Universal reconciliation not an option?

Originally posted on September 26, 2007 – by Andre Piet

A month or so ago, I pointed in a weblog to the website of Willem de Vink. This site is strongly inspired by the message of Pastor Prince from Singapore. Prince emphasizes, with great impact, the meaning of God’s grace. That clearly resonates in Willem de Vink’s writings as well. Beautiful!

Today, Willem de Vink wrote a diary entry titled “Jesus, the only one.” He wrote, among other things (bold font by me, AP):

Jesus’ name means ‘God saves’. And He has fulfilled that name perfectly. The scope of His accomplished work spans the entire world. All people. No one excluded (2 Cor. 5:14, 19).
(….)

“Everyone who is invoking the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

So Jesus saves. But Jesus alone. Outside of Him, no salvation is possible. ‘Universal reconciliation’ is not an option.

God’s Father arms are as wide as the cross of Jesus. People must bow before the cross to land in those arms. Everyone is welcome, but God does nothing apart from Jesus.

I could not resist responding to that.

Indeed, only by invoking the name of Jesus is one saved. But… all SHALL invoke Him!
“People must bow before the cross” — certainly! But… all SHALL bow as well. Listen to how Paul put it:

“…Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus (=God saves) EVERY KNEE should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and EVERY TONGUE (tongue, not lips) should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, (not by compulsion but) for the glory of God, the Father!” (Phil. 2:9–11)

Universal reconciliation not an option? Does the blood of the cross then reconcile only a part?

“…and through Him to reconcile ALL to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross)…” (Col. 1:20)

If God’s love desires to save all people and the whole world — would He fail to do so? Then why does Paul speak of “the evangel of the HAPPY God” (1 Tim. 1:11)? Because everything our God undertakes succeeds! “What His love desires to accomplish, His power does not deny Him.” In the Bible, the lost is ALWAYS found…
Now that’s a real success-Gospel 😉

I’m curious to hear the responses…

Delen: