Articles
Jesus Did Not Say...
Jesus told Pilate that He came into the world to testify to the truth (John 18:37). We would all do well to pay attention, both to what He said and to what He did not say. Jesus did not say. . .
That one religion is as good as another. He did say, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted” (Matthew 15:13).
That we have the right to interpret Scripture however we like. He said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He told the Sadducees, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
That ignorance excuses. He said, “For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). He also said, “If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32). He added, “And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14).
That to be saved, all you must do is believe. He never told a single soul to trust Him as their personal Savior. In addition to talking about the essentiality of faith, He said, “Not every one who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:22); and, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3); and, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).
That all of our problems will vanish if we follow Him. To the contrary, He said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household” (Matthew 10:34-36). He added, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
That He would come again to establish a kingdom on the earth. No, His earliest preaching was, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Nearer the end of His preaching, He still said, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power” (Mark 9:1).
