How did you accept the idea of Universal salvation?

[B_T]

Hello  :boyheart:

Since I accepted the idea that the Hell is not that fiery place of a vindictive God who will torture souls forever and ever some very important things happened in my life:

1. Firstly, the father of my girlfriend finally accepted me! He was always against our relationship but one day he said to me: "I see that God is working in your life and he is changing you. I accept you."
2. Secondly and more important: My heart is not that heardened now... When I accepted the idea of universal salvation it brought tears in my eyes. I was accepted as a man who cannot cry, a man without feelings. And the idea of Universal salvation changed me once and for all.
3. Gradually my fear that God will punish me is disappearing. Thought am still unable to trust him with all my heart I am sure he know about my weakness, he knows my WILL TO TRUST HIM WITH ALL MY HEART! And he knows that I want to love him.

I don't want to try to love God. I just want to love God. That's all.
The problem is... nobody knows my "Univeralist secret"... even my girlfriend, nobody... just nobody. I do hope that God will show the truth about hell in her heart, because I don't know how she is going to accept my heresy. Even now this thought is bringing tears into my eyes... Because I am so different than fundamentalist Christians...

I expect your answers. And no Private messages this time, please, some people know my password of my mailbox and I don't want them to know about my "heresy".

[Kept]

BT

Its ok to be secret till God tells you not to. Dont accept anyone elses ideas about that, listen to the spirit is my advice.

There are alot of voices in ur and pardon me if I offend anyone, that pressure folks and make you feel bad because you keep this secret. They dont live your life so dont accept any condemnation from anyone on this topic.

Follow Him BT

I am so happy for you, what an amazing love begins to grow and transforms our lives huh?

I would think in time they will ask you what has changed you so much

God bless
kept

[firstborn888]

I feel ya' bro. The 'h' label is not an easy thing. I saw UR within the first few days of coming to Christ in '77. My first eternal hell-fire confrontation was a few months later at a bible study. All I did was voice my complete agreement with a quote from 1 Corinthians 15:22, and suddenly I was in big trouble. :mshock: Two ladies angrily got in my face and then accused me of being on drugs before storming out. :dontknow:

Be patient with others and wise about what you share. Get used to rejection, but relish the successes - they are indeed life-changing!
- b

[B_T]

There's a very strange thing...

Everybody says I listen to the spirit but some people say: "The spirit told me that there is hell", while others say: "The spirit told me that there is NO hell". Are they on the same spirit and which spirit is God's spirit?

[Freebird]

Hi BT!
In response to your opening post....

I too am feeling freedom. Unfortunately, I came to the place where I am the hard way...but then again, don't we all in some fashion, LOL?

My deal was that I was a christian all my life. One day I could no longer accept the hell doctrine and the wrathful vengeful god most demoninations believe in. I went on a search.....

What happened was that I went overboard...I became an athiest. The only good thing to come out of that I was released from the whole "hell" thing for the first time in my life!!

What's weird is that I have always felt uncomforable with hell, even when I was taught it and believed it for years. Something didn't sit right with me ever...

Well, basically, NOW I am coming BACK to God only without the Hell (dark cloud) over my head and I don't believe people will go to such a place.
I believe and have always believed our God is a true loving God....

That's why I'm here....the UR folks are the ones in which I am agreement with.

But it is hard.....I am around other denominations that will fight me tooth and nail on this issue....I am not strong enough in my new relationship with God to deal with all of that right now.

All I know is that I came back from atheism and that I am happy to be around folks (for once in my life) that BELIEVE but believe God is a loving God that will save all.

How happy I am too!!

I'm so glad you're feeling good about this.  :thumbsup:

[SeekerSA]

There's a very strange thing...

Everybody says I listen to the spirit but some people say: "The spirit told me that there is hell", while others say: "The spirit told me that there is NO hell". Are they on the same spirit and which spirit is God's spirit?

B_T

Anyone who gets a revelation that hell is real and they know not that hell is the grave or a rubbish dump is lying.  The only thing one may not be sure of is the LoF if literal or the here and now.

The no hell revelation is correct.  They will claim safety in numbers but that is to appease their ignorance.  If they cannot believe in hell most then do not what they are saved from.  Its from themselves and their sin, nothing more.

Blessings

[pickr]

Hello B_T,

It's never easy to upset the apple cart, is it?  :bigGrin:

But don't be afraid. Let the love of Christ that is in you be your guide. I like what Paul said to the Thessalonians: "Render to no one evil for evil, but do good to one another and to all."

And it seems to me that trusting God is a GREAT place to start!

Peace and blessings to you,

Andy

[SLN]

After being an athiest for like 11 years, I read about it once and immediately accepted it. Because I rejected ET so long ago, it was easy to accept it's absence.  :icon_king:

[1424241]

After being an athiest for like 11 years, I read about it once and immediately accepted it. Because I rejected ET so long ago, it was easy to accept it's absence.  :icon_king:

That's so cool. I don't blame anyone for not believing in a God that created a universe just to torture it forever.

[PaulTheJesusFreak]

Oh, this is such a great topic for me! This is just what I needed. Wow, where to begin with this topic?

You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
Because nothing on earth is as beautiful as You - Jeremy Camp

break, these chains that bind me,
take this world inside me, free me.
break, these chains that bind me
take this world inside me please. - Forevermore, Spoken

I'm 17 years old and grew up in a traditional Baptist Church, as well as Pentecostal/Apostolic denominations, and this last year was attending a Free Will Baptist church, so naturally I was taught (and believed) in eternal hell. I had "made sense" of hell, and was *SHAMEFULLY* defending the doctrine 9 months ago in my ignorance.

But there was a time in my life that I just recently left. You see, my Grandmother died a year and a half ago before my 16th birthday, and after her death, I was going through a long stage of wondering. Is she in heaven with Christ? Did she go to hell? (She was a Baptist believer half her life though). Last summer is when my eyes were opened. Last summer I sat down with my Aunt, and she basically said a lot of my beliefs were wrong. I was greatly offended and I cried, and I thought she implied I was going to hell for believing in the wrong things. She kept telling, no Paul, I never said I think your going to hell. This was at dinner. About a week later I was at her house, sitting at her table, and she asked me what questions I had on the Bible. She said she had so much to tell me but it was very, very deep and she didn't want me to get lost.

Well, we got in deep. From June to August I had my eyes opened. I am so grateful God showed me the truth of Universal Salvation, what hell REALLY means, what Jesus Christ's very name means and the God that He truly Is! I am so glad that I was set free from my bondage of worrying that my unbelieving friends (oh, I have so many) were going to hell. Such burdens! I was carrying around so many burdens of this doctrine for so many months. When I began reading what she was showing me, explaining to me what hell means in the Hebrew and Greek, having me study the Concordance, all of these booklets and reading my Bible... The weights and bricks lifted off my shoulders!

I can't explain the freedom I feel. The joy inside! I cry with happiness knowing that we are a redeemed world because of our True Saviour!

I now have peace inside about my Grandmother. I know where she is, and she is perfectly fine, in her grave asleep until the resurrection (as I believe the dead know nothing, aka 'soul sleep').


But, with great knowledge comes much sorrow. Sharing your pearls with pigs and getting stomped on has hurt me a lot. Immediatly after learning my new beliefs and feeling so strong and confident in my Faith I began sharing with my online friends (both adults and teens) what I believe in.

Let's just say that, I have gone through a very enduring ride the last few months. Everyday I continue to grow stronger. I am confident to say that I have finally gotten over the doctrine of Hell, I am no longer, officially, in fear of it 'possibly' still existing. Though I am persecuted (look at Jesus! He was persecuted like no other for his beliefs) all the time, I have the greatest gift of the Truth from God and NO ONE can take that away from me! But there for awhile I was doubting so much, that I even began doubting God. I was stuck in the middle, fearing hell and yet wanting to believing in UR so badly. I just prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I've never prayed so much in my life! Answers were coming, yet I was still doubting and worrying. I kept finding new info to support my belief and debating like never before, pushing on, but on the inside, I felt so alone. Yet at the same time I felt like I had never been closer to God.

My prayers were answered, and each answer was continuous assurance of God's Love for ALL men, and that my new found beliefs were solid and Biblical, and True... I have Faith, God has given me Faith. And after a long 3 week break from debating and the internet, I found this awesome community of UR people I can fellowship with. It's like an awesome prayer finally answered. Something I've wanted, but most desperatly needed, for awhile, and all along it was right in front of my eyes!

Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We're going and I'm never knowing (never knowing) where we're going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I'm pressing on!
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.
'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I'm pressing on![/i] - Relient K

Never Under Estimate My Jesus! - Relient K

The Truth Will Set You Free!

[1424241]

Oh, this is such a great topic for me! This is just what I needed. Wow, where to begin with this topic?

You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
Because nothing on earth is as beautiful as You - Jeremy Camp

break, these chains that bind me,
take this world inside me, free me.
break, these chains that bind me
take this world inside me please. - Forevermore, Spoken

I'm 17 years old and grew up in a traditional Baptist Church, as well as Pentecostal/Apostolic denominations, and this last year was attending a Free Will Baptist church, so naturally I was taught (and believed) in eternal hell. I had "made sense" of hell, and was *SHAMEFULLY* defending the doctrine 9 months ago in my ignorance.

But there was a time in my life that I just recently left. You see, my Grandmother died a year and a half ago before my 16th birthday, and after her death, I was going through a long stage of wondering. Is she in heaven with Christ? Did she go to hell? (She was a Baptist believer half her life though). Last summer is when my eyes were opened. Last summer I sat down with my Aunt, and she basically said a lot of my beliefs were wrong. I was greatly offended and I cried, and I thought she implied I was going to hell for believing in the wrong things. She kept telling, no Paul, I never said I think your going to hell. This was at dinner. About a week later I was at her house, sitting at her table, and she asked me what questions I had on the Bible. She said she had so much to tell me but it was very, very deep and she didn't want me to get lost.

Well, we got in deep. From June to August I had my eyes opened. I am so grateful God showed me the truth of Universal Salvation, what hell REALLY means, what Jesus Christ's very name means and the God that He truly Is! I am so glad that I was set free from my bondage of worrying that my unbelieving friends (oh, I have so many) were going to hell. Such burdens! I was carrying around so many burdens of this doctrine for so many months. When I began reading what she was showing me, explaining to me what hell means in the Hebrew and Greek, having me study the Concordance, all of these booklets and reading my Bible... The weights and bricks lifted off my shoulders!

I can't explain the freedom I feel. The joy inside! I cry with happiness knowing that we are a redeemed world because of our True Saviour!

I now have peace inside about my Grandmother. I know where she is, and she is perfectly fine, in her grave asleep until the resurrection (as I believe the dead know nothing, aka 'soul sleep').


But, with great knowledge comes much sorrow. Sharing your pearls with pigs and getting stomped on has hurt me a lot. Immediatly after learning my new beliefs and feeling so strong and confident in my Faith I began sharing with my online friends (both adults and teens) what I believe in.

Let's just say that, I have gone through a very enduring ride the last few months. Everyday I continue to grow stronger. I am confident to say that I have finally gotten over the doctrine of Hell, I am no longer, officially, in fear of it 'possibly' still existing. Though I am persecuted (look at Jesus! He was persecuted like no other for his beliefs) all the time, I have the greatest gift of the Truth from God and NO ONE can take that away from me! But there for awhile I was doubting so much, that I even began doubting God. I was stuck in the middle, fearing hell and yet wanting to believing in UR so badly. I just prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I've never prayed so much in my life! Answers were coming, yet I was still doubting and worrying. I kept finding new info to support my belief and debating like never before, pushing on, but on the inside, I felt so alone. Yet at the same time I felt like I had never been closer to God.

My prayers were answered, and each answer was continuous assurance of God's Love for ALL men, and that my new found beliefs were solid and Biblical, and True... I have Faith, God has given me Faith. And after a long 3 week break from debating and the internet, I found this awesome community of UR people I can fellowship with. It's like an awesome prayer finally answered. Something I've wanted, but most desperatly needed, for awhile, and all along it was right in front of my eyes!

Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We're going and I'm never knowing (never knowing) where we're going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I'm pressing on!
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.
'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I'm pressing on![/i] - Relient K

Never Under Estimate My Jesus! - Relient K

The Truth Will Set You Free!

Props for the Relient K. They are sweet.

[Tree]

Thanks for sharing everyone. You have encouraged me.

[james.goetz]

Hi B_T,

First I saw that the Bible taught that prophetic judgments are conditional. Then I saw that many in the Early Church believed that 1 Peter teaches that Christ evangelized hell.

I hope nobody minds if I keep posting the link of my paper, but here is a summary of the research that guided my to universalism.

<http://theoperspectives.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html>

By the way, I hope that I am not pushy with this, but I encourage you that if you plan on marrying your girlfriend, then you will want to know that she accepts your theology before you commit to marriage.

Blessings:)

[firstborn888]

Actually, I've known about UR since the week of my conversion ('77).

Even though God did put me and my wife together (26 years ago) she is struggling greatly with my recent outspokeness on the matter of UR and I will say that I agree with James - it's a very important for your relationship and one I know God will resolve for me (hopefully soon!)

  blessings,
    Byron

[Gabe Grinstead]

Mine was a series of steps, but happened quite radically over the course of many 3 months... The idea of perpetual hell scared me for most of my adult life (16+) and actually brought me to a nervous breakdown.  That video that someone posted in one of these threads of a crazy preacher, yeah, that was me, I was in the same thinking.  I was duped into that mindset, I was a 'prisoner'.  That is the hardest thing for me to deal with BTW, is seeing another person preach about Hell and how terrible it is and not get angry with them.  If I am to get 'angry' with them, I am only angry with myself as of 2-3 years ago and because I was in the same position, I know that they are certainly held captive.  Of course, one noted difference was that I did not rejoice in the idea that people would be lost... In fact, I wondered why everyone around me was so numb to the idea! Woah... Anyway...

The second main reason is my son... He is so precious! The thought of him going to hell, or my Dad, or my Mom, or ANYONE is mortifying... Then I realized, that if God considers us all children (Sermon on the Mount 5,6,7) then God certainly isn't going to be torturing anyone... Punishing? Of course, but torture? No.. And what is the reason for punishment? For correct behavior. Therefore, I rejoice in the punishment that God brings.

If I aspire to be the best parent, then God is all that much more inifinately better than I am! Thus, if I have no ill will for my children, then God has no ill will for me.

Additionally, I know this offends some people and I try not to make it a point of contention, but frankly, I don't care of the Bible does say that people burn forever (I know it doesn't, but the point is, even if it did)  because that wouldn't be a good God and I wouldn't serve him.  So, if God does happen to be some diabolical being, then he won't get my praise nor does he deserve.  But... Lets just be thankful that God is indeed wonderful and that he only has good intentions for us.

[shibboleth]

I always get the warm fuzzies when I hear about a young person who comes to the belief that hell isn't a place orf torment and pain, but the grave. I was 50 or so when I really started to doubt hellfire. I was about 52 when, after months of study, I finally realized that God couldn't and wouldn't turn and burn his own creatures forever.

I used to wonder, before UR, where my athiest and unsaved friends were. I quickly put these thoughts out of my mind because it wazs too hard to think about. But, there was a glimmer of hope there.....what if there really wasn't a hell? What if Jesus really did die for, and love, all mankind, as the Bible said? I have since found that many of the scriptures used to "prove" hellfire were either translated wrong, interpreted wrong or are just plain wrong. Many of them aren't in the original texts.

I am a proud heretic. Heritic meaning opinion. The Bible is full of writings and there are hundreds of people who all interpret them differently. Hence, 100's of church denominations each hocking its own belief system. And they all beleive they are right. Since I let holy spirit guide me, I don't have to feel fretful if I don't know something. God just hasn't shown me yet.I'm not anxious over what I don't know, I'm thankful for what I do know. And what I know for sure is this: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

[believur]

Oh, this is such a great topic for me! This is just what I needed. Wow, where to begin with this topic?

You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
Because nothing on earth is as beautiful as You - Jeremy Camp

break, these chains that bind me,
take this world inside me, free me.
break, these chains that bind me
take this world inside me please. - Forevermore, Spoken

I'm 17 years old and grew up in a traditional Baptist Church, as well as Pentecostal/Apostolic denominations, and this last year was attending a Free Will Baptist church, so naturally I was taught (and believed) in eternal hell. I had "made sense" of hell, and was *SHAMEFULLY* defending the doctrine 9 months ago in my ignorance.

But there was a time in my life that I just recently left. You see, my Grandmother died a year and a half ago before my 16th birthday, and after her death, I was going through a long stage of wondering. Is she in heaven with Christ? Did she go to hell? (She was a Baptist believer half her life though). Last summer is when my eyes were opened. Last summer I sat down with my Aunt, and she basically said a lot of my beliefs were wrong. I was greatly offended and I cried, and I thought she implied I was going to hell for believing in the wrong things. She kept telling, no Paul, I never said I think your going to hell. This was at dinner. About a week later I was at her house, sitting at her table, and she asked me what questions I had on the Bible. She said she had so much to tell me but it was very, very deep and she didn't want me to get lost.

Well, we got in deep. From June to August I had my eyes opened. I am so grateful God showed me the truth of Universal Salvation, what hell REALLY means, what Jesus Christ's very name means and the God that He truly Is! I am so glad that I was set free from my bondage of worrying that my unbelieving friends (oh, I have so many) were going to hell. Such burdens! I was carrying around so many burdens of this doctrine for so many months. When I began reading what she was showing me, explaining to me what hell means in the Hebrew and Greek, having me study the Concordance, all of these booklets and reading my Bible... The weights and bricks lifted off my shoulders!

I can't explain the freedom I feel. The joy inside! I cry with happiness knowing that we are a redeemed world because of our True Saviour!

I now have peace inside about my Grandmother. I know where she is, and she is perfectly fine, in her grave asleep until the resurrection (as I believe the dead know nothing, aka 'soul sleep').


But, with great knowledge comes much sorrow. Sharing your pearls with pigs and getting stomped on has hurt me a lot. Immediatly after learning my new beliefs and feeling so strong and confident in my Faith I began sharing with my online friends (both adults and teens) what I believe in.

Let's just say that, I have gone through a very enduring ride the last few months. Everyday I continue to grow stronger. I am confident to say that I have finally gotten over the doctrine of Hell, I am no longer, officially, in fear of it 'possibly' still existing. Though I am persecuted (look at Jesus! He was persecuted like no other for his beliefs) all the time, I have the greatest gift of the Truth from God and NO ONE can take that away from me! But there for awhile I was doubting so much, that I even began doubting God. I was stuck in the middle, fearing hell and yet wanting to believing in UR so badly. I just prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I've never prayed so much in my life! Answers were coming, yet I was still doubting and worrying. I kept finding new info to support my belief and debating like never before, pushing on, but on the inside, I felt so alone. Yet at the same time I felt like I had never been closer to God.

My prayers were answered, and each answer was continuous assurance of God's Love for ALL men, and that my new found beliefs were solid and Biblical, and True... I have Faith, God has given me Faith. And after a long 3 week break from debating and the internet, I found this awesome community of UR people I can fellowship with. It's like an awesome prayer finally answered. Something I've wanted, but most desperatly needed, for awhile, and all along it was right in front of my eyes!

Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We're going and I'm never knowing (never knowing) where we're going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I'm pressing on!
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.
'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I'm pressing on![/i] - Relient K

Never Under Estimate My Jesus! - Relient K

The Truth Will Set You Free!

I was blessed by that.  Thank you.

[firstborn888]

The idea of perpetual hell scared me for most of my adult life (16+) and actually brought me to a nervous breakdown.

People like you are the reason I decided to get the big mouth about UR. No more nerveous breakdowns on my watch. Rodger Tutt's story convinced me that silence on this subject is a bad thing...
    blessings,
     byron 

[Sarah]

It took me awhile to 'come out with it'.  It was awful and wonderful.  But now I'm free.  :bgdance:

I gave the people close to me a book by Martin Zender to help them understand, although I don't agree with everything he proposes, he is easy reading.