Exclusively Inclusive

Truth, by definition is exclusive. But the Gospel message of Christ Jesus is inclusive of everyone who believes! 

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.  (Ephesians 1:11-14)

When we consider this world we live in, with all of its pains, and sorrows, losses, shortcomings, and failures. It can be overwhelming!  It might even feel as though God who has created all of this, has somehow remained distant from human suffering. One must ask ...has He?  When we look at the evidence we see that Jesus, who said the things He said, and who claimed to be whom He claimed to be ...God. We might ask "...if that is God, then what’s He doing on a cross?" In His great love, we see that on the cross, God has NOT remained distant from human suffering, but has become part of it!

3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[a] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[b] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

-Romans 8:3-4

Christ has encoded Himself into our world, and was born into this world, and has spoken, and He has made the way for us back to Himself. Back to His Eternal Kingdom. Along with the Cross of Christ, comes the Resurrection of Christ. The two most pivotal points in history. The cross of Christ brings together the Judgment, and Justice of God, at the same time, and space is demonstrated, the forgiveness, and the Love of God. The Resurrection confirms His victory over death, and hell. If those who were opposed to the work of Christ, wanted to kill the movement, all they had to do was produce His body.

This quote is a story told by Billy Graham about his conversation, and meeting with the first post-war Chancellor of Germany; Konrad Adenauer...

"I was invited to have coffee one morning with Konrad Adenauer before he retired as the Chancellor of Germany. When I walked in, I expected to meet a tall, stiff, formal man who might even be embarrassed if I brought up the subject of religion. After the greeting, the Chancellor suddenly turned to me and said, “Mr. Graham, what is the most important thing in the world?” Before I could answer, he had answered his own question. He said, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is alive, then there is hope for the world. If Jesus Christ is in the grave, then I don’t see the slightest glimmer of hope on the horizon.” Then he amazed me by saying that he believed that the resurrection of Christ was one of the best-attested facts of history. He said, “When I leave office, I intend to spend the rest of my life gathering scientific proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It was the fact of the resurrection of Christ that called the disciples to go out as burning young revolutionaries to change the world of their day. They preached that Christ is alive. This should be our message, not only on Easter, but on every day of the year."

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"

-John 11:25