Need A Heart Transplant

I hear it over and over again but in many different ways. Christianity is just one religion that helps people see what is good and helps them to achieve living that good life. Sometimes that seems to be the main theme in contemporary Christian books, even conservative ones. Quite often it is in liberal Christian and nonChristian works.

I was finishing the debate between Dr. White and Dr. Crossan of the Jesus seminar when the ultimate question was finally asked in the question and answer period by a regular guy in the audience (click here for 2 minute clip). He basically asked Dr. Crossan "why?". If this world is evil, there seems to be no coming judgment, no hell, no wrath against sin, no substitutionary atonement, no forgiveness of sin, no resurrection, then why not just "kill yourself"? In other words, why is his version of Christianity so needed?

The response was quite typical. It assumed what all of the religions of man believe. That men have a free-will. If we just point men in the right direction, they could become good. This was the message of Jesus. Jesus was simply trying to teach us that the Kingdom of God comes by doing good. So if we just do it, then....

The Bible actually says something quite different. Men are not simply creatures who have lost their way but could be good if someone just steered them in the right direction. Men are not free-will agents that somehow are able to sit in judgment of God and His Gospel and choose it if it pleases them.

Men are dead in sin. Men are slaves of their sin. Men need not resuscitation. We do not need to wake up from an afternoon nap. We need resurrection! We need the Spirit of God to give us spiritual life. We need to repent and believe in the Gospel.

But my position assumes something that Dr. White clearly states in less than one minute. I believe that it is the Gospel that is the power of God. I do not believe that power is shared by man in any way shape or form. Men need a heart transplant. This can only be done by God and the Gospel he has commanded Christians to proclaim.

It is the Gospel that saves. It is the Spirit that saves. It is the Son that saves. It is the Father that saves. It is the Trinity that saves.

Soli Deo Gloria!