Salvation, Not Condemnation

"For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him" John 3:17.

God, through Jesus, is an inclusive God. Some say that the Christian faith is exclusive because of the basis of belief that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Jesus himself said in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (emphasis mine).

Jesus is the only way to God, and His promise in John 3:16 is that, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

In being the only way to God, Jesus is showing all human kind the narrow path that leads to life. He is not excluding anyone. He is providing direction for everyone. Exclusion comes by personal decision. Each person decides for himself whether they will take Jesus at His word, or whether they will ignore or reject Him.

That being said, I am well aware that "by grace we are saved through faith; ... it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Herein lies a mystery to me -- the process of faith. From my earliest memories I was interested in God. In seventh grade I recall kneeling in church and praying to God, "there must be something more to knowing You than what I am experiencing." During college I sought God in many different religious practices. Then on a February night in 1984, I had the profound realization that Jesus is the only hope. In one moment, in the twinkling of an eye, my faith was increased to a level of assurance. As it says in Ephesians 1:18, "the eyes of my heart were enlightened."

I know that I am not alone in this profound experience, because other people have shared with me their own similar stories. Yet there are many good and religious people seeking God who have not yet had such an experience. Jesus does not condemn them. He continues to call them by His Holy Spirit. I do not understand the workings of all this. I do not understand the timing in my own walk of faith that brought me to the moment of assurance. I only know for certain that my faith is a gift of God.

Therefore I think that we as believers are called to be patient with those who are not yet assured in their faith. We must guard against becoming spiritually arrogant because others do not believe or worship or live as we do. Instead, let us pray according to Ephesians 1:17 - 18, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you [insert the names of your choosing] a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him."

I do not understand the timing of my spiritual epiphany, but I do know now that there were people praying for "the eyes of my heart to be enlightened." To them and for them I am eternally grateful.