I was having an interesting conversation with a friend yesterday evening on our experiences of the theology of those around us. In particular, we had both come across those who believed in universal atonement – that everyone will go to heaven. Such people were found everywhere, there were regular churchgoers as well as those who had never set foot in a church, and then all those in between.

It was more disturbing to hear regular churchgoers espousing universal atonement, as it left you wondering if they paid any attention in church, especially if they attended a church which taught the bible. For the bible teaches nothing of universal atonement, but quite clearly says atonement is limited.

Yet, if you point this out, more likely than not you’re treated as if you were from the devil or something. If you mention that the bible says all sinners will go to hell, because God is holy and cannot stand the presence of sin, you’re looked at as if you’re heretical, as if it’s something you want to happen because you’re malicious or something.

Yet, limited atonement can be seen in even the oft quoted parts of the bible – this is not a strange minority teaching.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16

If anything, it appears to be more malicious to tell people “you’re OK and will go to heaven regardless” of whether they’ve had their sins dealt with by the Christ, as they’ll have rather a nasty shock when they stand before God at judgement.

It is because we love people that we tell them the truth, that atonement is limited to those who put their faith in Christ for the remission of their sin. To do anything else would seem to be nothing short of leading them personally to hell.