Why Is Christ’s Unique Offer of Salvation Misunderstood by Nearly 90% of the World’s Population? – John 14:6
Illustration: At a recent missions conference attended by thousands of evangelical students, only one third of the participants indicated their belief that "a person who does not hear the Gospel is eternally lost."
Timothy, George Tabletalk, 1992
Illustration: The unattended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness.
A.W. Tozer.
1. We live in a world where people see truth as relative. But Jesus said, “I am THE way, THE truth and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) People have a hard time accepting absolute truth from the scripture as inerrantly inspired by God. (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:21)
2. We live in a world that where postmodernism has gradually moved to replace modernism with its emphasis on human reason. Neopaganism has become the major contender with Christianity for the heart of western civilization and its characteristics include: a) Denial of the personal attributes of God and Christ b). Claiming the legitimacy to worship the created order (pantheism) c). Laying claim to a dogmatic tolerance d). Seeking to intensify the life of a person rather than transform it e). Seeking to re-establish the place of Eros in its celebration life f). Offering no definite, well grounded hope for the future g). Militant opposition to Christianity or anything that has absolute truth. Let us learn to reject religious pluralism, relativism and all other religions that teach that there are many ways to reach God and heaven. Christ is the only way, the only truth and the only life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)
Illustration: According to a recent poll of American young adult men, 48% believe that most of the problems in the world today are a result of man himself. Only 41% indicated agreement that Jesus has provided the way to know God personally. Only 29% could correctly state how one becomes a Christian. But 67% were interested in knowing more about Christianity.
What’s Gone Wrong With The Harvest. James Engel and Wilbert Norton
3. People erroneously think that God would never send anyone to hell. They fail to realize that Jesus often spoke of hell. (Matt 25:41-46; Mark 9:47,48; Luke 16:19-31) and warned people so no one would have to go there unless they failed to act on the light of revelation God provided to them (By creation, by Christ, or by intuitive knowledge from Romans 1,2,3). Paul writes, “ The law written in their hearts is the knowledge of right and wrong. They will be judged according to their consciences. “They bear witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” (Rom. 2:11-16) I doubt many are willing to insist that Jesus did not know what He was talking about! God created hell originally for Satan and his angels who rebelled against Him. Hell is a place where people go as a result of their failure to place saving faith in Christ for the substitutionary payment for the forgiveness of their sins and the free gift of eternal life by His grace. (Eph. 2:8,9) If people reject God’s provision for the forgiveness of their sins then they will join the Devil who rejected God from the beginning. I doubt that is what they would want if they faced the facts.
Illustration: D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don’t like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let’s take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!"
4. Some people falsely view God and Jesus Christ as an unloving or someone who would never want to send anyone into an eternal hell. Is it right to think of God as would come down from heaven and become a human being, suffer at the hands of cruel men and allow himself to be crucified on a cross, to be thought of as unloving. That is the ultimate demonstration of love. Christ lovingly gave up his life so that billions would not have to pay the penalty for their own sins. If people reject the free gift offered to them for forgiveness and eternal life, what is God left to do? He would have to judge them for their sins, rejection and failure to receive the free pardon offered to them in Christ.
Illustration: Illustration: If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
5. Some people think that God is unjust for sending people to hell. No one has ever gone to hell unless they deserved to be there. God is never unjust. Sin is wrong and it must be punished just like if I steal money from a bank I still must go to jail for my crime. What would you expect God to do with those who do wrong? You would not expect God to ignore that which is wrong. Surely you do not want God to turn His head and not be holy and righteous! “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) Christ willing took upon Himself the judgment for all sins by offering Himself as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world. (John 1:36) Christ offered himself as the once for all perfect sacrifice for the sins of the past, the present and the future if we will merely place our trust in Him as our Savior and Lord by asking Him to come in to our life as our personal Savior. (John 1:12,13) Yet to all who receive Him who believe in His name.
He gave the right to become children of God.” Join the family of God today by receiving Him into your life through a simple prayer. “Lord Jesus, I need you as my Savior and Lord. Come into my life and make me the kind of person you want me to be. Forgive me of my sins and give me the free gift of eternal life through your substitutionary payment for all of sins’ penalties.
Illustration: Matthew 18:21-35 How long would it take the slave to repay a billion dollars??
In the long run, the answer...is itself a question: "What are you asking God to do?" To wipe out their past sins, and, at all costs, to give them a fresh start, smoothing every difficulty and offering every miraculous help? But He has done so, on Calvary. To forgive them? They will not be forgiven. To leave them alone? Alas, I am afraid that is what He does" (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain).
Since Christ is the Word of God and the Truth of God, he may be received even by those who have not heard of his manifestation in the flesh. A proud and self-righteous morality is inconsistent with saving faith; but a humble and penitent reliance upon God, as a Savior from sin and a guide of conduct, is an implicit faith in Christ; for such reliance casts itself upon God, so far as God has revealed himself,--and the only Revealer of God in Christ. We have, therefore, the hope that even among the heathen there may be some, like Socrates, who under the guidance of the Holy Spirit working through the truth of nature and conscience, have found the way to life and salvation.
A.H. Strong, Systematic Theology, 1909, p. 843, quoted in W. Dyrness, Christian Apologetics in a World Community, IVP, 1983, p. 106.
6. Some think that Jesus is only one of many great men of history. Not only was Christ the greatest man of all time who ever lived on the earth, but He was different, unique and supreme in every way. Christ is the only one in history to have rose from the dead, calmed the sea with his words, walked on water, performed many miracles, fulfilled over 330 Old Testament prophecies about His Messiahship; raised others from the dead, healed the sick, spoke the words of God, started a church that has world wide influence; and forgave sins. No other person could do or will do what Jesus Christ has done for us. Jesus said, “If you do not believe my words, believe me by the works that I do.” (John 14:1-16)
7. Jesus was not only a great man but He is God. Phil. 2:1-8 states, “Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Christ alone was 100% God and 100% man while he was on the earth. Jesus was fully God (John 1:1,14; 10:30-33; 20:28; Col. 2:9)
8. Some might say, What makes Jesus so special? Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” When he said I AM the Lord Jesus quoted from the Old Testament in Ex. 3:14 where Moses spoke to God and asked Him for His name to which the Lord said, “I AM.” When Jesus told the people, “I AM.” He claimed the name of God for Himself and professed to be God in the flesh. Some people will speak of their philosophies, accomplishments or ideas, but Jesus spoke of His supernatural identity. Jesus spoke with authority that matched His claims. People said, “What manner of man is Jesus? Even the winds and waves obey Him.” (Matt 8:27,28)
Illustration: While an estimated 74 percent of Americans strongly agree that "there is only one true God, who is holy and perfect, and who created the world and rules it today," an estimated 65 percent either strongly agree or somewhat agree with the assertion that "there is no such thing as absolute truth."
Christianity Today, September 16, 1991, p. 48, from George Barna, The Barna Report: What Americans Believe, 1991.
9. Some people say, “I am an agnostic who doesn’t know if there is or there isn’t a God. Ask them how one might explain how all 330 of the Old Testament prophecies came to be perfectly fulfilled in Christ. The Bible presents Christ as unique since only God could fulfill prophecies 100% of the time over a period of thousands of years. Ask people how they can explain that away? Since there is a God in the end, you risk losing everything where you will spend eternity in hell. Ask people if why they do not believe in God? Do they have any intelligent reason for rejecting Christ’s existence or His power or His free offer of eternal life? If people say they just choose not to believe in Him let them know the consequences of failing to believe. Any intelligent person would want to make the most of their options! The Bible doesn’t go about trying to prove that God exists it speaks as though He created us all and does exist as a fact. Even though we may not be able to prove to certain peoples’ satisfaction that God exists we can give them our testimony of how Christ is real and how He has worked in our life and given us the assurance of eternal life through His word. (I John 5:11-13). Even though some people may choose not to believe in Christ this instant we can present the claims of Christ Jesus and then allow them to judge for themselves the credibility, validity and truthfulness of the words of Christ in the Bible which has the power to convict, persuade, teach, reprove, correct, and train them in what is the right way. (2 Tim. 3:16,17)
10. Some people may say that religion is whatever you feel is right. Ask them if how do they know what you feel is right? Find out if what they have felt have ever turned out to be wrong? Ask them, “Are you insisting that what you feel determines truth? If that is the case are you putting yourself in the place of God and looking to yourself as the source of what is right, true and good? How did you come to acquire such a lofty level? The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” Tell people that if everyone did what was right in their own eyes for their religion then there would be mass chaos in the world as there would be billions of mini-gods and mini-religions. What if some people had a religion where they felt it was OK to sacrifice twin babies to appease for the sins of the adults? What is others felt that it was proper to steal, plunder or take advantage of those less fortunate than they? Would you tend to believe in someone whose religion felt that it was all right to steal, kill or cheat? Do you think that the religion of Hitler as OK? No way. Yet, Hitler felt it was right to kill Jews. He was wrong. Jer 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it?” If people could know the truth than the Bible would never have had to be written. We know truth the revelation that God has given us in His word. Jesus said, “Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:7)
The Bible teaches us that God has revealed truth since He is the source of truth, not anyones’ feelings. Truth never contradicts itself. If one person thought they were right and another person thought they were right would they both be speaking the truth without any contradiction if their feelings determined what was true? No way
11. Some people think that there are many different paths to heaven. Wrong. If various world religions provided different paths then why do they contradict each other. Truth never contradicts itself. It is always consistently, unified, reliable, valid in every situation and with every person and supra-cultural. Buddhism is pantheistic and teaches there is no personal God and everyone can reach godlikeness on their own efforts.
Islam teaches that Jesus was just a prophet and not the only way to God. Christianity teaches that there is a personal God and that the only way to know Him is to have a personal-saving faith relationship with Jesus Christ. If these three religions lead to the same path why do they contradict each other? In the New Testament we find people who worshiped all kinds of things.
We find animists, that is, those who worship the spirits which they believe inhabit things like trees and mountains, rivers and sky. (This is the religion portrayed in the Disney movie Pocahontas.) There were those who, like the Samaritans, worshiped a god who was an aberration of Israel’s God. There were those like the Romans and Greeks who worshiped an entire pantheon of gods. Some worshiped animals or ancestors, but all were called to repentance and to the worship of the one true and living God. Paul wrote to the Romans explaining that salvation came from the Jews, who had been privileged to receive the revelation of the one true God. He said, “Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!” (Romans 9:5).
It never occurred to the early Christians to affirm other false religions; they were filled with a passion to bring the truth of a universal Savior to the whole world. It was their passion because, out of love for other people, they understood that their message was the only hope for a lost world. This is why we are concerned about missions and reaching those who do not know Christ, because there is no hope outside of Christ for them to be saved.
Illustration: I read recently where a religious leader in a major denomination said, “Why do so many Christians think they need to convert people in other religions to Christianity?” He then proceeded to compare evangelism and missions to ethnic cleansing. (Rodney Buchanan, SermonCentral.com) Do not sacrifice truth on the altar of world religious relativism. The objective truth of the Bible cannot be surrendered to the subjective feelings or interpretations of individuals, traditions, cultures or prominent historical figures.
12. Some people say, “What about those who have never heard about the gospel? God is a just God who always does what is right. Those who have never heard the gospel, He will do what is right. “Salvation is found in no one else. We know that there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved, the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 4:12) Some universalists try to undermine the uniqueness of Christ by teaching that all people who are basically good will go to heaven – wrong!
Universalism cannot be reconciled with the Bible’s teaching. Jesus said, “Enter into the narrow way, for broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be which go in there at. But narrow is the gate that leads to life and few there be who find it.” (Matt 7:13,14) Christ taught about the fact that after death comes judgment and then either heaven or hell. (Luke 16:19-31) You would not want to call Jesus a liar, would you? If this were true Christ would have died on the cross in vain. Surely God did not make a mistake in sending Christ to offer Himself up for the sins of the whole world!
13. God’s judgment is against a person in proportion to their rejection of moral light. Not all people will have the same measure of condemnation because they have not all had an equal amount of light of the revelation of God in Christ given to them. God will not condemn people whose has not heard about Christ, but for rejecting the light that they do possess about the truth. The more we obey the more God will reveal to everyone. God says, “If you seek me you will find me if you search for me with all of your heart.”
Many people do not respond to the light of truth but seek to follow their own way. James writes, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4) To the one who responds to what light they have more will be given to them. Jesus said, “Consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more will be given to you. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, eve what he has will be taken from him.” (Mark 4:21-25)
This is a basic Biblical principle through all of scripture. For example, Cornelius, the Roman officer, responded to the light he had with prayer and good deeds. God refused to leave him dangle in his ignorance or accept him on the basis of his sincere initial efforts. Instead, God sent Peter with additional truth, as He will send someone or some truth (be on TV, radio or a gospel tract) to everyone who is seeking after the what is the way to be saved. God created us all as people who can choose to freely love and be loved. In doing so, God risked the possibility that some people will reject His love and favor and free gift of eternal life offered in Christ but opting instead for their own independence, self-love and the consequences of hell for eternity.
Illustration: Do not make this mistake: Just before the death of actor W.C. Fields, a friend visited Fields’ hospital room and was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible. Asked what he was doing with a Bible, Fields replied, "I’m looking for loopholes."
Source Unknown
14. Some people who wonder about where their ancestors went? All we can say to them is what Genesis 18:25 says, “Will not the judge of all the earth do right? The answer is found in Rev. 16:7 that teaches, “ Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments. God is the judge and He will do what is right for every person since He knows their thoughts, actins and where to justly decide their eternal destiny. The important thing right now is not them, but what are you going to decide about Jesus Christ and His free offer to give you eternal life and forgiveness of sins for all time. Will you reject Him or accept Him. These are the only two options. Your decision will determine where you will spend eternity.
15. Some people think they will choose for Christ later. If they will not choose Him now what makes them think they will choose for Him later? The longer people go without Christ the harder it will be for them to come to Him. The longer a person lives in sin the more callous their mind, will and emotions grow toward Christ. Heb. 3:13 says, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” If people say that they will choose Christ later is not that an admission that they need Him now. If that is the case, why wait? You might die tonight and not have another chance and it would be too late. (Heb. 9:27) says, “Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.”
16. Some people think that Christ did not really resurrect from the dead, but simply pretended to conquer death. “A recent PBS special on the life of Christ where a supposed scholar said that Jesus faked his death and walked out of the grave where he had been placed so that it would appear he had been resurrected from the dead. He then ran off to an unknown land with Mary Magdalene, with whom he had been having an affair. Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5).
Certainly his words are being fulfilled in our day as never before, and in the days ahead it will only get worse. People will be confused and give up trying to understand, believing it is impossible to really know anything.” (Rodney Buchanan, Sermoncentral.com)
17. Some people think that they have enough knowledge to determine what is true for their own lives. “The Bible says that in the last days knowledge will increase. This is what creates confusion, because right beside truth are other competing philosophies claiming to be true, and sorting them all out can seem impossible. The devil operates in two ways. One way is by withholding information as when the former communist Soviet Union withheld the Bible and Christian literature from its people. But the other method is by overwhelming people with too much information. When that happens people give up and just believe whatever “feels” right. That is why it is so important for you to read the Bible and at least understand what it is saying.
Illustration:An alarming new study recently revealed that the number of Americans who read the Bible “at least occasionally” has dropped from 73 % in the 1980’s to only 59% in the year 2000. It is important to read the Bible, because it is important for you to understand the claims of Jesus Christ. If you want to reject his claims after you understand them then that is your business, but at least do the work of reading what he has to say so that you can make an informed and intelligent decision. And he says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). (Rodney Buchanan, Sermoncental.com)
18. Some people do not really think that Christ was fully God. “As God, Jesus Christ was preexistent and active in creation. In the first chapter of the Bible we hear God saying, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). As a part of the Trinity, Jesus Christ has always existed and was living before the creation of the world. He was a participant in creation, for the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3). In the book of Colossians we read, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17).
The Gospel of John gives this incredible witness to the deity of Christ: “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (John 1:16-18). In First John we read, “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true — even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). (Rodney Buchanan, Sermoncentral.com)
19. Others insist that Christ is not equal with God. Let us remember what Jesus said, about His true identity. He said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). He said, “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35), “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12), “I am God’s Son” (John 10:36), “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:11). When Jesus said to the Pharisees, “I and the Father are one,” the Bible says, “Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’” They replied: “We are not stoning you for any of these, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). Even common thugs understood that Christ spoke as one who knew He was God.
20. Only Christ lived without sins and sacrificed Himself as a spotless lamb of God. No one else could ever make that claim. Only God can say, “Be holy as I am holy.” (I Pet 1:15)
21. Christ’s message is unique – He gave us John 3:16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. (No one else could satisfy the wrath of God against the sins of the world except the Son of God = Jesus Christ)
He was able to say, “It is finished.” Tetelstai – it is paid in full.
Illustration:
1. Every human is a sinner. Romans 3:23
2. God’s penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23
3. In His great love, God has made provision for the salvation of sinners. Romans 5:8
4. Each person must put his trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10, 13
Conclusion: Let us take advantage of this American reality. More than four out of every five Americans agree that "we all will be called before God at judgment day to answer for our sins," says a poll conducted for the Times Mirror company.
National and International Religion Report, quoted in Signs of the Times, August, 1993, p. 6.
