Exclusively Inclusive.
November 12, 2009
THE HE MAN WOMAN HATER’S CLUB
This was the club started by the well known boys of the classic children’s TV series called Little Rascals. Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat and the rest established this club.
If you liked girls you were postively excluded from the club. If you did not like girls, then you were absolutely included. It was an exclusive inclusion for this boys club.
Just like the Little Rascals, there are many things out there that are exclusive to the wrong qualifications, and completely inclusive to those with the proper standing.
In John 14 Jesus made a positively exclusive – inclusive statement. As He claimed the title of “Way, Truth and Life,” He finished the statement with this observation: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, Jesus said that people who come through Him are absolutely included in a relationship with the Father. All those who do not God through Christ are absolutely excluded.
This is an absolute statement of inclusion and exclusion that Jesus makes. It is an absolute exlusion in that NO ONE who does not trust Christ will go to heaven. It is an absolute inclusion in that EVERYONE who trusts Christ will spend eternity with the Father. It is an ALL or NOTHING reality.
As you speak to others about Christ, make no mistake about it, there is no middle ground. Christ Himself is exclusively inclusive.
It’s such a clear statement that is echoed all throughout scripture. However, I think the reason that many don’t accept this truth is because they truly don’t accept a God who is Just and Holy. They refuse to accept this atoning sacrifice of Christ as the only way to Heaven, because perhaps they think they are good enough to get in themselves (or they have the false idea that God just forgives everyone automatically).
There is no need for me to trust in my works or some other unsatisfying payment. There is One Way. The Word of God is clear.