Series explore god - part 4 - is christianity too narrow - 10-04-15 - presentation

IS CHRISTIANITY TOO NARROW?

As a Christ-follower I’m faced with the challenge that Christianity is not

presented as just another subjective, religious

philosophy.

Christians see the claims of Jesus as objectively true

—true in the sense that gravity

is true. And if the gospel of Jesus Christ is truth,

then it is absolute and true for

all people.

The problem is, there are so many knotty and

untenable implications with that position.

At first blush Christ’s claims seem to smack of arrogance, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.

(Ed Gungor)

THE NATURE OF NARROW

There are two paths before you; you may take only one

path. One doorway is narrow. And one door is

wide. Go through the narrow door. For the wide door leads to a wide path, and the wide

path is broad; the wide,

broad path is easy, and the wide, broad, easy path has many, many people on it; but the wide, broad, easy,

crowded path leads to death. Now then that narrow door

leads to a narrow road that in turn leads to life.

It is hard to find that road. Not many people manage it. (Matthew 7:13-14 – Voice)

I am the only God! There are no others. I have the power to save. I invite the whole

world to turn to me and be saved. I alone am God! No others are real. (Isaiah 45:21-22 – Contemporary English Version)

Narrowness doesn’t make

something wrong!

Sincerity doesn’t make

something right!

Beliefdoesn’t make

something true!

If something is true, it by definition excludes

everything else that is false.

THE EXCLUSIVITY OF JESUS

THE NARROWNESS OF OUR FAITH

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no

other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be

saved

[for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation]. (Acts 4:12 –

Amplified Bible)

Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the

[real] Truth and the [real] Life;

no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

(John 14:6 – Amplified Bible)

He wants all people to be saved and to know what is

true. There is one God. There is also only one man

who can open the way between God and all people.

That man is Christ Jesus. He gave his life to set all men free. (1 Timothy 2:4-6 – World

English Bible)

Jesus is exclusive in His person

The Word (Christ) was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was

God. He was with God in the beginning. He made all

things. Nothing was made without Him making it. (John

1:1-3 – New Live Version)

The Father and I are one. (John 10:30 – Lexham English

Bible)

Jesus said to them, “My Father is still working all the time so I am working also.” The Jews tried all the more

to kill Him, not only because He had worked on the Day of

Rest,

but because He had also called God His Own Father. This made Him the same as

God. (John 5:17-18 – New Life

Version)

Jesus alone claimed to be God

Jesus is exclusive in His purpose

Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in

by offering himself as a sacrifice

for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that

rescue. (Galatians 1:4 – The Message)

He was born a baby. And when he was a man, he was humble. He was even willing

to die, yes, to die on a cross.

(Philippians 2:7-8 – World English Bible)

It was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on

himself, that God was punishing him for his

own failures.

But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our

sins! He took the punishment, and that made

us whole.

Through his bruises we get healed . . . And GOD has

piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him,

on him. (Isaiah 53:4-5 – The Message)

Jesus alone gave his life for others

Jesus is exclusive in His provision

God already planned to have us as His own children. This was done by Jesus Christ. In

His plan God wanted this done. We thank God for His

loving-favor to us.

He gave this loving-favor to us through His much-loved

Son. Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and

made free from the punishment of sin.

And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so

rich . . .

For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything

you have done. It is a gift of God.

(Ephesians 1:5-7, 2:8 – New Life Version)

Jesus alone offers salvation to everyone

Jesus is exclusive in His promise

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never

sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to

God. (1 Peter 3:18 – New Living

Translation)

For God so loved the world that he gave his only and

unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him

may have eternal life, instead of being utterly

destroyed. (John 3:16 – Complete Jewish

Bible)

Jesus alone can bring us to God

IS CHRISTIANITY TOO NARROW?

Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the

[real] Truth and the [real] Life;

no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

(John 14:6 – Amplified Bible)

He is the WAY to bring you home!

He is the TRUTHto set you free!

He is the LIFEto give you hope!

Liar, Lunatic, Legend or Lord

Jesus Christ

I am the Door. Anyone who goes in through Me will be

saved from the punishment of sin . . . The robber comes only

to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might

have life, a great full life. (John 10:9-10 – New Life Version)

Let’s Pray