Sacrifice and Resurrection of Christ: A Christian Universalist Perspective on Christ's Passion

This article simply tries to explain Christ’s passion from a universalist perspective, and does not make any claim as to the validity of universalism.

One of the major criticisms of Christian universalism is that it stresses God’s love and desire to save while forgetting His justice and punishment for sins. Such is a skewed view of Christian universalism, however. In reality, universalists stress the profound significance of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection—two events that, according to universalists, have made the eventual salvation of every being a reality.

Understanding the Sacrifice

Before one can understand Christ's passion, they must understand why it was necessary.

The reason? Sins against God carry a heavy punishment. Some Christian universalists may dispute this, but most will uphold the traditional doctrine of sin. God does not overlook or smile at transgressions against Him; rather, He punishes and condemns.

But does God wish to punish and condemn His people? Absolutely not, as shown by Christ’s sacrifice. When Jesus died on the cross, he willingly bore the penalty of the whole world’s sins. God did carry out all the punishment for all the sins of the world. In His love, He did so on His only-begotten Son, all so those who repent and believe in Him would not have to suffer the punishment of sins.

Any universalist argument that overlooks Calvary overlooks the very action that makes universalism possible. Christian universalists teach that God will punish no sinner eternally; what could make this possible is that God punished Jesus, who is forever sinless, instead!

Understanding the Resurrection

The sacrifice and resurrection, both factual events, are inseparable. If Christ were to rise without ever being crucified, then faithful Christians would still be liable for their transgressions against God; if Christ were to never rise from the dead, then some penalty would still be remaining, as the power of sin would have been stronger than the power of Christ.

One of Christianity’s wonderful truths, however, is that Jesus did rise. This awesome act shows that Jesus, as the Bible says, has paid the full penalty for humanity’s sins; His resurrection shows that God, having endured the full punishment for sins, triumphed over sin and death.

The resurrection also shows that God does not want to kill, torture or punish any sinner; all that death, torture and punishment has been used up, as Christ rose to life.

Why does hell exist?

God, whose love is infinite, punished Christ so that sinners would not be penalized. But Christ Himself mentions the reality of hell, as do various books in the New Testament. How is the hell reconciled with the hope of Christian universalism?

One must never forget Jesus’ teaching that "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”—John 14:6 (NASB).

Most Christian universalists recognize that there is only one path to God—faith in Christ—and that, unless one believes in Jesus, they will not receive the grace made possible by Christ’s complete, atoning sacrifice and His resurrection.

In hell, sinners realize the consequences of having no faith in Christ. They endure the agonies and death that Christ already endured, but that—without faith in Him—sinners must endure themselves.

But if God sent Christ to die and rise so that sinners would not have to be punished, would He force sinners to be punished eternally for their years of sins?

Universalists believe that He would prolong the offer of faith in Christ and salvation for as long as necessary, so that those in hell who want to rise to Heaven, through repentance and faith in Christ, could do so. The Bible does not appear to explicitly support this, and some parables of Christ seem to negate the idea of a lasting offer of salvation.

Nevertheless, if God does keep the doors to Heaven open indefinitely, Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection makes it possible for all those in hell to go to Heaven. And certainly, all sinners in hell would want to leave and enter the Kingdom of God.

Bringing the Theory Together

Christian universalism casts its own light on the Gospel. Its proponents would say that Christ's sacrifice and resurrection are seen as the means by which all people, no matter how sinful, are saved in the end. Whatever the validity of universalism, all Christians should consider its interpretation of the gospel message and its impact on the world.

Further Reading

Is belief in Jesus enough for salvation, as both universalists and non-universalists may argue? The article "Steps That may be Necessary for Forgiveness" explores the question.

Christ's sacrifice should inspire everyone, no matter their stance on universalism, to serve God out of love. This article has more detail on the concept.

If Christ's sacrifice makes it possible for everyone to be saved, which many non-universalists believe is true, then why is there a hell? The article "Why Does Hell Have to Exist?" seeks to find an answer.

Mar 21, 2009 6:57 PM

Guest :

In your final section, "Why Does Hell Exist?" - aren't you making an argument for some type of Purgatory? A place where sinners that did not accept Christ or have faith in his sacrifice must await - as you said - keeping the doors to heaven open indefinitely?

Also, how do you deal with Jesus parables that talk about separating the sheep from the goats for example? He says rather strongly that the goats will be cast out. There seem to be many passages in the NT - again Jesus own words, that allude to an eternal punishment of sorts.

Mar 21, 2009 8:50 PM

Kenneth Burchfiel :

z.E.G.
Well, you also have intriguing verses like 1 Timothy 4:10, which states: "we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
1 Tim 4:10 (NASB)"
It's not a matter of sinners "waiting." It's a matter of sinners in agonizing pain--which results because they don't have faith in Christ--coming to believe in Jesus and accept Him. At that point, either God has shut the doors, as some parables may imply, or He will let them into Heaven. I hope that the latter case is true!

I'm glad you brought up Matthew 25. We have to remember that our Bibles are written in English, not in the original languages. The Greek word for "punishment" is "kolasis," which does mean punishment, but can also mean "correction," if I remember a Greek dictionary correctly. If that's what Jesus meant, and I don't mean to be putting words in His mouth, then hell would seem more like a correctional facility instead of a torture chamber. How would people get out of that "correctional facility?" By believing in Christ!

I'm not a convinced universalist, which you might have guessed by my message in italics. But it's a theory that deserves consideration, and I just hope that I can add to the debate.

Nov 3, 2009 11:43 AM

Guest :

The Hebrew and the Greek words that are translated "hell" in the KJV are also translated "pit" and "grave" in many other places throughout the Old and New Testaments. I do not believe that hell and grave have the same meaning.The KJV was written in Old English. If one were to check an Old English Oxford dictionary, the meaning of the word hell has absolutely nothing to do with the modern English meaning of the same word. If you compare the meaning of Hades (Greek) and "Shoel"(Hebrew)with the Old English definition of hell, you will find all three words mean - "To cover", "beyond perception", "the unseen". That's a far cry from todays definition of the word "hell". In the 1600's, hell was a place where people kept food from spoiling - usually a basement where perishable foods were kept. Common sense dictates that The Gospel (New News) could not be good news if the majority of mankind is going to an eternal hellhole of literal fire and torture. That's like saying, "I have good news, most of the people were killed in that plane crash". That makes no sense! It also assumes Christ is too weak to be the Savior of the whole world as is stated thoughout the Scriptures. See 1 Cor 15:22 for proof that all are saved in Christ. Ever wonder why the world was not warned of Hell before the flood, why Cain was not told of hell, why there was no mention of it pertaining to Sodom? I find it hard to believe that God would send the entire pre-flood population of the earth to hell without even a warning.
Respectfully submitted for your consideration,
Mike