MANY BELIEVE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OR RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD, AND THEY DIFFER IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS. OTHERS AGAIN BELIEVE: LETS USE THE ILLUSTRATION, ' "THE GOOD SHIP GOD." AND LET US THINK OF THE HUMAN RACE AS HAVING FALLEN OVERBOARD INTO " THE OCEAN OF SIN AND DEATH." WE ARE IN A DANGEROUS PLIGHT. WE SHALL DROWN UNLESS RESCUED. WHAT ARE WE TO CLING TO? WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE ?? ONLY TWO: 'THE LIFE- PRESEVER OF GOOD WORKS" AND "- THE LIFE PRESEVER OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS SAVING WORK" THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE CLING TO "THE LIFE PRESEVER OF GOOD WORKS." THEY THINK THEIR "GOOD LIFE" WILL GET THEM ACCEPTED. THEIR ATTITUDE IS SUMMED UP BY CLICHES SUCH AS: " DO YOUR BEST TO KEEP THE GOLDEN RULE, AND YOU'LL BE OKAY WHEN YOU REACH THE PEARLY GATES.." THE LIFE PRESEVER OF GOOD WORKS" IS A DELUSION. IT OFFERS NO SOLUTION, NO SALVATION. IT NEVER HAS. IT NEVER WILL. IT CANNOT. SALVATION IS TO BE FOUND ONLY IN WHAT COMES TO US FROM GOD, "THE LIFE PRESEVER OF JESUS CHRIST."
THE ILLUSTRATION HAS CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. IT CAN CREATE THE IMPRESSION THAT GOD THROWS THE NECESSARY SAVING EQUIPMENT OUT TO PEOPLE FROM THE COZY COMFORT OF HIS CAPTAIN'S CABIN. THIS IS HARDLY THE BIBLICAL PICTURE. GOD PLUNGED HIMSELF INTO THE SCENE OF HUMAN PLIGHT IN THE INCARNATION AND ENDURED THE AGONY OF CALVARY TO RESCUE OFTEN THOSE HE RESCUES US. OFTEN THOSE HE RESCUES PROTEST MADLY ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCEDURE. HUMANITY STANDS EITHER UNDER THE LAW OR A GRACIOUS GOD FOR SALVATION. IT IS EITHER/ OR-NEVER BOTH/ AND
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