Response:

First of all, I am not sure that we can honestly say that we all believe in the "All-mighty Lord". I do not know your theological background, but Christ clearly taught that those who rejected Him had rejected God Himself. In John 8:42, Christ said, "If God were your Father, ye would love me". How is love shown to Christ? By obeying His commandments (John 14:15). The belief in the existence of a Deity is insufficient for salvation, for James writes that "the devils also believe" (James 2:19), and they certainly are not bound for Heaven. John wrote, "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father" (I John 2:23). This does not mean that we are to accept Christ as an historical figure who did some good things and had some good teachings. This means that we must accept Him as Who the Bible claims Him to be: the Very Son of God; God in the flesh; perfect, and completely without sin; Whose death on the cross as our Substitute paid the debt for sin, and Who proved His worthiness and deity by His resurrection from the dead. Jesus said "No man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6). You can't get to Heaven through baptism, communion, confession, confirmation, church membership, financial giving, law-keeping, or being an all-around nice guy. These are all man-made attempts to satisfy God. But the Scriptures clearly show that man is saved ONLY "by grace through faith...not of works" (Eph 2:8-9). And, according to Jesus, if a person doesn't accept Christ this way, he has rejected the "All-mighty Lord". The very front section of the web-site contains an article entitled "Priorities". Please read it. If you have not yet received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and accepted Him as the Scriptures have presented Him, I hope you will do so soon.

By Dr Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210