Theological Term of the Week: Exclusivism

exclusivism

The belief that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour and faith in him is necessary for salvation.

• From scripture: 

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:9-14 ESV)

• From the Westminster Larger Catechism: 

Question 60: Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

Answer: They who, having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess; neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body the church

• From The “Very Destestable and Pernicious” Doctrine of Inclusivism by Robert Reymond: 

The Bible is solicitous that Christians understand that the nations are lost, unsaved, and perishing without God. They are under divine condemnation, not just because they have never heard of Christ, but more primarily because they are transgressors of God’s holy law. Christians should pray that God will melt their own hearts and remove all that would blind their eyes that they may see their world as it really is—a world on a collision course with the flames of divine judgment! And they should pray that God will empower them and send them to that world with the “good news” of his redeeming love in Christ who is the only true Savior of mankind.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Inclusivism vs exclusivism - what does the Bible say?
2. Kevin DeYoung: Clarifying Inclusivism and Exclusivism
3. James Anderson: Is There Only One Way of Salvation?
4. Sam Storms: 10 Things You Should Know About the Exclusivity of Jesus Christ or the Scandal of Particularity
5. R. C. Sproul: Is It Arrogant to Say Jesus Is the Only Way?
6. Alistair Begg: Is the Exclusivity of Christ Unjust? (video)

Related terms:

• general revelation
• gospel
• inclusivism
• universalism
• pluralism

Filed under Isms and Salvation

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Sunday Hymn: Give Me Jesus

In the morning when I rise, 
in the morning when I rise, 
in the morning when I rise, 
give me Jesus.

Refrain: 
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus,
You may have all this world, give me Jesus.

Oh, when I am alone,  
Oh, when I am alone,  
Oh, when I am alone,  
give me Jesus.

Oh, when I come to die, 
oh, when I come to die,  
oh, when I come to die,
give me Jesus. 

Another hymn for this Sunday:

• Children of the Heavenly Father at The Happy Wonderer 

Theological Term of the Week: Evangelism

evangelism

“[T]he faithful delivery of the message of the gospel”;1 sharing with non-Christians the message of what Jesus has done to save sinners, and calling them to repent and believe.

• From scripture: 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them … . 

[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—[23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. [24] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it… .

[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

[37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:14a, 22-24, 36-38 ESV)

• From Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer: 

Evangelism … is a task appointed to all God’s people everywhere. It is the task of communicating a message from the Creator to rebel mankind. The message begins with information and ends with an invitation. The information concerns God’s work of making His Son a perfect Saviour for sinners. The invitation is God’s summons to mankind generally to come to the Saviour and find life. God commands all men everywhere to repent, and promises forgiveness and restoration to all who do. The Christian is sent into the world as God’s herald and Christ’s ambassador, to broadcast this message as widely as he can. This is both his duty (because God commands it, and love to our neighbour requires it) and his privilege (because it is a great thing to speak for God, and to take our neighbour the remedy—the only remedy—that can save him from the terrors of spiritual death). Our job, then, is to go to our fellow-men and tell them the gospel of Christ, and try by every means to make it clear to them; to remove as best we can any difficulties that they may find in it, to impress them with its seriousness, and to urge them to respond to it. This is our abiding responsibility; it is a basic part of our Christian calling.

Learn more:

1. Ernest Reisenger: Evangelism — What is it?
2. Trillia Newbell: The Call to Evangelism Made Simple
3. Burk Parsons: Evangelism For God’s Glory
4. Kim Riddlebarger: Some Dos and Don’ts of Evangelism
5. Erik Raymond: How the Trinity Should Shape Evangelism
6. Juan Sanchez: Overcoming the Fear of Evangelism
7. J. Mack Stiles: The Problem With Evangelistic Programs

Related terms:

• conversion
• gospel
• gospel call

1 Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer.

Filed under Salvation

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.