Universal atonement is not taught in scripture anywhere.
I agree.
But, if one uses verses in isolation ( like 1 John 2:2, Hebrews 2:9, Titus 2:11, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 4:14, John 1:29, Isaiah 53:6, 1 Timothy 4:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 Timothy 2:5-6John 3:16-17 and several others ), then I think it can be convincingly shown from
portions of His word to be true ( not that it is ).
I was raised under this sort of teaching, and beyond a doubt I can tell you that it is very compelling.
Where I think it runs into serious problems, is that it doesn't take into account
all of the Scriptures involved;
Upon further examination ( if anyone bothers to go that far ), "Universal Atonement" does not ask the hard questions:
1) "Why would a loving God cast people into Hell for their sins, if those sins were paid for at the cross?"
Answer A ( not found in Scripture ):
"Because the sin of unbelief was not paid for." <---- This answer denies Colossians 2:13-14, Isaiah 53:6 and several others that declare that our iniquities ( sins ) were laid upon Him, and that He will not remember those sins.
Scripture says that
all the sins of His people were cast upon Christ, not some of them.
Answer B ( also not found in Scripture ):
" Because we are cleansed of our sins at point-of-belief." <---- This answer denies what was clearly done
at the cross and is to me, an answer from silence that God's word itself does not provide...
God reconciling the believer to Him
by the death of His Son ( Romans 5:12 ),
Christ actually redeeming a people from the curse of the Law,
when He was made a curse for them by being placed on a tree ( Galatians 3:13 ),
and Christ giving Himself
for the church ( the ekklesia or "called out ones" ) so that He might sanctify and cleanse
it and present
it to Himself without any spot or blemish ( Ephesians 5:25-27 ).
2) " Why would a loving God limited salvation to the whoseover believeth, instead of saving everyone?"
Answer A ( not completely established by the Scriptures that are often provided ):
" Because Scripture says that." <----- To me, this answer leaves out election, predestination, and many other important truths found in the rest of God's word...that the reason people believe, is because they are Christ's sheep ( John 10:26 ), they are ordained to eternal life ( Acts of the Apostles 13:48 ), and that no man can come to the Father unless they are drawn ( John 6:44 ) and were given to Christ by Him ( John 6:37-40, John 6:64-65, John 17:2 ).
3) " If all men were reconciled to God ( 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 ), why would He send the ones that were reconciled to Him ( making them His friends and no longer His enemies ), to Hell to suffer everlasting torment?"
I've yet to see a Scriptural answer for this one.
4) " Why did God send His Son to die for everyone, if hardly anyone will believe?"
Answer A ( not found in Scripture ):
" Because each man and woman has a choice put before them...to accept or reject Christ when the Gospel is preached to them." <---
To me, this answer denies what is declared in the Scriptures found in item 2 as well as many other passages of Scripture dealing with God hiding His face from some, and revealing His face to others...Matthew 13:10-11, Matthew 11:27, John 8:43-47, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 and passages dealing with Israel being judicially blinded to name a few.
It also denies Scriptures that tell us why people believe and why they do not as in item 2.
Answer B ( From Scriptural silence ):
" Because that's just the way that it is."