A recent survey found that over half of adults report that they have felt lonely sometime in the last year.

Many people think that these feelings are most felt at the end of one’s life, but that’s not true. Ellyn Maese said:

This survey is a really good reminder that loneliness is not just a problem of aging — it’s a problem that can affect everyone at any age.

People often feel alone, estranged, disconnected, and uninvited into the lives of others. Sometimes we feel that way because of the choices of others. Sometimes we feel that way because of mistakes we’ve made. Because of the sins we’ve committed. But part of the good news of the gospel is that God is reconciling the whole world to each other and to Himself through Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:19a says:

…in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…

Ephesians 2:17-18:

He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Much of the conversation about religion throughout history has to do primarily with who’s in and who’s out.6
And the Bible is clear that Jesus is the only way. John 14:6 says:

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

But it’s interesting that for the first 400 years of Christianity, the prevailing view of heaven and hell was not one of exclusivism, but inclusivism. Some of the most influential Christians of the early church were universalists. Additionally, four of the six major Christians schools of thought in the early church taught universalism. Edward Beecher wrote:

There were at least six theological schools in the Church at large…Of these six schools, one, and only one , was decidedly and earnestly in favor of doctrine of future eternal punishment…One was in favor of annihilation of the wicked…Two were in favor of the doctrine of universal restoration on the principles of Origen…and two in favor of universal restoration on the principles of Theodore of Mopsuestia

It wasn’t until at least the end of the fourth century AD that what we call the traditional view of an eternal conscious torment in hell became the main view.

This led to wars, forced conversions, and all kinds of denominational schisms.

And this is unfortunate because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Paul makes it clear that the gospel is for everyone. (v. 17)

The gospel is proclaimed to those who were near, that is, the Jews. And the gospel is also proclaimed to those who were far off, that is, the Gentiles. This is because the gospel is for everyone. Romans 9:22-26 says:

And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory— on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As it also says in Hosea,

I will call Not My People, My People,
and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not my people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.

It’s the gospel of peace. The gospel breaks down barriers and unites us all in Christ. Part of the good news of the gospel is that we’re all welcome to come to God through Jesus. (v. 18)

Both Jews and Gentiles have access to God. Both upright citizens and convicted criminals have access to God. It says that it’s in the Holy Spirit that we have access to the Father. The Spirit guides and empowers us to draw near to God. Romans 8:26 says:

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

God can radically transform your life, just like He did for Nicky Cruz.

You see, God is not far from you. He invites you to come near to Him. Christianity is exclusive in that Jesus is the only way, but inclusive in that all are invited to receive Jesus. God turns no one away, and in the end, God will get His way. The last verse of the Bible, Revelation 22:21, says:

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen.

All are invited and brought near to the Father through Jesus.