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The gospel of inclusion is essentially the old heresy of universalism repackaged and renamed. Universalism is the belief that all individuals will ultimately be saved and enter heaven. The gospel of inclusion, as espoused by Carlton Pearson and others, encompasses several erroneous doctrines:
(1) The gospel of inclusion asserts that the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ fully provided for all of humanity to attain eternal life in heaven without the necessity of repentance.
(2) The gospel of inclusion teaches that salvation is unconditional and does not require faith in Jesus Christ as the atonement for humanity’s sin.
(3) The gospel of inclusion holds that all individuals are destined for heavenly life regardless of their awareness.
(4) The gospel of inclusion proclaims that all individuals will reach heaven irrespective of their religious association.
(5) Finally, the gospel of inclusion maintains that only those who deliberately and consciously reject God’s grace—after experiencing it—will face eternal separation from Him.
The gospel of inclusion contradicts the explicit teachings of Jesus and the Bible. In the Gospel of John, Jesus clearly states that the exclusive path to salvation is through Him «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). God sent Jesus to earth to secure salvation for humanity, but this salvation is only accessible to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ as the divine payment for their sins «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. », (John 3:16). The apostles reaffirm this message.
See (Ephesians 2:8-9;1 Peter 1:8-9;1 John 5:13). Faith in Jesus Christ means no longer attempting to secure salvation based on works, but rather trusting that what Jesus did was sufficient to obtain salvation.
In addition to faith, there is repentance. The two are interconnected. Repentance involves a change of mind regarding your sin and the necessity for salvation through Christ by faith «Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. », (Acts 2:38). Repentance is an acknowledgment that, in the presence of God, we are sinners incapable of earning our way to salvation. When we repent of our sins, we turn away from them and seek Christ through faith.
Jesus extends salvation to all who are willing to repent and believe «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. », (John 3:16). Nevertheless, Jesus Himself stated that not everyone will believe (Matthew 7:13-14;John 3:19). It is unpleasant to consider that a loving and merciful God would condemn people to hell, but that is precisely what the Bible teaches. Jesus explains that, in the end, the Son of Man will separate all nations just as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The sheep (representing those who have secured salvation through faith in Jesus Christ) will enter the kingdom with Jesus. The goats (representing those who have rejected the salvation offered by Jesus) will go to hell, described as eternal fire (Matthew 25:31-46).
“>(Matthew 25:31-46).
This teaching offends many people. Instead of aligning their thinking with the clear teachings of the Word of God, some individuals alter the Bible’s message and propagate this false doctrine. The concept of the gospel of inclusion is a prime example of this.
Here are some additional arguments opposing the gospel of inclusion:
(1) If faith and repentance are not prerequisites to receive the gift of salvation, then why does the New Testament repeatedly urge people to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ?
(2) If salvation does not necessitate faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, then why did Jesus endure such a humiliating and excruciating death? God could have simply granted everyone a “divine pardon.”
(3) If everyone is destined for heaven regardless of their awareness, what about free will? Will an atheist who has adamantly rejected God, the Bible, Jesus, and Christianity be forcibly taken to heaven against their will? The gospel of inclusion implies that heaven will be populated by individuals who may not desire to be there.
(4) How can all individuals enter heaven irrespective of their religious beliefs when many religions espouse conflicting doctrines? For instance, what about those who adhere to entirely different views on the afterlife, such as reincarnation or annihilationism (the belief that we cease to exist after death)?
(5) Lastly, if those who openly spurn God’s grace do not attain heaven, then it cannot truly be considered a gospel of inclusion, can it? If not everyone gains entry to heaven, it is misleading to label it as the gospel of inclusion since it still excludes certain individuals.
The apostle Paul referred to the gospel message as the “fragrance of death” «to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? », (2 Corinthians 2:16). What heWhat is meant by this is that, for many, the message of the gospel is offensive. It reveals the truth about their sin and their hopeless state without Christ. It conveys that there is nothing they can do to bridge the gap between themselves and God. Throughout the centuries, there have been individuals (many with good intentions) who have tried to soften the gospel message to attract more people to church. Initially, this may seem like a prudent approach, but ultimately, it only provides people with a false sense of security. Paul stated that anyone preaching a gospel different from the one he preached should be cursed «But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. », (Galatians 1:8). This is strong language, but once you understand the crucial significance of the gospel message, you also recognize the importance of getting it right. A false gospel cannot save anyone. Instead, it only condemns more individuals to hell and brings about greater condemnation for those who spread falsehoods like the gospel of inclusion.
