Date: November 12, 2023
Won’t All People Ultimately Go to Heaven?
The Point: God’s kingdom is reserved for those who obediently follow Him.
Get Into the Study
Share the following after discussing The Bible Meets Life.
One of the major points that Universalism makes is that the primary teaching of all major world religions is the same. Red Pen Logic with Mr. B tackled this idea when a page called Unify posted a graphic that shows passages from texts of other religions and an out-of-context Bible verse that all supposedly show the same idea, that the primary teaching of all religions is to love others.
Mr. B points out that while religions have similarities, they all have fundamental differences about the answers to the big questions of life, such as how we should live and what happens after death. One of the points Mr. B makes is that the core of Christianity is the gospel, as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
Many people who believe in Universalism don’t really know the details of various religions but pick and choose whatever points back up their claims about all religions being the same. This is why it’s important to know what the Bible really says about Christianity, because Jesus is the only way to salvation.
Get Into the Study [Option for Adult Leader Guide]
In advance, play a video showing a famous or pleasant road. Then ask Question #1
Study the Bible
Share the following after discussing Question 4.
False teachers can often be difficult to spot as they’re good at seeming like theologically sound teachers. False teachers can be found among any group because it’s more a sin of thinking they know better than the Bible.
Female “pastor” Rebecca Peters recently wore a Planned Parenthood stole and celebrated her two abortions from the pulpit. She claims that she felt God’s presence within her as she made the choice to end her two pregnancies, and that she felt no guilt, shame, or sin. Peters says that she cannot fathom a God who sees a “forced pregnancy or birth” as holy, although the Bible says that all life has value because all are made in the imago Dei, or image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).
Peters also accuses God of “lying to humanity” by telling Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate of the tree of good and evil. She claims that Satan corrected the lie because Adam and Eve wouldn’t die from eating the fruit. This is directly false because since that sin, all of mankind has been dying as the result of sin. God also cannot lie because He is Truth, as Jesus says in John 14:6.
As believers, it is vitally important to know what the Bible truly says so we can better spot false teaching. It is equally important to spend time with other believers so we can stand together and help each other combat false teaching with the truth of the Bible.
EXTRA was written by Emily Duncan, a Southern California native currently living in West Georgia with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. She became a Christian when she was sixteen at a youth retreat. Now, she’s a self-described homemaker and semi-professional baker who dreams of eventually finishing all the projects in her workroom.
Additional Questions
Icebreaker
- Why are so many of us guilty of not listening to our GPS?
- What are places you like to go that require reservations?
- What thing or person has ever given you a false sense of comfort and why?
- What’s your favorite place to spend a long weekend? Why?
- When has the easy path not been the best path in your life?
- What’s one of your favorite roads to drive? (BG)
Matthew 7:13-14
- What is the attractions for some who choose to take the hard road?
- What would be some distinguishing marks between the wide gate and the narrow gate?
- Describe the two roads and where each lead.
- Why should anyone follow Jesus if the road is difficult?
- How do these verses impact the way you interact with nonbelievers?
Matthew 7:15-20
- How can you identify “wolves in sheep’s clothing?”
- What are wise ways to stop being influenced by false leaders or teachers?
- How can we tell the real ones from the fakes when they all speak for God?
- How might one be able to determine if someone is a false prophet?
- Why are false prophets often difficult to spot right away?
- How can we help each other avoid false teachers?
Matthew 7:21-23
- What is the difference between believing in God and believing God?
- In what ways do we fool ourselves about our own devotion to Jesus Christ?
- How can we determine if we are doing the will of the Father in heaven?
- What are the requirements for entering God’s kingdom of heaven?
- Why is it easy for people who don’t know Jesus to believe they do know Him?
- In your own words, how would you describe what it necessary to “enter the kingdom of heaven”?
- How do we know if we are obeying God’s will?
- How can we help someone who is unsure about their salvation?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
Getting It Right to Get Right into Heaven
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
Good job with this lesson. I can’t wait to teach it.
In the student book, on page 134, you said that the
Church of Christ was an example of Non-Christian Universalists. Explain yourself. The Church of Christ may have a quirky idea, about not having musical instruments accompany their singing, but they are main stream Christians. What are you thinking?
The sentence refers to the Church of Christ, Scientist (i.e., Christian Science), which is nothing at all like the Church of Christ.
Good to hear, thanks.