Jesus Christ, Our Only Savior #2

 

            Modern religious pluralists, including adherents of the New Age movement, believe that all roads lead to God.  Some pluralists may believe that some ways to God are better than others, but they readily accept all denominations, all so-called “great world religions,” all cults, and all worldviews.  They generally argue that there is one ultimate reality--although they cannot logically sustain that thesis--but different people approach that reality in different ways.  And who is to say if one way is better than another?  If people maintain that there is only one way, they are narrow-minded, intolerant and bigoted. 

 

            Religious inclusivists usually believe that all men are saved through Jesus Christ, but knowing Christ, believing in him as the Son of God, and obeying his gospel are not essential to salvation.  If human beings walk by the light they have, the blood of Jesus will cover their sins and they will be saved--even if they have consciously rejected Christ and his teaching.  Oddly enough, some of the inclusivists, such as Dr. Clark Pinnock, reject witchcraft and Nazism as valid approaches to God.  Is that not following the path of superiority and chauvinism, a path which Clark Pinnock vigorously opposes?  I have problems explaining why pluralists and inclusivists reject any philosophical or theological position.

 

            Have you ever wondered why leaders and others in the Roman Empire so viciously attacked the church of the living God?  Preachers of the gospel entered Rome with a very distinct message--a message of absolute exclusivism.  One of those great preachers told a Jewish audience in Jerusalem: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  In the minds of Jews and Gentiles, Peter’s message and that of the other apostles excluded paganism and Judaism.  If the apostles and other faithful preachers had said, “We are telling you of the best Savior the world has ever known, His teachings are superior to those of the Roman priests, of the Jewish leaders and of any other people who have ever lived, they may have been ridiculed, but they would not have been persecuted and murdered.  But that is not what the apostles preached.  They vigorously preached Jesus as the only hope of eternal salvation.  “There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”  The exclusivism of New Testament Christianity brought the wrath of both paganism and Judaism down on the heads of God’s faithful children.  But why would the world want to persecute a church which stands for nothing?

 

There are many passages in the gospel records, in the book of Acts, in the epistles and in the book of Revelation which teach unequivocally that salvation is in Christ and Christ alone.  For example, Paul insists that Christ in you is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).  The definite article is in the original.  Every verse dealing with our topic is very valuable and deserves our careful attention, but I shall concentrate in our study on the gospel according to John.

 

John 8 records an intense confrontation between Jesus and some Jewish leaders.  Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees: “I am the light of the world: he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).  Is Jesus “the light” of the world or a light?  If men follow him, they will walk in the light.  But what if men do not follow him; will they walk in the light anyway?  If failing to follow Jesus means men can walk in the light anyway, then the Lord’s words are not very dependable.

 

Our Lord informed the Jewish leaders: “I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).  Is there any possibility--any possibility--of discovering modern pluralism or inclusivism in these words from the very lips of Christ?  “But, Lord, what if I honestly believe in Mohammed or Confucius or Zoraster?  Surely, you will not condemn me for my sincere commitment to another person, will you?”  “If you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.”  Did Jesus leave room for belief in any other religious system or worldview?  If he did, then the language of this verse means absolutely nothing.

 

John 8 is the chapter where Jesus said to the Jews who believed on him, “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).  I have two questions about these verses.  If we do not continue in Christ’s word, are we still his disciples?  What truth did Jesus have in mind when he said, “The truth shall make you free”?  There are two facets of the truth.  Jesus said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6).  He prayed for his disciples and for all who would believe on him through their word: “Sanctify them through the truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).  Rejection of New Testament Christianity means a rejection of God’s Son and of God’s inspired word.  Can those who turn their backs on God’s revelation through his Son and through his word still go to heaven?  The pluralists and the inclusivists say yes, the Bible says no.

 

In the Parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus explained that those who fail to enter the sheepfold by the door are thieves and robbers.  The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  The Jews did not fully understand what Jesus was saying.  Our Lord responded to them: “Verify, verily I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  All that came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:7-11).  The good shepherd voluntarily laid down his life for the sheep” (John 10:17).  He gave his life that his followers might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).  Can men and women ignore all that God has done through Christ and still be saved?  They could, if pluralism and inclusivism were true.  But they are not true.  “There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

 

But what abut the sheep which were of another fold?  Does that not allow for men of other religions or no religion to enjoy eternal life?

 

John 11 tells of Christ’s raising Lazarus.  I wonder if the pluralists and inclusivists have ever thought about Christ’s power and authority in raising the dead.  Have Buddha, Krishna, Confucius or any other religious leader ever raised anyone from the dead?  Does Christ’s ability to raise the dead place him on a higher plane than the founders of Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions?  I know this truth does not by itself establish the exclusiveness of Christianity, but when this is combined with the other teachings in the book of John, it forms a knock-down argument for Christ as our only Savior.

 

Can you imagine Buddha’s saying to his followers: “He who rejects me and receives not my words, has one who judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48)?  There is no indication that Buddha believed in a personal God or in the existence of the soul after death.  How can a Buddhist be saved in view of what Jesus taught in this verse?  If we reject Jesus, we are rejecting God who sent Christ into the world.  God will judge in the last day all who have rejected his Son.  Luke quotes Jesus as saying, “Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me: and whosoever shall receive me receives him who sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great” (Lk. 9:48).

 

Our Lord had told his apostles of the trouble his soul was experiencing (John 12:27).  He also informed them that he would be leaving to return to the Father (John 13:31-35).  He gave this assurance to them: “Let not your hearts be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.  Thomas says unto him, Lord, we do not know where you are going; and how can we know the way?  Jesus says unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:1-6).

 

You may think Jesus was wrong or that he was arrogant in making this announcement concerning his being the way, the truth, and the life, but there is one thing for sure: You cannot misunderstand what he said.  He did not say: “I am the best way; I bring some truth; I can tell you where to find life.”  He said, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life.”  The definite article makes it unmistakably plain that there is no other way to God, no other truth which saves and no life outside Jesus Christ.  These are absolutely astounding claims.  No other religious leader would make such claims.  Buddha was primarily a teacher and would not have thought of claiming to be THE way, THE truth, and THE life.  Hindu leaders make no exclusive claims for their religion.  In fact, Hindus generally believe that all ways lead to God.  Jesus stands alone of all religious teachers in this respect.

 

If you want to know how confusing modern religion is, let me remind you that there are 22,000 different religious denominations, sectarian groups and cults in America alone.  Some of these groups would certainly claim to be the way, the truth, and the life, but not all of them would.  Many cults, sectarian groups and denominations pretend to be one way to God, but not the only way.  The church of the living God maintained that it preached the only way go God and that was through Jesus Christ.

 

Is it even remotely possible that men and women could be saved by any other way than through Jesus Christ?  I know how narrow and exclusive all of this sounds, but it is precisely what Jesus and his apostles taught.  Occasionally, you will hear some liberal theologian or another illogical person say, “I do not believe Jesus is the only Savior or the Son of God, but I believe he was a good man--perhaps the best man who ever lived.”  That kind of reasoning is shot full of logical holes.  If he were not the way, the truth, and the life--as he claimed to be--he was not a good man.  Good men do not go around claiming to be the only way to God or to be the Son of God when they know they are not.  It makes no sense to speak of Jesus as a good man unless he is what he claimed to be.  There really is not in-between for Christ.

 

When Jesus said, “I am the truth,” he did not have in mind truth in areas such as geology, biology, physics, and similar disciplines, although when his teaching relates to any of these fields, he always spoke the truth.  For example, when he spoke of God’s creating the world, he ruled out all theories of evolution.  Since Jesus himself created the world (Col. 1:16), he knew exactly what occurred.  There is no possibility of harmonizing the biblical doctrine of creation with Darwinian evolution or any other kind.

 

The truth Jesus is and came to reveal to man pertains to God, to the Lord’s church, to man’s duties, and to man’s eternal destiny.  John, the apostle, affirms concerning Jesus: “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him” (John 1:18). Jesus, having existed through out eternity, knew the Father and came to reveal him to man.  No philosopher, no theologian, no New Age guru can know God fully and reveal him to man.  Only Jesus Christ knows all the truth about God.  We can know some truths about God by observing his handiwork, by reading the Old Testament, but we can know more about him than anyone else because we have Jesus as an explanation of God.  Peter affirms that it is by Jesus that we believe in God (1 Pet. 1:21).

 

Jesus makes known to men the truth God wants men to know about the church.  He told his disciples, “Upon this rock (that is, his Sonship) I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).  He also reveals how to become members of his church.  “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” (Mt. 28:19).  How do me and women become disciples of Jesus Christ?  They are baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

 

Jesus outlines the principles by which he expects his followers to live.  A careful reading of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ’s great parables, his conversations with people like Nicodemus, the Samaritan and the religious leaders among the Jews provide us with great insights into the moral and spiritual values Jesus lived and wants Christians to imitate.  He told his disciples on the occasion of his washing their feet, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done unto you” (John 13:14-15).

 

There is so much more I would like to say about Christ’s being the way, the truth, and the life, but time will not allow it.  But before we leave John 14:6, I must take not of one other statement Jesus made.  He said, “No man comes to the Father but by me.”  The majority of the people in our world apparently do not agree with our Lord’s teaching, but even a child can understand what he said.  You know men and women cannot be saved by their own efforts.  You also know the so-called “great religions,” the New Age movement, cultic organizations and secular humanism cannot save anyone.  “There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  Are you willing to risk your soul to these spurious systems?  Solomon affirmed: “There is a way which seems right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 13:12).  Faithful Christians can have the confidence Paul expressed in these words: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

 

There is one other passage from the book of John I must mention briefly before our time expires.  The Parable of the Vine and the Branches teaches the exclusivity of New Testament Christianity.  Just a few verses from this parable should be helpful.  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman…Abide in me, and I in you…I am the vine, you are the branches: He who abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).  Please take notice of the definite article.  “I am THE true vine.”

 

I have no doubt that most of you listening to our lesson sincerely believe that Jesus Christ is our only Savior.  I have one question for you: Have you obeyed him from the heart?  If you do not believe Jesus Christ is our only Savior, will you make an honest investigation of the evidence?  My friends, you do not want to stand before God in the judgment and have him reject you because you rejected his Son.  Come to Jesus so your sins will be forgiven and you will be on your way to heaven.  May God bless you as you give prayerful attention to these vital matters.

 

Winford Claiborne

The International Gospel Hour

P.O. Box 118

Fayetteville, TN 37334

 

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