Why Trinitarian Universalism is misguided and unscriptural

(Note: this article is refering to Trinitarian Universalism, not the doctrine of the Trinity. I fully believe in the Trinity.)

Trinitarian theology has been coming up a bit lately around the world and I thought I’d give my views. I must state that after having studied it I find that I don’t agree with the claims it makes. Let me give you some of the main thoughts of Trinitarian theology and then the reasons why I believe it’s misguided and scripturally unsound. Let me just make it clear though, that I’m not anti the Trinitarian, I’m anti Trinitarian theology.

If you are someone that is looking into the theology and beginning to give yourself over to it, then I want to urge you, before you go any further, please read through this entire article, and with an objective desire for truth. I sincerely believe it will help with your perspectives as you wrestle through your convictions. I’m not interested in starting any wars or divisions in the Body of Christ, I’m purely interested in the Gospel remaining the true Gospel.

Main thoughts of Trinitarian theology:

Everything that happened to Christ at the cross and resurrection universally happened to all of mankind. All of mankind was therefore united in Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and seating on the throne. All of mankind is objectively reconciled to God, born again, justified, forgiven and made righteous. It’s a reality for all, not something to be received but something to be believed. You don’t get saved, you just realize that you were saved. People go to hell because they don’t subjectively believe the truth about their true identity. Therefore salvation is simply seeing the truth about ones self. It’s a realizing rather than a regenerating. The difference between people is that some live in a realization of their true image in Christ and some live in a false conclusion about who they already are. Ultimately we’re all saved by the faith of God and not through personal faith in Christ. Your faith doesn’t save you it just believes that you are already saved through Christ.

Main scriptures used to support Trinitarian theology:

Romans 5: 18 & 19 “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

2 Corinthians 5:18, 19 “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…”

1 John 2:2 “[Jesus is] the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

2 Corinthians 5:14 “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”

The reality, however, is that salvation for mankind was provided for at the cross, but mankind was not literally or universally included in Christ at the cross and resurrection. That only comes through unification by spiritual baptism into Christ through personal faith in Christ. Once you come into Christ then you are included in him and benefit from what he did. It all has to do with “are you in Christ?” If you are not in Christ then you receive none of the benefits of Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Romans 6:3 “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

Not all of mankind died and rose with Christ but only those who have been baptized into Christ! Spiritual baptism is a big deal in the New Testament. The Bible doesn’t teach that all mankind is born again, made righteous, justified, forgiven and reconciled universally through the cross and resurrection. It teaches that these things only happen when a person comes into Christ. They were all purchased and universally made available, without discrimination, 2000 years ago for all mankind but each person must personally receive them through personal faith in Christ in order to benefit from them.

Romans 16:7 “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

How could they be in Christ before Paul if all mankind came into Christ at the cross? No, the ability for all mankind to come into Christ was made available at the cross but there is still the need for all mankind to actually come into Christ now. It’s not a universal moment for all mankind but a timeline where some come in before others that was made available at the cross.

This need for coming into Christ is also clearly shown in Romans 11 where Paul talks about the Root of the Olive Tree (which is Christ) and the Gentiles being grafted (attached) to the root in order to share in the life giving sap of the tree. This grafting only takes place through faith in Christ. The natural branches, which represent Israel, were cut off because of “their unbelief”, however if they “abide not in unbelief they too will be grafted back in”.

Romans 11: 23 “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.”

When you read Romans 11 you see a clear distinction that there are those who are in Christ and partaking of Christ, and there are those not in Christ that are cut off from Christ.

Are all reconciled to God?

2 Corinthians 5:19 does not say that the whole world has been reconciled to God. It says that in Christ the world is reconciled to God. Outside of Christ there is no reconciliation. If you’re outside of Christ you are not reconciled to God. Reconciliation was purchased and made available at the cross for the entire world, but unless you receive it you are not reconciled to God. That is why it continues with the appeal to “be reconciled to God” because of what Christ has done!

Forgiveness to all?

Even the issue of sin is only dealt with for those who are in Christ. Those not in Christ have not received forgiveness. Their sins were paid for at the cross but they have yet to receive forgiveness. I know this may be shocking to numbers of people who have been studying grace for a while, but take a look at the following scriptures. They all speak of the need for unbelievers to have faith in Christ to receive forgiveness. Get ready to be surprised…

Luke 24:46-48 “He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.”

Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 10:43 “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts 13:38,39 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”

Acts 22:16 “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace…”

1 John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

Wow, I bet that’s a bit of a shocker to those who thought the entire world has received forgiveness of sins! To be honest, I’ve only just recently seen this properly and therefore had to adjust my theology a bit. That’s not a bad thing. I’d rather be right than dogmatic! Ha ha!

Righteousness to all?

And what about the whole world being made righteous through Christ as Romans 5 clearly states right? Well does it? Really? It seems like it does but people actually are missing the main point that Romans 5 is trying to make. The main point of Romans 5 is to contrast how the grace that comes through Christ’s one act is greater than the condemnation that came through Adam’s one sin. Trinitarian theology takes verse 18 and 19 out of context to try and say that all of mankind was made righteous at the cross. It sounds like this is what the verse is saying but it’s not. Verse 17 clears that up when it shows the need to receive God’s grace and the gift of righteousness, and also verse one that shows we only have access into this grace through our faith.

Romans 5:17 “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:1,2 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.”

Then there are the clear scriptures that speak about the need for personal faith in order to receive God’s righteousness:

Romans 3:22, 26 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…” (Note: it’s interesting that it says this righteousness is unto all and upon all – but makes it clear that the “all” is only those who believe.)

“26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Romans 10:9, 10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (This could not be any more personal! This is not Gods faith, this is our personal faith that comes through the hearing of the Word that brings us into salvation!)

Galatians 3:22 “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Romans 4:22-24 “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead…”

Philippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

So is Romans 5 contradicting all these scriptures when it says,

Romans 5: 18, 19 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

The answer is no! Romans chapter 5 is not actually making the point that the entire world has been made righteous. It’s making another point and if you’re not faithful to that point you will end up twisting the scripture. If you read the context you’ll see that the point being made is that Christ’s one act was far more powerful than Adams one act, and that they can’t even be put into the same category. Adams sin had the power to make us all sinners, but Christ’s act has the power to make us all righteous even though we’ve all sinned. It’s saying that Adams one sin was so powerful it brought condemnation to all. And if that one sin was so powerful, imagine just how destructive all of mankind’s sin must be! But if you think sin is powerful, just wait till you hear how powerful the grace of God is through the one act of Christ dying on the cross! Meaning that even after, not only Adam’s sin but all of mankind’s sin, Christ is able to bring righteousness to all and free us from the effects of sin (death and condemnation). Therefore the grace of God is far more superior to the power of sin. So that no matter how much sin has abounded, grace abounds even greater. And it has abounded to all mankind in that it has been made available to all who will receive it through faith. Study the context and you will see that this is correct.

The Amplified Version brings the point out much better than other versions:

Romans 5: 15-19 (Amplified Version.)

“15But God’s free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass [His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man]. For if many died through one man’s falling away (his lapse, his offense), much more profusely did God’s grace and the free gift [that comes] through the undeserved favor of the one Man Jesus Christ abound and overflow to and for [the benefit of] many.

16Nor is the free gift at all to be compared to the effect of that one [man’s] sin. For the sentence [following the trespass] of one [man] brought condemnation, whereas the free gift [following] many transgressions brings justification (an act of righteousness).

17For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

18Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men.

19For just as by one man’s disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him).”

So the point of Romans 5 is to show how much more superior the one act of Christ is over the one act of Adam. That righteousness reigns over sin. That no matter how much sin has abounded, God’s gift of righteousness is far greater and all mankind can be saved through it. It’s not saying that the whole world is righteous. How on earth can we say that the whole world is righteous and yet many are still going to hell? If the whole world were righteous that means all would be going to heaven but Scripture is very clear that this is not so.

You’re either righteous or you’re not. You can’t be righteous yet not righteous. You can’t be objectively righteous but not subjectively righteous. The reality is that righteousness was purchased for all mankind at the cross, but it must be received through personal faith in Christ.

Are all born again?

All are definitely not born again! You must believe in order to be born again. The follow scriptures reveal this.

1 John 5:1, 5, 18 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”

5: “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

18: “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.”

1 Peter 1:22, 23 “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth (believing the Gospel) so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

1 John 3:9 “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”

1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Titus 3:3-7 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Salvation to all?

Is salvation something all people need to receive or is it just something to believe you already have received?

Trinitarian theology doesn’t really want to talk about future heaven or hell, it just wants to concern itself with what salvation means here on earth. That means it doesn’t want to talk about who is bound for heaven or who is bound for hell. This is because the doctrine doesn’t allow for an individual personal born again experience but rather promotes a universal born again experience for all mankind at the cross. Trinitarian theology says that if people don’t subjectively see their salvation then it will be like living in hell on earth for them, and if they do subjectively see their salvation then it will be like living in heaven on earth. This is true but you can’t just ignore the fact that salvation also refers to where people are going to spend their future eternity.

Basically Trinitarian theology predominantly tries to turn the word “salvation” into a state of being on earth and not a future destination. The reality is, however, that people are either going to heaven or hell based on whether or not they are born again through faith in Christ. Salvation is something that needs to be received. Scripture refers to this need to receive salvation a lot! Here are a few examples:

Romans 1: 16,17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”

Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Why must mankind be saved if mankind is already saved?)

2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect (the Gentiles now), that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”

2 Timothy 3:15 “and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 5:9 “and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…” (That is those who believe the gospel. You see here salvation is not universal but conditional on believing in Jesus.)

Hebrews 9:28 “…so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Romans 10:1-3 “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

Conclusion:

You may be tempted to think that this is all just splitting hairs and what does it matter if you believe one way or the other. To be honest, I think it is very important. My passion is not about being right, it’s about seeing the Gospel and the Church staying on course and the beauty and integrity of grace not being hijacked by strange doctrines and taken off into deception and ultimately another gospel. I’m very passionate about honoring the Word of God. It’s not ok to play with it and make it say what you would prefer it to. Those that are happy to flirt with a new “great” sounding doctrine, that is a departure from the clear teachings of Scripture, will find that it’s not long before they are entertaining other deceiving doctrines and thinking they are on the path of truth. The more you give in to deception the more your discernment is corroded. Before you know it, the Gospel is no longer the Gospel and you’re in some weird cult! The bottom level of Free Masonry sounds pretty much like normal Christianity. But by the time you get to the top level it’s outright Satan worship. I bet, at first, its followers never knew what they were really getting into. However by the time they get closer to the top, it just seems more and more normal!

If you love the Gospel of Grace then please carry a sense of responsibility to honor it and protect it from distortion and to be very careful how you process “latest revelations”. It’s one thing to adjust to the Gospel, it’s another thing to adjust the Gospel!