Our present societal mindset takes a dim view of absolutes. Anyone who is absolutely certain of what constitutes truth and right and wrong, for example, is commonly considered to be narrow minded, bigoted, even radical. Some might also consider him to be mentally unbalanced and possibly dangerous.
From that mindset has come a philosophy that most any belief, however unreasonable, must be accorded some degree of reasonableness. Any belief, that is, except one that holds to absolutes. As a result, a Christian who takes a firm stand on Jesus Christ being mankind’s only Savior and the only way to God is ridiculed for his belief. What about the Muslims? What about the Hindus? What about the skeptics, agnostics and atheists? Who is the Christian to say that these other systems are wrong?
Herein lies that fundamental conflict. Christianity is dogmatic in its doctrinal teachings, particularly those pertaining to God being our creator and Christ being our only Savior. If Christianity is true, then Jesus Christ is the only Savior. What, then, does that say about the Muslims, Hindus, skeptics, agnostics and atheists? They’re wrong! Absolutely, categorically, unconditionally wrong!
If the teachings of Christianity are truthful, all other religious disciplines are false. Man’s only hope for salvation and an eternal home with God is through Jesus Christ. Note the emphatic statements in scripture on this very point: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (Jn. 14:6). Speaking of Himself, Jesus also stated, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (Jn. 3:18). Later in that same chapter we find an equally dogmatic statement: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (vs. 36).
Clearly, Jesus personally stated that He is the only Savior. But Jesus was not the only one to make such a declaration. The apostle Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the only Savior; "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). In his first letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul asserted Jesus to be man’s only Savior; “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Paul identified Jesus as man’s only mediator with God; “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). The Hebrews writer stated that Christ offered His life one time for all time for the sins of mankind; “who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (Heb. 7:27).
Is there another Savior, other than Jesus Christ? No! As Christians we should not be embarrassed by that truth. Indeed, we need to proclaim it throughout the world in order that all men everywhere might learn the gospel and have the opportunity to come to repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ (Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16)…
Herein lies that fundamental conflict. Christianity is dogmatic in its doctrinal teachings, particularly those pertaining to God being our creator and Christ being our only Savior. If Christianity is true, then Jesus Christ is the only Savior. What, then, does that say about the Muslims, Hindus, skeptics, agnostics and atheists? They’re wrong! Absolutely, categorically, unconditionally wrong!
If the teachings of Christianity are truthful, all other religious disciplines are false. Man’s only hope for salvation and an eternal home with God is through Jesus Christ. Note the emphatic statements in scripture on this very point: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (Jn. 14:6). Speaking of Himself, Jesus also stated, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (Jn. 3:18). Later in that same chapter we find an equally dogmatic statement: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (vs. 36).
Clearly, Jesus personally stated that He is the only Savior. But Jesus was not the only one to make such a declaration. The apostle Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the only Savior; "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). In his first letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul asserted Jesus to be man’s only Savior; “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Paul identified Jesus as man’s only mediator with God; “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). The Hebrews writer stated that Christ offered His life one time for all time for the sins of mankind; “who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (Heb. 7:27).
Is there another Savior, other than Jesus Christ? No! As Christians we should not be embarrassed by that truth. Indeed, we need to proclaim it throughout the world in order that all men everywhere might learn the gospel and have the opportunity to come to repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ (Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16)…