Objections To Jesus Week 3: Exclusivity Message Summary: It just feels wrong to say that some people who believe in God, pray, and love their neighbor will make it to heaven yet other people won’t. Why do many Christians believe that only Christians will make it to heaven? What about all the sincere, devout followers of other faiths? How can that be anything but exclusive, arrogant, and inaccurate? ✦ The world’s tension = Exclusivity isn’t loving ✦ The real objection = Christian exclusivity is narrow, arrogant & judgmental. ✦ Romans 3:19-20, 22b-23 — Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin…There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ✦ Answer #1 — Sin = All-inclusive ✦ Romans 6:23 — The wages of sin is death. ✦ Hebrews 12:14b — …without holiness no one will see the Lord. ✦ Answer #2 — Sin = Exclusion ✦ 1 Timothy 2:3-4 — This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ✦ 2 Peter 3:9 — The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ✦ Answer #3 — God = All-inclusive (he want’s all people to be saved). ✦ 1 Timothy 2:5-6a — For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. ✦ Answer #4 — Jesus is God’s solution from exclusion. ✦ John 14:6 — Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ✦ John 3:16-18 — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ✦ Answer #5 — Faith in Jesus is the reason for inclusion. Planting Jesus Roots GATHER — Make a personal commitment to gather in worship for every week of our upcoming sermon series on Revelation. Let God, through his Word and his people, strengthen you for the season ahead. GROUP — Who inspires you with their ability to connect with non-Christian people? Ask them to share the way they view their mission to go and make more disciples. GROW — Give some reflection time to Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:16-20. What do you learn about the mission that Jesus has given his Church to carry out? GIVE — Your offerings help fund the ministries that help us to “Go” and reach our community. Thank you for supporting our digital outreach, our Christian school, our mission partners, and all of 922 Ministries. GO — Invite someone to join us next week for our new series on how God’s Word gives us peace in this worried, fearful world. Homework: Revelation 4:1-11 (Hashtags: Faith, Jesus, Heaven, Salvation)