may draw an argument from this, he must show that it was the design of Christ to destroy ALL the effects of the sin of Adam. But this has not been in fact. Though the favors of that work have abounded, yet people have suffered and died. And though it may still abound to the many, yet some may suffer here, and suffer on the same principle forever.” (from Barnes' commentary)

V.16 “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

The two groups in this verse do not refer to everyone the same way. The first many includes all who became subject to death as a result of Adam’s trespass. By the one offense of Adam brought sin and judgment to all, and all are now condemned. The free gift of Christ, on the other hand, removes the many offenses, not just one that came from Adam. However, there is a qualification to have this free gift.

Paul makes a parallel, a comparison between the offence of Adam and its consequence; and the free gift of God and its distribution to its recipients. Adam's offence, is not more powerful than the Gospel grace. Paul says where sin abounds grace abounds much more. There is a resemblance in the manner of the two things compared. Guilt and condemnation came by Adam, but justification and righteousness come by Christ. Not that we all are recipients automatically, we must do something to be transferred from Adam into Christ. From the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.  The many means all who become members of the new creation, through Christ the new Federal Head,  the last Adam. It includes only those to whom God’s grace has been applied by faith-that is, true believers. They will know their life has changed because they are following the life-giver (Romans 6 takes us through this).

All the whosoever will passages become meaningless if everyone makes it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ insists upon obedience to His Word, all these commands become  options not necessary for salvation when one adopts a Universalist viewpoint.

Christ Jesus died for every man; salvation is free for all; Rom. 5:17 “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. It is received in the gospel by Christ. In other words everyone inherited the sin of Adam with no choice in the matter. But the gift is not the same in that one must choose to receive it, it is found in Christ.

The gift is not in its nature and effect like the offence. It is absurd to take the position, that “the all” in the latter extends with “the all” in the former. The plain sense of the scripture is, that all found in Christ  should be made alive in Him. Even as all mankind, or all represented by Adam, had died in him when he sinned.

To whom “grace abounded” in v.20 are obviously the same with those in Rom 5:17, for Paul clearly affirms “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23)

All mankind are in some sense benefited on account of the atonement of Christ: yet fall short of  “saving benefit.” We are in the age of Grace and God is withholding judgment but Paul says he will judge one day, and if you are still in the first Adam you will receive the penalty.

Universalists are unable to interpret the apostle's reasoning,  supposing that Adam and Christ represent exactly the same company; Adam was representative of the whole human species, because they are his posterity; Christ, is representing the chosen remnant, which has become one with him by faith in his sacrifice.

1 Cor. 15:21-22 “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” You will remain in Adam unless you exercise faith, yet you will experience the resurrection. But some will be resurrected to eternal life others to eternal condemnation. This purpose is to show them the things they did in their body.

Paul qualifies what he states in Rom.5 elsewhere so there is no cloudiness to what he means unless one isolates his writing with everything else he wrote. Rom. 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” One is not a son unless they are adopted, no one is born automatically into Christ's family, only in Adam's. John 1:9-13 “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Paul says to test yourself to see if you are in the faith. You can’t receive the benefits of being in Christ unless you are in Christ by faith. This includes salvation and heaven. Gal. 3:26 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Not everyone is a son in the family of God with a relationship to God.

The two strongest passages from Paul that are used for universalism are 1 Cor. 15:21-28 and Eph. 1:10, yet one must twist all his other statements to prove Paul held the doctrine of universal salvation. An unbiased study of the passages clearly shows this is not the apostle's intent. Cor. 15: 21-28, we have first the statement--”For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (ver. 22). Paul affirms that in Christ all shall be made alive not all shall be made alive outside Christ as a general promise. The point is how does on get in Christ? 

2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Col. 1:28 “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” What's the sense of warning if everyone is ok. No sense preaching Jesus, which is exactly what the destroyer of your soul wants.

Gal. 2:16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Doing good to others will not get you to heaven at all, only Jesus will.

Rom. 3:21-24 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

2 Tim 1:9 “who has saved us (through faith-not by osmosis) and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” You find your purpose from being in Christ. 

Eph 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” One must have the faith to do these good works so that they are in Christ as the previous verses state.

So any other scripture that has promises in Christ Jesus has to be defined by this As you have given Him [Jesus] authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as you have given Him” (John 17:2). Jesus said “as many,” not “all” He gives eternal life to. The Gospel of Inclusion makes this a voided statement as it does other statements Jesus preached on the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46); the gate is narrow not wide (Matthew 7:13-14), it's not an 8 lane highway.

Daniel writes that some will be resurrected to eternal life and others to judgment. Dan. 12:2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” So even the Old Testament disproves the universal belief that people will be accepted; some will and others rejected.