Q: Is Jesus the only way to heaven? Is Christ the only means of salvation by God?
22-Jan-09
The short answer is yes, but for some, that will beg some explanation. Firstly, there are Bible verses that clearly indicate this, such as the following:
· Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14.6
· Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4.12
There are also other verses, but let those suffice for now. Apart from these, there are doctrinal reasons that will be discussed with Bible references in parenthesis.
Most doctrinal truths of Scripture are inter-related. When these connections of truth are made, it provides a greater appreciation of God & what He has done because it helps us to understand why things are as they are. Logic certainly does apply to theology & God implores us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind & strength (Mark 12.30). With the exclusive way of Christ for salvation being the main message of the Bible, it is reasonable that this doctrine would be tied to many others.
Let’s start at the beginning where we understand that God specially created us in His image apart from animals & all other creation (Gen 1.1, 26 & 27). As a result of this, we humans are morally accountable to Him (Gen 2.15-17, 1 Pet 4.5, Rom 14.12). The first people sinned by disregarding God’s moral law (Gen 3.6) & all of mankind inherited an unavoidable tendency to sin (Rom 5.12). Everyone, once they’re able to discern right from wrong, will inevitably choose wrong (Rom 3.23), thus breaking God’s moral law in some form at some time & making us guilty (Jas 2.10). Our sin assaults God’s morally perfect holiness (Rev 4.8) & separates us from Him (Isa 59.2) & we are thereby His enemies whether we realize it or not (Col 1.21). Death is a certain consequence of sin (Rom 6.23) & after death, we proceed to judgment before God (Heb 9.27) where we are called to account for our moral conduct.
Since every person has sinned in some fashion, God in His perfect justice must punish sin (Gen 2.16-17, Job 34.12, Ps 9.8). If He did not, He would be a liar & unjust, but He certainly is not (Rom 3.4). An automatic fiery eternal punishment in hell for 1 sin is seemingly severe to us (Mt 7.13-14 & 25.41, Jn 3.17-18), but our sins are more than we remember & are horrendously offensive to Him (Ex 20.20, Ps 5.4-5, Prov 8.13, Hos 9.7). No amount of religion, “good” deed, ritual or sacrament can offset our sins (Isa 1.13, 64.6, Mt 7.21-23, Eph 2.8-9). Not only do those fail to account for sin, but they fail to register on God’s scale of perfect righteousness, & perfection is required for heaven (Mt 19.21). It’s as if we each had a $1 trillion debt to pay & we offer a penny. To bank on one’s own “goodness” is further sin (Gal 3.3).
However, there is good news! The Greek word translated as “Gospel” means Good News & indeed it is! Although it’s impossible for man to save himself, God has provided a way (Mt 19.26)! If we admit to God that we are sinners & put all our faith in the fact that Jesus took our personal punishment for sins on the cross & was raised from the dead to defeat death, then God will give us the free gift of eternal life (Isa 53.11, Jn 3.16, Rom 3.23-24, 6.23 & 10.9-10). The only thing we can do is realize that there is nothing we can do, except agree with God & accept the gift He gives us in Christ. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9.15)
In doing this, Jesus has then paid-in-full the penalty for all our sins – past, present & future (Heb 7.27) because He alone was sinless (Heb 4.15) & His sacrifice was acceptable to God (Heb 9.28, 1 Jn 4.10). By Christ alone, God forgives sins & removes guilt (Ps 32.1-2, Eph 1.7, Heb 10.22, 1 Jn 1.9). He alone justifies us, making us adequately righteous & holy for heaven (2 Cor 5.21, Heb 10.10 & 14). Only Jesus has come from heaven, suffered as a man & conquered death (1 Cor 15.54-55, Php 2.5-11, Heb 2.14-15).
There’s also some philosophical rational that can explain why Christ Jesus is the only way of salvation. For example, if Jesus where merely 1 of many ways, why on earth would God leave the glory of heaven & come to earth in human form to suffer & die (Phil 2.5-8)? If there were other ways, then Christ died for nothing (Gal 2.21).
Why couldn’t Jesus be the only way? God can do whatever He pleases & calls all the shots – that’s what makes Him God. If God is both loving & just, yet wants to save us, wouldn’t He provide a way like this? Wouldn’t He write it out in Eternal Words for us? Wouldn’t He send people to tell us about it? Yes, yes, yes! Some may not agree or be comfortable with it, but that doesn’t change God’s truth, nor does it persuade the Almighty (1 Cor 1.18 & 25). He is God (Isa 43.11 & 55.8-9).
No other person has ever died to atone for your sins. The choices are you or Jesus. The sin debt can be reckoned by each finite individual being eternally punished or one can be saved by trusting that the infinite & sinless Jesus took their punishment in an instant. No one is self-qualified for entry into heaven. Jesus is the only One qualified to qualify us for heaven.
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God… - 1 Pet 3.18
· Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14.6
· Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4.12
There are also other verses, but let those suffice for now. Apart from these, there are doctrinal reasons that will be discussed with Bible references in parenthesis.
Most doctrinal truths of Scripture are inter-related. When these connections of truth are made, it provides a greater appreciation of God & what He has done because it helps us to understand why things are as they are. Logic certainly does apply to theology & God implores us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind & strength (Mark 12.30). With the exclusive way of Christ for salvation being the main message of the Bible, it is reasonable that this doctrine would be tied to many others.
Let’s start at the beginning where we understand that God specially created us in His image apart from animals & all other creation (Gen 1.1, 26 & 27). As a result of this, we humans are morally accountable to Him (Gen 2.15-17, 1 Pet 4.5, Rom 14.12). The first people sinned by disregarding God’s moral law (Gen 3.6) & all of mankind inherited an unavoidable tendency to sin (Rom 5.12). Everyone, once they’re able to discern right from wrong, will inevitably choose wrong (Rom 3.23), thus breaking God’s moral law in some form at some time & making us guilty (Jas 2.10). Our sin assaults God’s morally perfect holiness (Rev 4.8) & separates us from Him (Isa 59.2) & we are thereby His enemies whether we realize it or not (Col 1.21). Death is a certain consequence of sin (Rom 6.23) & after death, we proceed to judgment before God (Heb 9.27) where we are called to account for our moral conduct.
Since every person has sinned in some fashion, God in His perfect justice must punish sin (Gen 2.16-17, Job 34.12, Ps 9.8). If He did not, He would be a liar & unjust, but He certainly is not (Rom 3.4). An automatic fiery eternal punishment in hell for 1 sin is seemingly severe to us (Mt 7.13-14 & 25.41, Jn 3.17-18), but our sins are more than we remember & are horrendously offensive to Him (Ex 20.20, Ps 5.4-5, Prov 8.13, Hos 9.7). No amount of religion, “good” deed, ritual or sacrament can offset our sins (Isa 1.13, 64.6, Mt 7.21-23, Eph 2.8-9). Not only do those fail to account for sin, but they fail to register on God’s scale of perfect righteousness, & perfection is required for heaven (Mt 19.21). It’s as if we each had a $1 trillion debt to pay & we offer a penny. To bank on one’s own “goodness” is further sin (Gal 3.3).
However, there is good news! The Greek word translated as “Gospel” means Good News & indeed it is! Although it’s impossible for man to save himself, God has provided a way (Mt 19.26)! If we admit to God that we are sinners & put all our faith in the fact that Jesus took our personal punishment for sins on the cross & was raised from the dead to defeat death, then God will give us the free gift of eternal life (Isa 53.11, Jn 3.16, Rom 3.23-24, 6.23 & 10.9-10). The only thing we can do is realize that there is nothing we can do, except agree with God & accept the gift He gives us in Christ. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9.15)
In doing this, Jesus has then paid-in-full the penalty for all our sins – past, present & future (Heb 7.27) because He alone was sinless (Heb 4.15) & His sacrifice was acceptable to God (Heb 9.28, 1 Jn 4.10). By Christ alone, God forgives sins & removes guilt (Ps 32.1-2, Eph 1.7, Heb 10.22, 1 Jn 1.9). He alone justifies us, making us adequately righteous & holy for heaven (2 Cor 5.21, Heb 10.10 & 14). Only Jesus has come from heaven, suffered as a man & conquered death (1 Cor 15.54-55, Php 2.5-11, Heb 2.14-15).
There’s also some philosophical rational that can explain why Christ Jesus is the only way of salvation. For example, if Jesus where merely 1 of many ways, why on earth would God leave the glory of heaven & come to earth in human form to suffer & die (Phil 2.5-8)? If there were other ways, then Christ died for nothing (Gal 2.21).
Why couldn’t Jesus be the only way? God can do whatever He pleases & calls all the shots – that’s what makes Him God. If God is both loving & just, yet wants to save us, wouldn’t He provide a way like this? Wouldn’t He write it out in Eternal Words for us? Wouldn’t He send people to tell us about it? Yes, yes, yes! Some may not agree or be comfortable with it, but that doesn’t change God’s truth, nor does it persuade the Almighty (1 Cor 1.18 & 25). He is God (Isa 43.11 & 55.8-9).
No other person has ever died to atone for your sins. The choices are you or Jesus. The sin debt can be reckoned by each finite individual being eternally punished or one can be saved by trusting that the infinite & sinless Jesus took their punishment in an instant. No one is self-qualified for entry into heaven. Jesus is the only One qualified to qualify us for heaven.
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God… - 1 Pet 3.18