is Jesus the ONLY way?

I have to agree with you Psalm 145 3. For Charles Stanley to say there is any other way besides Jesus is very unbiblical. John 14:6 says: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." See also Acts 4:12. As for those who don't or didn't know Jesus, read Romans 2:12.

YBIC,
Frank.

 

I dont remember the author but he was a minister in Boston around the early 1800's.
A Trinitarian Universalist (a rare breed).
In his writings, he said that he believed all humanity would ultimately be saved. They would be saved by eventually coming to the truth that Jesus Christ was and is the only way to heaven. He had the doctrine that hell was a kind of purgatory in which the "lost", no matter their former way of life, religion or belief system, would eventually be born again into to a saving knowledge of Christ.
Strange, but perhaps Stanley has adopted this or a modified "second chance" view.

HankD

 

I see this as furhter proof that some fundamentalist Southern Baptist are merely Catholics in Baptist clothing.

Joseph

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> I see this as furhter proof that some fundamentalist Southern Baptist are merely Catholics in Baptist clothing.
Joseph

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Joseph,

Kathy better put that one on the funny quotes post.

Bill

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Psalm145 3:
I was on my break at work the other night and was listening to Charles Stanley's radio broadcast.
Stanley said, "would God send somebody to hell because they did not receive Jesus whom they never heard about, never had the privilege of knowing about? And my answer is: No, he would not."

Has Charles Stanley lost his mind? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It is dangerous to respond to one sentence from a whole sermon, but I will give one possible explanation of what Rev. Stanley was saying.

We are all sinners;we are all under God's condemnation. The blood of Jesus Christ on the cross is the only and the full payment for our sins. The basis for a person going to hell is ultimately his or her rebellion against God. The 1st chapter of Romans shows that even without specific hearing of Jesus, we all have evidence of God and are under condemnation without Jesus.

There are no "good" pagans going to Heaven by being pretty good pagans. However, Paul said in his address on Mars Hill that God has set the boundaries of nations and peoples so that we would seek Him, and that He is not far from any one of us.

There will not be anyone in hell who would have received the Gospel but is there just because another human did not tell him.
God chooses to use us but is not dependent on us in telling others.

Perhaps Dr. Stanley was referring to and countering popular Baptist revivalist thought which is neither Arminian nor Calvinist but comes close to making someone else's salvation dependent on MY efforts,not God's calling, nor the person's choice. We NEED to witness, it is part of God's plan, but sometimes we think that people won't witness if we don't convince them that it ALL DEPENDS on them.

Karen

[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: Karen ]

 

Very good response Karen.

 

While I am not particularly a Stanley fan, we are not hearing the whole sermon. There are enough dangers in lifting scriptural quotes out of context, no less the words of men.

I would be curious as to where he went with the rest of the sermon.

 

Joseph said, "I see this as furhter proof that some fundamentalist Southern Baptist are merely Catholics in Baptist clothing."

As are some IFBers, CBFers, etc. Were you trying to make some intellectual point, or just seizing the opportunity to vocalize your un-Christlike attitude toward brothers and sisters of a different denomination?

 

Romans 1:17-22
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,


Romans 2:1-16
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.


It seems to me that Paul is saying here that those without the law still have God's will written in their hearts and the proof of His existance written in this world. Therefore those who are born in places where the Good News of Jesus Christ, have a chance at salvation. If they seek God and to do his will, they do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

When it comes to people who have not heard about Jesus, I have to ask "whose fault is it?" It's not God's fault, it's ours. Remember, there was at least two times in history when everyone on the face of the earth knew about God: at creation, and after the flood. The responsibility was ours to carry on the good news. We have failed, not God.