One Way To Save the Lost.

TITLE: One Way To Save the Lost.
DATE:  November 1, 2019 – All Saints Day

Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: John 11: 25-27 – ESV - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

It was a number of years ago that a great parliament of religions was held at Chicago.

Practically every known religion was represented and many were the learned papers that were delivered. Every religion brought something to the table, and it would be a special man or woman who could tell which one of the religions was right and best.
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It seemed that the convention would end with everyone going out just as they had come in…totally unchanged. That's the Way it seemed until at one session, a pastor, Joseph Cook of Boston arose and said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to introduce to you a woman with a great sorrow. Bloodstains are on her hands, and nothing she has tried can remove them.
She has committed murder, and is desperate.

Is there anything in your religion that will remove her sin and assure her of eternal life? A hush fell upon the gathering as the speaker turned from one to another for an answer.

Not one of the other religions replied.

I want to stop there and repeat that, NOT ONE OF THE EASTERN RELIGIONS AND WESTERN CULTS REPLIED. That's because they couldn't reply. They remained dumb. They could not guarantee forgiveness.

• Oh, sure, a psychotherapists can say, "I feel for you", but he can't save.
• Buddhism can encourage, "Change your state of mind and we will try to lift you up", but that's as far as the Buddhist can go.
• Islam calls, "Here are five pillars that will help you escape your sin", but, even then, you can never be quite sure.
• Hindus offer all kinds of mental and physical exercises to help you….. but if you fall short, you get recycled and reincarnated again and again.
• Science can tell you that there is no such thing as sin…after all, you're only a human animal, but your conscience says better.

Name the philosophy or religion, all will fail. Except for Christianity.

In our age it is no longer fashionable to say, "we are right, you are wrong."

We live in a day that likes to think that there are many Ways to heaven, if there is a heaven, and that all religions are the same, with every road leading you to God, if there is a god.

In contrast to what is fashionable, Christianity alone promises that when you are brought, with penitent heart to Jesus and acknowledge Him as Savior, you will be completely washed, completely clean, and get God's great guarantee of eternal life.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, 2,000 years ago, with Your life, death and ressurrection, You changed things. Through You heaven has become a reality, not  just a wish or hope. For this I thank and praise You on All Saints Day and every day. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html