Answer: It depends on the type of Christian you ask.

Theological Traditions Included: Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Non-Calvinist Protestant, Calvinist Protestant, Progressive

All five traditions affirm God's desire for the salvation of all people, but differ in their understanding of the role of human choice and the possibility of universal salvation.
The Non-Calvinist Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholic perspectives emphasize the importance of human choice in responding to God's grace, while the Calvinist perspective teaches that human choice is ultimately determined by God's sovereign will and predestination.
The Progressive perspective holds out hope for the possibility of universal reconciliation, trusting in God's love and mercy to ultimately draw all people to Himself.
The Non-Calvinist Protestant, Calvinist, and Catholic traditions reject the idea of universal salvation, affirming the reality of hell and the possibility of eternal separation from God for those who reject Him.
The Eastern Orthodox tradition emphasizes the possibility of salvation for all, but does not assert it as a certainty, recognizing the role of human freedom and the mystery of God's judgment.

I hope the Calvinist is right about how persuasive God is. I hope they’re wrong about him ultimately choosing not to use that sovereign ability.

Justin Bailey – Creator of ChristianAnswers.ai

Quick Comparison

Tradition	God's Desire for Salvation	Role of Human Choice	Possibility of Universal Salvation
Non-Calvinist Protestant	Universal	Significant	Rejected
Progressive	Universal	Acknowledged, but emphasizes God's love	Hopeful
Eastern Orthodox	Universal	Significant, but emphasizes God's mercy	Possible, but not certain
Calvinist Protestant	Affirms, but emphasizes predestination	Determined by God's sovereign will	Rejected
Catholic	Universal	Significant	Rejected, but emphasizes God's mercy

Hear from Each Perspective

Ordered by number of adherents

John / Catholic

The Catholic Church teaches that God desires the salvation of all people and provides sufficient grace for everyone to be saved. However, the Church also affirms the reality of hell and the possibility of eternal separation from God for those who freely choose to reject His love and mercy. The ordinary means of salvation is through faith in Christ and participation in the life and sacraments of the Church. While we hope and pray for the salvation of all, we cannot presume that everyone will make it to Heaven. The Church teaches that those who die in a state of mortal sin, having knowingly and willingly rejected God, face the prospect of eternal punishment. At the same time, we entrust the eternal destiny of individuals to God's merciful judgment, knowing that He desires all people to be saved and that His ways are beyond our comprehension.

Anthony / Eastern Orthodox

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, we affirm the possibility of salvation for all, but we cannot say with certainty that everyone will make it to Heaven. God desires the salvation of all people, but He also respects human freedom to accept or reject His grace. We trust in God's abundant mercy and believe that He will do everything possible to draw all people to Himself. However, we must also take seriously the reality of human choice and the consequences of our actions. The Orthodox Church teaches that the fate of those who have not heard the gospel or who have not had the opportunity to respond to God's grace is known only to God. We leave their eternal destiny in His loving hands, while striving to live faithfully and share the message of Christ with others.

Caleb / Non-Calvinist Protestant

While it is God's desire for all people to be saved, the Bible teaches that not everyone will make it to Heaven. Salvation is available to all through faith in Jesus Christ, but each individual must make a personal decision to accept this gift. Those who reject Christ and His offer of salvation will face eternal separation from God. The path to Heaven is narrow, and only those who put their trust in Christ and follow Him will enter through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). As Christians, our role is to share the gospel message with others, pray for their salvation, and trust in God's perfect justice and mercy.

Nathan / Calvinist Protestant

From a Calvinist perspective, it is not possible for everyone to make it to Heaven. God, in His sovereign wisdom and grace, has predestined some individuals for salvation and others for eternal punishment. This choice is not based on human merit or foreseen faith, but solely on God's sovereign will and purpose (Romans 9:11-18). Those whom God has elected will respond to the gospel message and be saved, while those who are not elect will remain in their sin and face eternal judgment. This doctrine of predestination is a mystery that highlights God's supreme authority and the depths of His mercy towards the elect. It should motivate believers to praise God for His undeserved grace and to share the gospel faithfully, trusting that God will save His chosen ones.

Hannah / Progressive

I believe in the boundless love and mercy of God. While the traditional view of eternal conscious torment in hell is troubling, I hold out hope for the possibility of universal reconciliation—that God's love will ultimately triumph and draw all people to Himself. The Bible speaks of God's desire for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and Christ's reconciling work on the cross (Colossians 1:20). Although the specifics of how this might occur are a mystery, I trust in God's ability to reconcile all things in Christ. This perspective motivates me to share God's love with others and work towards a just and compassionate world, knowing that God's redemptive purposes extend to all of creation.

The Key Differences

1. God's Desire for Salvation

All five traditions affirm that God desires the salvation of all people and provides grace for everyone to be saved.
The Non-Calvinist Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholic perspectives emphasize God's universal salvific will, while also acknowledging the reality of human freedom to accept or reject God's grace.
The Calvinist perspective affirms God's desire for salvation, but emphasizes His sovereign choice in predestining some for salvation and others for judgment.
The Progressive perspective highlights God's boundless love and mercy, holding out hope for the possibility of universal reconciliation.

2. Role of Human Choice

The Non-Calvinist Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholic traditions emphasize the importance of human choice in responding to God's grace and the consequences of rejecting God.
The Calvinist perspective teaches that human choice is ultimately determined by God's sovereign will and predestination.
The Progressive perspective acknowledges the mystery of human choice and God's sovereign purposes, while emphasizing God's desire to reconcile all things in Christ.

3. Possibility of Universal Salvation

The Non-Calvinist Protestant, Calvinist, and Catholic perspectives reject the idea of universal salvation, affirming the reality of hell and the possibility of eternal separation from God for those who reject Him.
The Eastern Orthodox tradition emphasizes the possibility of salvation for all, but does not assert it as a certainty, recognizing the role of human freedom and the mystery of God's judgment.
The Progressive perspective holds out hope for the possibility of universal reconciliation, trusting in God's love and mercy to ultimately draw all people to Himself.

Is it possible everyone will make it to Heaven?