Bob Cassell, Messenger, RFTC
An impossible barrier lies between sinful humanity and a most Holy God. The barrier cannot be removed by any human of the highest caliber. Within this barrier is all that separates sinful man from a holy and righteous God. God looks upon this sinful human condition and demands a perfect redemption, a perfect reconciliation, and a prefect propitiation. From within the slave market of Sin man is hopelessly blind, lost, and naked. Sin brings forth death. That death must be paid, and sinful man cannot pay the redemption price. He is in debt, and the debt is too great. All who are in this slave market are bankrupt, and there is no inside help. Everyone in the salve market needs outside help. One of the slaves uttered, “I read somewhere in the Bible that the whole world lies in wickedness. I believe this means we are in trouble as our identity is not with God; it is with Satan.” Out of this doomed condition no one can hope to be released except by means of divine intervention. What did it mean when Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Someone said, “I think it means there is an incapacity from each one of us. I believe the kingdom he is talking about is a spiritual realm that can only be entered by a spiritual birth that is from above which is so rich and real that it cannot be seen, felt or understood by any who are in this awful slave market.” This great need to be brought forth from above was addressed to one of the most faithful and religious men of the day.
This need for the most religious of his day to have a new birth was not well understood by this pious pharisee and it must not be overlooked. Nicodemus was operating with a vast blind spot that had been formed by religion. That is in order to have God’s blessings, the best and most sincere efforts of man must be produced in great volume. This pharisee knew that all of man’s righteousness is like thrown away filthy rags. He saw in Jesus a righteousness that far exceeded anyone he had ever met. He looked inside himself and saw much activity, many prayers, including memorizing a great deal of scripture. A Pharisee needed to memorize the first five books of the Bible along with producing 613 rituals and rites that were very requiring. As Nicodemus listened to Jesus, he knew that although he had done his best to conform to these many religious requirements, none had brought him to a full realization that he had found that for which he had been looking. That for which he had been looking was standing before him, and he was overwhelmed to be in the presence of absolute and perfect righteousness. This perfection in Jesus caused him to see that he was a depraved and empty vessel. He saw that his soul was walking on the dry ground of religion which had never brought him meaningful and lasting inner peace. He tried valiantly but ever realized that something was wrong deep within his empty soul. He was beginning to see that the solution did not lie with himself, but standing outside himself was what he had been looking for all of his religious life. Something marvelous was about to happen in this religious city that had never happened before. Everywhere this unique man of truth appeared a new and marvelous reality was demonstrated so that his perfection was undeniable. His perfect sacrifice was demonstrated in his death and resurrection and by the advent of the Holy Spirit. It is within these truths and the perfection of the Savior that demonstrates the complete inability of the unsaved to “see” the kingdom of God.
“No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).
The counter part of this message is “No man comes unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). This powerful and clear passage declares the truth that there is but one way for unbelievers to be saved. “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Pause to consider that none will ever come to Jesus Christ apart from the immediate drawing power of God. This is what God does for man; it is not what man does for God. This statement is firm and unqualified. The thrust of the message is so important that Jesus adds: “It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto me” (John 6:45). When Christ is declared as the only savior, there is a general call to the listener. “And if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). This drawing may be termed God consciousness. That is, to be aware and conscious of God’s existence and marvelous grace. Nowhere in the word of God is it stated that anyone has ever been saved by being aware of God’s existence or by merely believing there is a God; however, at the end of God consciousness this special awareness of God opens an opportunity for further understanding His so great salvation. Herein is a crossroad that man must face. Man may see that his soul is hanging in the balances, but there is a special mechanism that has been given by God and that mechanism is faith. This gracious offer may be accepted or rejected but will not be forced on anyone.
God is a gentleman and never forces anyone to believe on Him or to accept His gift of eternal life; however, the bible message rings clear. To believe on him is to possess eternal life; to reject him is to be eternally condemned. At the point of God consciousness, a person must make a decision yes, I want to know him, or I do not. Do you want to know him? He is knowable by means of the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit. He that believes not on him is condemned by not believing; yet the ability to believe on him and then to actually believe is the fruition of faith unto eternal life. “He that believes on the son has everlasting life: and he that believes not on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). God extends a clear invitation to those who desire to know him after being conscious of his existence and holy presence. That invitation is “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28,29). God reveals at God consciousness, but man must then exercise positive volition and call on Him for understanding, clarity, and deliverance. God always does what he says he will do. “Call upon me and I will answer you and will show you great and mighty things which you know not” (Jeremiah 33:3). He will most assuredly save this eternal soul, but this empty soul must realize that he must go through the only entrance into heaven. The only access into heaven is through THE DOOR. It is an exclusive door. It is the only door that permits entrance into Heaven. Jesus Christ is the door. He is not one of many doors or a door He is THE DOOR. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10: 9). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1).
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Please pause to notice, “He that hears my word and believes on him that sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). First there is teaching and learning from God. Man must first hear and then learn with clarity from the Father. Having learned, there is a barrier between God and man and that barrier is an entrance door. Man cannot work his way around this door; neither can it be penetrated or opened by means of all good works that have been generated by the best of humankind. Above the door there is an inscription; “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). “It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto me” (John 6:45). God’s enabling grace draws man, but even though drawn the individual must exercise faith in Christ as the believing object. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The good news, on the human side, is God by grace saves through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This grace and this gift of eternal life is not from any human. On the Godward side he provides the gift of eternal life that must be received by faith in believing that Jesus Christ is the only meritorious object of faith, the only way to heaven. One of the most revealing and clear scriptures that define eternal life as a gift is delineated in the book of Ephesians.
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2: 8,9).
This passage precludes any and all efforts from mankind. Man must surrender, far away from himself, and realize he has no ability in or by himself to appropriate the gracious gift of everlasting life. Should any effort from humankind be able to move themselves toward God, there would be no need for God’s provision for this particular requirement.
The fact that God provides the full enablement argues against man’s ability. It is obvious that dedicated and servile messengers of God’s saving grace cannot move the unsaved out of the power of Satan by reason, argument, or persuasion. It must be realized that a far more effective way is open, and that way is by means of fervent and effectual prayer. Is it possible that God has included prayer as one of the ordained means for calling out and saving His elect people?
Prayer is not a provision by which man can somehow secure something outside the elective will of God. It is rather one of the privileged ordained steps in the realization and execution of His perfect will.
With man there is no hope of finding God. With God there is nothing but hope. That hope is answered in who and what God is, and what he does for mankind. God in grace sends into the dark and lost world the Holy Spirit and it is He who undertakes a work that sends a penetrating light of truth into the darkened and barren heart of mankind. The entrance of God’s light of truth to mankind is not regeneration or being born again but may be defined as a preparation of the soul, to the end, that an intelligent and clear choice of Christ as Savior may be made. There is no hope of salvation of any individual apart from a specific intervention and special ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical clarity may be found in the following scripture “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he has come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me: of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more: of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:7-11).
This specific work of the Holy Spirit is wrought on behalf of the entire world, but of necessity it is directed not to the entire world but to the individual. The work of the Spirit in giving the light of life is indicated by the words that describe his work in man. Some of those words variously are reprove, convince, convict, etc. These words are so poignant that they must not be passed over lightly.
The impact of these inviting words is not to touch the heart with sorrow or remorse but is rather to illuminate or enlighten the soul regarding specific truths which the word of God carefully enumerates. This gracious enlightenment is addressed under three categories. “Sin, because they believe not on me”; “righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more”; and “judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” This gracious outreach is one that touches the inner recesses of the soul and from this inner sanctum the entire being responds to sobering realities which had never before been recognized or valued. In contrast with this message to the unbeliever, an enlightening or teaching ministry is undertaken in the soul of the believer. Three essentials of enlightening Bible revelation are sin, righteousness, and judgment. Together they constitute the essentials of the gospel of the wonderful grace of God.
“Of Sin.” The finished work of Christ settled the issue of sins committed by all who have ever lived. The greatest failure from all of humanity is that they do not believe on Him. It should be observed that the Holy Spirit does not direct the mind of the unbeliever to every sin the individual has committed. It should not be a matter of great shame or even remorse concerning sin.
Neither is there a requirement to call up every sin that has been committed and attempt to compensate through penance or some system of self-flagellation. It is rather that all sin has been borne by Christ, and there remains only one deplorable and damning sin. It is the one and only responsibility of an unbeliever’s attitude toward the Savior who bore all sin. This unbelief is the basis of final condemnation. Carefully consider this stern declaration which should serve as an eternal warning. “He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). What is an unbeliever to do? Wait for a believing friend or a local pastor to visit and convey an understandable and clear gospel message? (that may be a long time) The gospel message is rarely conveyed in precisely clear and understandable terms. This task is too great for any ambassador or pastor; it must be accomplished by the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit. It is He who ultimately opens the understanding so that the unbeliever knows what and in whom to believe. The one and only condition of salvation is faith in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST as the only Savior. Those who do believe in Christ may take God at his word and rest in the total righteousness of the exclusive Savior. Those who will not and do not believe in the Son are held accountable for their unbelief and will face the eternal consequences. Listen to the voice of the Spirit, He will lead to eternal life in the only Savior.
To listen to his message and to follow his light of truth will lead you from unbelief to belief in the savior who is the only way to everlasting life in heaven.
“Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov 14:12).
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? The Apostle Paul immediately answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31.
The urgent message to every reader is that it is the operation of the Spirit to enlighten the mind with respect to the one eternally damning sin; that they believe not on Jesus Christ.
Salvation and total justification reside only in The Lord Jesus Christ. To believe on Him is to know that all of your sins are His and all of His righteousness is yours.
How can you ever have better news and greater opportunity for eternal life? This eternal invitation originates and flows to you from the very throne of God? Only a fool says there is no God, and that He does not reveal himself. He does…. man must only believe that He knows him and all that he has ever said or done, and in spite of man’s depravity, He will save the one who trusts in the Son of God, who paid man’s full debt.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL be SAVED” (Romans 10:13).
