Defending Salvation through Christ Alone

cavell · #1 7th March 2009, 07:41 AM

Don't all religions lead to God? Isn't one faith as good as another? Isn't it arrogant to say that only one religion leads to salvation?

These are some common questions that people in our pluralistic world are wrestling with today. In a world full of religious options, many people of goodwill, including Evangelical Christians, have trouble with the idea that there would only be one way to enter into a saving relationship with God.

However, this is exactly what God's word tells us; salvation is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

The problem that many Christians often face when communicating this biblical truth, is that many non-Christians will simply reply, "but I don't believe the Bible". So, how can we as Christians convey this critical biblical truth to people who don't necessarily accept the scriptures as God's word?

This is where a simple little philosophical argument can be extremely helpful; it's called the "Law of Non-Contradiction".

When it comes to the questions of religious pluralism and promoting the Christian claim of exclusivity (salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone), the Law of Non-Contradiction can serve as a valuable resource in a Christian's apologetic tool-box. Here's how it works:

Each of the world's religions claims to promote the true path to salvation, but each of these religions provides a distinct and contrary path from all of the others. Thus, one of these paths to salvation is true, or none of them are true, but they cannot all be true at the same time; this would be a violation of the Law of Non-Contradiction.

[Nevertheless] In order to show that Jesus Christ is the one true way to salvation, Christians must be ready (1 Peter 3:15) with other apologetic tools: arguments for the historicity of Jesus Christ, the reliability of the gospels, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, etc. http://www.awakengeneration.com/thoughts/befueled/198

Consider also Paul's approach on Mars Hill:

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things;

And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring" (Acts 17:24-28).]

CharliePureFlame · #2 13th March 2009, 09:09 AM

Does Jesus actually command to read the bible? Of course he says he is the way and the truth. In the bible, his actual words are in red. Maybe we can tell people to at least read his specific words, and hope they make the transition to reading the rest of the book. Some people can't just jump in the deep-end of the pool on the first try.

HolyWarrior77 · #3 13th March 2009, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Andreusz

There is no historical evidence whatsoever that Jesus ever existed.

Evidence? People that do not walk with Christ misunderstand the entire picture and meaning all together.

It is not so much about the past. We are shown the past and the creation of humanity to open up our hearts. Through the living word of god explaining our origins and the explanation of salvation accomplished by the shed blood of Christ Jesus on the cross offers you as an individual the opportunity and express decision to have Faith and acceptance of mans limited understanding of the very nature of himself and his desires. What truly matters is your salvation in the present and the future established by your true and wholehearted Faith towards the only way, truth, and life. God.

After hearing the living word of Jesus speak to you, through you, and to all of you. That is all you truly want in life, a relationship. Having a relationship with the Alpha and the Omega and being overwhelmed by his complete love that you can physically, mentally, spiritually, and compassionately feel encompassing all of your heart and associated by uncompromisable peace establishes your entire purpose of life with the Lord our God accompanied with Reverence.

Words cannot begin to explain the very presence of God living inside and all around you. Through denial of Christ and until you experience it for yourself, you are most assuredly illiterate of the true facts.

Originally Posted by Romans 1:18-20

Unbelief and Its Consequences

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Basically, there is no excuse for denying God through his creation of the world around you. Take a look around, from the supernova of a star to cellular activity.

And if you are also unaware, the secular world is also very well aware of the facts:

To put it in scientific terminology, If you take the smallest living creature, a cellular organism. Within that cellular organism is a nucleus. Inside that nucleus is what you call DNA. The code of your very life to the last detail. DNA is comprised of proteins. Now without physical instruction, the exact formation and organization of protein has to be precise and pre-determined before the foundation of physical Life to even begin to take place (creation of DNA). Those proteins are a prime example of Intelligent Design, God.

cavell · #4 13th March 2009, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Andreusz

There is no historical evidence whatsoever that Jesus ever existed.

On the contrary Not only did He exist...He is alive today......What? Yes He is alive today. I know because I have met Him....along with a few other billion world-wide

It does seem daft naturally speaking, but these matters are factual.

I would humbly suggest that you seek Him. If you are sincere you will find Him. Conversely should you remain as you have said......I wish you well none-the-less.

Here is an article from the News today
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>....
Biblical Era Royal Seals Found in Jerusalem Hills

The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced the discovery of royal seal impressions from the times of the First and Second Temples. The finds were made at a site in the southern Jerusalem hills.

The seal impressions are believed to date back to the time of King Hezekiah, who ruled over Judea in the late eighth century BCE. Four "LMLK"-type seals were found, as were seals from high-ranking administrators Ahimelech ben Amadyahu and Yehokhil ben Shahar.

One seal impression combined the LMLK-type seal and the seal of Yehokhil, an occurrence that archaeologists confirmed is highly unusual.

A later inscription, estimated to have been made 600 years after Hezekiah's reign, was found on a jar neck. The inscription is believed to date back to the early Hasmonean period.

The finds were made at an excavation in the village of Umm Tuba, located between the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Tzur Baher and Har Homa. The dig is operating under the supervision of Zubair Adawi, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority.

The name of the current Arab village, Umm Tuba, was derived from the Byzantine name, Metofa, which in turn is a variation on the Biblical name, Netofa. The ancient Judean village of Netofa is mentioned in the second book of book of Samuel (23:28-29) as the birthplace of two of King David's warriors.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130104

Discoveries verifying the truth of Scripture seem to be occurring at a quickening pace, while simultaneously denials of that accuracy are being offered by some in the professing Church.

..................................

As this article states...the problem world-wide is that we have folks leading the church........for a living.
Such is an abomination.....a stumblingblock indeed to the cause of Jesus

tanzel · #5 13th March 2009, 06:34 PM

Many people that claim to be religious find it hard to believe that before Jesus was born of Mary he was in fact God. However, this is nothing new because the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus day found this fact just as hard to believe back then. They even attempted to stone him on numerous occasions because of statements he made alleging himself to be God. "The Jews answered him, saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for a blasphemy: and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God." (St. John 10:33)I guess all the uproar has been over the question: How can God be born of a woman? Supposedly rational minded people find this impossibility. Never the less, these same people do not seem to cringe at the idea that God hung the world on nothing (Job 26:7), or that he created man from dirt, (Genesis 2:7) Even the idea that Eve was made of one of Adams ribs does not seem such a hard task for the Almighty God. Well then, why the rejection of the idea of Jesus being God, when the entire bible supports it? Before Jesus came in the flesh the prophet Isaiah wrote that he (Jesus) would be "despised and rejected of men" (Isaiah 53:3) and "for a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to both the houses of Israel" (Isaiah 8:14). In other words Isaiah knew that when Jesus came into the world he would not be received graciously, even though he made the world (St. John 1:10-11).

What are some of the things Jesus said that support him being God? In (St. John 5:37) he said, "And the father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me, ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape." Well, if no man has heard or seen the father at any time, who did Moses and the elders of Israel see in (Exodus 24:9-11), where the bible says twice that they saw God? They saw Jesus, the God of the Old Testament, the God of Israel. Paul clarifies this in (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) when he has let us know that Jesus was the "Rock" that led the Israelites through the Red Sea. This is the same rock that Isaiah said many would be offended by.

Now, what was Jesus doing at the Red Sea if his beginning was with Mary? Here is the explanation; "And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (St. John 1:14) But prior tothat, he was God with God. That's why (St. John 1-3) says, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made." Jesus is called the Word because he is the spokesman for the Father. Now we can under stand why Jesus said no man has heard the Father's voice at anytime.

What did Jesus mean when he said, "Before Abraham was, I am?" (St. John 8:58) here not only Jesus is telling us that he was in existence before Abraham was, (Who was born over 1,200 years before Jesus was born of Mary) but he's also telling us that he has always existed. That's why he said, "Before Abraham was I am. Furthermore by saying, "I am" He repeated what he had told Moses at the burning bush. "And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM:" and he said, "Thus shalt say to the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14) Moses wanted to know God's name and the Lord told him "I Am that I Am" therefore he called himself I AM. This is what he told the people in St. John the eighth Chapter. "I AM."

rubendodge · #6 13th March 2009, 08:24 PM

img going to post a new thread on this subject...