Here’s one of life’s ironies. On Nov. 15, 2017, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud purchased Leonardo da Vinci’s painting titled “Salvator Mundi” for a record-breaking $450.3 million.

Why ironic? The world’s most expensive painting, owned at various times by three of England’s kings, is now the possession of the Royal House of Saud, custodians of the mosques in Mecca and Medina, the most holy sites in Islam. While Muslims say that Jesus is a prophet of God, they do not believe He is Salvator Mundi, the Savior of the World.

They’re not alone in this, of course. Most non-Christian religions accept Jesus as a good role model, moral teacher, even an enlightened one. But Savior? No, they wouldn’t go that far.

I’ve been privileged to travel to almost 40 countries, engaging with people of many religions. Rather than discussing their religion per se (where I might say something that offends them), I ask if we might talk about Jesus. Generally their comments about Him are faint praise. While they have many fine things to say, they withhold from Him His most obvious claim – the world’s only Savior.

Now here’s the kicker. Many who claim Christianity also don’t recognize Jesus as Salvador Mundi! A survey conducted by George Barna in 2020 found that, while 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians, only 33% believe they will go to heaven solely by receiving Jesus as Savior. Another 20% are counting on earning their way, or because they think God lets everyone into heaven.

Anyone interested in what the Bible says?

Jesus was no religious pluralist. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Christians don’t have to believe everything’s bad about other religions. There must be good points in a religion before people follow it. But like mathematics, while some numbers are closer to the correct answer than others, there’s just one right answer.

Don’t think this makes Christianity bigoted or narrow. Quite the opposite. God loves the world (John 3:16). Christ died for all (2 Corinthians 5:15). And whoever desires may come. (Revelation 22:17).

Now it’s flat wrong to say you have a better chance of being a Christian because you’re born in the West. There are more Christians in China than in all of Europe. Both Africa and South America have double the number of North Americans claiming Christianity.
But why is Jesus the only source of salvation?

1. Because He’s God’s only choice. God gets to decide the way of salvation. So we read, “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14, KJV). Imagine standing before God some day and hearing Him say, “I recognize you. I gave My beloved Son for you, and you rejected My offer.”

2. Because God’s forgiveness isn’t possible without the payment Jesus provided through His death. “Christ Jesus…gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

3. Because, unlike da Vinci’s painting, God’s salvation is not for sale at any price. You can’t deserve it, earn it, or work for it. “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Have you received God’s gift?
Going. Going. Nearly gone…

Jabe Nicholson of Starkville knows the world may be falling apart but God’s plan is falling in place. Reach him at [email protected] or www.uplook.tv

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