Sunday, June 14, 2020

Why Jesus Is The Only Way - Act 4:12



“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12

We’re talking ‘Jesus!’ The point being: if we are trying to bring someone into the Christian faith, we need to bring them directly to Christ. We don’t take any detours through charity, forgiveness, political expediency, or social justice. ‘There is no other name under heaven... .’
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” - John 14:6. Jesus never said or even alluded to doing anything but following Him. Everything else was baggage because everything else was related directly to ‘works!’ Would following Christ result in good works on our part. Yes! But those works would come after we put our faith in Jesus, not before we did or in place of. In fact, Jesus said that such good works would be a sign that our faith is indeed genuine. “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” - 1 John 2:3. If you don’t see following Christ’s commandments as ‘good work,’ it’s not Christianity you’re talking about.
Marching around carrying placards and signs, kneeling before our nation’s flag, raising our fists in the air, and endless apologies are no more a sign of faith in Jesus than any elementary profession. Mere belief in Jesus doesn’t prove a thing - “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” - James 2:19. What is necessary is an ardent belief that the Son of God is our living Lord and that he alone can save us from our sins. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. The ‘one God’ we’re talking about is the one true and triune God of the Bible and the only one between He and us is Jesus Christ, Period! You won’t get to Him by going through Buddha, Mohammad, or by burning white sage incense before a totem pole.
This is evidence that there is no other Savior and no other faith that will lead to eternal life in heaven. No pluralistic nonsense will stand against the truth of Jesus Christ. And because this is so, there are two truths which cannot be ignored; First, there is no other way that we can come into God’s kingdom. Neither Buddha, Mohammad, Wicca, Joel Osteen, or any other false hope or false God will bring us into eternal glory. And secondly, those who don’t believe this are not truly Christians, no matter what they think or say. Belief in Christ is not an ala cart item that can be subtracted from or added to one’s belief system. Either it is all of Christ or it is none of Christ. There is no third, fourth, or fifth way.
So what will be the end of those who refuse to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior? Perhaps we should all heed the words of Jesus. - “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” - John 8:24. The alternative is stark and clear. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” - 1 John 5:12.
The truth has been with us since Jesus first spoke to us during His earthly ministry.
 “ . . . because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” - Romans 10:9. And as a result of that Christ-faith, we have nothing to fear. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1
Is bringing others to Christ really our goal? We aren’t commanded to build a better mouse-trap. We aren’t commanded to free anyone from bondage. We are aren’t commanded with ending poverty or hunger. And we aren’t commanded with seeing that social justice is ensured to anyone of any race, color, or ethnicity. We have been commissioned by our almighty Savior, Jesus Christ, with one over-riding command - “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus said that He, and He alone, has been given ‘all authority in heaven and on earth.’ All authority means that Jesus Christ alone is ‘the only Way.’ Buddhists won’t go to ‘Buddha heaven.’ There won’t be 70+  virgins waiting on anyone. And no one is going to be absorbed into the ‘Universe.’ Consider your options as if there was only one. . .because there is only one.

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