Did Josh Allen Really Trust Christ?

Shawn Fleetwood at the Federalist thinks so. I suppose that Josh Allen thinks so too. Maybe he has, but based on the article, there is no way of knowing for sure.

The article discusses how Damar Hamlin’s severe injury on the field on January 2 had a huge spiritual impact on Allen, his team, and many others. He talks about the experience on Kyle Brandt’s Basement.

I am not writing this to be critical or skeptical. I just want to point out that what is being said is insufficient and generic. Josh Allen is not a preacher or evangelist and neither are the press members that are writing about this. There are moments that God sometimes uses to open people’s eyes to the brevity of life and what is most important. This is clearly one of those moments.

The bigger question is “what is a person supposed to DO about that moment of clarity?”

The answer is not just “believing in God”, even Satan believes in God. Not everyone who believes that God exists will walk in a relationship with Him.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

 Talking about God more, believing that He exists, and even doing religious things will not resolve the relationship problem between human beings and God. This is why discussion about spiritual awakenings must include the gospel to be truly effective.

What is the gospel and why is it necessary?

The gospel is necessary because, without obedience to the good news message, there can be no restoration of relationship to God, no forgiveness of sins, and no eternal future with the Creator. Without obedience to the gospel, everything else is insufficient spiritual chatter. Now that chatter can have benefits but only if it leads to the gospel.

Josh Allen is a Christian if he has surrendered to the gospel. Here is what it takes to surrender to Christ and the message of the gospel that Jesus preached.

Josh would have to admit that he is a sinner, lost, and helpless before God—deserving of death and eternal punishment (Romans 3:10-23, 6:23). This is usually the most difficult hurdle for people to overcome. We do not want to admit our sinfulness, and if we do, then we do not want to admit that we can’t fix our sin problem. We want to hold on to the hope that we can do better and then things will be OK.

Josh would have to admit that the only solution to His sin problem is the work that Jesus did on the cross. Jesus died for Josh Allen and for everyone else who will look to the work of Christ on the cross as the solution to their sin problem. We all owe a debt that is far beyond our ability to pay—but Jesus (the eternal Son of God) willingly paid it for us. Jesus died on the cross as our substitute; He died in our place.

Believing is not just believing that God or even Jesus exists. It is not even admitting that they are right and the gospel is true. Believing goes further. Believing is placing all dependence upon the work of Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and restoration to God.

It’s not just that Jesus paid it, it is only Jesus that CAN pay it. There is no other solution to the sin problem of humanity–no other religion, no amount of good works, no other Messiah. The faith that is necessary to truly be a Christian is one that puts all of its dependence upon Jesus—Jesus alone. No backup plans are allowed.

The Apostle Paul told the Romans to call on the name of the Lord to be rescued from their sinful condition. He put it this way.

. . . that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:9-13)

There seems to be an element of calling on, asking for, or accepting the gift of forgiveness that Christ offers.

For the wages of sin is death, but the [a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

So, is Josh Allen a Christian? Maybe. If he is, he will understand what I have written here and be very happy that I wrote it. If he is not, I hope he reads and continues down the path he has already started toward eternal forgiveness and peace with God.

In a reply to the Josh Allen story on Kyle Brandt’s basement, a poster named James Morton wrote the following,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. 

That is the idea. It’s not the prayer that saves the soul, but the Lord who lovingly responds to such a deep and sincere call for help.