Since God gave Jesus to the whole world, and Jesus died for the whole world, does this mean the whole world is righteous in Christ without knowing it?

Have Your Received

For more information related to this topic, check out Bob Yandian’s series “Universalism.”

Thanks for your question. Many today are asking the same question and it is a question that has existed since the early church. “Universalism” is a theological doctrine claiming everyone is going to heaven because Jesus came to save the entire world.

It is a biblical truth that Jesus’ work on the cross was universal—He died for the sins of all mankind, however, and unfortunately man’s response to this work has not been universal. Salvation is like a coin with two sides. One side is God’s gift of grace, but the other side is man’s response to that gift, which is faith. Let’s look at a scripture that shows us these two sides.

Ephesians 2:8-9: 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

God’s offer of salvation is not based on human merit, but on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection. However, this passage does not say we are saved by grace alone; rather, we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH. God has done His part. Our part is to RECEIVE the salvation Jesus has made available to every man, woman, and child. Notice, salvation is a gift. A gift ceases to be a gift if it is forced upon someone. Gifts are truly gifts only when they can be received or rejected.

Romans 5:15-17:

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. 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. 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.)

In this passage, Paul describes how the human race was affected by Adam’s sin in the Garden. Because of Adam’s offence (sin) all died spiritually and the entire human race was born in sin with a sin nature. We had no choice in the matter. Satan does not offer gifts. Until God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, mankind was held in bondage as a prisoner to sin and death. When Jesus died on the cross, when He became sin, it was for all mankind—it was universal and no one was excluded.

Notice the contrast between Adam and Jesus. Both acted as representatives for mankind, however, Adam’s act or choice to sin resulted in man automatically being born subject to sin and death without choice. Jesus, on the other hand, chose to become sin and willingly died to conquer sin and death. As a result, salvation is offered as a free GIFT.

Romans 5:17 states we must RECEIVE the GIFT of righteousness and if we do, we will reign in life through Christ Jesus.

God loved the world so much, He sent Jesus. (John 3:16) God’s love, by its very definition, must allow others to either accept it or reject it. The ability to choose is necessary. If the opportunity to choose is removed, true love is also removed.  Removing the ability to choose is slavery.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20:

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

This passage also reveals the two sides to salvation, God’s and man’s. Here we see that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Sin is no longer the obstacle standing between God and man. When Jesus became sin and died for the sins of the world, He became the bridge between God and man. Jesus is now the door to salvation.

John 10:9:

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 

Jesus provides salvation, but we must do the entering. We must go through the door!

From God’s side, Jesus fulfilled the demands our sin incurred and is satisfied with the work of Jesus. However, we have a part to play. We must receive this reconciliation. God does not force reconciliation. He offers the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness, but we must receive it. Notice in 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul says BE RECONCILED to God. We are reconciled to God when we place our faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord.

John 1:12:

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

God has given us the right to become a child of God, but becoming His child is not automatic. What gives us the right to become children of God? Receiving Him—receiving His gift, His love. He will not force His gift or love on anyone regardless of how much He wants us to receive it. The choice is ours!

Deuteronomy 30:19:

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

We all have a choice given to us by God—to choose life or death. God even gives us the answer—CHOOSE LIFE! However, it is still our responsibility to choose. God is love and He is offering His gift to you today. If you have not yet accepted the gift of salvation, will you receive it today?

Prayer to Receive Jesus as Savior

Dear Heavenly Father,

You said in Your Word, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord.’ And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED” (Romans 10:9).

I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He died on the cross for my sins, and that He was raised from the dead. I now confess Jesus as my Lord, so I know, Father, that according to Your Word, I am now saved!

Thank You, Father, for forgiving me and for giving me the gift of the new birth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Rick McFarland
Director/Singles Director
Real Answers bookstore
Grace Church