Slide1 :
Slide2 : Is Christ the only way?
Slide3 : The only way to what? Power? Knowledge? Happiness? Supernatural? Success? Love?
Slide4 : The only way to what?
Slide5 : Two Key Questions: 1. 'How can a loving God send innocent people to hell?' [Universalism] 2. 'Are there not other equally valid ways to God?' [Pluralism] Aren't all religions really different roads up the same mountain? [Syncretism]
Slide6 : The 'nice' position: 'I love the teachings of Jesus and other spiritual masters, and I love the teachings of God in nature. I especially love what unites us all, the spiritual truths that weave through all the world's religions.' The Rev. Kathleen Verigin, Abundant Life Center, Vancouver, WA
Slide7 : The 'religious' position: I'm offended that so many conservative Christians believe that theirs is the only path to salvation. I'm sick of being proselytized. We Jews enjoy a more basic type of faith, a direct relationship to God that requires no salvation, no penitence, no supplication. We do not proselytize. And we don't worry about the next life; we conduct mitzvahs--good deeds--that enhance life for ourselves and others in the here and now. Pamela R. Winnick
Slide8 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? YHWH, the God of holy, loving justice, ________ reveals Himself to all people, so He can have _________ with them. He leads them to _________ but also _____ them to reject (ignore) His gracious revelation and choose to be apart from Him for eternity.
Slide9 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? YHWH, the God of holy, loving justice, graciously reveals Himself to all people, so He can have _________ with them. He leads them to _________ but also _____ them to reject (ignore) His gracious revelation and choose to be apart from Him for eternity.
Slide10 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? YHWH, the God of holy, loving justice, graciously reveals Himself to all people, so He can have relationship with them. He leads them to _________ but also _____ them to reject (ignore) His gracious revelation and choose to be apart from Him for eternity.
Slide11 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? YHWH, the God of holy, loving justice, graciously reveals Himself to all people, so He can have relationship with them. He leads them to repentance, but also _____ them to reject (ignore) His gracious revelation and choose to be apart from Him for eternity.
Slide12 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? YHWH, the God of holy, loving justice, graciously reveals Himself to all people, so He can have relationship with them. He leads them to repentance, but also allows them to reject (ignore) His gracious revelation and choose to be apart from Him for eternity.
Slide13 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 1. The biblical teaching as well as empirical evidence shows humans worship and serve ____ ____.
Slide14 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 1. The biblical teaching as well as empirical evidence shows humans worship and serve other gods.
Slide15 : The only way to what?
Slide16 : The only way to what?
Slide17 :
Slide18 : Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
Slide19 : Psalm 19 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Slide20 : Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
Slide21 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide22 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide23 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide24 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide25 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 2. God, out of His grace and desire for relationship, makes Himself known to __ people in __ places
Slide26 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 2. God, out of His grace and desire for relationship, makes Himself known to all people in __ places
Slide27 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 2. God, out of His grace and desire for relationship, makes Himself known to all people in all places
Slide28 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide29 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide30 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide31 : Romans 1:19-20 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Slide32 : Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Slide33 : Romans 1:22-23 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Slide34 : Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over . . .
Slide35 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 3. People usually _____ to receive this revelation, preferring to serve other gods. They neither glorify Him as God nor are thankful to Him. Even as His revelation is repudiated, rejected, ignored or distorted, He ______ in making Himself known. Because of this, there is no possible excuse of ________
Slide36 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 3. People usually refuse to receive this revelation, preferring to serve other gods. They neither glorify Him as God nor are thankful to Him. Even as His revelation is repudiated, rejected, ignored or distorted, He ______ in making Himself known. Because of this, there is no possible excuse of ________
Slide37 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 3. People usually refuse to receive this revelation, preferring to serve other gods. They neither glorify Him as God nor are thankful to Him. Even as His revelation is repudiated, rejected, ignored or distorted, He persists in making Himself known. Because of this, there is no possible excuse of ________
Slide38 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 3. People usually refuse to receive this revelation, preferring to serve other gods. They neither glorify Him as God nor are thankful to Him. Even as His revelation is repudiated, rejected, ignored or distorted, He persists in making Himself known. Because of this, there is no possible excuse of innocence
Slide39 : Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
Slide40 : Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
Slide41 : Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Slide42 : Romans 2:8-9 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;
Slide43 : Romans 2:10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Slide44 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 4. Out of the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, He ____ people toward repentance. Those who ________ Him will receive His righteous judgment. To those who _______ to His grace, seeking glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. This is true for Jew and Gentile alike
Slide45 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 4. Out of the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, He leads people toward repentance. Those who ________ Him will receive His righteous judgment. To those who _______ to His grace, seeking glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. This is true for Jew and Gentile alike
Slide46 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 4. Out of the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, He leads people toward repentance. Those who contempt Him will receive His righteous judgment. To those who _______ to His grace, seeking glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. This is true for Jew and Gentile alike
Slide47 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 4. Out of the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, He leads people toward repentance. Those who contempt Him will receive His righteous judgment. To those who respond to His grace, seeking glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. This is true for Jew and Gentile alike
Slide48 : Romans 2:14-15 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.
Slide49 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 5. The biblical teaching as well as empirical evidence shows humans are aware they fail to meet an internal standard of righteousness put there by God Himself
Slide50 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 6. People who have not heard of Christ are __ condemned for not knowing Christ, but for _______ relationship with ___ through the revelation God has made clear to them
Slide51 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 6. People who have not heard of Christ are not condemned for not knowing Christ, but for _______ relationship with ___ through the revelation God has made clear to them
Slide52 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 6. People who have not heard of Christ are not condemned for not knowing Christ, but for rejecting relationship with ___ through the revelation God has made clear to them
Slide53 : How can a loving God send innocent people to hell? 6. People who have not heard of Christ are not condemned for not knowing Christ, but for rejecting relationship with God through the revelation God has made clear to them
Slide54 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? Aren’t all religions really different roads up the same mountain?
Slide55 : Mt. Deus
Slide56 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? The different religions worship _______ gods. Only Christianity is a religion of _____ with a personal God who moves to save humans justly from their sins, where salvation (acceptance by God) is not dependent upon our __________. Jesus Christ is unique among humans as the incarnate Word. While most other religions have some truth, only Christianity IS ___ ____.
Slide57 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? The different religions worship different gods. Only Christianity is a religion of _____ with a personal God who moves to save humans justly from their sins, where salvation (acceptance by God) is not dependent upon our __________. Jesus Christ is unique among humans as the incarnate Word. While most other religions have some truth, only Christianity IS ___ ____.
Slide58 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? The different religions worship different gods. Only Christianity is a religion of grace with a personal God who moves to save humans justly from their sins, where salvation (acceptance by God) is not dependent upon our __________. Jesus Christ is unique among humans as the incarnate Word. While most other religions have some truth, only Christianity IS ___ ____.
Slide59 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? The different religions worship different gods. Only Christianity is a religion of grace with a personal God who moves to save humans justly from their sins, where salvation (acceptance by God) is not dependent upon our achievement. Jesus Christ is unique among humans as the incarnate Word. While most other religions have some truth, only Christianity IS ___ ____.
Slide60 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? The different religions worship different gods. Only Christianity is a religion of grace with a personal God who moves to save humans justly from their sins, where salvation (acceptance by God) is not dependent upon our achievement. Jesus Christ is unique among humans as the incarnate Word. While most other religions have some truth, only Christianity IS true truth.
Slide61 : Romans 3:23 There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Slide62 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 1. Humans are sinful and in need of redemption
Slide63 : John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Slide64 : John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Slide65 : Mark 2 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'
Slide66 : Mark 2 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 'Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?'
Slide67 : Mark 2 Jesus said to them, 'Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?
Slide68 : Mark 2 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....' He said to the paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.'
Slide69 : Matthew 26 The high priest said to him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'
Slide70 : Matthew 26 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied. 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'
Slide71 : Matthew 26 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?' 'He is worthy of death,' they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.
Slide72 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 2. Jesus is ______ He alone claims to be incarnate _______ He is not a good ______ (only) Liar - lunatic - Lord
Slide73 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 2. Jesus is unique He alone claims to be incarnate _______ He is not a good ______ (only) Liar - lunatic - Lord
Slide74 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 2. Jesus is unique He alone claims to be incarnate God-man He is not a good ______ (only) Liar - lunatic - Lord
Slide75 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 2. Jesus is unique He alone claims to be incarnate God-man He is not a good teacher (only) Liar - lunatic - Lord
Slide76 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 3. Christianity claims to be ______
Slide77 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 3. Christianity claims to be unique
Slide78 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 4. Most other religions also claim ________
Slide79 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 4. Most other religions also claim exclusivity
Slide80 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 5. Everyone _____ some religions
Slide81 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 5. Everyone rejects some religions Temple prostitutes Suicide cults Satanism Human sacrifice
Slide82 :
Slide83 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 6. Christianity is truly _____
Slide84 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 6. Christianity is truly unique A. ____
Slide85 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 6. Christianity is truly unique A. Jesus B. Tri-Personal, loving, holy God C. Sin as universal, redeemable rebellion against God
Slide86 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 6. Christianity is truly unique D. Salvation by grace based on God's provision E. Heaven as being with ____ joining Him in the cool things He likes to do
Slide87 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 6. Christianity is truly unique D. Salvation by grace based on God's provision E. Heaven as being with Jesus joining Him in the cool things He likes to do
Slide88 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 7. The other religions really are _______
Slide89 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 7. The other religions really are different
Slide90 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 8. Uniqueness does not make God guilty of ______ ______ _________
Slide91 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 8. Uniqueness does not make God guilty of narrow minded intolerance A. God is not narrow. He has revealed Himself universally, provided a universally valid way of salvation, and given specially equipped and empowered people the mission to proclaim it
Slide92 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 8. Uniqueness does not make God guilty of narrow minded intolerance B. Exclusivity is not inherently wrong and toleration is not necessarily a virtue
Slide93 : Mt. Horeb
Slide94 : Mt. Deus
Slide95 : Mt. Horeb
Slide96 :
Slide97 : Are there not other equally valid ways to God? 8. Uniqueness does not make God guilty of narrow minded intolerance A. All roads may lead up mountains, but they are different mountains.
Slide98 : Romans 2 Do you realize that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? To those who seek Him among the gods, he will give eternal life.
Slide99 : John 3 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.
Slide100 : Exodus 34:6-7 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.'
Slide101 :