Edifier of Truth

1 Peter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the  proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Calvinism and Universalism are both universalist, just in a different way.

The difference between a fixed out come and an outcome that is established on the foreknowledge of God is evident.  Calvinism tells us that all is first fixed and Universalism tells us the same only with different results.  Universalism teaches us that all humans will be saved and Calvinism teaches us that God will only save a few and will not save any others because it is fixed and the unsaved are determined to go to hell to glorify God making God the author of Sin.  That which is universal is free from freedom to trust in Christ, they, the frozen chosen are made to believe, this defies the very meaning of trust, belief, faith.    

The only none universal Christian position is where God holds all humanity responsible for the decisions that are made concerning His Work,  the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ, that each person is truly responsible for their eternal outcome on the basis of faith in Christ or faith in OTHER, whatever that OTHER is. It is that simple.  God knows the outcome of his decrees both fixed and permitted ones.  Mankind is permitted free will within the natural and spiritual limits set by God, the fixed part of our existence.  Everyone may choose to do evil or good, to reject Christ or accept Christ, this is the freedom mankind has in his fallen state and some will trust in God’s work and many will not, they are not forced to believe or not believe.   

The term foreknowledge means to know in advance what He has decreed, both fixed and free.  Free will of man is fixed to be free to trust in Christ or not trust in Christ.  God commands all mankind to repent, to trust in Christ.  A God that requires this of man and then decrees that the man cannot be saved and then saved a few without believing faith and not the others is not the God of the Bible.  God desires the salvation of all and to desire all to be saved and only save a few is Universal determinism of the Calvinist view.  In Universalism one does not have to choose. God has given us a choice, He has provided the solution and the means for us to freely receive His provision, His work verses our work.