Hi Mike

I have a question

It concerns an email about Carlton Pearson’s doctrine or teaching on universal salvation

I really liked your reply because I’ve been really questioning this whole universal teaching and some things just don’t sit right with me but the scriptures they use are by one man sin entered and by one man obedience came and that we are all in Adam through sin and now we are all in Jesus so because of this they say that Jesus did it all and that nothing we do or don’t do will really matter I mean it’s good not to sin but that all sin is done away with

I hope I am making sense

Also the scripture where Jesus said “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me” are we all in Jesus I believe we are, and this is what they use, but I have a hard time with all of this. Can you explain this? I know we are under grace, but I also beleive we have a part in it. I know our works are nothing in God’s eyes, but I am trying to put it all together

Thanks, Mike. There’s no rush to answer. I really enjoy your articles.

I was reading the old testament vs the new testament that opened my eyes big time and answered so many questions, and the Holy Spirit really made it fit.

Thanks so much.

J____

Hi J____,

It is good to hear from you again.

The scriptures certainly do reveal that “as in Adam all die SO in Christ shall all be made alive.” Carlton Pearson, Mike Farmer, Harold Lovelace, A. E. Knoch, Gary Amirault, Jeff Priddy (AKA Martin Zender) and many others have come to see this wonderful Truth. What all these men that I have named fail to see is how this is accomplished. They all agree that we are “saved by grace through faith. They all understand that neither the grace nor the faith is of ourselves. What none of these teachers see is what the scriptures reveal ‘grace’ to be. These men are all quick to quote:

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

They are one and all very slow to quote the scriptures that demonstrate how it is that “grace did much more abound.” It is encouraging to me that there are those out there like yourself, who are shown by God’s spirit that there is something vital missing in this ‘Christ did it all for you’ message.

I have written much on this subject, so I am going to take the liberty to simply cut and paste a portion of ‘The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit’ that shows what the function of ‘grace’ is in the life of a true believer.

“The grace of God… chastens us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world” (Tit 2:11-12).

Yes, the King James Version has “teaching” where I have “chastens”, but while it is true that teaching can involve discipline, “teaching” is not the best word to convey the seriousness with which God deals with “ungodliness and worldly lusts…” Chastening is the scriptural function of Grace.

The Greek is paideuo (Strong’s #3811). It is the same word translated “chasteneth” in Heb 12:6: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (paideuo) and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” “When we are judged, we are CHASTENED of the Lord…” (1Co 11:32).

This is how “where sin abounds grace [ in the form of corrective chastening] does much more abound” (Rom 5:20 and Rom 6:1 and 2). Anyone who believes that they can come and stay ‘just as I am’, doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘Father’, nor the scriptural definition of grace. “Grace… chastens us [ to] deny ungodliness and worldly lusts…” (Tit 2:11, 12).

We may certainly come ‘just as I am’, but we had better “go and sin no more lest a worse thing (discipline from a loving Father) come unto thee” (Joh 5:14).

Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Not one of the men mentioned above have any personal use for this verse of scripture. They all to a man, believe that this verse tends to ‘rob grace of its power’ as I was personally told. This statement reveals that these folk have not a clue of the chastening function of grace that is revealed in Tit 2:10-12.]

This is surely a ‘wet blanket’ to all those who want only to hear about the outcome of the process of the salvation of all but “not one word,” about the process itself. Unfortunately for these brothers in Christ, there is no way around Mar 9:45 and Heb 12:6. It is ” EVERY SACRIFICE” and ” EVERY SON”. There are NO EXCEPTIONS! The doctrine of universal reconciliation, through a false definition of grace, is just as nourishing to the Adversary as the false doctrines of eternal death or eternal torment. What do we think the word ‘dragged’ means? Chastening IS certainly a ‘dragging’. No child goes willingly and cheerfully to be disciplined.

Mar 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it] is.

We are “justified freely by his grace” (Rom 3:24). There is no charge, and there is nothing we can do to earn the chastening and scourging [ of] “EVERY son whom He receiveth” (Heb 12:6). It is given freely. [ And ‘grace’ will always out perform sin simply because God’s chastening is much more than a match for the greatest and most stubborn false prophet or sinner that has ever existed.]

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

The mystery of the gospel that has been hidden for so long is not ‘Christ did it for you’, but rather:

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

What is the fruit of “Christ in you?”

Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God [ Christ] dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ [ God], he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit [ is] life because of righteousness.

Christ did not ‘die to the flesh,’ so that we could ‘live in it.’ Christ died to the flesh so that we could “fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ…”

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

The only thing that is “behind of the afflictions of Christ” is to let Him live His life in us.

Also the scripture where Jesus said “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me” are we all in Jesus? I believe we are and this is what they use, but I have a hard time with all of this. Can you explain this? I know we are under grace, but I also believe we have a part in it. I know our works are nothing in God’s eyes, but I am trying to put it all together.

Here is the answer to that question:

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Here is where all the “inclusionists” such as Carlton Pearson, and all those I’ve listed with him, have missed the message of scripture. To these brothers and teachers of God’s Word, the “called” and the “chosen” are all one and the same. The Truth of the scriptures is that those in the first resurrection are a very exclusive group. It is this exclusiveness that Carlton and all the others so despise, but it is nevertheless the Truth of the scriptures:

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [exclusively] is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death [ which includes all others] hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

It is ‘the lake of fire,’ that is the ‘inclusive’ part of the gospel. It is in this ‘lake of fire’ that the final part of “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me” will be accomplished. Those who teach the doctrine of ‘inclusivism,’ one and all, want to ignore all these plain scriptures regarding the difference between those in whom Christ is now, and those who will not be drawn to Christ until “thy sisters Sodom and her daughters” are drawn to Christ. All who have “Christ in them” while they are still ‘in the flesh’ are living His life of “forsaking ungodliness and worldly lusts and living godly lives in this present world,” (Tit 2:10-12).

To these men such talk ‘robs grace of it’s power.’ If only they knew what ‘grace’ is! Please take the time to read ‘Strong Delusion.” That paper points out what the differences between the ‘called’ and the ‘chosen’ are.

I hope this helps to clarify the subject of ‘grace’ and its function in the life of God’s ‘chosen.’

Mike