The Salvation Journey

Many people believe salvation is the result of the freewill choice of each individual as they repent of their sins and accept Jesus into their hearts - it is the responsibility of each individual to obtain their own salvation if/when given the opportunity.
I don't see how that fits what I see in the Bible. For me ...

1. Salvation is the purpose and provision of God

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10  ESV]

which was transacted by Jesus about 2000 years ago

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2 : 2  NIV]

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 
[2 Corinthians 5 : 18, 19  NIV]

Everyone has already been saved - whether they know it or not, believe it of not.
This is a universal, unalterable fact - God's sovereign decision faithfully put into effect by His Son, Jesus Christ.

2. All people will eventually hear this gospel, the good news described in step 1.
Maybe once or many times, in this lifetime or the next.
(Millions may never hear the gospel in their time on this planet, but will do so eventually, maybe at the Great White Throne judgement.)

Jesus said, " ... And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
[John 12 : 30 ... 32  NIV]

God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 
This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.
[Ephesians 1 : 9, 10  GNT]

3. After hearing the gospel, God gives faith to believe the truth of the message.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 
[Romans 10 : 17  NIV]

4. This awareness and appreciation of the good news creates change in the hearer which has two aspects: repentance - change from ignorance or rebellion in the heart, and conversion - change towards grateful submission to God in lifestyle.

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 
[1 John 2 : 3  NIV]

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth.
[John 14 : 15 - 17  UASV]

It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.
[Philippians 2 : 13  GW]

It's a God plan through and through. We can take no credit for it, not even for any good things we might do after our conversion.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 
For from him and through him and to him are all things. 
To him be glory forever. Amen.
[Romans 11 :33 - 36  ESV]

Blessings, Barry 
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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Universalism is Christian

I am often labelled a "universalist" because of my belief that God will eventually save or reconcile all his creation. I base this belief on verses like Romans 5 : 18 

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [ESV]

However, my universalist position is only possible because of what Jesus has done: I definitely do not belong to the "all roads lead to heaven" variety. I therefore call myself a Christian Universalist because Christ is the foundation of, and reason for, my belief.
 
So I am more like Karl Barth who is quoted as saying, "I don’t believe in universalism, but I do believe in Jesus Christ, the reconciler of all."

Although Karl Barth is often quoted as saying this, or something very like it, I have not found it for myself in any of his writings. He may have said it in interviews or other conversations, but I can't find those exact words in any of his published works.

However, he did stress the universal scope of Christ's work and seemed to warn against putting limits on it. He probably can best be described as having a faith-based hope in it, rather than believe it as a logical certainty.

So if  "I don’t believe in universalism, but I do believe in Jesus Christ, the reconciler of all" is not Karl Barth's exact quotation, am I then free to claim it as my position?
However, I additionally believe that "the salvation of all" can be logically derived from correct translations of the Scriptures, rather than just be hoped for (by faith).

Many previous posts in this BLOG demonstrate that logic, as do others that refute opposing positions to the Christian universalist view.

Blessings, Barry
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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Reading All of Scripture

Reading Scripture is one thing. Building a sound Biblical theology is another. 
I enjoy the challenge of forming a sound theological position on many Biblical topics and spend hours and hours in my retirement engaged in the pursuit of a clearer understanding of God, his purpose for his creation, and his dealings with us.

The fact that many different theologies can be derived from the same portions of Scripture surely demonstrates the extent of that challenge. How many books are written debating and contesting different theologies? How many Bible Colleges teach opposing theologies? How many different churches espouse different "statements of faith"?

With regard to the extravagant grace of God theme of this BLOG, and my website, it is disappointing that this particular view of Scripture is not believed by the majority of mainstream churches and theologians.

For example, the mainstream believes the eternal judgement/punishment/torment verses like

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
[Matthew 25 : 46  NIV]

as applying to those who end their time on this planet as unbelievers are foundational, the starting point, and dismiss or explain away the salvation of the world verses like

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Christ], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
[Colossians 1 : 19, 20  NIV]

that challenge them.

This BLOG does the opposite. It believes the salvation of the world verses like

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19  NIV]

are consistent with the extravagant grace of a loving, sovereign God and then explains, rather than dismisses or ignores, the judgement/punishment verses like

Anyone whose name was not found in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
[Revelation 20 : 15  NIV]

as part of the process God uses to achieve that salvation result.

Clearly your starting point is vital to a correct theology; but so is your willingness to address and explain how other verses, that seem to challenge that theological position, might in fact be part of it.

Most of the posts on this BLOG over the past 15 years or so have promoted and explained the salvation of the world verses in various ways, but posts discussing the verses which might seem to oppose this view are also included. 

Indeed a whole series of 13 posts here titled "Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition", together with Chapter 5 in "The Really Good News About God" and the Judgement and Questions sections on the IBTechservices.com.au website, all address opposing views and seemingly opposing verses rather than ignore or dismiss them.

I am open to any polite dialogue/debate in the Comments section of any post on the BLOG should readers feel there are some opposing verses or ideas that have not be given due consideration or BLOG space.

I might not have answers to all the questions that may be asked, but I have great confidence in the love, grace and sovereignty of the God I serve to achieve his purpose for all of his creation.

This is a good and acceptable thing before our savior God, who intends all human beings to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 3, 4  DBH]

Blessings, Barry