Does anyone else find it absurdly ironic that Christians are applauded for the truth of warning of unbeliever's fate in hell, but condemned for the heresy of assuring them a home in heaven? Which one is the sensible message of love from a God who demonstrated His deep devotion in the willingness to die for us and save us?
Many want to call on justice in making their case for hell. And without the cross that may very well be. The problem the cross presents for such argument is that God's justice is satisfied by the cross so that He is not only merciful but justified (righteous) only in saving all His children, and is in fact either unjust or unable if one is left unsaved.
Others say that salvation is a choice we make, leaving God powerless to intervene, therefore blameless in His helplessness watching billions of His children burn forever in hell. Does that really sound remotely like an omnipotent and omniscient God who is the beginning and the end of the universe, whose grand plan is sovereign, and whose will will be done without compromising one ounce of mercy and justice in heaven, and freedom and obedience on earth?
Is God's salvation just a limp robe hanging into the pit of darkness for whosoever is lucky enough to touch it, grab it and climb up to safety? Did God just reach down his hand to scoop up a few to save, leaving the rest to burn? No! God jumped into the pit to carry each child on His back time after time after time until not one remains!
Grace is irresistible for a soft heart, but a hard heart is unmoved by it in favor of obedience, or untouched by it in the ignorance of unbelief -- both set firmly in self-righteousness. Yet in time Christ will show Himself to all the wounds of His body and burn away all pride and the veil covering man's heart so that all will believe.
Universal salvation does not void the work of Jesus on the cross but is the only possible outcome of a complete divine work. It is only by the blood of Christ we are saved, and it IS by His blood that every last one will be saved -- each in his own order.
All will be saved does not mean we turn away and wait until the last minute to jump in, for great is the sweet reward of fellowship in Christ in the now. Whoever seeks love wants to wait when a perfect lover is near? And whoever has a mansion already chooses to live in a shack? When truth and beauty of the gospel is proclaimed, a yearning heart will accept readily and gratefully, but those who understands it not will still choose the world where pride remains pleasurable.
The elect becomes the bride of Christ and has many rewards, but those left behind He will not forsake.
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