Did Jesus say what he meant and mean what he said. I read an news article in World Magazine (September 25, 2010 page 18) that caught my attention and reminded me that not everyone sees the gospel of Jesus the same way. The article said:"A Presbyterian Church (USA) court rebuked California minister Jane Adams Spahr, 68, after finding her guilty of violating her ordination vows and persistently disobeying church law by preforming same-sex-marriage ceremonies while they were legal in the state. BUT the Aug. 27 verdict also included praise for Spahr's ministry and called o the denomination to reexamine its "own fear and ignorance that continues to reject the inclusiveness of the gospel of Jesus Christ." Spahr says she will appeal.
Now I do not want to get sidetracked. The question here is only the one about the inclusiveness of the gospel of Jesus. Most people today are making decisions based on emotion, happiness, preferences, social status, ignorance and personal god beliefs. The word god uses the small 'g' because these are the self-centered or personal beliefs of a person that they attribute to god.
To understand if and how the gospel of Jesus is inclusive we need to start by answering the question of why Jesus came here in the first place. The best way to know this is look at why Jesus said he was here. "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19.10) This included everyone in the world. He was looking to help everyone. Jesus came "that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3.13) This means everyone who responds, but it also implies that anyone who does not call on his name does not have eternal life. Jesus he had "come that they may have life, and have it ot the full. (John 10.10) This is the promise to those who have accepted his call to eternal life. This was not promised to everyone, but only to those who respond. "For judgment I have come into this world." (John 9.39) Judgment means that some are going to make it and some are going to be in very deep and very hot water. "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10.34) Jesus promised personal peace but he knew that anyone who turned away from the ways of the men who follow their god (little g) would be in conflict for following and serving Jesus.
Jesus came with a message that some would respond to and the rest would fight against. It would end with a great judgment. This hardly seems like inclusiveness. Jesus told a parable and explained it in Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43 about a field full of wheat that an enemy sowed weeds in. Jesus said that the field represented the whole world and everyone in it. Then he said that the people in the world would be divided into two groups. One group, the sons of the kingdom, would be included in those going to spend eternity with God (big G). The other group, the sons of the evil one, will be separated at judgment and would be removed from God forever. Everyone in the world is covered by this parable (ALL INCLUSIVE). Everyone is part of one of two groups (ALL INCLUSIVE). Everyone would face judgment (ALL INCLUSIVE) but not everyone goes to heaven. Heaven is not promised to all, but only to those who choose to follow Jesus who is the way and the truth and the life. (John 14.6)
So here is what we know for sure about the inclusiveness of the gosple of Jesus.
- There are rules in place that everyone is under - ALL INCLUSIVE.
- These rules divide people into two groups - ALL INCLUSIVE.
- You can ignore the rules but they still are the rules that will be used in the end. - ALL INCLUSIVE
You can watch this message here
Larger Clear Video for viewing is available by clicking here.
All resources are available by clicking here.
