A couple of years ago I read an article by Harvey Mackay in which he states we should be able to explain any idea and stimulate an interest to learn more about that idea within three minutes or in the time it would take to explain our idea to someone while we ride in an elevator with them. [1] So below is the “elevator speech” for the idea that I am attempting to communicate in this blog.
Salvation is the change of our soul so it becomes like God; it is not the belief that Jesus died for our sins. Belief in Jesus is the means to the end, not the end itself.
Salvation being the change of our soul so it becomes like God is taught by the Bible. There are over 70 verses in the New Testament which teach salvation is by belief in God or through our conduct, pattern of behavior, motivation, use of abilities, and repentance. If belief in Jesus and his death for our sins is the only way of salvation, why did God include all these verses?
Salvation being the change of our soul so it becomes like God is taught by logic. God made us finite; he constructed our existence so certainty in regards to historical events is not absolute. For example, while there is substantial evidence for the death and resurrection of Jesus, there will always remain an element of doubt about this extraordinary event. So how can God condemn people to hell for not believing in something for which they cannot obtain certain proof? Also, how can God be a God of love and justice and yet condemn people to hell who either have not heard of Jesus or whose culture and/or religion tell them Jesus is irrelevant?
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[1] Harvey Mackay, “Book explains art of the elevator speech”, The Tulsa World, June 5, 2011, p. E5.
