UNIVERSALISM by A. W. Cone

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 31, 1877

UNIVERSALISM

By A. W. Cone

“Therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.” 1 Tim. 4: 10. This text is relied on by Universalists as teaching the final, unconditional, and eternal salvation of all mankind. But let us see if it so teaches. There is a sense in which God is the Saviour of all men. Let us first examine this salvation. Man was created pure and upright. He then had no use for a Saviour. There was no salvation required as yet, but God having placed him on trial or probation (without which there could be no development of character), he failed, was overcome, and passed under the dominion or sentence of death. Now all is lost unless there be some remedy, some means by which man can be brought from the grave or death. God comes to the rescue; and through Jesus, his only begotten, the ransom is paid, or if you please, a second probation is given to man.

Thus God is the Saviour of all men, inasmuch as he restores them from that death in which the sin of Adam involved them, and gives every man a chance to try for himself. This salvation is offered to every one, and men are required individually to live in obedience to the law of God, the transgression of which is sin, and the penalty the second death, or, as Paul says, everlasting destruction. Each individual has the offer of the second or special salvation mentioned in the text, namely, the salvation of the believer. This is conditional. It is everlasting salvation. “The gift of

God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” Rom. 6: 23. The believer looks to Jesus as his only hope for pardon, which is a remission of the penalty, which is the second death, or death for his own personal sins; and Jesus gives him everlasting life. “They shall not be hurt of the second death,” “neither can they die any more.” It is given only to those who through patient continuance in well-doing seek for it.

We see, then, the difference between the salvation of all men and the special salvation of those that believe. This explanation of the text is still strengthened by the fact that man is not and never was in possession of inherent immortality, which is easily proved from the fact that God drove him from the tree of life for the express purpose of keeping him from partaking of its fruits, which would have rendered him immortal. God says, “Lest man reach forth his hand and take of the tree of life, and live forever.” Again, “God only hath immortality.” “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Now, if God made man immortal at first, there was no use in driving him from the tree of life; and he could not give him eternal life through Jesus if he had first created him with or in possession of it.

Now the question to each one is, Will you share in the special salvation of the believer? Will you accept the offer of everlasting life with all its consequent blessings, the joy of having the society of angels, the blessed Saviour, and of all the best ones of earth, the right to the tree of life, a place within the holy City, a crown of unfading glory, an heirship to the heavenly and eternal kingdom, a home in the earth made new, from which sin, misery, sorrow, and crying are forever banished, where “they shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble”?

Let me say, Seek for the special salvation now while it is offered, now while probation lingers. Soon the voice of mercy may be forever hushed, soon the “day will pass as the chaff,” soon the decree may go forth, “He that is filthy, let him be filthy still.” Soon the Saviour may come, bringing his reward with him, to give every man according as his works shall be. If you have slighted offered mercy, rejected life everlasting with all its blessings, rejected the precious Saviour, put off your return to God, chosen the vain things of this world, if your affections and your treasures are here, you have worked for wages; and can you complain if they are given you? Your wages are the wages of sin,—death, everlasting death, from which there is no escape. May God help us all to seek now the special salvation. Therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.

A. W. CONE.

Uniontown, Bourbon Co., Kan.