TEN LIES ABOUT GOD “God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” 02/14/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  The real question that everyone asks is: Is salvation available only through Christ? It’s the exclusivism that bothers them.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” If God really loved the whole world, He couldn’t possibly limit salvation to just Christians.  How could sincere worshipers of other religions not be saved?

John 14:6 6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2 Timothy 2:4-5 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men.

Acts 4:12 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” But I can hear the objections:  What about those who never heard of Christ—are they excluded from God’s grace?  Is it fair for God to send anyone to hell, especially those who have never had a chance to hear the gospel?

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  It is possible for sincere believers of other religions to be saved through Christ even though they don’t know Him?  Are not Christians bigoted to believe in the superiority of Christianity?

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” Where can we turn for answers to these questions?  Inside ourselves?  To nature?  Take a consensus of opinions?

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  How Does the Bible View Non- Christian Religions? The Bible says, any attempt to approach God except through Jesus as mediator is a flawed attempt. Paganism is any attempt to reach God except through Jesus & his gospel.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” Two points about paganism.  Those who are worshiping idols are actually worshiping demons. 20 the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. (1 Cor.10:20, NASB)

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” 3 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places. (Deut. 12:3, NIV)

Psalm 96:5 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

1 Kings 18:40 40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  Religions evolve because people do not honor the true God. 23 exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (Romans 1:23)

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  Those who are worshiping idols are actually worshiping demons.  Idolatry always confuses the creature with the Creator.  It is not necessary for a religion to be totally false in order for it to be disastrously wrong.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  Other religions fail at this most crucial point—the question of how sinners can be reconciled to God. God is not obligated to save followers of other religions because He didn’t establish them.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  How Will Those Who Have Not Heard of Christ Be Judged? What we want to know is:  how God can be just if He does not accept people who have never heard the gospel?

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  The biblical answer: God will judge people by what they did know rather than what they didn’t know. –On the basis of general revelation.

Romans 1: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

Romans 1:20 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” 21 For although they knew God, (Rom. 1:21) 21 … they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Rom. 1:21)

Acts 17:27, NASB 27 that they [mankind] should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  Without the light of revelation, the best man could do is to “grope” for understanding, straining for a hint of hope and means of forgiveness.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” A second form of general revelation: the God-consciousness that exists in every human being.  An innate sense of right and wrong  Transcendent values  A knowledge that there’s a standard of righteous behavior

Romans 2:12, NIV 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Romans 2:114, NIV 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,

Romans 2:15, NIV 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  God will judge people on the basis of conscience and nature. 20 …so that men are without excuse. (Rom. 1:20)

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” However, the question remains: what will this judgment reveal?  It will show that we’re all basically disobedient.  It will confirm that nature cannot give us what we need, that is, the righteousness of God accredited to our account.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” 23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) 9 … not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. (2 Tim. 1:9)

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  What about the Final Judgment? When God judges, He will do so with meticulous standards of evidence and justice. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Co. 5:21)

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions”  Nature and conscience, exit so that people can see and find God.  If they don’t, then, general revelation is for judgment, not salvation.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” Conclusion Is God obligated to save anyone? Is God fair then?

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” God is under no obligation to treat everyone alike. Salvation is available only through Christ because that’s the way God made it.

John 14:6 6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

“God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” Jesus is the only chance people have! 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

TEN LIES ABOUT GOD “God Is Obligated to Save Followers of Other Religions” 02/14/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles