Tag: REFUSING TO CONFESS CHRIST (Part 11)

Bible Reading: 1 John 4:2-3

In Matthew 24:9, Jesus said, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” Why does the name of Jesus arouse such hostility? Why is Jesus’ name alone so offensive? Is it not because “there [is no] salvation in any other [name]” and “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

• Muslims are offended at the name of Jesus, because it is not the name of Allah or Mohammed “whereby we must be saved.”
• Buddhists are offended at the name of Jesus, because it is not the name of Buddha “whereby we must be saved.”
• Hindus are offended at the name of Jesus, because it is not the name of Vishnu or any of their other gods or goddesses “whereby we must be saved.”
• Confucianists are offended at the name of Jesus, because it is not the name of Confucius “whereby we must be saved.”
• Christian Scientists are offended at the name of Jesus, because it is not the name of Mary Baker Eddy “whereby we must be saved.”
• Scientologists are offended at the name of Jesus, because it is not the name of L. Ron Hubbard “whereby we must be saved.”
• Mormons are offended at the name Jesus, because it is not the name of Joseph Smith “whereby we must be saved.”

As Jesus said Himself in John 14:6, He alone is “the way” to God, “the truth” about God, and the only hope of eternal “life.” All other beliefs are wrong, all other faiths are false, and all other gods nonexistent, mere figments of men’s imagination. Thus, for all who disbelieve the claims of Christ and profess beliefs contrary to Christ’s claims, the name of Jesus becomes a haunting specter, one which must be exorcised from their life at all cost. To still the fear of the possibility of forfeiting their immortal soul they must silence the mention of Jesus’ name in their presence.