Is Jesus The Only Savior By Ronald H. Nash
The first view under consideration is the restrictivist view. The term restrictivist comes from restrictivism which represents the
"belief that only those who have consciously responded to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ are saved."1 Scholars occasionally refer to restrictivism as exclusivism to demonstrate that access to heaven is exclusively through Christ. Therefore, according to this view, the only way to heaven and eternal life is a decision to accept Christ. God grants no leniency to those who do not hear the Good News.
This position has strong biblical support. First and foremost, the exclusivist point to an exceptionally well known Bible passage. Most every Christian knows John 3:16, in which Christians read that God sent his one and only Son into the world to save it. However, if scholars consider more of the passage, they will note what Ronald H. Nash notes in his book "Is Jesus the Only Savior?" According to Nash, "In these words Jesus himself not only states that those who believe in him have eternal …show more content…
First, they say that the view is not fair. According to Boyd and Eddy these opponents believe it is unfair because "is not a person's fault for being born in a time and place when and where he or she cannot hear the gospel."4 While this argument seems reasonable, it ignores what Paul states in Romans. First Paul writes that all mankind knows of God as it written plainly on their hearts and throughout creation. (Romans 1:19-20). Also, Paul reminds believers that "all who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law." (Romans 2:12) As Blue describes this verse, he states that the "argument of the passage is not to excuse men but to show that they have no excuse. They will all perish before God's righteous and impartial judgment."5 If everyone knows of God and therefore punishment can exist, another concern emerges from the opponents of this
"belief that only those who have consciously responded to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ are saved."1 Scholars occasionally refer to restrictivism as exclusivism to demonstrate that access to heaven is exclusively through Christ. Therefore, according to this view, the only way to heaven and eternal life is a decision to accept Christ. God grants no leniency to those who do not hear the Good News.
This position has strong biblical support. First and foremost, the exclusivist point to an exceptionally well known Bible passage. Most every Christian knows John 3:16, in which Christians read that God sent his one and only Son into the world to save it. However, if scholars consider more of the passage, they will note what Ronald H. Nash notes in his book "Is Jesus the Only Savior?" According to Nash, "In these words Jesus himself not only states that those who believe in him have eternal …show more content…
First, they say that the view is not fair. According to Boyd and Eddy these opponents believe it is unfair because "is not a person's fault for being born in a time and place when and where he or she cannot hear the gospel."4 While this argument seems reasonable, it ignores what Paul states in Romans. First Paul writes that all mankind knows of God as it written plainly on their hearts and throughout creation. (Romans 1:19-20). Also, Paul reminds believers that "all who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law." (Romans 2:12) As Blue describes this verse, he states that the "argument of the passage is not to excuse men but to show that they have no excuse. They will all perish before God's righteous and impartial judgment."5 If everyone knows of God and therefore punishment can exist, another concern emerges from the opponents of this