Monday, August 15, 2016

The biblical basis for universal resurrection

Some groups reject the idea that everyone will be resurrected; instead, they argue that only the baptised and/or the “responsible” will be raised to judgment. The largest of these groups are the Christadelphians—both amended and unamended groups (the former being the larger of the two).

Notwithstanding, the biblical evidence is rather clear that everyone without distinction will be resurrected and raised to judgment.

In 1 Cor 15:22, the apostle Paul wrote:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

In the theology of the apostle Paul, as everyone dies due to the fall (cf. Rom 5), in like manner (ουτως) all will be made alive/resurrected due to Christ.

We can see universal resurrection in other texts, too, such as Acts 24:15:

And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

Here, both the "just" (δικαιων) and "unjust" (αδικων) will be resurrected--that encompasses everybody, not just the "responsible" let alone only those baptised (within Christadelphia or some other group).

This is something that Christ Himself also taught:

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his [Christ's] voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)


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