Unloving?
While out street witnessing, sometimes we get accused of being unloving. We are accused of being unloving because we talk about the exclusivity of Jesus. That Jesus Christ is the only Savior. So I ask you, is it unloving to say that Jesus is the only way of salvation? Is it unloving to not be more inclusive?
Actually, it would be more unloving to pretend to be inclusive, to put inclusivity above all else. That would be unloving. Just trying to make people feel better about themselves is unloving. Withholding the truth would be more unloving. If there was eminent danger for you walking down the street right now and I didn’t tell you when I knew about it, that would be unloving.
Danger Ahead
For example if there was work being done on the sidewalk and someone had taken the construction signs, it was dark and you couldn’t see the 40 foot drop and you were about to fall into the pit. It would be unloving to just let you walk into danger. No matter how nice I was to you, no matter if I said “Have a nice night” or offered you a cold bottle of water or something. None of that would matter if I just let you walk to your death.
The kindest, nicest thing I could do would be to warn you of the danger you were facing. If you still wouldn’t listen, the most loving thing I could do is grab your arm and pull you away from danger. You might be mad at me for grabbing your arm. You might accuse me of hurting you, but in light of just saving your life, you might realize that I was actually helping you and not hurting you. You might see that it was out of love for human beings that I actually helped you, a total stranger out.
Exclusivity of Jesus
But even if you disagree with us tonight; even if you still think that we are unloving because we don’t preach inclusivity, it’s ok because Jesus wasn’t inclusive. In fact, Jesus was very exclusive and Jesus was divisive. Please listen to Jesus’ words when He sent the 12 disciples out: And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (John 10:11-28).
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me (John 10:32-40). Yes you heard that correctly, Jesus came to bring a sword, not piece. Family members will even be against you when you are a follower of Jesus. Our Lord is very exclusive.
Jesus Is The Way
Probably the very best Bible verse concerning the exclusivity of Jesus is John 14:6 where Jesus says unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Why do we talk about Jesus being the only Savior of mankind? Because Jesus said that He is the only Savior! Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the only way of salvation. There is no other Savior. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). You must be saved exclusively through Jesus Christ alone or you will die in your sins and split Hell wide open after you die.
Don’t foolishly die in your sins. Turn to Christ and live. Only Jesus saves, oh, but what a mighty Savior He is. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Only a perfect Savior can save sinful human beings from everlasting damnation and Jesus is the prefect One. He truly is the only Savior.
Sharing The Truth Is Not Unloving
It is NOT unloving to share this truth. Again, it would be most unloving to lie and pretend that Jesus is all inclusive. Saying that Jesus is all inclusive might make people feel good, may make people feel good about themselves and feeling ok in their sins, but it is not the truth. It is not loving in the least bit.
Jesus said unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Our Lord commands you to repent. To repent and believe the Gospel. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
Repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ to save you. The Bible says that we are to have repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit said: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20-21).
Don’t Reject Such A Great Salvation
Do not reject such a great salvation. Repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Receive life – eternal life. Your sins can be forgiven. God will hold them against you no more – but you must repent and believe the Gospel. Oh, do this today and be saved.
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:35-36).
Oh the most loving thing we can do tonight is plead with you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation and plead with you to receive everlasting life. If you continue walking in your rebellion against God, then God’s wrath remains upon you. Those who die in their sins, unforgiven, unsaved, receive God’s righteous wrath for all eternity. Hell is real and pretending that it’s not real is unloving. Love warns. Believe on Jesus Christ and His finish work on the cross and receive eternal life. Do this and be saved today.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on July 1, 2022)