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Salvation

I have noticed that the Bible does not seem to tell you how to lose salvation as much as to tell you of the many ways to achieve salvation. I believe there are many ways. It rarely says that if you do (or do not do) something that you will be condemned. It often says that if you do (or do not do) something, you will be saved. There is a very important difference here. The Bible is not an instruction book of how to get to Hell, but an instruction book of how to get to Heaven. Remember this if you forget all else. God wants all people to achieve His Glory.

God is the elephant. With the many ways to perceive the elephant, everyone has a chance. If you are offended by the concept that others who do not believe as you, may see and hear the elephant; perhaps you need to remember that you too are one of the blind men.

As a Christian, I believe that Jesus came to Earth, lived, and died to save all people. I repeat: All people! It is unchristian to believe otherwise. Jesus did not exclude anyone. I refuse to exclude anyone. This is very hard to do when you think of some people. But, I include all people as a part of God’s plan. That is God’s will.

But when the kindness and love of God our savior for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our savior. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.

Many people use this passage to refer to baptism. I see it as referring to an universal salvation. I also notice that Jesus is the medium through which this salvation may come. Jesus is the medium. God is the source.

It does not have the word “only” before that statement. I believe that the gates of heaven were opened by God through Jesus, but that they were opened for all people, not just Christians. Those who want to limit God’s grace to themselves may be mistaken. I do not believe God wants us to limit Him in any way. I cannot accept a God that does not reach out to all people. God loves all people. This excludes no one.

God has no favorites

Can God fail? Does God want all people to attain salvation? Did Jesus come to bring salvation to all people? Is Jesus God? Can God fail? Is salvation offered to all people? Did not God create all people? Aren’t all people God’s children?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is the way. If no man can attain salvation except the one who believes in God as God really is, then very few will make it. None but Christians will see God. No Hindus, no Moslems, no Buddhists. Actually none but true Christians will see God. None of those who claim to be Christian but are not, like Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, and Catholics. Then those who are marginal Christians like Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Methodists. Then there are those who have strayed a bit from the truth like Baptists, those who use the word Church in their name, and all those who are so presumptuous as to use the word Christian in their title. Actually the only ones who are going to heaven are you and I. And I have my doubts about you. Sorry about that, but it is going to be just me and God. Maybe, I should kick Him out too.

“Jesus was the greatest moral teacher of all time. If you Christians would follow His teachings, the world would be a much safer place. ”

But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many: and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame. And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Jesus is the way. That means that Jesus is the gatekeeper to heaven. He is responsible for opening these gates (for all people.)

Notice that the King found that those He originally called to the feast refused. So He called more. Eventually, He called everyone. I guess I am included there somewhere. I guess you are included there somewhere. I just do not want to be one of those who refuse.

Once the gates of Heaven are open, God welcomes everyone to everlasting life. Once the gates are opened, they are opened. Jesus may be the gatekeeper that opened these gates. But, if the gates are open, you do not have to know the gatekeeper’s name.

In the morning, hear the Way; in the evening, die content!

The gate is open, all you have to do is come in.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.

I believe that those who stop with verse 16 and do not include verse 17 pervert the word of God.

elephant end

Footnotes:
1.    This is my view of the elephant.
2.    Titus 3:5-7 The Jerusalem Bible
3.    Romans 2:11 - New Jerusalem Bible
4.    John 14:6
5.    An unknown Hindu Holy man.
6.    Luke 14:16-24 - see also Matthew 22:2-10
7.    Confucius - Analects 4:8
8.    John 3:16-17 - - New Revised Standard

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