Christianity is not limited by political boundaries. It is not only for people with a certain color of skin. Being a Christian is not about politics or race – it’s about faith.
It was Jesus who said…
“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NCV)
Jesus has become Lord and Savior of “the world.” Salvation is not only for a certain group of people. Jesus said that “whoever believes in him” will be saved. This is the truth that so many who practice false religions do not want to confess. There are not many ways to be saved. There is only one. There are not “many roads to God.” That’s a lie.
Jesus declared…
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” (John 14:6 NCV)
God has made salvation available to the world. The Bible has been translated into every major language: Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Farsi, French, German, Italian, Tagalog and many others. It is estimated that over the past two millennia more than 5 billion copies of the Bible have been printed.* Christian missionaries have traveled the world, sharing the good news of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
It happened in Jerusalem…
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read the sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. (John 19:19,20 NIV)
Why the different languages? The Romans spoke Latin. The Jews understood Aramaic. And many of the merchants from distant lands relied upon Greek as the official language of commerce and trade. It’s no coincidence that when Jesus was crucified the city of Jerusalem was filled with people from other nations.
On the Day of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came upon the Christians in Jerusalem, they began to speak in other languages. Foreigners who were in the city at that time were amazed and perplexed to hear the praises of God being spoken in their native languages. (see Acts 2)
Scripture declares…
It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his [Jesus’] name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ (Luke 24:27 NLT)
God commissioned imperfect human vessels in the writing of His Book, just as He involves them in preaching its message. The Old Testament was written by holy prophets of God. The New Testament was written by disciples of Jesus. Books of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew, the language of a nation. Books of the New Testament, despite having Jewish authors, were written in Greek, the language of a world.
When Jesus showed up the Old Covenant ended and the New Covenant began. Many of the Judeo religious practices were found to be only types and shadows. Out of Israel came a Savior. Out of Judaism came Christianity. While many of the Jews rejected Christ, many of the non-Jewish peoples believed in him. The apostles preached to different peoples across the Mediterranean. The Roman Empire was unable to stop Christianity from spreading. Everywhere, Jesus was being revealed as Savior of the world. Throughout the nearly 20 centuries that followed this message has been shared with multitudes. It has nothing to do with a person’s culture, class or race – it’s about faith.
Citizens of Heaven are a diverse community of believers. The book of Revelation describes a scene in Heaven that takes place shortly after the end of the world. In this world that is to come there will be a glorious celebration. Among the angels, generations of people who have been saved will gather to praise and worship the Lord.
In his vision the apostle John, a disciple of Jesus and author of Revelation, writes…
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9,10 NIV)
As one who would introduce sinners to the Savior, when John the baptist saw Jesus for the first time he immediately knew by the Spirit of God who he was and said…
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NIV)
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