Moravian Rev Jim Newsome responds on salvation...

Rev. Jim Newsome Submitted this in response to comments presented on the Editorial Page of the Winston Salem Journal on Jesus, Christianity and lifestyle.. Rev Newsome corrects misinformation that the gate to salvation is wide. Rev. Newsome reminds us that we will be judged on every area of our lives including our sexuality. May 28, 2004 Read comments - post your thoughts on the Forum
Rev. Jim Newsome Friday May 28, 2004 Surrender to God It is disturbing to read a letter to the editor commenting on Jesus and Christianity ("Lifestyles," May 22) by one who is woefully uninformed about both. The author balks at the suggestion that salvation is for a limited few. Yet Jesus Himself says "small is the gate that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:14). The author states that Jesus was a Gentile. That is not true. The gospel writers Matthew and Luke took great care to document the genealogy of Jesus. Their genealogies not only show that Jesus was a Jew, but that he was a descendant of King David. Without such lineage Jesus could not be the rightful Messiah. The author is correct in his assertion that Jesus did not come to judge the world but to redeem it. Jesus himself says this in John 12:47. However, in the very next verse Jesus says, "The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge" (John 12:48). Therefore it is important to learn and follow (trust and obey) the word of Jesus/God. The Bible/God's Word, reveals his plan and provision for our salvation. Salvation is not accomplished through obedience to the Law or our own good works but through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He willingly died on the the Cross to pay for our sins. He rose from death that we might follow him in newness of life. Jesus calls us to believe in him and to surrender every area of our lives, including our sexuality, to his Lordship.

Rev. Jim Newsome

Submitted this in response to comments presented on the Editorial Page of the Winston Salem Journal on Jesus, Christianity and lifestyle.. Rev Newsome corrects misinformation that the gate to salvation is wide. Rev. Newsome reminds us that we will be judged on every area of our lives including our sexuality.
May 28, 2004

Read comments - post your thoughts on the Forum

Rev. Jim Newsome
Friday May 28, 2004

Surrender to God

It is disturbing to read a letter to the editor commenting on Jesus and Christianity ("Lifestyles," May 22) by one who is woefully uninformed about both. The author balks at the suggestion that salvation is for a limited few. Yet Jesus Himself says "small is the gate that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:14). The author states that Jesus was a Gentile. That is not true. The gospel writers Matthew and Luke took great care to document the genealogy of Jesus. Their genealogies not only show that Jesus was a Jew, but that he was a descendant of King David. Without such lineage Jesus could not be the rightful Messiah.

The author is correct in his assertion that Jesus did not come to judge the world but to redeem it. Jesus himself says this in John 12:47. However, in the very next verse Jesus says, "The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge" (John 12:48). Therefore it is important to learn and follow (trust and obey) the word of Jesus/God.

The Bible/God's Word, reveals his plan and provision for our salvation. Salvation is not accomplished through obedience to the Law or our own good works but through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He willingly died on the the Cross to pay for our sins. He rose from death that we might follow him in newness of life. Jesus calls us to believe in him and to surrender every area of our lives, including our sexuality, to his Lordship.