Through the Word in 2020 #160 - Nov. 23 / Inclusive/Exclusive

It is pretty common to think of Jesus as being sort of all-inclusive. The cosmic good-guy who just accepts everyone, makes no demands. “The People’s” savior if you will - with nothing of exclusivity about Him? But is that really the way the Bible portrays Him?

We’ll spend a minute on that today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

3 passages call for our attention today, Ezekiel 43:13-46:18; Revelation 1:1-8 and the very important dialog with Jesus recorded in John 8:39-59.

As I already mentioned, pop-theology tends to paint the picture of an “everyman” Jesus. And in one sense - this is most blessedly true. His “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” is a wonderfully universal call. And His charge to the Disciples to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” is equally broad and unambiguous. But reading and understanding the Scriptures - and thus understanding Jesus Himself - requires more than plucking one passage here and there and making that the whole of our understanding. So when we come to a passage like this one in John, it is the words of Jesus Himself that give vital additional context.

Now in this brief discussion, Jesus makes 3 eye-opening statements. Probably surprising to many.

“If God were your Father, you would love me.” We need to make no mistake here. Are you a child of God? Is God truly your Father? How can you know for sure? Well, if God is your Father, you love Jesus Christ. If you do not love Him, God is not your Father. You still need to be born again.

A number of years ago I was on a panel with the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rochester. In a joint statement we were asked to help craft, he submitted that we begin by affirming that all people are children of God.