The Only Salvation

In an age of rampant religious pluralism and post-modern neo-gnosticism, claiming objective and absolute truth takes courage and confidence.  But the Gospel is just that, objective and absolute.  Moreover, the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is exclusive in that only through Christ may anyone receive salvation.

John's first epistle speaks directly to the necessity of personally claiming Christ Jesus in the reception of salvation (1 John 5:11-12).  The key to eternal life is only Christ Jesus.  There is no way to God but through the torn flesh of Christ.  In fact, only through Christ may anyone enter the presence of the Holy Lord (Heb. 10:19-22).  Only through Jesus and only by faith is salvation appropriated (Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-10).  Scripture is more than unified about how salvation is received and through whom it comes, it is concrete.  The real question is: do we agree? to what degree?

Are we willing to stake friendships, comfortability, status, or seeming close-minded for the sakes of the Gospel?  Really, this is important.  How far are we truly willing to go in defense of the Gospel?  Honestly, believers are outnumbered in this world.  There are a lot more unbelievers than believers.  And unbelievers will always despise and revile believers because we are not of the world, we are not like them (John 15:19).

The reality is that the Gospel is both exclusive and inclusive.  It is exclusive because only through  Christ Jesus is salvation possible and only by faith is it applied.  But the Gospel is also inclusive because it is for everyone who has faith.  We should not forget the Gospel's inclusivity in light of its exclusivity, as in, we should never cease spreading the Gospel for it is truly meant for everyone.  However, we should also not neglect the Gospel's exclusivity, as in, salvation is by no name other than Jesus.

In reality, the Gospel needs to be preached because it is true.  We, believers, are to be the ones who preach it.  We have a responsibility to present the Gospel, not only because it is true but, more importantly, people's lives depend on it.  If we do not preach it no one will hear it (Rom. 10:14)!  Let us then take this call seriously as we engage the world with the Gospel because only Christ Jesus saves!