Jesus answered: 'I am the way. No-one comes to the Father except through me.'

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Mash

Junior Member
Jan 11, 2017
6
1
0
#1
We live in a pluralistic society where tolerance is encouraged, even mandated.
The popular rhetoric in the New Age is 'you follow your way, I follow mine. Its all the same in the end'.
Or is it?

In contrast to the New Age,Jesus claimed and taught exclusivity. In one of the boldest claims ever made, Jesus said no one comes to God expect through Him (Jesus).
Needless to say,such a claim does not square with inclusiveness and tolerance.

Some people would like to 'soften' Christ's claim by saying Jesus probably 'didn't mean that'. I've not found a plausible alternative meaning.

Evidently, the apostles understood full well what Jesus claimed. When the High Priest ordered Peter and John not to preach in Jesus' Name, the response he got from the former fishermen was: there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved...we cannot help speaking about the things we've seen and heard (Acts 4)

The mammoth question remains; what about those who've not heard about Christ? Those to whom the gospel never reached, and to no fault of their own die without hearing of the only way to the Father?
 
J

JustWhoIAm

Guest
#2
We live in a pluralistic society where tolerance is encouraged, even mandated.
The popular rhetoric in the New Age is 'you follow your way, I follow mine. Its all the same in the end'.
Or is it?

In contrast to the New Age,Jesus claimed and taught exclusivity. In one of the boldest claims ever made, Jesus said no one comes to God expect through Him (Jesus).
Needless to say,such a claim does not square with inclusiveness and tolerance.

Some people would like to 'soften' Christ's claim by saying Jesus probably 'didn't mean that'. I've not found a plausible alternative meaning.

Evidently, the apostles understood full well what Jesus claimed. When the High Priest ordered Peter and John not to preach in Jesus' Name, the response he got from the former fishermen was: there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved...we cannot help speaking about the things we've seen and heard (Acts 4)

The mammoth question remains; what about those who've not heard about Christ? Those to whom the gospel never reached, and to no fault of their own die without hearing of the only way to the Father?
"I have other sheep not of this sheep pen." -John 10:16

Some would take that to mean the gentiles after pentecost, but Jesus said 'have', not 'will have'.

Myself, and someone who says this may receive fire in a community such as this one for saying this, I believe that God is intelligent and loving enough to have a relationship with people who are not Christian. Then again, I believe that God the Father (the physical manifestation of the creator) is an extraterrestrial being (we're not dealing with religion).
 

Mash

Junior Member
Jan 11, 2017
6
1
0
#3
I agree that an omnipotent and transcendent God who is sovereign can have a relationship with anyone he chooses.
God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans a society in which idolatry was rampant.
Indeed throughout the old testament appears that it was the divine purpose and mercies of God rather than the character of men that sustained the relationship between God and men.

that being said consider the apostles teaching that if indeed righteousness could be gained by the law "Jesus died for nothing" Galatians 2:21

Consider the agony Christ went through, his anguish inGethsemane as he earnestly pleaded that the cup of suffering be taken away, there is a strong case to be made of Jesus being the only way and his cross being the only sacrifice that can atone for sin.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#4
I agree that an omnipotent and transcendent God who is sovereign can have a relationship with anyone he chooses.
God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans a society in which idolatry was rampant.
Indeed throughout the old testament appears that it was the divine purpose and mercies of God rather than the character of men that sustained the relationship between God and men.

that being said consider the apostles teaching that if indeed righteousness could be gained by the law "Jesus died for nothing" Galatians 2:21

Consider the agony Christ went through, his anguish inGethsemane as he earnestly pleaded that the cup of suffering be taken away, there is a strong case to be made of Jesus being the only way and his cross being the only sacrifice that can atone for sin.

God is also BOUND by his HOLY NATURE, CHARCTER and WORD.........I am the Lord thy God, I CHANGE NOT!
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,095
6,479
113
#5
I would certainly hope so. But you did give it a good try.....so, I suppose you deserve credit for that.

Mayhaps you remember reading where Jesus siad..........before Abraham was, I Am.......??? Was He ONLY speaking of Himself at that point and time in the world..............OR..........was He speaking of FOREVER?


Regarding that second part............I'm thinking you mistyped what you intended to say..........I sure hope so.......otherwise, all I can offer is:

1376766-tn_0162-Angry-Cartoon-Eyes.jpg




"I have other sheep not of this sheep pen." -John 10:16

Some would take that to mean the gentiles after pentecost, but Jesus said 'have', not 'will have'.

Myself, and someone who says this may receive fire in a community such as this one for saying this, I believe that God is intelligent and loving enough to have a relationship with people who are not Christian. Then again, I believe that God the Father (the physical manifestation of the creator) is an extraterrestrial being (we're not dealing with religion).
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#6
We live in a pluralistic society where tolerance is encouraged, even mandated.
The popular rhetoric in the New Age is 'you follow your way, I follow mine. Its all the same in the end'.
Or is it?

In contrast to the New Age,Jesus claimed and taught exclusivity. In one of the boldest claims ever made, Jesus said no one comes to God expect through Him (Jesus).
Needless to say,such a claim does not square with inclusiveness and tolerance.

Some people would like to 'soften' Christ's claim by saying Jesus probably 'didn't mean that'. I've not found a plausible alternative meaning.

Evidently, the apostles understood full well what Jesus claimed. When the High Priest ordered Peter and John not to preach in Jesus' Name, the response he got from the former fishermen and heard (Acts 4)

The mammoth question remains; what about those who've not heard about Christ? Those to whom the gospel never reached, and to no fault of their own die without hearing of the only way to the Father?
Romans chapter one declares that men hearing the revelation of God did not like it so they went about to change it. God has also given His revelation through nature so that all men are without excuse.

John chapter three we have the golden text of the bible in verse sixteen but from there through the end of the chapter we see that men turn away not God. Whosoever will is all inclusive but men turn from the light because their deeds are evil.

God is not interested in debating His word. God has declared His word and men must receive of reject what it says and there is no middle ground. God is not going to change and His word will not change even though the heavens and earth pass away.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#7
We live in a pluralistic society where tolerance is encouraged, even mandated.
The popular rhetoric in the New Age is 'you follow your way, I follow mine. Its all the same in the end'.
Or is it?

In contrast to the New Age,Jesus claimed and taught exclusivity. In one of the boldest claims ever made, Jesus said no one comes to God expect through Him (Jesus).
Needless to say,such a claim does not square with inclusiveness and tolerance.

Some people would like to 'soften' Christ's claim by saying Jesus probably 'didn't mean that'. I've not found a plausible alternative meaning.

Evidently, the apostles understood full well what Jesus claimed. When the High Priest ordered Peter and John not to preach in Jesus' Name, the response he got from the former fishermen was: there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved...we cannot help speaking about the things we've seen and heard (Acts 4)

The mammoth question remains; what about those who've not heard about Christ? Those to whom the gospel never reached, and to no fault of their own die without hearing of the only way to the Father?
Before China became China, (back when it had city/states run by strong rich men), there was a word used for God -- Jah! It is the native language of the people of that area for "I AM that I AM." God went to that land somehow. And since then they downsized that word to Tao.

Before Rome became an empire, or even Rome, (back when it had city/states run by strong rich men), there was a word used for God -- Jove. It is the native language of the people of that area for "I AM that I AM." God went to that land somehow. They turned Jove into a man-god, and then turned him into Jupiter.

I have full faith God has always been and is always. I have full faith God reaches even those before Jesus came, and those after Jesus came, even if people were born and died on some remote island no one has ever sent missionaries to. He has always been the one and only way.

For the rest of the people in the world? That's on us!
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#8
"I have other sheep not of this sheep pen." -John 10:16

Some would take that to mean the gentiles after pentecost, but Jesus said 'have', not 'will have'.

Myself, and someone who says this may receive fire in a community such as this one for saying this, I believe that God is intelligent and loving enough to have a relationship with people who are not Christian. Then again, I believe that God the Father (the physical manifestation of the creator) is an extraterrestrial being (we're not dealing with religion).
You're not dealing with God either then either. Who made the place the ET lived? Or, who is your god's God?
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#9
We live in a pluralistic society where tolerance is encouraged, even mandated.
The popular rhetoric in the New Age is 'you follow your way, I follow mine. Its all the same in the end'.
Or is it?

In contrast to the New Age,Jesus claimed and taught exclusivity. In one of the boldest claims ever made, Jesus said no one comes to God expect through Him (Jesus).
Needless to say,such a claim does not square with inclusiveness and tolerance.

Some people would like to 'soften' Christ's claim by saying Jesus probably 'didn't mean that'. I've not found a plausible alternative meaning.

Evidently, the apostles understood full well what Jesus claimed. When the High Priest ordered Peter and John not to preach in Jesus' Name, the response he got from the former fishermen was: there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved...we cannot help speaking about the things we've seen and heard (Acts 4)

The mammoth question remains; what about those who've not heard about Christ? Those to whom the gospel never reached, and to no fault of their own die without hearing of the only way to the Father?
The story is told of a man who was born and raised in a little village deep in the tropical forest. Those he lived among worshiped the trees which provided much of their sustenance. But this man would privately think to himself, but where do the trees come from? I want to know the one who made the trees.

Many thousands of miles away God was placing upon the heart of another man the desire to go and tell others about Jesus, and he was led to a little village deep in the tropical forest……...
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,188
113
#10
"I have other sheep not of this sheep pen." -John 10:16

Some would take that to mean the gentiles after pentecost, but Jesus said 'have', not 'will have'.

Myself, and someone who says this may receive fire in a community such as this one for saying this, I believe that God is intelligent and loving enough to have a relationship with people who are not Christian. Then again, I believe that God the Father (the physical manifestation of the creator) is an extraterrestrial being (we're not dealing with religion).
What you said didn't make any sense. So I went back to John 10:16 and read the whole thing.

John 10:16 [FONT=&quot]And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

[/FONT]
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#11
Then again, I believe that God the Father (the physical manifestation of the creator) is an extraterrestrial being (we're not dealing with religion).
Worrisome..... :confused:
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,273
1,410
113
#12
What you said didn't make any sense. So I went back to John 10:16 and read the whole thing.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Clears the issue up perfectly! Great post!