For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
(1Ti 2:5)
Solus Christus means Christ Alone. This great truth of the Reformation came as a result of the Roman church’s teaching that other dead saints or even Mary herself could be an intermediary between God and man. Solus Christus also affirms that Christ alone has provided our salvation, and that salvation is by no other.
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
(Act 4:10-12)
How important it is to broadcast this message to the ends of the earth in this day and age of multiculturalism! Mohammad can not save you. Mary can’t save you. Buddha can’t save you. Only through the blood of Jesus Christ can we obtain remission of our sins. Heaven and Hell are real, and Christ alone has provided the way to Heaven.
In the day and age in which we live, the name of Jesus is very offensive. I once gave an Ice Breaker speech at a Toastmasters Club in Dallas, Texas. An “Ice Breaker” speech is supposed to be a speech about ones self as an introduction to the club. Well, anyone who knows me knows that Jesus Christ is my life. As stated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Well, because in this speech I gave my testimony as to how the Lord Jesus Christ saved me, I received the wrath of the club from the majority of the members. There were one or two Christian brothers or sisters who were silently supportive, but even they advised me that I may need to be mindful of those who disagree. I am so tired of even Christians watering down their message so as not to offend! This world is dying and going to hell and all we seem to care about is not offending them as they travel that path. On the day of judgment, it is my goal to have either converted them to Christianity (which will happen if they are part of God’s elect), or to remove all excuse from them as they try to avoid gazing into the eyes of their Judge. They will not be able to claim, “Mike Southerland never told us about You!” No, if they burn in Hell, it will be because they hated the name of Jesus, and they would not want to spend eternity with Him anyway. The Lord will ask them why they did not heed the warnings of His servants that He sent along their paths. Their honest answer would be that they were too busy trying to convince those servants not to use such an offensive name in their message.
The fact remains that JESUS CHRIST alone is the way of salvation! I thank our Reformation Fathers for proclaiming this truth loudly even in the midst of persecution over it. If they can be burned at the stake for such a message, surely I can endure some negative comments or a bit of gossip behind my back.
SOLUS CHRISTUS!
2 comments:
One question: Would you be just as concerned if a Muslim got up and spoke of jihad, infidel Christians, and Jewish pigs and how Allah is a greater god than ours? There is a time and a place for everything, even in Toastmasters. The Ice Breaker speech was not the appropriate time.
Paul,
If you haven't noticed, the type of speech you just described is very "politically correct" in today's culture (with the possible exception of insulting a jew). If a muslim were to get up and say these things, and you gave him the same type of negative response that I received at that local Dallas TM club, you would be labeled as a "bigot" or "intolerant." You see, Christianity is the only politically correct "whipping boy" in our society. You can stand up and proclaim all sorts of false religions and no one says a word. Yet, if you dare to mention the name of Jesus Christ, people become very uncomfortable. There's a great reason for this. Satan is alive and well. He likes to think that he runs this place. So, it's no surprise that his followers do not care when false religions are proclaimed. After all, worshippers of "allah" are, in effect, worshipping satan anyway.
I also disagree with you that the Ice Breaker speech was not the appropriate time to make these statements. The purpose of the Ice Breaker is to allow the club to get to know you and to allow a newbie to become accustomed to speaking in front of an audience. Someone can't know me if they do not know about my Jesus. I'm also thankful that I am an ATM-S. For if I had truly been a newcomer giving his very first Ice Breaker, my greatest fears would have been realized that there is indeed something to fear in presenting to a suppossed "friendly" audience at Toastmasters. The club where I presented wasn't even a company club. It was simply a community club that I paid my hard earned money to join. I stopped by your website. Thanks for tying that to your name. I now know of another Dallas club to "avoid" if the Lord should ever see will for us to move back to the Dallas area. BTW - My club here in OKC has been wonderful. I've "pressed the envelope" a few times out here, and I've received nothing but positive comments from the membership. I'm beginning to think that Dallas is becoming a modern day "Sodom" where the name of Jesus Christ is hated.
(Praying that God will find at least 10 righteous there, and thus spare the city His judgment.)
-Mike
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