Now Playing: The Road to the Gift of Salvation
Topic: Gospel
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)
It is significant that the most people want to go to Heaven, but they don’t like to see the death bed. Instead, they believe that there are many ways to Heaven. Operah Winfrey, President Barak Obama, Faith Building Pastor Joe Osteen and some today’s evangelical preachers said that there are other ways to God. Why?
Even though many evangelical preachers may believe that they preach the truth of the Words of God, they may use a very small percentage of the biblical references in their sermon. It is sad that the most televangelists teach on Christian living and how to become rich beings. When I listen to Joe Osteen’s messages, I hardly hear messages on salvation, spiritual discernment, sins, God’s wrath, and His discipline methods toward us. Listen to what Joe Osteen told in his interview with Larry King on June 20, 2005:
KING: But you're not fire and brimstone, right? You're not pound the decks and hell and dam nation?
OSTEEN: No. That's not me. It's never been me. I've always been an encourager at heart. And when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I just -- I don't believe in that. I don't believe -- maybe it was for a time. But I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm there to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us.
Motivator speaker? Even though we need to hear some encouragement words from the pastor, we also need to hear the message on the negative side, so we could be aware of our actions toward God and people. Throughout the books of Gospel, we read that the most teachings of Jesus are about the hell and sin. About nine years later of Osteen’s interview with Larry King, his preaching method didn’t change much. Without the biblical discernment message, the church maybe in a high risk of losing their gift of salvation and spend eternity with God. Building a multibillionaire mega church doesn’t mean that the preacher proclaims the truth. Paul said in II Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” We need both encouraging and discernment messages in order to retain our gifts of salvation and do our parts.
Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Praying a Rose Mary Prayer or Lord’s Prayer doesn’t guarantee that God is listening to our prayer. The gift of salvation means that we have totally accessed to Him. We do not need to have appointment with priests or pastors to confess our sins. That was from the Old Testament era. The priest or pastor does not have the power to forgive our sins, but he can show us how to pray to God. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Not Virgin Mother Mary, Buddha, Hindu, or any gods that were created by men can save us from the darkness of sins. Only Jesus. He is the only Savior who can forgive our sins and lead us to the light. Even though Virgin Mary gave Jesus a birth, it doesn’t mean that she is the mother of Church. There is no biblical reference that God gave Mary this divine power. We need to give respect to Virgin Mary, but it doesn’t mean that we need to worship and pray to her. Otherwise, we would be breaking the one of the Ten Commandments if we’d idolize Mary as co-equal with God.
Let me ask you a question. Do you have your relationship with the Heavenly Father? If not, I like to encourage you to develop your personal relationship with Jesus Christ today. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God. If you’d need further assistance, you can email me at or visit my ministries website at www.mgjcweb.org for further resources.
