Why grace is rejected?

Foreword

When reading the Bible one can see clearly that God has a good plan for everyone. The Gospel of John states that God loved the world so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, so that nobody would perish (John 3:16). Furthermore, the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy describes how God “will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:4). It is definite that He wants people to come to Him and wants to give them eternal life.

   In spite of everything, many people reject God's call to salvation and repentance. They do not want to turn to God. They have all sorts of excuses for rejecting God's call—just as the following verses show what happened in the time of the Apostles. Therefore, in the future lines, we will begin to get acquainted with the most common objections that people have to the Christian faith. We start with science.

- (Acts 13:45,46) But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, see, we turn to the Gentiles.

1. ”I am scientific”

The perception of one's own scientificness and wisdom is one of the reasons why many turn their backs on God and the Christian faith. A person likes to think that he has a scientific view, that he is rational , and that his view is unbiased, dispassionate, and based on facts. At least no one wants to admit that he is a religious fanatic or, for example, a fundamentalist, which some newspapers and journalists like to use (many lump all religiosity and also Islam into this group). Almost everyone distinguishes between faith and science, and that man himself is free from all prejudices and preferences. The writing below by a free thinker well reflects this attitude held by people who consider themselves to be scientific:

I wish briefly that people would think scientifically.

   Generally, it looks like most people try to manage by thinking as little as possible. (…) The most important part of a scientific way of thinking is freedom from prejudices, predilections and devotions. The target of a scientist is always the truth, regardless of how unpleasant it may be or how much confusion it may cause to people whose beliefs it shows wrong. (1)

So, what do people consider to be a scientific approach? Most people believe it means following an atheistic philosophy that includes believing that the universe came into being by itself, that life came into being by itself, and that all species evolved from one simple cell that came from the ocean. A person who claims that he or she is scientific usually means that these statements about our origins are true. We will not address the accuracy of those claims in this writing. Instead, we will look at this “scientific approach” from another perspective.

Scientific mindset or faith – everyone has to rely on faith, even a person who considers themselves scientific

If we start from the idea that someone's worldview is scientific and not based on faith at all, does such a person exist? How many people act only on facts in the field of science and in ordinary life, but do not use their faith? Is it possible to find such a person?

    If we are honest, practically no one works without faith. In the field of science, it manifests itself in trusting the credibility and information of others. Their opinions are considered reliable because they are thought to be in the know about things. It is exactly the same in the area of ordinary life. Even in that, we trust in what others say and consider their words to be true. We personally check only a small part of the things that we assume to be true.

    Therefore, everybody believes in something; nobody stands on neutral ground. Every person believes in something; also one who believes he bases everything on facts. There is no such thing as a completely scientific man, because it is impossible.

    The following examples highlight the importance of faith and its occurrence in everyday life:

• A girl trusts her mother's word that she will get a new dress. It is faith.

• People believe that such a place as Antarctica exists, even though very few have been there.

• When there are store advertisements in newspapers, we believe them and go shopping based on them.

• History is an area where we know everything based on the word of others. For example, the existence of Napoleon and Caesar can no longer be proven scientifically, but we have to rely on the word of others. It is a faith that everyone has to lean on.

• Questions about the origin of the universe, life and man belong to the area of faith. None of us witnessed the birth of these things. There are only different theories about how they started, but scientifically it is impossible to prove their origin.

   So, whenever we deal with the three basic pillars of the scientific ideology – the origins of the universe, the origins of life and the theory of evolution – we end up having to accept the following conclusions: 

• The idea of how the universe began is based on faith. The two most common ideas are that it came into existence by itself or that the universe is God's creation. The problem is that we cannot prove either of these notions scientifically because we cannot go back in time. If one is scientific in this area, one should actually have been looking at the early moments of the universe, but that is impossible. That's why we believe in one or the other theory, but no one has absolute proof. If we claim otherwise, we are mistaken.

• The origin of life is a similar matter. No one was there to witness it. Therefore, this concept is also based on faith. So far, there is not the slightest evidence that life could have originated by itself.

• The theory of evolution is based on the belief that in the past there has been evolution from simple forms of life towards more complex forms. No one has witnessed whether it really happened. Many well-known paleontologists have strictly denied the notion that there are intermediate forms between basic groups in the fossil record.

How can someone who considers themselves scientific trust their brain, if human origin lies in ape-like creatures or even in the Big Bang?

When it is a question of the term “scientific view”, it usually refers to the theory of evolution, in which life evolved from simple life forms and humans evolved from ape-like creatures. Or if we go far enough in the evolutionist thought model, it leads to the fact that man too was born as a result of the big bang from a small space the size of a pinhead. This is how people might think in this naturalistic thought model.

    But there is a big problem with the same way of thinking: how can you trust a person's judgment if he is descended from an ape or even more primitive life form? If his brain and thinking are the result of only random processes, does it make sense to value such information? Doesn't his sanity lose its bottom if it comes from some ape-like creature or even the Big Bang? Reasonable reasoning, notion of one's own scientificness and intelligence is questionable if the person's background is like that. It can be a case of great self-deception and risk of delusions. We cannot rely on our scientificness if our origins are irrational and impersonal. Anyone who claims otherwise is not himself scientific.

I remember how a young man said in a seminar, “I cannot believe in creation, I believe in the Big Bang. We are only a result of chance and random events. There is no God. What do you say to that?”

   I replied, “Well, if we are the result of chance, then also your brain is a result of chance. Therefore, your ways of thinking which determine your logic are also the result of chance. If your logic is the result of an occasional series of events, you cannot be sure that it has developed in the right way. You cannot even be sure that you are asking the right questions because you cannot trust your own logic.”

   He was speechless. Later, he came to me and asked about the best books concerning the subject, saying that he should think seriously about this issue. He had begun to understand that without an absolute (God) he would have nothing. (2)

The question of God's existence – the atheist's faith-based view that God does not exist

A person who has a “scientific view of the world” may also deny the existence of God. People with such an atheistic approach are confident when saying that there is no God who created everything and with whom people can interact. Faith in God is only considered to be wishful thinking, something to which reasonable and scientific people do not resort.

   Naturally, it is difficult to prove that this atheistic view is right. If somebody says, “There is no God”, that does not prove that God does not exist. It is a question of religious bias, not of certain knowledge, because no one has unlimited knowledge of everything. That would require complete and exhaustive information on all matters, but that is impossible for us. How does a person know that God does not stay in that sector, about which he himself has no knowledge? It is very possible because every person is a finite being. Therefore, we are left with only belief or disbelief in the existence of God.

    However, according to the Bible, something can be known about God. It will be evident in at least three areas that we are going to look at.

Nature, its beauty, and complexity testify of the Creator

Similarly, human personality, reason, emotions and the difference from animals are compatible with the Bible's description. These are not absolute proofs of God, but the Bible's teaching that God has created everything and made man in his own image can be deduced from them. This evidence fits better with a theistic worldview than with the impersonal and irrational beginning of everything.

- (Ps 19:1) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.

- (Rom 1:19,20) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it to them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse

What about the possibility that nature has not born from the hand of almighty God? In this atheistic model, we encounter big problems for which no solution has been found. The Bible's model of an almighty Creator is a much more reasonable concept.

• The Big Bang theory is one of the most incredible theories. The idea that hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars, Earth and other planets, seas, rocks, giraffes, elephants, man, flowers, trees, butterflies, birds, mosquitoes, fish and other creatures have come from a space the size of a pinhead is a completely absurd idea. This thing can be believed, but it doesn't seem like a very wise theory.

• As stated, the origin of life has not been proven. The more information has been accumulated, the bigger the problem has been identified.

• The absence of intermediate forms suggests that the species have been separate from the beginning. This fact fits better with the biblical description than the atheistic model.

Historical research has repeatedly confirmed the accuracy of biblical accounts

At least 30 people from the New Testament are mentioned in other sources, so the question is about historical people and things. Of course, this in itself does not prove the inner teaching of the Bible to be true, but it gives a good reason to find out about things. 

Atheists often ask where the evidence for God's existence is and why he does not reveal himself to people. He has already done so

What about more direct evidence for God's existence? Those who are atheists and agnostics often make the argument that if God exists, why doesn't he reveal himself to us? "Show us God and we will believe," they say.

    However, God has already shown Himself to us. The entire revelation of the New Testament is based on the fact that God became a man through Jesus Christ, lived a sinless life as a human, took our sins to the cross and opened us a path to Heaven.  God took the initiative and approached us in human form as the New Testament shows. Jesus himself said that he was not of this world like other people, and that he had come from heaven to do the will of his Father. This matter, God's revelation, is well expressed in the following verses:

- (Hebr 1:1,2) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

2 Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

- (John 1:18) No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

- (2 Cor 5:19,20) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God.

So God has already revealed himself and made known his plan and will for every person.

    However, one thing prevents people from understanding this matter: disbelief. When the letter of Hebrews says that without faith it is impossible to please God, this is true of atheists and agnostics who do not want to believe the revelation of the Bible.

    God has indeed revealed himself and exists according to the Bible, but disbelief and an attitude where people don't even want to find the truth - many exclude in advance the possibility that God could announce Himself - prevent them from reaching clarity and certainty. When Jesus said that ”He that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened” (Matt 7:8), not many are ready to even seek. Then it is impossible for them to find anything. The Bible talks about wrong attitudes, unbelief, faith and finding God in the following way. Do you have an unbelieving heart so that you reject in advance the possibility that God exists and that he wants man in His communion:

- (Hebr 3:12) Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

- (Rev 21:8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

- (Hebr 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

- (1 John 5:10) He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son.

- (Hebr 4:2) For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

- (2 Cor 5:7) For we walk by faith, not by sight

- (Rom 4:3-5) For what said the scripture?

Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

- (Mark 4:39,40) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said to them, Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?

One stumbling block for many people, and an issue that should be pointed out, are the wars mentioned in the Old Testament and the understanding of what God is like. The next paragraph written by a former agnostic provides a good example of the opinions held by many people:

And then another problem. You have spoken very much about the love of God, etc. But I remember that the God of the Old Testament is quite different! Didn’t He destroy the whole planet by sending the Flood? Quite an angry guy! And didn’t He order that the Canaanites must be destroyed – including the women and children? And didn’t he burn Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes? It does not sound that your loving God has done this. (6)

When responding to the honest criticism above, it is good to take into consideration at least the next observations. They can provide new perspective on the issue:

Historiography. When the Bible tells of wars and unrest over centuries, it is similar to other history books

Firstly, it is good to note that the Bible’s description of wars and other events is like those in any other book of history, even though the Bible is the word of God. It describes these events and early phases in the history of mankind, as do other history books; except that events in the Bible take place over a period of several centuries.

  Wars and other events and people are mentioned in the Old Testament because history books usually do this. Rarely do they describe peaceful and normal periods: very often times of crises are focused upon.

    World War II is a fairly recent example. Much more has been written about it than about the decades before it, even though it only lasted a few years. It shows how usually extraordinary events (the miracles of the Bible are among them) are recorded better than events of normal and peaceful times. The Bible is no exception in this regard.

Sin debt and the growth of evil to a great degree is the reason why God judged, for example, the Canaanites

Secondly, it is good to note that when the Bible tells about Sodom and the Canaanites, the judgment of these nations was due to their own wickedness. When it is known about the Canaanites that they burned their children alive in fire (Deut 12:31, 2 Chron 28:3), and were otherwise bad people, the judgment did not meet them by chance. The wickedness of these people had achieved its peak and their debt of sin had become full. Similarly, the Israelites later angered God and suffered for it. The fulfillment of the sin debt, is also possible in today's society, because even here people have gone very far in evil:

- (Gen 15:16) But in the fourth generation they shall come here again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Jesus is the perfect image of God the Father

When in the quote mentioned above the former agnostic honestly criticized the concept of what God is like, so it is good to study this issue in the light of the New Testament.

    When we look at the New Testament, according to it, Jesus is the express image of God (Hebr 1:3) and in which God revealed Himself perfectly. Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father” and this is what we should believe. The Bible also says, that “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

  Therefore, if we want to know what God is like, the best verses are such passages that speak about Jesus, His character and what He said. Let’s study this issue in the light of the next verses:

- (John 14:8,9) Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us.

9 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?

- (Matt 11:28-30) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

- (Matt 22:15,16) Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

16 And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, neither care you for any man: for you regard not the person of men.

- (Luke 15:1,2) Then drew near to him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.

- (John 10:10,11) The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

- (1 John 4:8,16) He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.

5. What is love? Nowadays, sexual relationships outside of marriage between a husband and wife, including same-sex relationships, are viewed favorably. Love is said to justify these relationships. They are no longer seen as sin

One reason why people reject the message of the Gospel is their idea of what love is and what it is not. Many are offended by attitudes of some people or if certain behaviours are described as sinful. They say straight away: “Don't judge,” and "don't be narrow-minded". Because of these attitudes they reject the whole message of the Gospel.

   One behaviour is homosexuality – an act often justified by those who favour a position of tolerance and love. It has been said that there is nothing wrong with two adults having a sex relationship with each other, even though they are of the same sex. The following quote illustrates such an attitude:

However, we made mistakes. We noted, for example, that preaching against homosexuality caused a fully negative reaction. In the city that had been famous for a protective attitude towards minorities of the society through the ages, our preaching, in which we judged homosexuality, offended the desire of Amsterdam’s inhabitants to protect weaker. We offended the sense of justice of an ordinary man. A part of that sexual liberation is a monument for homosexuality in one of the market places of the city. Sexual freedom has been taken to glaring extremities in Amsterdam, which is regarded as the capital city of homosexuality in Europe. It is estimated that every weekend ten- to fifty thousand homosexual men or women come to Amsterdam because of its famous night life and events. Also heterosexuals, including grandmothers, react powerfully, if we spoke against practising homosexuality and when we emphasized that it indicates how far the city of Amsterdam has gone away from the norms given by God. (7)

God's love has been manifested toward all groups, because God has prepared the possibility of forgiveness of sins through the death of his Son Jesus Christ on the cross

When we start to investigate the matter, it is good to start with love, because it is true that everyone needs it -- homosexuals and heterosexuals -- and that cannot be denied. Who wouldn't want to be accepted and liked? Every human has this basic need and it is good that it is fulfilled. It would be good to experience it from the womb. The background of many homosexuals, too, is often traumatic interpersonal relationships (men have usually had a bad relationship with their father, been rejected by peers, or they have suffered sexual abuse by someone of the same sex; women have usually had problems with their relationship with their mother).

    However, when we look at the New Testament, the whole point of it is that we have been loved unconditionally. Several verses teach that when we were far away from God, when we were His enemies and sinners, we were loved by Him. It includes homosexuals as well as the worst and smallest sinners. Every person can be the object of the same love, as we can see:

- (Rom 5:8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

- (Rom 5:10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

What is the truth? Although our sin debt has been carried away through Jesus, this truth does not benefit a person if they do not repent of their sins. The unrepentant cannot be saved and enter heaven

Although every person in the world – including homosexuals – can be the object of God's love, it is still important to raise the question of what the truth is and whether our actions have meaning. It hardly comes up in the secular media.

    This question is important. Because if the message of the Bible and especially the New Testament is true, it shows us that fornicators, adulterers, murderers, but also persons who practice homosexuality - a lifestyle that is often defended with love in our society - will not inherit the kingdom of God. So a good question is, how true are e.g. the following verses and how many take these words seriously? If they are true and we reject them in spite of everything, then are we not acting foolishly? Anyway, our mistake is that we think about things very short-sightedly only in terms of pleasures and do not think about eternity:

- (1 Cor 6:9,10) Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

What does the previous thing mean in practice, it is clear that an unrepentant person cannot enter God's communion and heaven. When Jesus and the apostles called for a change of heart and to give up sins, these words should be taken seriously and not made in vain (Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand). The problem with many is that they never think the whole matter through or admit that they have sinned. They do not admit homosexuality or extramarital affairs as a sin and that is what prevents them from being forgiven. Because even though Jesus is the Savior of sinners and grace has come through Him, it does not benefit anyone who claims to be sinless and does not admit to having done anything wrong. In the Lord’s Prayer, which is familiar to many, we are told to pray for the forgiveness of our sins, but it is only useful to us if we first admit that we have sinned. This is the starting point for true forgiveness:

- (Luke 11:4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

- (1 John 1:8-10) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Furthermore, it is good to note that God's love and mercy, which has appeared to us through Jesus Christ, can change our whole life. It applies to homosexuality as well as other addictions and desires such as freedom from alcoholism, tobacco, anger, porn addiction... It is possible to free yourself from all these things. If it is said that it is not possible, then the following words of Jesus are claimed as a lie. The practice at least shows that many have freed themselves from the previous issues. Are we ourselves ready to change and join this process:

- (John 8:36) If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

6. Why is there damnation? Many find this matter difficult to understand

Damnation is an issue over which many may stumble. It is difficult for people to comprehend the existence of such a place and they cannot understand why God will send some people there to suffer an eternal sentence.

   However, in this area it is good to take into account the following points, which are important for the matter:

God's goodness. God would not be a good God if he forgave unrepentant wrongdoers, dictators, and others who enjoy their evil. He would then be giving his approval to wrongdoing

So many find it difficult to accept the idea of damnation. They may consider it unjust and think about how it fits in with God's goodness. They may vigorously fight this idea. However, the same thing can also be seen in that way that God would not be a good God if He forgave unrepentant wrongdoers. For if wrongdoers, dictators and tyrants who enjoy their evil - perhaps torturing others - and do not want to change, were to be forgiven, would that not be an acceptance of injustice? Wouldn't God then give His consent that these wrongdoers have done evil to others? How can such God be good, who accepts evil and who allows evil to gain victory over good? One would not expect such a thing from a perfectly good God.

  It is just the existence of judgment day and damnation for wrongdoers that makes us believe in the victory of goodness and the goodness of God. If there were no final day of judgment, when the unjust will be judged, and those who have suffered unjustly will be compensated, God would not be a good God - otherwise he would accept and consent to injustice. The fact that there is a doomsday, is proof of the victory of goodness and that evil does not get the final victory. It shows that God is on the side of good against evil.

No one needs to end up in damnation

Secondly, it is good to understand that no one needs to go to damnation. God is love (1 John 4:8) and does not want anyone to go there. In fact, the core teaching of the whole gospel is that Jesus has come into the world to save sinners (Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.) and that all sins were laid on Him (Isa 53:6 …and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.) Each of us can be saved from the condemnation of damnation through the atonement work of Jesus if we turn to Him and repent our sins. At the same time, we get eternal life as a gift:

 - (1 Tim 2:3,4) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- (Luke 15:3-7) And he spoke this parable to them, saying,

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

- (Eze 18:23,32) Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? said the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, said the Lord GOD: why turn yourselves, and live you.

The only reason why many are not saved is that they turn their backs on God's grace and calling when he draws them to himself and to repentance

Luke 14:15-18 indicates this: And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said to him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he to him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  And they all with one consent began to make excuse…

   The well-known Finnish preacher Niilo-Ylivainio wrote about the same thing in his time. He described the nonchalant attitude taken towards God by people, and tried to get people to understand the grave consequences from such behavior:

"Uncertainty gnaws me day and night. There is enough of it.

  But I am gnawed more by those people who are going to Hell. I see a line of people, a crowd that only walks. Shout to them, explain to them, teach them, try to gesticulate and to describe, that they are walking towards devastation! So what happens then? They just go! They just walk! They just slide! They laugh and walk toward the gates of hell!

  You think about 'old Niilo' now, I can see by your face. You think, So you spoke and preached, and what of that.

  I am compassionate by nature. I have always been like that. I would so love people to Heaven, if it helped. But when I was younger, I tried to frighten people to faith.

  My intentions were good.

  People say that my preaching was hard and harsh, and indeed it was. My intentions were good. I thought that if the frightfulness of the Judgment and the heat of Hell are described to people in the correct way, they will come to their senses.

  Then, I still tried to prolong the moment of resolution. I asked and asked, persuaded, and tried to win time in order to give them a possibility until the very last moment. (…)

  Yes, some were also saved by frightening. It worked on many. They understood that I wasn't scaring them for the sake of money, but that I was serious. Hardness, if it is straight talk, has its place. I was tough because I was worried about them. I thought that it is now up to me whether these people go to Heaven or to Hell.

  It was honest work in the sense that people were honestly told where they were going. Being honest was hard on me. It cost me my strength and health already as a young man." (8)

Charles G. Finney wrote about the same topic in the 1800s. He proved in a good way what sort of treatment God received from people, even though He had sent His only Son and loved them. Many people have reacted in the same way as these people in the example. They have rejected time and time again the love of God:

I had my pocket Bible in my hand and I read this text from it, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I don't remember much of what I said, but I know that I couldn't stop thinking about the kind of treatment God receives from people as gratitude for His love. This thought filled my heart with pain; that's why I poured my whole heart onto them, with tears flowing out of my eyes.

  I saw several men there, from whom I had heard awful mockery on the previous day. In the meeting I referred to them and told what they had said and how they had shouted condemnation of God to each other. I poured my whole heart onto them. I said that they "barked blasphemy along roads like dogs of hell", and that I had come here as "to the edge of hell". Everyone knew that my words were true, and it made them shiver. But they didn't look like they were hurt, they only cried like me. There was hardly a dry eye in the whole room.

  The restaurant owner had refused to open the meeting room in the morning. But after this first meeting, he rose and announced that he will open it in the afternoon.

  The people scattered all around the area and spread the information everywhere, and in the evening the meeting room was almost as full as a school in the morning. Everyone who could come was in the meeting, and the Lord allowed me to attack them in quite a miraculous way. My sermon seemed to be quite new to them. I also felt as if I had let hail and love fall on them at the same time, hailstones accompanied with a great deal of love. The mockery and profanation, which they heaped and heaped on the name of God, seemed to expand my love toward Him to extreme pain. I rebuked and disciplined them with all my heart, but in spite of it all I felt so much sympathy for them, that they could not have mistaken it. I have never heard them blame me for excessive severity, even though I have probably never before in my life spoken so severely.

  That day's work caused large amounts of people to be converted. Since then, whenever I informed that I was having a meeting anywhere, at any time, people came to hear me. The work started immediately and progressed with great speed. Twice I preached in the village church, sometimes I held a prayer meeting, and usually I preached in a school in the neighborhood at five o'clock in the afternoon. (9)

Call to a new life. Everything is ready 

We have addressed the objections that people sometimes raise when someone tries to teach them about the Gospel and eternal life. They are very common objections and seem to be reasonable, and are often used to reject all spiritual matters and the act of turning to God.  Through them, the good idea and the message of the Gospel that God wants to save us and bring us to His eternal kingdom may have been thwarted. From His side, everything is already ready and we can receive eternal life as a gift, but we ourselves can reject His call and love. It is possible if we turn our backs on His gift of eternal life:

- (Luke 14:15-18) And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said to him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 Then said he to him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse...

- (Rev 21:6) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.

- (Rev 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Next, we teach how you can be saved and answer God’s call.

1. Turn to Jesus Christ and give your life to Him

Turn to Jesus Christ. Tell Him that you are a sinner who needs salvation and that you want the plan of God to come true in your life. At first, there is no need to try to become better. Just go to Him as you are with all of your faults. According to the Bible, there is eternal life only in Jesus and therefore we must turn to Him so that we can get it:

- (John 5:40) And you will not come to me, that you might have life.

- (John 6:68,69) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God.

- (John 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved...

2. Receiving. When there is eternal life only in Jesus Christ, it is natural that you must receive Him into your life. You can simply say, "Lord, Jesus, come into my life! According to the Bible, he already stands outside the door of our hearts, in order to enter our lives:

- (Rev 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Therefore, if you have received Him into your life, then you are the child of God, you have eternal life, and you have been born again - regardless of your feelings - as the following verses show:

- (John 1:12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

 - (1 John 5:11-13) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.

13 These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

The prayer of salvation: Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your will. However, I want to turn away from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven through Your atonement and I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You have given me. Amen.

REFERENCES:

1. V.T. Aaltonen: Miksi en ole kristitty, p. 199, 200

2. Ken Ham: Valhe, evoluutio, The Lie: Evolution, p. 44

3. Charles G. Finney: Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä, p. 245,246, 249

4. Gregory A. Boyd and Edward K. Boyd: Epäilijän kirjeet, (Letters from a skeptic), p. 26,27

5. J. Edwin Orr: 100 kysymystä Jumalasta (100 Questions about God), p. 59 - 60

6. Gregory A. Boyd and Edward K. Boyd: Epäilijän kirjeet, (Letters from a skeptic), p. 169

7. Floyd Mcclung: Elämää helvetin esikartanoissa (Living On The Devil’s Doorstep), p. 186,187

8. Mauno Saari: Saarnaaja, p. 268,269

9. Charles G. Finney: Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä, p. 81,82

More on this topic:

Six major lies. Six arguments that appear in the literature of God-rejecting people. Read why they are not worth believing in and why they are based on a lie

An open letter to Skepsis ry. The scientific or unscientific nature of the Skepsis Association? Learn how representatives of Skepsis are not scientific, though they may think so

Dawkins and The God Delusion. Richard Dawkins is known for his anti-Godliness, as evidenced by the book The God Delusion. Read whether Dawkins' arguments make sense or not

The book and society. Read how the Bible and the Christian faith have affected literacy, health care, and other positive ways. Many are blind to this fact

Is God good or bad? Is God good and just or not? Many do not realize that Jesus was and is the perfect image of a heavenly God

Christian faith and prejudice. People have a variety of objections to the Christian faith and to God. Read if these objections and prejudices make sense

People who reject God. Today, people in the West reject God because they do not believe in creation or disagree on moral issues