I would like to hope, Alan, you're right, but I don't think so.
On the one hand, we have a win-win outcome, and on the other, we have a win-lose outcome. Yes, Jesus is the only way we will be found righteous in the eyes of God, but if I don't believe Jesus is the Son of God, don't believe Him when he says in Matthew, "none cometh unto the Father accept by me", and for that matter don't even believe in God, then as a believer, I interpret God's Word to say that if I didn't believe even after having had the gospel shared with me, that I have rejected God and the work of Christ on my behalf. As I understand the writer which you quoted, he seems to suggest that it wouldn't matter, that I would still be saved. I don't believe that is what God's Word says.
God is so awesome. I wondered why the Holy Spirit kept reminding me of John 3:16 over the course of the week. "For God so love the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Clearly, Alan, this verse tells us everlasting life is conditional upon the belief that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and that "whosoever believeth" shall have everlasting life. If God's ultimate plan was to save man no matter what, then why would the word 'perish' be used in the scripture?
By the way, was given a copy of "Heaven Is So Real!" by Choo Thomas around Memorial Day by a Brother I see only once a year. Am so impressed by it that I bought 3 copies and gave them away, and I just ordered another 5 copies to give away. Anyone else read this book?
Mike |
