Formulary Friday: A unique salvation

Even more strikingly, the actual text of the article anathematizes those who teach that everyone can be saved by their own belief system, whatever that might be. They can’t, however carefully and sincerely they try to live that belief system out.

The Roman Catholic Council of Trent anathematizes those who dissent from its views at numerous points. But this is the only such curse in the 39 Articles. Is it right to be so starkly against those who disagree that Christ is the only way? Should they effectively be consigned to hell in this way? The wording of the Article is as follows:

They also are to be had accursed that presume to say, That every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law, and the light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.

The Article quotes from Acts 4:12 to provide Scriptural warrant. The apostle Peter on trial before the Sanhedrin, speaks of Jesus Christ of Nazareth offering a unique salvation: ‘Salvation is found in no-one else for there is no other name given amongst men by which we must be saved’.
Bishop Stephen Neill (a missiologist who had carefully studied the world religions) once said emphatically ‘If any other religion has anything like the incarnation or the atonement, I have yet to find it’.

This is a unique salvation: No other religion can offer it: Buddhism cannot offer it; Hinduism cannot offer it; Islam cannot offer it. Even Judaism without Jesus Christ cannot offer it – for there is no other name than Jesus under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Notice how much is at stake: twice Peter uses the language of being saved – as if to emphasise that Jesus is addressing a situation of danger from which human beings need to be saved. He’s referring of course to God’s judgment after our lives, which Jesus often called hell.

So Jesus’ salvation is not some optional add-on to our lives which we can take or leave. It is essential – and Peter’s language makes that clear – there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Not ‘may’ be saved – it is this way or not at all. It’s essential. Without responding to him, we face judgement and hell – with Jesus, we are rescued from hell and judgement, because he bore it for us.

The salvation of those who believe the lie that any road to God will do is clearly at stake. God places the no entry sign on other religions not to be awkward, but for the simple reason that they do not work. They leave people without salvation and facing judgement. So people who are misled in this crucial matter are encouraged on the road to hell.

Therefore the salvation of those who propagate this teaching is also at stake. The strongest of warnings are given in the Bible for false teachers who downplay the danger of judgement and offer unfounded hopes of peace. The watchman who does not warn people of impending danger will be held to account. False teachers will find that the blood of their hearers will be on their heads.

Hence the strong warning of Article 18. In a denomination which welcomes every view to the table as if all were equally valid and in a secular culture which promotes all beliefs and lifestyle choices in the name of tolerance, to be compassionate we need to be absolutely clear. Jesus Christ, known personally, trusted, loved, obeyed and proclaimed is the only way.