Only One Way

Only One Way
By Hywel R. Jones
Day One Publications. 144 pages. £5.99
ISBN 0 902548 700

Do you have to believe in Christ to be saved? On the surface the answer to the question should be obvious to any Bible-believing Christian. But in these days of pluralism and inter-faith services, the pressures are mounting to fudge this issue.
In Only One Way Dr. Hywel Jones (who is soon to leave as principal of the London Theological Seminary for new duties with The Banner of Truth Trust) ably and tellingly defends the classic evangelical exclusivist position of adult salvation requiring conscious faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This position is under attack from inclusivists and those we might term 'conditional' inclusivists. The inclusivists take the line that people of all religions are saved, unbeknown to them, by the blood of Christ. The conditional inclusivists are those who propose that sincere people who have never heard the gospel of Christ may be saved if in some way they repent and call upon God according to the light they have. Dr. Jones specifically focuses on this second position, which has been adopted in recent years by some within the evangelical camp.
The crux of this whole issue really turns on whether we believe that God is right to condemn people on account of their sin and whether he is obligated to save anyone at all.
Various recent authors have pushed for a positive answer to the question of the possibility of the unevangelised somehow being saved. These include particularly Peter Cottrell (once of London Bible College) in his book Mission and Meaninglessness, and the US author Clark Pinnock's A wideness in God's mercy. Though sympathetic to the compassion which may motivate such ideas, Dr. Jones examines their basis in biblical exegesis and finds it totally wanting. Sir Norman Anderson, C.S. Lewis, John Stott, Gordon Wenham, Chris Wright and other evangelical commentators have also drifted in this direction and their arguments are considered in this context. The book provides a careful and lucid consideration of many texts used to marshal arguments in favour of conditional inclusivism. It is thorough, closely- argued and well worth reading.
The New Testament is far from silent on this issue. Romans 2 and 10, for example, address it. Dr. Jones concludes that Paul's rhetorical questions: 'How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?' require an answer which drives us not to theological speculation, but to mission, preaching and evangelism.

JEB

Dr John Benton

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