The following is an amalgamation of actual discussions I’ve had with real people, both in person and online: I didn’t intend to stop, but the street preacher’s words caught my ear and I couldn’t help myself. “As Jesus died on the cross, He cried out, ‘It is finished.’ He died for all of our sins,… Continue reading Dialogue with an evangelical
Author: Drew Costen
Why do most Christians believe in never-ending torment in hell?
Pretty much no Universalist starts off as a Universalist. Nearly all of us first believed in either Infernalism (never-ending torment in hell) or in Annihilationism. It’s normally only after someone challenges us to dig deeper to see if our soteriology is actually scriptural that we come to see just how clearly Scripture teaches Universal Reconciliation,… Continue reading Why do most Christians believe in never-ending torment in hell?
The only part you play in your own salvation
As I’ve explained elsewhere on this site, it’s mortality (and death, for those who die prior to Christ’s return), as well as sinfulness because of that mortality, that Christ saves us from, not never-ending torment in “hell” or the lake of fire. As I’ve also covered, salvation under Paul’s Gospel is 100% based upon the… Continue reading The only part you play in your own salvation
Do people pay for their own sins?
It’s rare, but sometimes people ask the right question. Recently, a few people have asked, “if Christ died for our sins, why do some people have to pay for their own sins by going to hell?” The answer to this question is something that even most Christian Universalists get wrong. I’ll begin by saying, this… Continue reading Do people pay for their own sins?
Preaching a distorted gospel, part 2
A couple weeks ago I wrote about some street preachers here in Toronto who were inadvertently preaching a distorted “gospel” (I recommend reading that post first, before finishing this one). Of course, they didn’t mean to do so. They seem like very nice people, for the most part, who mean well. Unfortunately, however, not knowing… Continue reading Preaching a distorted gospel, part 2
Preaching a distorted gospel
Yesterday, I watched some street preachers using speakers to proclaim their understanding of the Gospel. This post isn’t about the ear damage that many street preachers in Toronto are causing to both themselves and to random passersby with the excessive decibel level they have their speakers cranked up to, though, because these guys were among… Continue reading Preaching a distorted gospel
Myths and misunderstandings about the Snatching Away
There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings that come up anytime someone begins discussing “the Snatching Away” (which is what those of us in the body of Christ tend to call the event generally known as “the Rapture,” although, for the sake of familiarity, I’ll refer to it as the Rapture for the duration… Continue reading Myths and misunderstandings about the Snatching Away
Myths and misunderstandings about Universal Reconciliation
There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings (and sometimes even outright lies) told about Universal Reconciliation and those who believe this doctrine that I’ve encountered whenever the topic comes up, both in person and online. Whether it’s due to simple lack of study or due to willful ignorance, I can’t say for sure, but… Continue reading Myths and misunderstandings about Universal Reconciliation
Religion can’t get you to heaven
While I wrote an entire book that goes into great detail about the topic, I figure it might be helpful to summarize what Scripture actually teaches about salvation and the Gospel. The following is from a Gospel tract I wrote that I like to hand out around Toronto: Religion teaches that God will only look… Continue reading Religion can’t get you to heaven
Wrongly dividing
When talking about the Bible, most people divide it up into two sections that they call the New Testament and the Old Testament. There are correct ways to divide the Scriptures, but this isn’t one of them. First of all, the terms ”Old Testament” and “New Testament’ refer to covenants, not to books or to… Continue reading Wrongly dividing