The ‘Audacious’ Message Unbelievers Cringe At

By David Ettinger

A Hard Sell
Telling people God loves them is not enough. Upon sharing this message with an unbeliever, she may say, “That’s nice” and go on with her day unaffected.

A discussion of the Gospel must begin with the truth that all people are born sinners; that is, separated from God and the consequence that goes with it. That consequence, of course, is that if people die in the same spiritual state in which they were born, they will spend eternity in Hell (more accurately, the Lake of Fire).

However, there is a “remedy” – the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Those who repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved; they will spend eternity with Christ.

Scoffers will repudiate the truth that all individuals are born sinners. However, those who will accept this claim for argument’s sake, have many other points of contention.

They may find it implausible that one man dying on a cross can in such an act take upon himself the sins of the world. “If I am a sinner,” the skeptic may reason, “it seems I’m getting off rather easy by simply saying, ‘Yes, God, give my sins to Jesus and clear me.’”

True, but there is more to it than this.

Though incredulous, the skeptic won’t be put off by the thought of one man taking upon himself the sins of the world. After all, it is a selfless and gallant act. However, there is one truth which will put off a skeptic, and it is a hard sell indeed.

The Audacity!
What is this outrageous truth which causes the unbeliever to say, “This is really what you believe? That’s audacity!” Here are a few verses; see if you can determine what it is:

• “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).
• “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
• “The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18).

So, what is the “audacious” message unbelievers cringe at? It is not the pithy bumper-sticker pronouncement that “Jesus Saves.” It’s true, but incomplete. The “audacious” message is that “Jesus Saves – and no one else. Jesus is the only one who can save you.”

For the unbeliever, this is the primary thorn of the Christian message. “Do you mean to tell me,” he sneers, “that it’s either Jesus or no one? Are you telling me that only Jesus can keep me out of Hell? This seems narrow-minded to me.”

Narrow Indeed
The truth that Jesus is the only way sinners can avoid eternal damnation is not narrow-minded, but it is narrow by way of alternatives (of which there are none). After all, Jesus Himself said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).

The “narrow gate” is Jesus. Not only is Jesus the “narrow gate,” He is also the “only gate.” The “gate” cannot be bypassed. The “gate” which is Jesus is the only entryway to eternal life, and it must be passed through to get there.

So, what do you do when skeptics bristle at this audacious truth?

First, in all Gospel discussions, remember Paul’s admonition to “Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6).

In other words, don’t argue, raise your voice, or get into a fight. Stay calm, but remain steadfast.

Second, I say something such as: “I know this is difficult to accept and sometimes I, too, wonder about it, but I thoroughly believe it. I see it in a positive light. Once I accept that I am a sinner bound for Hell, I am exceedingly grateful that God offers any way out at all! If Jesus is that only way, I jubilantly accept it.”

Not So Audacious
I don’t think the issue is so much one of convincing as it is presenting. I don’t engage people too deeply on the intellectual level, though this is important.

I believe it is more necessary to present the Truth as proclaimed in the Bible, do so lovingly, and show how truly wonderful it is.

Christ as the only way to salvation? If you present this truth tenderly and sensibly, perhaps the unbelievers in your life will come to the conclusion that it is not so audacious after all!

David Ettinger is a writer/editor at Zion’s Hope, Inc., and has written for Zion’s Fire magazine since its inception in 1990.