The Unpopular Message of Jesus - Soul Choice Ministries

Many people believe Jesus taught love and acceptance. No. He peached repentance and obedience (Matt. 12:50; Luke 8:21; 13:3). The very first word out of the mouth of Jesus is “Repent,” in Matthew 4:17. Repentance means to turn from our sin, change our ways and follow Jesus. The first thing John the Baptist preached was, “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2).

Thankfully, God is the one who gives us the grace and ability to change. It’s not left to our own strength.

Jesus did not preach acceptance of everyone’s beliefs; He said He was the only way of salvation (John 8:24; 12:47; 14:6). He said to take up our cross and follow Him, and if we don’t, we are not worthy of Him (Matt. 10:38; 16:24). Jesus called the Pharisees “blind guides,” “whitewashed tombs,” “hypocrites,” “serpents,” “brood of vipers,” and “full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” He asked, “How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33).

Jesus did preach love and forgiveness, but there is a difference. Forgiveness requires humility. Those hypocrites displayed none of that. Jesus does not try to be politically correct by pleasing His enemies.

Acceptance of others’ beliefs is not a demonstration of love, but is actually a demonstration of tolerance. Tolerance has become the high moral ground instead of truth.

It is interesting that today’s society preaches acceptance of all, except for Christianity. Many people do not want to hear the gospel because they do not want to hear that what they are doing is sin. Today, almost nothing is considered a sin. The “sin” word is treated as archaic and politically incorrect.

When Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene, who had been delivered from seven devils, He said, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).

When He healed the man lying at the pool of Bethesda who had been sick for thirty-eight years, Jesus said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14). Over and over Jesus told those who came to Him, “Your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2, 5–6, Mark 2:5, 9–10; Luke 5:20, 23– 24; 7:48).

He told them not to sin. Today, many people would accuse Him of prejudice, narrow-mindedness, or even say He was guilty of a hate crime, but Jesus told it like it was.

Jesus also said to beware when all men speak well of you (Luke 6:26). Yet that is what is so prevalent in today’s climate of tolerance and acceptance. Men seek the approval of almost every people group in order to gain votes or to be considered caring. This is really compromise, not consideration.

Jesus was strong and direct in His teaching, but He always taught and displayed love. The Bible states that God is love (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 3:19; 1 John 4:16). A loving message isn’t always sweet and gentle; at times it may be a rebuke or a correction. A message about hell is a message of love because it is a message of warning.

Repentance is preached all throughout the Bible. See also: (Matt. 3:2, 8; 9:13; Mark 1:4, 14– 15; 2:17; 6:12; Luke 13:3; 16:30; 17:3–4; Acts 3:19; 8:22; 13:24; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; Rev. 2:5, 16).

Excerpt from Bill’s book, 23 Questions about Hell