The Only Provision for Eternal Life
The Christian’s Firm Belief
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© October 23, 2011
A Christian believes specific things to be true and other things to not be true. It is sad to say, but such convictions are unacceptable to those who do not have foundational principles on which their life is established. Christians may be frowned upon when their guiding principles are Biblically based and firmly believed.
Is it “right” to have firm beliefs?
If our relationship with God and our eternal destiny is conditional on what we believe, then we have two choices:
1. We can maintain that we have a right to have firm beliefs and continue to hold to our heartfelt beliefs, or
2. We can walk away from our belief system – in order to more fully comply with those who call us bigoted…and become “tolerant” of everything – and believe nothing sincerely! …A Purposeful life and Eternity will be egregiously at risk.
Today we are continuing our study in the Book of John.
Several weeks ago we discussed Christ’s emphasis on “New Birth”, as seen at the beginning of John 3.
We have recently reviewed the Old Testament illustration of the bronze serpent being “lifted up” for healing and how that applied to saving faith and “Looking to the Lamb” who was “lifted up” for our Salvation.
We have studied “Miracles” pt. 1 and “Miracles” pt. 2, rising from Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine.
Previously we had reviewed the life of John the Baptist.
Eternity has no other Doorway
In this message we are meditating on the Scripture’s exclusivity of Jesus Christ, being the only “way, truth and life” whereby we must be saved, in order for us to have an eternal relationship with God the Father. It is this exclusivity that others will call bigotry.
The verses that are prompting our study are found at the end of John, chapter 3.
John 3:35–36
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
John 3:35–36, give us clear assumptions, statements and truth that may seem very irreversible and dogmatic to those who reject the authority of the Bible:
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❖ There most certainly is a God, who is God the Father.
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❖ There most certainly is a Son, who is God the Son.
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❖ To say that the Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His Hands is very radical, if one does not believe in God in the first place. The verse also makes clear that “the Son” is co-equal with the Father and has the spiritual power to Redeem mankind and give eternal life.
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❖ To say that the Son gives eternal life could be seen as a radical statement, and it certainly becomes more radical if one continues by saying that if any reject belief in the Son (a definition of “belief” consistent with Biblical teaching – is that eternal salvation is conditional on one’s embracing the death and shed blood of Jesus Christ as the only atonement for sin)…
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❖ That whoever rejects the Son will not see life, because this person will then have God’s wrath “remain on him”.
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❖ To have God’s wrath remain on that person, in a Biblical sense denotes that this person is bound for eternal punishment in hell. This is rejected in the eyes of those to whom the cross of Christ is foolishness, while “tolerance” is their constant mantra.
The Christian holds to at least these seven things to be true and on which he or she basis the worldview of their life.
Seven Primary Beliefs of Christians
1. Creator God. There is a Personal God, who created all things, to whom we are accountable.
2. The Word of God is our Foundational Resource for Truth. God has revealed Himself, through the ages, to humankind through His prophets, culminating in the writing of the Bible (Old and New Testaments), over the past four thousand years or so, through some 40 authors, who wrote under the inspiration of God’s Spirit. The Bible is the Living Word of God on which the Christian’s principles of life and foundational beliefs are established.
3. Universal Human Depravity. Human beings are not born as naturally good people – as we all would wish, but instead, everyone is depraved in nature because of the original sin of Adam and Eve, which plunged the human race into a sinful state and separation from God. Spiritual death and physical death are the outcome of this depravity.
4. Personal Sin/Personal Accountability to God. Each person since the fall of man, is not only depraved in nature, but has also chosen to knowingly act selfishly, carnally and rebelliously, against the Laws of God. No one can justly claim to be perfect.
5. Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer. Jesus Christ, God the Son, came into the world, in His virgin birth, as a sinless human being. He gave the sacrifice of His life with the shedding of His blood, as “the Lamb of God”, to provide a way whereby any man or woman may be redeemed (by grace through faith) and be cleansed from the guilt of his or her sin before God who is Holy.
6. The Reality of Satan and Evil Forces. Satan was once one of the most powerful and beautiful angels created. Through pride he sought to be like God. This caused him to rebel and bring one third of the angelic host with him when he was cast out of his place in the heavenly realms. He is the ruler of darkness and his kingdom is over this present world. Satan is the archenemy of God and therefore, the archenemy of God’s Children. God will one day irrevocably defeat and punish Satan with his evil host. Jesus Christ will then establish His Kingdom forever, free from the oppression, deception, and kingdom of Satan and the forces of evil.
7. A final Bodily Resurrection and Eternity. There will be a bodily resurrection and eternal life following our life here on this earth. Our spirit will go to be with God when we die, but our bodies will be resurrected and transformed into new incorruptible Spiritual bodies when Christ returns (1 Cor. 15). Heaven is real and so is hell. Eternity is spent either with God, in the place He has prepared for those who love Him and have accepted His provision for Salvation (John 14:3), or in a place separate from God in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:12-15).
These seven themes, and more, will resound again and again in your reading and meditating on Scripture.
Belief in these Truths are central to the Scripture’s teaching.
Those who believe these Truths have an eternally stable foundation!
What foundation, stability, hope and salvation!
The Bible Continually Asserts that Jesus Christ is the Only Redeemer!
The following verses continue to confirm foundational Biblical Truths, especially in relationship to the Redemption of our souls, only through Jesus Christ.
John 5:24-29
24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
John 5:24-29 - Reviewed
•Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned…
•Crossed over from death to life – (there is a kingdom of darkness and death from which we cross over into Life, through Christ)…
•The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live – (there is a resurrection and eternity)…
•As the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in himself…
•He (the Father) has given Him (the Son) authority to judge because He is the Son of Man
•All who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out…
Christians themselves should personally reject non-Biblical customs or traditions taught, when they include vile or inhumane practices, or if their theology promotes spiritual concepts affirming that “Good Works” (in any form) earn eternal Salvation.
Everyone should be Non-Tolerant of Certain “Religious” Practices
Not all religious beliefs warrant unquestioned tolerance: everyone should reject the “traditions” of some religions, such as…
• Temple prostitution of children
• Human sacrificial rituals
• Suicidal Cults
These points above simply establish the fact that everyone should reject those teachings or practices pertaining to certain “spiritual doctrines” and practices in so-called “religions”. Tolerance for the sake of tolerance, is not being discerning or wise.
We should not accept doctrines and “spiritual studies” which fly in the face of the true worship of our Creator God.
All “roads” do Not lead to the same god.
There is visible non-unity – in the “gods” of this world. They do not equally coexistence!
All the “gods” of this world are not the same!
They all have different “requirements”!
The “other gods” of this world struggle for power in realms unseen to us.
A clearer way to visually present a more accurate concept might be to show individual “mountains” that each devotee climbs to find his or her own god, since each religion has its own way to work toward its deity’s acceptance. The pursuit of our God (YHWH) is not obtained by a road of works, but by Grace, from above through faith in the “gift” of Salvation, relying on the sacrifice and victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death. 1
1 Basic concepts and drawings originally from Dr. Gerry Breshears, Chairman of the Theology Department of Western Seminary
Other gods…
We cannot read the Bible, Old or New Testament without seeing the involvement of “other gods” in the nations surrounding Israel, most often causing profane worship (of these gods) to infiltrate and demoralize God’s people. This idolatrous worship plunges Israel into a graphic spiritual demise and consequentially into discipline by God, until repentance restores their relationship with God.
In our technological age, we do not deal with gods of wood and stone; we somehow feel that “other gods” have somehow mysteriously disappeared! They have not disappeared; they have been transformed into “angels of philosophical or spiritual light”.
2 Corinthians 11
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.
“Other gods” are in direct opposition to the One, True God, Who is Creator of all things.
Involvement with and tolerance of “other gods” of the world, does not lead us to the honor and service of the One, True God, in fact, these things separate us from Him. Bondage to that, which represents the other gods of the world, repudiates and destroys our communion and relationship with the Holy Spirit who has made believers God’s Temple.
a. We do not accept the Muslim god as our God, when Muslims vehemently say their god has no Son who can redeem from sin.
In the founding inscription on the inside of the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock), Jerusalem it reads in classical Arabic:
"…The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only an apostle of God…. Far be it from his [God’s] glory that he should have a son."
In such denial of the deity of Christ, the world has NO Savior and NO sinless Redeemer. It becomes obvious why those in the Muslim faith have no assurance of personal salvation – unless one dies as a martyr: their faith has no provision for redemption from sin. Allah, the Muslim god, is obviously not the God of the Christian.
b. We do not accept religious teachings of endless life cycles of reincarnation. Such is never seen in Scripture.
c. We do not agree with the cultic teaching and writings of Joseph Smith, or those who teach other doctrines denying the redemptive blood of Christ, as promoted by the Watchtower driven J.W.’s, who have skewed the Word of God through deceptive spirits to whom they have listened.
d. We do not agree with the modern-day talk show gurus who promote spirit guides and self-consciousness, instead of God-consciousness, or self-deity over accountability to God and His Word.
e. The “gods” of the religions of the world are not spiritually consistent with the Creator God of the Bible. The spiritual teachings in world religions are most often diametrically opposed to each other! They are not one. Therefore, we can only conclude that there are many spiritual forces vying for dominance in the lives of those on this planet. All are under the primary auspices of one of two kingdoms:
1. The Creator God of Heaven and His Kingdom, or
2. The god of this world and his kingdom with his dark spiritual host – who perpetrate many works-driven “gospels” and “feel-good” agendas to comply with any cultural norm and whim of carnal mankind.
The worship practices of the kingdom of this world, are direct descendants of the self-deceived “sacrifice” of the firstborn of Eve – Cain, who offered up out of the “best fruit from the work of his own hands” and not an acceptable blood sacrifice, representing the “Lamb of God” who would take away the sin of the world.
1 John 5:19–20
19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 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.
It is only Saving Faith in Jesus Christ alone, as taught in the Bible, that can obtain salvation for any human being. All other “spiritual” teachings do not bring Salvation.
• The Christian believes that all have sinned and fall short of the holiness required to live eternally in God’s Presence. “Doing good” cannot offset what we have done wrong, only accepting the Redemptive Sacrifice of Christ’s blood (and His death on the cross), is sufficient to cleanse our sins before a Holy God.
The Bible says:
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….
John 6:40
40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 John 5:12
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Isaiah 45:22 (NKJV)
22 “Look to Me, and be saved,
All you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
John 17:3
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 20:31
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 3:18
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Acts 4:11–12
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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.
1 Corinthians 1:18
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Ephesians 5:5–8
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
John 3:14–17
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Christians do not accept spiritual teachings which assert that their deity will accept us if we “do” enough “good things” to offset the “bad things” of life. For the Christian, Eternal Salvation can only be found in accepting Christ’s sacrifice as our redemption from sin – nothing else.
1 Timothy 2:3–6
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Matthew 7:21–23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Jesus Christ Saves us from God’s Wrath, Changes our Old Heart, and takes us with Him to “glory”!
Colossians 3:1–17
3Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Greed, Self-indulgence, Hypocrisy & Lawlessness
Jesus came down harshly on the “religious leaders” of His day who did all their deeds to be seen by others and gain prestige for their pride, through their “good deeds” and outward “keeping of the law”, when in reality their hearts were full of greed and self-indulgence, hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:25, 28).
A primary concern that Jesus Christ has is for the clearness and cleanness of His children’s hearts.
The Heart of the Matter: Whose god do you serve?
Do we seek a good Outward Appearance, so others will think you are not intolerant, or do we seek a Transformed Heart, so our relationship with God will be fulfilling and a blessing to Christ’s Kingdom?
If a person’s goal is to look good to others – at all cost, they should not claim Christianity as their religion.
God has given us His Word to guide us throughout our life, may we follow it graciously, no matter what those around us may think.
In Search of Meaning...
“Hands”
by Dan Kennedy
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I walked through marbled classroom halls,
Where sages spoke, and brilliance called;
I searched for deepest truth and light,
My opened mind refused no sight!
But day by day and year by year,
Confusion gained a growing fear.
I looked at scholar's beckoning hands,
That claimed to hold what truth demands...
They were empty. I studied them.
They were empty!
The illumined guise, through haughtiness,
Had washed from hearts true Godliness.
The cynic with the flaming mind,
Had torched the Truth that was Divine!
They were empty!
Their hands were empty!
Their life was empty! My life was too!
~~~
I climbed the ladder to success,
To fame and wealth, with all the rest;
I drank a hearty draught of mirth,
My cars, my homes, my total worth!
To prime assets I pledged my all,
I gained prestige, my pride stood tall!
The future swayed in golden hands,
That opened tarnished, filled with sand...
They were empty. Life’s “secure investments”
were empty!
The crystal goblet in their grasp,
Had fallen, drunkenly at last.
The power of great success, it seems,
Is vanquished in a night of dreams.
They were empty!
Their hands were empty!
Their life was empty! My life was too!
~~~
I longed for pleasure's earthly toys,
To give me everlasting joys!
These came with soft, assertive cries,
That brought me laughter, pain and lies.
Demanding this, and that they claimed,
My very soul they soon would stain!
And then I closely watched their hands,
I opened them, to understand...
They were empty. I felt them.
They were empty!
Darkened lines of scarlet hue,
Told countless tales of souls askew;
At last in hell they drew them in,
And made them pay for every sin.
They were empty!
Their blemished hands were empty!
Their lives were empty! My life was too!
~~~
I fled across the face of time,
I searched for what my heart could find;
I cried with all my soul toward heaven,
"God! If You are there, can I be forgiven...
The haughtiness of the intellect,
Success and wanton, with gross neglect?"
And then I felt Christ's outstretched Hands,
His Atoning Blood – Me, Redeemed, from sin!
His Hands now washed my curs-ed wounds,
Released me from the hidden tombs!
Unlocked the mighty chains of sin
That wretched my weeping soul within.
Death, no more, could terrify life!
No more be consumed by Satan’s strife,
Flesh, no more, to dominate life’s race…
My soul is Redeemed, through Jesus’ Grace!
~ I searched for minds with Truth and Light,
You touched my heart and gave me Sight;
~ I grasped for wealth and peer success,
Your gift was Purpose, Peace and Rest.
~ I longed for joy through toys and shame; but,
You empowered me with Your Matchless Name!
Your Hands revived my listless soul,
You raised me high into your Fold,
Then wrapped me warmly to your heart,
Called me “Your Child” …one “set apart!”
All…
With Your mighty Hands, Your noble Hands,
Your nail-scarred Hands,
Your Honorable, life-redeeming Hands,
Your precious, Everlasting Hands!
In those Divine Hands, my weary soul, at last, will rest!
“There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end, it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12
Jesus answered,
“I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6