To say we don't believe in Universal Salvation because the Bible doesn't teach it rather begs the question doesn't it?

For the first 500 years most Christians believed the Bible taught Universal Salvation, then Augustine came along and argued for everlasting punishment in hell and the majority switched over to his view.

Read Romans chapters 9-11 and you will see Paul's argument as to why everyone will be saved:

“For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Rom 11:32).

Similarly

“just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” (Rom 5:18)

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor 15:22)

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!" (Rev 5:13)

Most people who look into it find that actually this is exactly what the Bible teaches, and it is only blind obedience to tradition that stops people accepting it.

Try finding a copy of "The Inescapable Love of God" by Thomas Talbott and make your own mind up.

I do not think that this is true, friend, but this is the right thread to discuss and show all the evidence both pro and con.

I don't believe that most Christians did believe or teach Universal Salvation for the first 500 years of the church, but even if they did, it would really prove nothing because we know that many false doctrines came into the church during those first few centuries.

Therefore, since we base our faith and doctrines on the Bible, let us stick for the time being with the Bible evidence. I believe that all truth must agree with the Word of God, and the Bible is consistent.

We can start with 2 Thess. 1: 5-10 and 2: 8-10--

5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe,[a] because our testimony among you was believed......

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.