Green extols the ‘singularity’ of salvation in Jesus

TAMPA (FBW)—In spite of the growing pressure in American culture to resist exclusive truth claims, especially about spiritual matters, Florida Baptist State Convention president Tommy Green told messengers at the annual meeting, "It does matter what you believe. And any belief that does not accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Savior of Life ... is a lie."

Presenting his president’s message based on Mark 14:61-62 in which Jesus is asked, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?", Green preached that Jesus’ response — "I am" — is an important declaration of doctrinal truth about the person and work of the second person of the Trinity.

Green, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Brandon, was re-elected to a second term as FBSC president.

"The single greatest defining moment in a person’s life is the declaration, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord.’ ... This statement is more than just words from your lips but it is a commitment of the heart and the firm belief that spiritual life comes only through Jesus Christ," Green said.

The society’s advocacy of pluralism — the teaching that there are "multiple, ultimate realities, and tolerance — the teaching that "all beliefs or all religions are moving to the same place," is the challenging environment in which American Christians are called to preach the exclusive truth claims of the Gospel, Green noted.

"The world is filled with idolatry and spiritual adultery. The Evil One has weaved a web of deceit, set a snare of deception and opened a door to an eternal Hell based on a lie, half-truth, and false doctrine," Green declared.

"As we pursue Christ with all of our heart, soul, mind, body and strength we carry-out a message of singularity, and a message of exclusivity that says that there is only one way of salvation and that way is found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Jesus’ answer to the high priest’s question, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" was descriptive, defining and definite, Green preached.

Green asserted the response, "I am," is descriptive of both Jesus’ relationship and role with His Heavenly Father, demonstrating that in His relationship He was both "fully God and fully man, one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man," as well as His "substitutionary role" as the "once and for all sacrifice for the sins of mankind."

"I am" is also a defining statement, Green preached, noting the phrase points to "the very essence of His Lordship."

Green noted that Jesus’ response was also definite — "there is truth and it is trustworthy," noting that Jesus did not answer, "Well, let me think about that; I’ll get back with you."

"He is placing a definite line in the sand. He is driving a stake in the ground. And He is saying for all time and for all eternity, those who pursue righteousness, those who pursue salvation, those who pursue a relationship with God will only experience that through the Lord Jesus Christ."

Jesus’ answer to the high priest, Green said, helps Christians "connect the dots" to "understand the relationship between the old covenant and the new covenant." Green illustrated this truth by noting the pre-incarnate references to Jesus in the Old Testament, including accounts where God the Father referred to Himself as "I am," as well as New Testament passages which teach the exclusivity of salvation in Jesus.

"I pray that all of Florida Baptists will declare His glory," Green said. "I pray that we will declare the glory of the Lord, that it would fill the land in a way unlike it has ever filled it before. And that we would declare, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Worthy is the Lamb, the great I am."