Author: jameskim

Just a guy doing his best to love God, love others, and serve the world.

Inclusive AND Exclusive

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

You can’t get more exclusive than that.

The way. The truth. The life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

That’s where so many people have issues with Jesus. It’s this definite article thing. It’s the “No other way to the Father except through me” thing.

But, here’s the thing: what if that really is the only way? What if no other pathways will ever free sinners from the bondage of sin?

Remember, the invitation to receive Jesus is open to all sinners. The invitation is the most inclusive there is. You can’t get more inclusive than that.

AND God makes it clear that the only pathway to eternal life is through Jesus. God created the world. Only God gets to make the rules.

The reason why I am still alive today is because more than twenty years ago they sawed my rib cage in half and performed open heart surgery. That was pretty invasive. That really hurt. But that was the only way I could live. I had no other choice.

Jesus makes it clear. When it comes to freedom from sin, there is no other way than receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior.

That’s good news. God welcomes all. Jews, Hindus, Arabs, Muslims, Buddhists. All sinners. And the only way to free ourselves from sin and its grip is Jesus.

Inclusive AND Exclusive

“For God so loved the world…” (John 3: 16).

“For God so loved the world…” begins the most well-known verse in all of the Bible. And, for good reason. This verse describes God’s desire for his created world better than any other passage. When it comes to the love of God, there is no other faith or religion that comes even close to what our God offers.

There are no stipulations, no requirements, no barriers, no prerequisites. God loves the world. You can’t get more inclusive than that.

That’s what makes Christianity so different than any other religion or faith system. All others require things before a person is received into faith. They must believe the right things and behave the right way in order to belong.

Not so with Christ. Jesus accepts all sinners. Brown sinners. White sinners. Yellow sinners. Red sinners. ALL sinners. Even repeat sinners.

You can’t get more inclusive than that.

As you start this week, know you start with God’s love. You start with God’s invitation to receive eternal life and to start living that kingdom living immediately. You don’t have to wait until you die before you start living kingdom life. In the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray, we say, “May your kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven…” That’s exactly what that means. We start living kingdom life the moment Jesus becomes our Savior and Lord.

Happy Monday!

God’s Word

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:2-3).

Those of us who grew up in church circles will be familiar with the first of these verses – Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. However, we may not be as familiar with the second verse.

There are two things:

  1. We are called to preach the word. Not our opinions, not our thoughts, not what we think is right. We are called to preach God’s word. God’s word dictates what is true and what is wrong, what is good and what is sin.
  2. There will be a time when people will reject God’s word and surround themselves with “teachers” who will say just what people want to hear.

Paul wrote these words two thousand years ago. Yet, these words are absolutely relevant today.

Our society has a hard time accepting the truth because the lies being uttered from some pulpits is exactly what they want to hear.

Friends, the word of God comforts and strengthens. AND if the word of God does not correct, rebuke, it’s probably not the word of God. If the word of God never corrects and rebukes, it would mean we are perfect just the way we are. And we all know that ain’t right.

The word of God absolutely comforts and strengths. AND it corrects and rebukes. And that’s a good thing.