Are All Created for the Purpose of Living in Relationship with God?
Universalistic notions of God’s love and redemption invariably deny the truth of God’s predetermined plan and purpose in salvation (Acts 2:23; Eph 3:11). It is also a denial of the biblical doctrines of election (Rom 8:30; Eph 1:4–5) and reprobation (Rom 9:13, 22).
God has made the wicked for the day of evil (Prv 16:4), and this incites God’s chosen people to pray, “Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord (Ps 104:35)!”
The false preacher is subtle, when he takes the truths ascribed to God’s children and reassigns them to the children of the devil (1 Jn 3:10), who bear his image, as sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2; Col 3:6), being children of wrath by nature (Eph 2:3).
The Bible is clear that God has created two kinds of people, both of whom originate in Adam, the first man, who was made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). The fall of Adam ruined the image of God, and Adam’s offspring now bear the image of the devil, their new father, a liar and a murderer from the beginning (Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 4:4).
The elect are vessels of mercy prepared for glory (Rom 9:23). These are the ones for whom the apostle Paul suffered, so they would obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory (2 Tim 2:10). David prayed that God would remember him, “That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance (Ps 106:5).”
Sadly, the Arminian promotion of man-centered theology has embraced Universalism, as a marketing scheme for their perverted Gospel. The goal of most evangelical evangelism, today, is “a personal relationship with Jesus,” made “possible” by God, and ultimately determined by each person’s free will decision (a myth), in a scheme of easy-believism.
Man-centered theology is easily detectable because man is the glorified subject of the sentence. For example, “All of us are created by God, in His image, for the purpose of living in relationship with Him.” Let us consider this misconstrued idea, in parts.
First, “All of us,” is a pretty broad beginning. Here is the essence of Universalism, “We are all in this together and God loves us all.”
Second, “All of us are created by God,” is true. Blatant lies are easier to expose than the insidious subtle ones. Mingling truth with lies leads to syncretistic religion. Christianity is utterly exclusive because the Bible excludes one line of humanity (unelect (reprobate), unredeemed, unregenerate, unbelievers). These are vessels of wrath prepared for destruction (Rom 9:22).
Third, this syncretistic, man-centered statement is ignorant of the effects of the fall. Man-centered theology does everything it can to raise spiritually dead men without God. It’s easier to do this by diminishing the effects of the fall upon the will and capability of Adam’s progeny. They say that man is not totally depraved. He is merely hindered by sin.
In truth, sinful man is ruined, as is the image of God (Gen 6:5). He is a broken vessel, useless, worthless, and only the burning trash heap of eternal hell is suitable. Such truth offends the pride of man, who thinks more highly of himself than he should.
Fourth, to speak of God’s purpose, without acknowledging His sovereignty over the fall of man is to deny Christ the Savior being identified, as the Lamb of God, slain from before the foundation of the world (Jn 1:29; Rev 5:6, 12; 13:8). Why an eternal Savior? Destruction was in the plan and purpose of God from the beginning; or Is the future destruction of the present heavens and earth not His purpose, either (2 Pet 3:10–12)?
Finally, if all people everywhere and at all times were purposed for living in relationship with God, the Arminians must pick their poison. Did God fail in His purpose? Do we deny the unsaved line of Adam exists? Did man not forsake the image of God, and now only needs a self-improvement program? Do we turn over salvation to each man to decide whether God’s purpose for all of us will be successful or not?
In conclusion, we must consider our initial question, and we answer, “No, all of us created by God, are not created to live in relationship with Him.” We encourage those deceived by Arminianism to consider the biblical doctrines of God’s eternal good pleasure, His eternal will, His eternal decree, His eternal predestination, His eternal election, His eternal reprobation, along with Christ’s particular redemption and the application of salvation, by the Holy Spirit, to God’s chosen people, exclusively.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 3, 2022
