“But the feast now being half over, Jesus went up to the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, How does this One know letters, not being taught? Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but of the One who sent Me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God, or I speak from Myself. The one speaking from himself seeks his own glory. But the one seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, this One is true, and unrighteousness is not in Him” (John 7:14-18).
Those who seek the glory of man in salvation are those who are speaking from themselves and seeking their own glory. Those who seek the glory of man in salvation believe that it is the efforts of man that make the difference between salvation and damnation. Those who believe that the efforts of man make the ultimate difference between salvation and damnation believe that Jesus Christ died for everyone without exception — they are hostile to the cross of Christ, vainly attempting to rob its redemptive glory (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18). Eternal destruction is the end of these whose god is their self-righteous belly, and whose glorying is NOT in the cross of Christ but in their own shame.
“For many walk as hostile to the cross of Christ, of whom I often told you, and now even weeping I say it, whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and who glory in their shame, the ones thinking earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19).
“As many as desire to look well in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For they themselves having been circumcised do not even keep the Law, but they desire you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be for me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:12-14).
Those who believe that Jesus Christ died for everyone without exception (“universal atonement advocates”) are not the only ones who glory in their shame. Those who profess to believe that Christ’s efficacious atonement is central to the gospel but who consider universal atonement advocates to be their spiritual brethren, glory in their shame as well (cf. 2 John 9-11). Desiring to look well in the flesh, they deny that an ignorant attempt to rob the cross of its glory necessarily indicates that one is lost (cf. Romans 10:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18). They do this in order to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
Agrammatos 