Jesus Loves Atheists
John 18:28-38
Skip Heitzig
John 18 (NKJV™) | |
28 | Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. |
29 | Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" |
30 | They answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you." |
31 | Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death," |
32 | that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. |
33 | Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" |
34 | Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?" |
35 | Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" |
36 | Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." |
37 | Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." |
38 | Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all. |
New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.
Yes, Jesus loves people who don't believe in Him or who aren't sure what they think about Him. Pontius Pilate was the cynical Roman governor of the district of Judea. He was unsympathetic to religious Jews and religion itself. He had no room for the superstitious claims of prophets, priests, or would-be messiahs. He was a secular pragmatist concerned about Roman order and personal advancement. Pilate also represents how Jesus loved and handled atheists—and how we should.
Jesus loves people—all people: prostitutes, drug addicts, abusers—and you. This profound truth is at the very heart of the gospel. Jesus loves the unlovable and touches the untouchable, and during His time on earth, He was compassionate and merciful toward people from all walks of life. What would it be like if you personally encountered Him? Join Pastor Skip Heitzig in this series to learn more about God's radical love for you and fall more in love with the living Savior.
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No one is born an atheist; people choose to become atheists just as some choose to become Christians. Atheism is not a new concept; David wrote of the person who says in his heart that "there is no God" (Psalm 14:1). As long as there has been faith, there has been unbelief. Even though so-called New Atheism has a lot of spokespeople, only 2 percent of the general population claims to be atheists. The numbers are growing, though, so it's worth looking at how Jesus dealt with someone who was operating outside of God's truth: Pontius Pilate.
Although Pontius Pilate was not an atheist per se, he was a secular man in a religious world functioning as if God did not exist. We see him interact with Jesus as a cynical secularist who opined, "What is truth?" Pilate was confused and self-contradictory—traits he shares with modern atheists—and we learn from Jesus five qualities to exhibit when encountering someone like Pilate, whether they're atheistic or agnostic.
First, be confident (see John 18:28-32). To stand before Roman justice was intimidating. Furthermore, the historians Tacitus, Josephus, and Philo tell us that Pilate was oppressive, greedy, stubborn, and cruel. It would seem that Pilate was in total control of Jesus' prosecution, yet Jesus was the one in complete control, for He had predicted all that was unfolding (see John 18:31-32). That's why Jesus was not intimidated, but rather calm and confident. We need to have the same confidence if we are going to share Jesus with atheists, and we can have that confidence by trusting that God is in control; He allowed you to have that encounter. You should recognize your inadequacy, God's sovereignty, and their necessity—they need this. And remember: God is perfect. Belief in Him adds nothing to His qualities, and lack of belief takes nothing away. You do not need to know everything, but it is helpful to know the answers to the top questions atheists have so that you can be ready with a reasoned response. Ask your local Christian bookseller for a reliable recommendation, and inform yourself.
Next, be engaging (see John 18:33-35). Atheists don't have the plague; there is no need to avoid them! Pilate was a cynical man who did not believe in the Jewish God, and yet he came face to face with Him. And when he asked questions, Jesus engaged him. Some atheists are very intelligent. Other atheists just want to be seen as intelligent. Others have chosen atheism as a moral convenience, thinking that if they dismiss God, they can do as they want. Always try to find out why someone is an atheist by talking with them, not at them. Beyond listening, the Bible tells us to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). The world is a dynamic courtroom where people are always deciding on the evidence for belief in God. They have good questions about faith; let's make sure we have good answers. We need to appeal to their intellect while praying for their souls. You may not have the perfect answers, but you can plant a seed. Instead of getting bogged down with minutia, challenge an atheist to read a chapter of the gospel of John for ten minutes a day for three weeks and ask the following questions: Who is Jesus Christ? Who does Jesus say He is? Who does John say He is?
Third, be respectful (see John 18:36). Some Christians go into full combat assault mode with atheists. Don't attack them. We can do better; as J.I. Packer said, we can out-think them. Jesus respectfully interacted with Pilate, succinctly describing His mission and purpose to the point where Pilate's conclusion was to release Him, declaring, "I find no fault in Him at all" (John 18:38). Remember that we can win an argument but lose a soul. Peter's advice to be prepared ends with him telling us to give an answer "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15, ESV). The apostle Paul told us that we are to "[speak] the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). We must be winsome—kind, fair, and respectful—if we want to win some to Jesus. Discuss what challenges and obstacles you have experienced in sharing your faith with atheists.
Fourth, be clear (see John 18:37). Jesus clearly and unambiguously told Pilate, "You're absolutely right—I am a King." Jesus also clearly described His nature—both His humanity ("I was born") and His divinity ("I have come into the world"). Although Pilate shrugged it off, Jesus was clear. We must be clear about what we believe and clear about what God requires of all people. Being able to succinctly describe what you believe is helpful for both your walk and your witness.
Lastly, be ready (see John 18:37b-38). The outcome of an encounter with an atheist could be positive or negative. Jesus gave an implied invitation to Pilate to hear and know the truth. This shows Jesus' love: He left the door of salvation open even to this hardened, secular Roman politician. Pilate's response up to this point had been negative and dismissive. Yet Jesus left room for the truth to work in his mind and heart—and we should too. What people do with the gospel message will determine their destiny, so give God room to work. This week, pray for an atheist you know, asking God to open a door for you to reach them and then give God room to work through you.
Adapted from Pastor Skip’s teaching
The BIG Idea
Pilate died hopeless, even though he stared hope in the face. Be faithful to give atheists every reason to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord through your words and actions, entrusting their response to God.
Figures referenced: Miles Coverdale, Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, C.S. Lewis, Tiberius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Claudia Procula, Tacitus, Josephus, Philo, A.W. Tozer, Dinesh D'Souza, William Lane Craig, J.I. Packer, John MacArthur, Eusebius
Cross references: Psalm 14:1; Isaiah 1:18; Mark 10:33-34; Luke 22:10-13; John 3:14; 12:32-33; 18:28-38; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 3:15
Date | Title | Watch | Listen | Notes | Share | Save | Buy | |
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1/25/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves People Mark 10:21;Philippians 1:8-10 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Welcome to our new weekend series, Jesus Loves People! For the next many weeks, we will observe how Jesus' love for people was displayed and conveyed to a cross section of society. We will see Him as He loves the most religiously devout folks to the weak and doubting, from the prostitutes to the priests, from the bewildered to the brokenhearted. We will marvel at His love for thieves, murderers, and atheists. In each message, we will consider how we as God's people can show authentic love to people within each group. |
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2/1/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Doubters Matthew 11; John 20 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus never turned away the questions of a sincere searcher. I have personally wrestled with issues of faith and doubt on a number of occasions. Oswald Chambers quipped, "Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking." Today we will see how Jesus loved two doubters—both of whom were friends of His. |
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2/8/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves the Broken John 5:1-16 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Just about everyone who has ever lived has experienced a broken heart to some degree or another. But then there are others who have been affected so adversely by events in their lives that they can be described as broken people. We can respond by questioning why God allows bad things to happen or by loving the broken in His name and thus being part of the solution. |
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3/8/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Homosexuals - Part 1 John 8:1-11 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary There is not a hotter or more controversial subject being discussed today in our country than homosexuality. Voices are loud and tempers run hot whenever this subject is mentioned. Although the text before us doesn’t deal specifically with homosexuality, it does show us how Jesus approached a woman caught in sexual sin and what He had to say to those who were quick to condemn her. |
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3/15/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Homosexuals - Part 2 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Be assured that I didn't select the topics in this series because I am equating homosexuals with murderers; nor am I suggesting that addicts or homeless people are to be seen the same as terrorists. It’s simply that the church has historically been unkind to these groups, and we believe it is time to make the statement that Jesus loves all people. In today’s text, we see it clearly: everyone has some kind of past, and everyone can be freed from sin. |
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3/22/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Haters Matthew 5:43-46;Luke 9:51-56 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary One of the worst things to ever hear or say are the words "I hate you." And since Jesus is the One who God sent to show love to the world, how He handled haters is significant. Today we will explore and hopefully apply two important lessons. Hatred can flow in two directions: hatred towards you and hatred from you. Jesus shows us what to do about both. Get ready by turning to two passages: Matthew 5 and Luke 9. |
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3/29/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Traitors Matthew 26 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a traitor as "one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty." On this Palm Sunday, I've chosen to consider in contrast the two traitors seen side by side in the New Testament accounts of the Passion of Christ. Though we may see some similarities in Judas and Peter, they are separated by one giant factor—the cross of Jesus Christ, the one thing that still offends most people. |
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4/19/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Prostitutes Luke 7:36-50 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary It was Blaise Pascal who noted, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus." In our text today, we find a woman, the city prostitute who acutely felt the need to have the vacuum of her heart filled. She discovered that Jesus loved her with a wholesome love—the kind of love every woman is searching for. |
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4/26/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Murderers Luke 23:33-34 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary A Jewish proverb reads, "Blood that has been shed does not rest." And yet there is rest that is possible for even the worst murderers of all time—those who killed Jesus Christ—if they would be willing to receive it. In two verses of Scripture, we will examine how Jesus loves murderers, even those who murdered Him. |
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5/3/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Criminals Luke 23:33-43 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary A lengthy seventeen-year study in Washington, D.C. by psychiatrist Samuel Yochelson shows that crime cannot be traced to environment, poverty, or oppression but to people making wrong moral choices. Corresponding to that is another report showing that the lack of proper moral training by parents has a direct correlation to crime, especially to children in their formative years. But when parents and their offspring fail, Jesus can step in to rescue. |
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5/17/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Terrorists Acts 9:1-16 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary One magazine noted that "religious terrorism is the communism of the 21st century, the most serious international threat to human rights." I am aware that the title of this sermon is a strange one, and it's even stranger to think we should be told to love terrorists. Today we consider the stark reality of terror in our world and what a proper biblical response to it is, and we see the conversion of a terrorist who became Christianity's most celebrated cleric. |
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6/7/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves Addicts Luke 4; Matthew 11 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary When a person ingests a substance or engages in an activity that provides temporary pleasure and then such acts become compulsive and interfere with ordinary life responsibilities, he or she is said to be an addict. Addictive behavior is widespread and is one of the reasons many addicts turn to Christ for help. Jesus has a special message for them and a special plan to help them. As the body of Christ to our generation, shouldn’t the church be part of that plan? |
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6/28/2015 completed
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Jesus Loves People, BUT... Romans 2:1-11 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In this last message of our series Jesus Loves People, we want to bring equilibrium to the series itself. It’s true that God loves people. It’s equally true that He hates evil and the practice of it. Today we want to show how both the wrath of God and the love of God are integral parts of the nature of God Himself. This is crucial so that we don’t distort Him to the world and mislead people eternally. Let’s consider three requirements for representing the God who loves people. |
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