God Never Said That: Part 4 - "Doesn't Matter What You Believe" with Craig Groeschel - LifeChurch.tv

God Never Said, “It Doesn’t Matter What You Believe”

Scripture References

Primary text

• John 14:6

Other references

• Mark 2:16-17
• Acts 3:15
• Romans 3:22

Overview

Many people assume any sincere spiritual path eventually leads to God. This message dismantles that cultural “feel-good theology” by focusing on Jesus’ exclusive claim: He alone is the way to the Father. Pastor Craig invites every listener—skeptics, seekers, and Christians alike—to pause and “consider Jesus”: His ministry to broken people, His resurrection witnessed by many, and His eternal offer of grace that cannot be earned.

Context

This is the final week of the series “God Never Said That,” which addresses popular sayings God never endorsed. Today’s target: “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.” The preacher contrasts that idea with Jesus’ own words and with the clear differences among world religions.

Main Points

“Consider Jesus” — the refrain

“Consider Jesus.”

Spoken repeatedly as the sermon’s invitation and anchor.

1. Consider the ministry of Jesus

• Religious leaders were shocked that Jesus ate with “sinners and tax collectors” (Mark 2:16-17).
  He came for the sick, not the healthy; for sinners, not the self-righteous.
• Examples of His compassion:
  • Defended the woman caught in adultery, offered forgiveness and a new start.
  • Opened blind eyes, healed deaf ears, cleansed lepers, walked on water, multiplied loaves and fish, raised the dead.
• Even critics did not deny the miracles; they just wanted Him to stop.
• Modern testimonies:
  • Story: A Life.Church member suffered multiple strokes on Jan 4; by Jan 24 doctors declared him fully healed—“something we’ve never seen.”
  • Story: Former drug dealer and stripper now foster/adoptive parents serving overseas.
  • Story (Pastor’s testimony): College life marked by lying, heavy drinking, spiritual emptiness; a late-night Christian radio voice proclaimed God’s love, leading him to start a dorm Bible study and surrender to Christ.

2. Consider the resurrection of Jesus

• Jesus, born of a virgin, lived without sin, became sin for us on the cross.
• Onlookers mocked; Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
• Earth quaked, darkness fell, the centurion confessed, “Surely this man was the Son of God.”
• Three days later the tomb was empty.
• Eyewitnesses (Acts 3:15): “You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”
• Alternative explanations fall apart:
  • Romans would have paraded a body to crush the movement.
  • Eleven untrained disciples could not overpower armed guards, steal a body, fabricate a resurrection, and then die for a known lie.
• Doubting Thomas became an eyewitness believer, later martyred in India rather than deny Christ.

3. Consider the eternal message of Jesus

• Salvation is not about religious effort; it rests on Christ’s completed work.
  • “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ… This is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” (Romans 3:22)
• Comparison with other belief systems:
  • Buddhism (no god, endless rebirth), Hinduism (impersonal god accessed through idols), Islam (personal god Allah, salvation by works), New Age (no personal god, cosmic consciousness).
  • Christianity: personal God revealed in Jesus, forgiveness by grace, not works.
• Religion spells D-O (what I must do); relationship with Christ spells D-O-N-E (what He has finished).
• Because love is God’s nature, nothing can make Him love us more or less.
• Exclusive claim that offends many yet offers hope to all:

  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – Jesus (John 14:6)

Key Truths

• Sincerity alone cannot make a false belief true; God never said all roads lead to Him.
• Jesus came for sinners, not the self-sufficient.
• The resurrection is historically anchored in eyewitness testimony and transformed lives.
• Salvation is received by faith in Christ alone, not by human performance.
• God’s love is unconditional; obedience flows from acceptance, not toward it.

Response

• Examine your current beliefs against Jesus’ exclusive claim.
• Place your faith in Christ rather than in personal goodness, religion, or spirituality.
• Share Jesus’ love with friends and family who are searching, avoiding legalism or superiority.
• Celebrate and testify to the miracles—big or small—Jesus has worked in your life.
• Rely on the Holy Spirit’s power daily, living as evidence of the risen Christ.

Closing

Feel-good slogans crumble when weighed against Jesus’ words and works. He alone lived sinless, died in our place, and rose again. The work is finished—nothing to add, nothing to subtract. The question left on the table is simple:

“Will you consider Jesus and place your faith in Him today?”

Prayer

The pastor led two prayers:

1. For believers to reflect Christ’s love and for God to draw loved ones to Himself.
2. A salvation prayer repeated aloud by responders, asking the Father to forgive sins, affirming belief in Jesus’ death and resurrection, surrendering life to His lordship, and requesting the Spirit’s indwelling.