Christianity, An Exclusionary Faith?

6 of 22 from Psalm 119

Psalms 119:41-48  VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  (42)  So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.  (43)  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  (44)  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  (45)  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  (46)  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  (47)  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  (48)  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

            Reader, as we began this study, I had been mulling a “reproach” I had received regarding an article I wrote entitled, “Who Are We?” The complete article is located at (http://fundamentalthoughts-preacher.blogspot.com/2010/11/who-are-we.html). (It was written a few years ago for a local newspaper.) Within our text above, God has given us a means “to answer him that reproacheth me.” 

            Within the article, I asked the following question, “Who is a true Christian?”  Based on that question, I was initially asked if the “modifier, True” needed to be added to “Christian?”  I was then asked another question, “What purpose does it [True] serve except to try to exclude?”

            The neat part about Jesus and His Father, God, is that They have never excluded anyone.  They have never been the reason anyone has ever gone to Hell.  (God and His Son Jesus love us with a love that is beyond our comprehension.)

            In all this, there are things that must be done in a person’s life in order “to be called” a Christian.  God has told us certainly that good works will not do the task of earning us the title of Christian.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We must know that Salvation is a gift, (a non-returnable gift,) given to those who profess God’s Son as their Savior.  Consequently, my Salvation came from the Grace of God, which allowed me by Faith to accept God’s “Amazing Grace,” Jesus, by Faith and Faith alone.  I believe, (by Faith, that Jesus is the Son of the Most High God, and He is God Himself.)

John 1:1-5  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

            So, why would someone ask, “Why is Christianity exclusionary?”  To some it might seem that way.  A Pastor’s first task is to protect the flock (the Congregation).  That includes anyone entering “the fold” and falling into blatant sin.  (That sin can never be acceptable within the Church.)  Those person/persons must be excluded from the flock until they repent and move themselves back under the Grace of God.  (The Pastor cannot let a person known to be in sin within the fold.  God will never let one into Heaven.)

            Our Churches today are beset by the secularism of the world (to mollify our preaching and let anyone in.)  Our Bible teaches us that until repentance, and accepting Jesus in belief and with Faith, we cannot become a Christian.  We cannot be “born into Christianity.”  Someone cannot “make us a Christian.”  We become a  Christian (true Christian) by accepting Jesus The Christ as our Personal Savior.

Hebrews 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

By our accepting, (by our drawing nearer to God,) we must be drawn with a true sincere heart, but always by Faith.  We must also repent, “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.”  It cannot be my way.  It must always be God’s Way.

            Those who refuse, (and may even go to Church,) yet refuse to accept Jesus are not Christians.  They may profess Christianity, but The Bible tells us:

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Yet, they may have done “many wonderful works.”

Romans 1:21-22  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.  (22)  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Regardless “of their works,” God’s wrath will come upon them.  Always know that God does love us. However, He requires that we come to Him with a humble and repented heart.

Romans 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

            They, (those who refuse Jesus,) will be given over to God’s wrath by their own doing.  (God expects more than some are willing to give.  If sin is our first love, to give that up is not acceptable to many.)

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

We are told time and time again that the “Love of God” is a reciprocal love.  We show our love to God by accepting His Son as God.  Our love is depicted by following Jesus’ precepts (as sinless a life as we can.)  Otherwise, we at some point will have to deal with God’s Wrath.

John 3:15-18  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  (16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Being a condemned man or woman is a woeful situation.  If you are not a “TRUE Christian,” you are a condemned person.

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

That condemnation cited in John 3:18: the everlasting “wrath of God abideth on him” (you.)  This isn’t “the Preacher” just making up stuff.  It is the precepts laid down by God Himself, in His Holy Bible.

            If you want to be “a true Christian,” accept Jesus as God directs, and repent in your heart of your sinning ways.  Bow down on your knees and accept Him now.  Salvation is yours by calling on His name.

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

He is waiting for you this very moment.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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