Truth offends everyone who disagrees with it. But the irony of truth is that the greater its potential for offense, the greater its potential for giving hope.
The Bible, God’s book for mankind, speaks of Jesus Christ as “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense” (1 Peter 2:8). Paul, one of the authors of the Bible, said, “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). And one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, told the religious leaders of his day, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Both Peter and Paul spoke in “offensive” terms because of what Jesus himself said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And, “Enter by the narrow gate....For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The great beauty of the Christian gospel (which literally means “good news”) is that in clear and certain ways it explains man’s predicament (sin and suffering), and God’s remedy (salvation through Christ).
Why the Gospel Offers Hope
The great London preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “The ark [of Noah] was a great ark, which held all kinds of creatures; and our Christ is a great Refuge, who saves all kinds of sinners.” Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,” and “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (Matthew 11:28, John 7:37).
What do those who come to Jesus find that they will not find in any other religion in the world?
• Salvation without deeds: The Bible says “Christ is the end of the law…to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). The sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to earth as a man and kept every aspect of the law that God requires of mankind. Something we could never do. That makes Christ the only way to know God now and to have the confidence of spending eternity with Him.
• Salvation without difficulty: “The word is near you” (Romans 10:8). As Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
• Salvation without deception: Confession is the evidence of belief; you can know you’re saved. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Those who believe are declared righteous by God through believing!
• Salvation without disappointment and without distinction: All who come will be saved. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
• Salvation without discrimination: No ethnic or racial group is excluded from the gospel. “For there is no distinction…for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him” (Romans 10:12).
The Message of Salvation to All
Why is it possible for the Christian gospel to offer such hope? Because it offers what no human being can ever attain otherwise—a righteous standing before a holy God. Because He was the unique God-Man, Jesus Christ was the only sinless human being who ever lived. And the only one who could substitute Himself for sinful, lost humanity: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:4-5). The only solution was for Christ to die the death we all deserved, “the righteous for the unrighteous [us!], that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Then Christ’s righteous record is put on the account of those who believe, making them right with God. “It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Buddhist has to find enlightenment through striving. The Hindu must find perfection through reincarnation. The Muslim must make trips to Mecca. The Jew must trust in his works. But in Christianity, the sinner needs only to find Jesus and believe in Him. No other religion in the world offers so much in exchange for faith—for accepting the gift of salvation that God offers in Christ. No wonder so many followers of other religions, once they understand the simplicity of the Christian gospel, gratefully embrace Jesus with open arms.
Billy Graham has said, “There’s also hope for the future because of God’s promises. As a Christian, I hope not for just this life, but for the life to come in heaven. That’s the hope of all of us who put our faith in God.”
Thankfully, the cross of Christ wasn’t the end. The tragedy of the cross became the triumph of the empty tomb. Christ’s resurrection three days later tells us that Christ has conquered evil and death and hell. When you place your trust in Jesus, you have hope that is real and unending!”
Where’s your hope?