Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: timv@cadfx.ccad.uiowa.edu (Timothy VanFosson) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Sorry folks, it's NOT all relative. Message-ID: Date: 26 Sep 90 07:07:28 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: CAD-Research, U. of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa Lines: 77 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu [This continues an exchange between David Hatcher and Tim Hoogasian on the subject of Christ as the only way. The problem is > there are so many > from other spiritual traditions who also know and live with in > the Grace and Glory of God just as much an *any* Christian does. Both Tim and David seem to believe that there is some need for rethinking what it means to say that Christ is the only way. --clh] No matter how much we might like to think that there are other ways to God than through accepting Jesus' death on the cross as payment for our sins, God has not left that option available. I accept Jesus' statement that He *alone* is the way, the truth, and the life at face value. Why? because there is no other "way" to God that pays the death penalty we have incurred because of our sin (...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus... and ...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory... -Romans 6:23,3:23). No matter how "good", or "noble", or "well-intentioned" others may be, only Christians, definitially, have accepted Christ's sacrifice as payment for their sin, and thus have their death penalty paid for them. Conversely, anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord, is a Christian, no matter what their background. So then, if you mean by "living with in His Grace and Glory" that they have accepted Christ, then we have no disagreement. But if you mean that they are nice, "religous" people who believe in God, but don't acknowledge Christ, then you are in conflict with the Bible. For even Satan believes that there is one God (I am not saying that others are Satanic, but rather that belief in one God does not constitute the qualification for communion with Him), and only those spirits which acknowledge Christ in the flesh are from God (1 John 4:1-3). > > The jest of all of this is that God works in many wonderious ways. > And some of those ways in which God works just may not be with in > the bounds that most (not all) Christians are familiar with. > > The Glories and Grace of God are boundless. Boundless has no bounds. > And neither does God. I point to the saints and ordinary people of > religions other than Christianity whom ALSO know God as proof of > that point. > I agree with you that God does work in many ways that are both wonderous and incomprehensible, even to Christians. But as far as boundless, God is, in fact, limited by His character. For instance, it is impossible for God to sin. By the same token, it is impossible for God to indicate that only through His Son can we be saved, and then allow other methods to suffice. God would be lying, and thus sinning. This depends, of course, on taking Jesus' words literally. I do so because of the reasons I outlined above, but also because the context of the verse does not lend itself to other interpretations. It is a direct answer to a direct question from one of His disciples. It is clear that Jesus meant that only through what was happening to Him could people be saved. Paul allows no other gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). John allows no other gospel (1 John 4). Peter allows no other gospel (1 Peter 2:1-8, all of 2 Peter). It is the *central* theme of Christianity, and the "capstone" against which we either stumble or which becomes precious to us, that Jesus, and Jesus alone, can rescue us from our sins. > > David Hatcher > > In fact one of the great challenges confronting modern > Christians is that of experiencing Christ in a non-Christian > culture. Precisely because Christianity claims to be a > universal religion we cannot shirk this challenge. > William Johnston > _The Inner Eye Of Love_ Yes, we must be able to pare our "beliefs" down to that which is truly Christian (the "fundamentals", if you will ;-) ), and not let our cultural baggage impede us in bringing Christ to those who do not know Him. But just as Paul did, we must preach Christ crucified as the cornerstone of salvation, and not as one of many alternatives. -- Timothy VanFosson E-mail : timv@ccad.uiowa.edu Senior Systems Analyst US Mail : CAD-Research University of Iowa 228 ERF Phone : (319) 335-5728 Iowa City, Iowa 52242