I disagree - I don’t think the point of the Noah story was to take it a literal, factual history. I think it was a parable to demonstrate that violence doesn’t solve problems, even for God. From an engineering standpoint, an ark to hold every species the world has even known would be absolutely impossible, even with today’s technology.
[size=150]“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”[/size]
I’m sorry you’ve been unable to find any “peace” as to what you believe. Keep pressing until you do, I encourage.
I’ve never been one to base my beliefs upon what I think about others. Personally, belief in UR has challenged me to love everyone more and has enabled me to have more faith in God. It has empowered me to understand scripture better, I think. And it has certainly “cost” me more than any other belief I’ve ever had. And some people have embraced UR because of emotional reasons, personally though I embraced UR because of studying scripture. I see scripture, reason, experience, and tradition as all being foundations of one’s faith, with emotion being influenced by reason and experience. So just because something is tied closely to emotion does not negate it’s logical side. We “feel” a certain way because of what we “think”.
I too believe in scripture and am Spirit-filled and trust the Spirit to guide us into all truth. Of course, this presupposes that I also recognize I’m not there yet.
I too have found UR to be the most compelling systematic theology. I actually believed it deep in my heart for several months before I even confessed to myself that I believed in UR. It took the Spirit speaking to me specifically saying, “Stop lying!” Before that I’d just say to myself and others that I was just studying about UR and Hell and finding the scriptural evidence for Hell to be becoming less and less and the scriptural support of UR to be getting heavier. The reason I would not admit to myself or others that I had come to believe in UR was because I was afraid, 1) afraid to be wrong, and 2) afraid of the personal cost such a belief would bring to me. But after the Lord spoke to me about being honest with myself and others that I had come to believe in UR, well, I fessed up and it cost me even more than I expected.
It sounds like you’re dealing with fear too, fear of being wrong and fear of what it’ll cost you. But God does not gives us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound judgment. So I encourage you brother, accept in faith what you see in scripture, fess up, and trust in God to correct you where you are wrong.
Concerning Heb. 10:26 note how the YLT puts it:
26 For we – willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth – no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice,
27 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers;
28 any one who did set at nought a law of Moses, apart from mercies, by two or three witnesses, doth die,
29 of how much sorer punishment shall he be counted worthy who the Son of God did trample on, and the blood of the covenant did count a common thing, in which he was sanctified, and to the Spirit of the grace did despite?
Note that this passage does not affirm ECT, nor Annihilation. Rather, it affirms that as long as one stays unrepentant, willfully sinning, that one naturally fears judgment coming; it’s not something that we can cover up with any sacrifices we might make. This passage is not meant to specify what punishment will be given for such blatant rejection of grace and truth, but to emphasize how terrible such punishment will be to inspire US to not go there. This passage does not specify the purpose of such punishment, but I believe that such punishment is for our good. It reminds me of Paul turning a brother over to satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit might be saved.
Frankly, I can’t think of any “persuasive arguments against universalism”. Well, I take that back. The only argument against UR that gives me any pause is the weight of tradition and majority opinion, both of which weigh heavily against UR. But my understanding of scripture, personal experience, and logic all for me weigh so heavily in support of UR that tradition and majority opinion no longer cause me any concern. And the more I have studied anti-UR material, the more I see UR in scripture and the more it makes sense to me. And the more UR has cost me, the more firmly I believe it.
Bro, faith is not built on “IF” but on what “IS”. What “is” written? What “makes” sense. What have you “experienced” of God? If you let fear continue to set your course, you’ll never have peace.
Hey sorry about not being able to respond for a few days, I’ve just been busy and unwilling to write on my cell-phone. Anyway let’s see concerning your comments:
Lotharson:
Thank you for your links to different websites and some of your own thoughts on Annihilationism, I still have felt a drawing toward this view. Though it is still up for debate among evangelicals it seems much more tenable and has a lot of Scripture backing it up (for instance the understanding of the Old Testament teaching it, and knowing that Jesus only built upon the revelation of the OT)
Paidon:
Sounds very interesting, though I am almost at the place where reading another book will just bring more human opinion into the equation (something I am not after). Although I recognize the importance of gleaning from others and what the Lord has taught them, I find that most books are simply products of human emotion, will-power, or intellect instead of being based on God’s Word and the mind of the Spirit (the key there is the difference between human intellect and the mind of the Spirit,).
(A note here to everyone in general) I agree that emotion and truth can go hand in hand, but much of what I see with Universalism it appears (and I may be very very wrong) that people’s emotions inform their view of Scripture. For instance, “I could never believe in a God who eternally punishes someone”. Why not I ask? When we get down to it the person will say something to the effect, “Because its mean and I don’t like it”. Consequently we take the judgement that alone belongs to God and tell Him what He can and can’t do. One thing is for certain, He cannot lie. So whatever He says in His word is truth, no matter how offensive it may seem to the natural man. Will not the judge of all the earth do what is right? We know He will! But maybe that will mean raining down fire and sulfur on Sodom and Gamorrah, who are we to decide what is just and righteous?
Stefcui:
I do believe there may be a distinction between the bride of the Lamb and the “nations that walk in His light”. After all we are told that God’s original intention in the garden was one man and one women, would it be any less for God and His people? I have tossed around many thoughts about this subject as well. If universalism is true, then this opens up some interesting possibilities concerning predestination and “election”. The Israelites were originally chosen (elected) by God to be blessing to the nations, now that God has thrown open the doors for the nations (Gentiles) to be blessed through Christ, will not the entire world be blessed (every individual) through the election of some in this present age? Anyway it makes sense to me. Something that Calvinists never seem to see in their theology is that election is for the good of the world (as it was for the Israelites to the nations), so if this is so, why then wouldn’t the predestination of some be for the blessing of all? So the bride is formed and purified so as to help along “the healing of the nations”.
Akimel:
I have gone back and forth on the issue of free-will. I know that many of the church fathers believed in the freedom to choose or reject God. However, I see much more in Scripture God’s ability to sovereignly work things out as He wants them to. So even if we do have the ability to reject God (which I also do see in Scripture) I know that the Lord is able to “work all things after the counsel of His will”. Your second point is a big reason why I have not yet accepted universalism. Many many godly men and women, who I have the highest respect for, hold to eternal punishment. Their lives and actions prove that they truly love Christ, they also adamantly stand on ECT being the teaching of Scripture. Another thing are the revivals of the past, where the preachers of that day proclaimed a heavy hellfire and brimstone message that shook the hearts and minds of people. If hell is eternal and many are in danger of going there, then I cannot think of any other message more important to be preached today. Yet then I go back to the book of Acts and I realize they “turned the world upside down” without a mention of hell in the entire book, so I begin to wonder (and quite rightly I think): If hell is so important and part of THE gospel, why is it so lightly dealt with by the apostles? Why did Jesus only speak of Gehennah when He was alone with His disciples? Why would He hide the reality of hell behind dark sayings (parables). And why above all this, after the apostles were sent out did they not “shout it from the rooftops”. A mystery indeed, unless hell is not an integral part of the gospel and the judgement is something very different than what Christians have been taught. Haha you see how my mind works? The moment I begin to entertain and reason for the existence of hell, immediately Scripture pops up that contradicts it. Oh and by the way, I do love Jesus Christ with all my being, and I continue to grow in that love. In fact I have put off this subject of hell for a while simply because my focus has been on Christ. He is my everything, and I have been bought with a price by Him, so again this whole thing (hell) is a side note with me. My issue is that maybe it shouldn’t be, maybe if it exists I should be more focused on the fate of the lost. See what I’m saying?
DaveB:
I once took a strong stand, that is true, but even then I was unsure. I have found that universalism creates a tension in people’s spirits, an unrest and uneasiness, a fear that it is not true, no matter how much you wish to accept it. Maybe it was a spiritual issue with me. Possibly I wanted to believe universalism for the wrong reasons. It is important to believe the truth, but many such “believers” have done atrocious things in the name of this or that truth. They held to the truth for the wrong reasons and as such murdered and stole in its name (Crusades etc.). Dave I may be a bit searching in regards to specific doctrine, however, there is a center to my theology and existence that is unshakable, and that is my faith and love for Jesus Christ. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that all things were created by Him and for Him, that He is my life, my peace, my hope, my all. And the end purpose of history is for all things to be summed up in Him. I am at peace in my spirit, because I trust the Holy Spirit to be my teacher and guide. To live Christ-centered means that we are no “longer tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine”, instead our focus is to attain “knowledge of the Son of God” and to “grow up into the head in all things, even Christ”. That my friend is where our search ends, Jesus the Lord of glory.
Cindy:
Hello Cindy, one thing I have always noticed about you on this forum is that you have a kind and gentle spirit, its very refreshing. I just wanted to let you know that. The Lord sees your heart, He knows you only want the truth. If I ever have any seeming conclusive proof against UR then I will share it with you, because I can tell you’re open to whatever He wishes to show you. Thank you for your honesty and God bless 
Dondi:
I can agree very much with your type of thinking. I see the need for judgement and repentance. I also see the Word deals greatly in punishment and reward. However, I’m not sure about Christians having to go through purification. It says in John’s first epistle that “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin”. Can light have any fellowship with darkness? I don’t think so. Neither can God fellowship with man in his sinful state, but in the light of God we are cleansed by the blood of Christ, and so fellowship is possible. If there is any cleansing for the Christian it is by Christ’s blood. Judgement upon the unbeliever is because of his “impenitent heart” so it is to “teach righteousness”, as in lead them to godly sorrow and repentance unto salvation. Also I see the meaning of all existence is the glorification, exaltation, and magnification of the Godhead. Jesus is to be victorious over all things. The question remains whether part of this glory is defeating His enemies through everlasting punishment, destruction, or their willing and loving submission to His reign. In the end all of His enemies will be put under His feet, in some way.
Fatherlearningtolove:
I think we should take literally everything that Jesus took literally. He believed in a literal Adam and Eve, He also spoke of His coming to be like the days of Noah. Also the idea is that originally animals were more compact species. Meaning there was a type of animal that later became both wolf and dog, Noah did not need two types of these, just as He didn’t need an African, Chinese, Middle Eastern, etc. for the different races of man to continue on (of course I know those races did not exist in Noah’s day, I’m making the point that from one family, Noah’s, we have all these different races today).
Sherman:
I expected you to reply to this since I’ve read your story, I know that you didn’t come to UR willingly. With that said, just to clarify, I have much peace and joy, it is simply on this one subject I am unsure what I believe. Yes I can easily see why this belief would cost you (and me as well) much by its acceptance. I’ve already lost a lot by standing up for God and against sin, so I do not have much keeping me back on that issue. I agree also that emotion can be very logical and in fact a logical reaction to something wrong (i.e. my reaction to a heartless comment someone made about abortion, I was very angry). I would embrace this belief mainly based upon Scripture and the witness of the Spirit in me. The Scripture part seems quite clear, its the Spirit that gave me trouble. I have for the longest time just lived as one who believes all will be saved, but talked about hell as if its a reality. And to be honest, I believe most if not all Christians do the same, they clearly do not act in accordance with the view of everyone being in danger of eternal torment. If they did they would run down the streets screaming at the top of their lungs, shaking people and begging them to accept Christ. Its for this reason that I respect street preachers (not hateful ones) who warn strongly about hell. People here may not agree with them, but at least they’re consistent in their thinking and actions. The things that keeps me from fully embracing UR are the majority of Christians who have believed in an eternal hell throughout history, certain reservations I have based on some passages of Scripture, and the witness of the Holy Spirit being in full agreement to it. My greatest fear is being wrong, and I believe it is a healthy fear. Paul warns of those who deceive other and deceive themselves. I refuse to be such. But I agree with you on this, everything I’ve read against UR is quite weak in my opinion.
You are right Sherman, faith is built on what 'IS" and I am trying to discover that very thing. Much of what I believe in very solid and based in the Word, nonetheless this is one belief that needs to be resolved for me. Thank you for your encouragement.
in Christ alone,
Daniel
Hi Daniel, good comments! I agree with everything.
Good to hear from you again awakeningaletheia!
Whatever view someone holds, they are still going to be sinners requiring sanctification…
I think the more beautiful/wonderful something is, the more the devil strives to make corrupted imitations. I think Pluralism & “God’s-Happy-For-You-To-Do-Whatever-You-Want-ism” are corrupt imitations of Universalism. While there are plenty of examples for people sliding from Universalism into one, or both, of these, there are also plenty of examples of people who, by God’s grace, have persevered & remained faithful. Therefore I don’t think the former is inevitable
Perhaps you’d be better off holding the Catholic/Orthodox view (which AFAIK make up the majority of Christians today?) of “hope & pray” UR is true but leave it in the realm of mystery?
I admit that I find Hebrews a difficult book. I think God has left it in there to stretch us, to leave elements of uncertainty so that accepting UR is partly a matter of trusting He will do good (similar to trusting God exists, although there are many reasons to believe, He also leaves some uncertainty that requires us to have faith in the unseen). Anyway, one possible way to interpret this is that for Christians Christ’s sacrifice means when they face God it will appreciate the discipline/purging/sanctification He gives, whereas for those who no longer have that sacrifice, it will be unappreciated and feel like God is torturing them.
I certainly think it’s better to believe the truth than a lie. However if we are wrong, hopefully God will forgive us for thinking He loves everyone & thinking He is capable of saving them. i.e. that we had too much faith in Him 
For me, my greatest concern is that God allowed non-UR to flourish & left ambiguous verses in the Bible. If it was me, I’d have snipped a few bits & added more explicit passages like Col 1:20 to make the case for non-UR even harder!