The Necessity of the Atonement

Many who call themselves christian universalists deny the necessity of the atonement. For them, the atonement is not a substitutionary sacrifice to ransom mankind from the wrath of God. This is a huge doctrinal error. The scripture is clear that the death of Christ on the cross was, in fact, a ransom for sin.

Therefore, it is essential that, in affirming the truth of universal restoration, we do not deny the essential doctrine of justification solely by grace, soley through faith in Christ. For there is no other name by which we can be saved. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father, but by me." To deny this is to deny the heart of the gospel and therefore to remain, under the wrath of God, for it is by grace alone we are saved through faith alone. Anyone who denies this denies the only way of salvation and remains yet in darkness.

EVANGELICAL UNIVERSALISM holds to the absolute necessity of Christ's substitutionary atonement for salvation. This applied to both the elect, who are effectually called in this life, and the non-elect who are not effectualy called until after death. There is only one way of salvation for all mankind.