BIBLICAL UNIVERSALISM: The Purest Expression of the Gospel!

REFORMED THEOLOGY

Reformed theology, also known as "Calvinism" has its roots in the teachings of the fourth century theologian, Arulius Augustin. It is our contention that this system of doctrine correctly presented offers the most consistent expression of the good news of God's salvation plan for mankind commonly called the Gospel.

It's main flaw, and it is a huge flaw, is that it is almost always accompanied with the unbiblical doctrine of "endless torment." When coupled with this false doctrine, it changes from the most satisfying and God-glorifying expression of the gospel into a horrible mockery of the truth that, ( in the words of Arminian theologian John Wesley), "makes God out to be worse than the devil."

it sets forth the insideous idea that God, as a callous cosmic tyrant, created the vast majority of mankind solely for the self-serving purpose of glorifying himself at the expense of his children. By crushing his wayward children into the dust and treading upon them forever for evil deeds he intended for them to commit it is thought that he somehow brings glory to himself. What could be farther from the truth!

Men cannot help but do evil because of their fallen condition. A condition, which calvinists will admit God brought about by abandoning Adam to temptations from an evil angel possessed of unimaginable power, called Satan, that he could not possibly overcome.

They excuse God from wrong doing here, simply because Adam sinned freely. But this is really no excuse at all since a father is responsible to protect his children not only from physical harm but especially from the spiritual harm that comes from their own wrong choices. If even an earthly father, an echtype made in God's image, has this responsibility how much more so does our heavenly father the archtype of humanity?

No calvinist worth his salt will deny that God could have prevented Adam from sinning had he chosen to do so. But calvinists excuse God from shirking his responsibility and abandoning Adam when he needed God most simply because Adam feely chose to sin. As though this somehow would excuse Adam's heavenly father for abandoning him to harm's way.

In this erroneous theology God is seem as a cold, unfeeling, unloving, self-interested despot. God is presented as far less loving than even an earthly father. This is the opposite of what the bible teaches. (Matt. 7:9-11)

Emphasis is placed on God as King and Lord and the Fatherhood of God is all but denied. This is not the God of the Bible!

However, when coupled with "universal restorationism" calvinism becomes the comforting truth that God loves his children and oversees and controls every event in history (including the fall of man) in order to insure that all things work together for good and that, as in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive.

When accompanied by the doctrine of universalism calvinism becomes such a wondrous message of love that even Divine judgment, even damnation, becomes a means whereby God chastens and brings His beloved children to a place of greater spiritual maturity for their well being. How much more glory does this bring to God. True glory!

CALVINISTIC UNIVERSALISM is a synthesis between the doctrines of Augustinian Theology, which were popularized during the period of the Reformation of the 1500s and are now commonly called "Calvinism" and the "WIDER HOPE" Theology OF UNIVERSAL RESTORATIONISM.

Simply put, it is the purest expression of
the Gospel!

Below you will find links to many good sources for Reformed theology. There is much good material here regarding the five points of calvinistic sotereology and "covenant theology."

The reader is cautioned to beware of the erroneous assertions supporting the "doctrine of endless torment."

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

CALVIN'S INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION
- HIS MAGNUM OPUS!

THE FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL

THE FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL -- JOHN MURRAY & NED B. STONEHOUSE

THE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL -- CHARLES HODGE

GOD'S INDISCRIMINATE PROPOSALS OF MERCY -- R.L. DABNEY

ARE THERE TWO WILLS IN GOD - A RESOLUTION TO THE APPARENT ANTINOMY BETWEEN THE FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL AND ELECTION.

THE BALANCED TRUTH OF CALVINISM - from Cork Free Presbyterian Church, Cork, Ireland Pastor: Colin Maxwell

CALVIN AND THE FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL - from Cork Free Presbyterian Church, Cork, Ireland Pastor: Colin Maxwell

DOES GOD LOVE ALL PEOPLE - R.L. DABNEY

THE MARROW & THE DRY BONES: ESSAY ON THE SCOTTISH "MARROW" CONROVERSY - WILLIAM J. U. PHILIP