Salvation
Is Jesus really the Only Way?
Bible verses in Blue
Jesus' words in Red
Two former U.S. presidents have in the past been quoted as follows:
Barak Obama -
"I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people."
"The difficult thing about any religion, including Christianity, is that at some level there is a call to evangelize and proselytize. There's the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven't embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they're going to hell."
George W. Bush -
"We have different routes of getting to the Almighty. I believe in an Almighty God, and I believe that all of the world whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God."
Whether or not these statements reflect the former presidents current beliefs - most people today would probably agree with these statements. But do they reflect what the Bible teaches? Is that what Jesus taught?
When Jesus said, 'I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me,' what did he mean?
The night before he would be crucified, Jesus was attempting to comfort his disciples - and Jesus said this:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
'Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:1-6
To determine the actual meaning of this teaching of Jesus, let's look to two of Jesus' closest friends - Peter and John - and see how they understood this and other teachings of Jesus:
Peter
Not long after Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter and John were arrested and put in jail by the religious leaders of the day. They were arrested for preaching about Jesus after a man crippled from birth had been healed miraculously. Peter and John were brought before these religious leaders and asked:
'By what power or name did you do this miracle?' Acts 4:7
This was a shrewd question, for their Old Testament Law said that if someone performed a sign or miracle, and attributed it to another God, they should be put to death. Deuteronomy 13:1-11
Peter ignored the potential consequences and boldly proclaimed:
"Rulers and elders of the people. If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel:
It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'
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 4:8-12
Peter's understanding after having spent three years with Jesus was quite clear - Salvation was found only through Jesus.
John
Several decades after Jesus' death and resurrection, many false teachers were trying to distort and misrepresent Jesus' teachings to lead Jesus' followers astray. To refute them John wrote a letter found in the New Testament - I John - that states this:
'No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. I John 2:23
'This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a atoning sacrifice for our sins.' I John 4:10
'This is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life in in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.' I John 5:11-12
John's understanding of Jesus' teaching was also quite clear - if we don't have Jesus we don't have life.
Jesus' closest followers interpreted Jesus' words - that no one comes to the Father except through Him - quite literally.
What about decent people who don't believe in God?
What about people who believe in God but don't believe in Jesus?
What about people in Old Testament times who hadn't heard of Jesus?
What about people in far off jungles who have never heard about Jesus?
The Bible teaches that God wants all people to be saved and he made a way for that to happen:
1) God reveals himself to everyone:
'Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.' Romans 1:20
The Bible doesn't argue with the atheist - it simply says that to look at nature and the universe and not believe in God is foolish:
"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Psalm 14:1
According to the Bible, a person saying they believe in God just means they aren't foolish. The question becomes - what God do they believe in?
2) God the Father leads everyone who will listen to Jesus:
'No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: "They will all be taught by God." Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.' Jesus - John 6:44-45
In our natural state we are blind and unable to come to Jesus, so God leads us - if we will but listen to God.
Some are open to God's leading from the time they are children - and they don't remember a time they didn't believe in Jesus. For others it happens when they are older - for some it even happens on their death bed - just like the thief on the cross.
Jesus said above, "They will all be taught by God." God tries to reach everyone, and is patient in trying to do so, but he doesn't force anyone.
'God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.' II Peter 3:9
Jesus told parables showing God to be our pursuer. For example:
'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.' Matthew 13:44-46
Some like to use these parables to tell us what we need to do to follow God. And some tell us we need to give up everything to come to God - just like they say they have done.
Who gave up everything? Who paid it all?
Jesus did - and he did it to get you. He looks at you as a treasure - as a pearl. And he desires for you to come to him.
3) God sent Jesus to die for everyone:
'Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world." I John 2:2
'My Fathers will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.' John 6:40
4) God the Holy Spirit convicts us of our need for Jesus:
Not only is God the Father trying to lead us to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our need for Jesus.
'I tell you the truth, it is to your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you. When he comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I am going to my Father and you will see me no more; and of judgment, because the ruler of the world is judged.'
John 16:7-11
What is the sin the Holy Spirit convicts the world of? Jesus said it was 'because they do not believe in Me.'
Not whether or not we go to church or how often, not how much we pray, not how well we keep the ten commandments, not how nice we are to our neighbors, not how much we give to the poor, not if we smoke, or drink, or swear, etc. The Holy Spirit convicts the non-Christian of the greatest sin - that of not believing in Jesus. And when we put our faith in Jesus we are forgiven for all other sin.
The only way to get right with God is by believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of or sins - and the Holy Spirit convicts us of that.
Jesus then makes an interesting statement - the Holy Spirit will convict the world 'of righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no more.' What's he talking about?
Jesus' resurrection proved many things - that Jesus was who he said he was, that all the Old Testament prophesy's about him were true, etc. - but also that his and only his righteousness was good enough. He is the righteous standard.
If you want to be good enough to deserve heaven you have two options -
1) live as righteous as Jesus did
2) put your faith in Jesus - and his righteousness becomes your righteousness
'God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.'
2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus also said the Holy Spirit would convict the world 'of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.'
Satan has been judged. The world thought the cross was the defeat of Jesus - but just the opposite happened.
Can you imagine yourself in a giant football or soccer stadium holding 100,000 people? Think what it would look like if you were in the middle of the field looking at the multitude of fans looking down on you.
Now multiply the multitudes in the stands by thousands times ten thousands and imagine the middle of the field being a hill outside Jerusalem with Jesus hanging on a cross naked and bloody and being mocked as he dies - and imagine this:
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.' Colossians 2:15
All of heaven was watching as Jesus' mission was completed - and Satan and the multitudes of principalities and powers on Satan's side were defeated. Jesus made a public spectacle of Satan.
If you have put your faith in Jesus - His victory is now also your victory.
'Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.'
1 Corinthians 15:57
If you have not yet put your faith in Christ - Jesus has already died for your sins - but his victory is not your victory yet. Are you listening to the Father? Do you recognize by the Holy Spirit that you are a sinner and that you need to believe in Jesus?
The Bible says; 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Romans 10:13
Jesus is the name of the Lord.
Jesus said 'I am the way and the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father but by me' - because only his sacrifice can save you from your sins.
If Jesus is the only way - what about those who died in Old Testament times? Before Jesus came?
Jesus told a story about two people - one named Lazarus and another he just called a rich man:
'There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, "Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
But Abraham replied, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us."
He answered, "Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment."
Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them."
"No father Abraham," he said, "but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent."
"Abraham replied, "if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." Luke 16:19-31
Jesus taught there was a place - translated Hades in most bibles - where people who rejected God went when they died. Others went to 'Abrahams side.'
People were separated from each other seemingly by how they responded to God based on 'Moses and the Prophets' - what we call the Old Testament. God's people went to 'Abraham's side' while others went to 'a place of torment.'
The side where Abraham and Lazarus went was not a place of torment but the gospel had not yet been preached to them and so how could they go to heaven if Jesus is the only way? They couldn't, so God prepared a place for those in Old Testament times who believed in him and would respond to Jesus.
Jesus called this place 'paradise' while he hung on the cross:
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Jesus: 'Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!'
"But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'
Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Luke 23:39-43
This 'paradise' was not heaven - for Jesus said this to Mary Magdalene on the morning of his resurrection three days later:
"Do not hold onto me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
John 20:17
Jesus also had said that he would spend time in 'the heart of the earth:'
"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.' Matthew 12:40
So God took care of his people who died before they could have the gospel preached to them - then Jesus went there before his resurrection.
What about people in jungles or far off places who have never heard of Jesus?
As discussed above:
'God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.'
1 Timothy 2:4
And Jesus said:
'Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.' John 6:45
It doesn't matter if someone is in deepest Africa or the Amazon rainforest, or in a country in the middle east where Christianity is not allowed and punishable by death, or in China or some other communist country where the government does everything possible to destroy Christianity.
If someone is open to God - they will end up at Jesus. God does this in many ways - by sending a missionary, dropping a gospel tract, by the internet or radio or TV, through dreams or visions, etc. etc. How he does it is up to him.
The reader might want to read the love story told in the Old Testament book of Ruth to see all the ways God used to get her - and how literally God had someone 'buy the field' just to get her, just like in the parables above. Ruth was a Moabite - Moab was a people group cursed by God for their evil. God made a way to get to her - and God will make a way to get to any 'treasure.' God will bring into his kingdom anyone, anywhere, who is willing to listen.
Using far off people as an excuse
Many use people in 'far off lands' etc. as an excuse - saying things like 'I can't believe in a God who would allow billions who have never heard of Jesus to go to hell' - as a reason for rejecting the Christian faith. As though God isn't fair.
The Bible says the following is the true reason for those billions rejecting Jesus:
'God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil.' John 3:16-19
As stated above in the Bible: God desires all men to be saved. Jesus loves and died for everyone. God brings everyone who will listen to Jesus. The Holy Spirit convicts everyone of their sin and their need for Jesus.
According to the Bible, the person who uses the excuse that God isn't fair - the real reason they reject Jesus is because they 'love darkness instead of light.' And that's very sad. But it's not God's fault.
Christians say God is a Trinity - doesn't the Old Testament teach that God is One? Wasn't Jesus just a good person?
The very first verse of the Bible allows for God to be a Plurality or Compound Unity:
'In the beginning God(Elohim) created(bara) the heavens and the earth.'
Genesis 1:1
In this verse the word for 'God' in the original language is 'Elohim' - which can be used as a plural noun, and the word for 'created' is 'bara' - a singular verb.
Then continuing a little further:
'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness . . .
Genesis 1:26
'Behold, the man has become like one of us.'
Genesis 3:22
This allowance for a compound unity continued in what became part of the Jewish 'Shema' - recited by religious Jews to this day:
'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One' (echad)
Deuteronomy 6:4
The Hebrew word for 'one' in this verse is "echad' which also allows for a compound unity - as opposed to the Hebrew word 'yachid' - which would refer to an absolute unity.
Had 'yachid' been used - the Christian Trinity might not be supported in the Old Testament.
As an example, the same word 'echad' is used in the Bible regarding marriage:
'and the two shall become 'one' - 'echad'
Genesis 2:24
In describing God the same Hebrew word - 'echad' is used often throughout the Old Testament.
The Old Testament taught that a Savior was coming who would be both God and man:
'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.'
Isaiah 9:6
The New Testament teaches that this Savior was Jesus - and Jesus was both God and man:
'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made . . . . . the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.'
John 1:1-3, 14
New Testament - Trinity
The New Testament reveals that this compound unity is a Trinity - Father, Son(Jesus), and Holy Spirit
Five ways the Bible reveals the Christian Trinity:
1) There is only one God
2) The Father is God
3) The Son - Jesus - is God
4) The Holy Spirit is God
5) The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are 3 distinct persons
1) There is only one God
Jesus' teaching agreed with the Old Testament that there was one God:
One of the teachers of the Law asked Jesus: "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
Jesus replied: "The most important is this," answered Jesus, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:28-31
2) The Father is God
This is taught throughout the New Testament. For example:
"This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Jesus - Matthew 6:9-10
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials."
Peter - I Peter 1:3-6
3) The Son - Jesus - is God
This is also taught throughout the New Testament. For example:
John, partially quoted above:
'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.'
'That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
John 1:1, I John 1:1-2
Jesus claimed to be God:
"You are not yet 50 years old," they said to him, 'and you have seen Abraham!"
"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
John 8:57-59
"I and the Father are one."
Again his opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"
"We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy because you, a mere man, claim to be God"
John 10:30-33
Jesus accepted worship as God. For example:
Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand in his side, I will not believe."
A week later Jesus' disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
John 20: 25-28
3) The Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit was present at creation:
'Now the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.'
Genesis 1:2
Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would take his place after he left:
"Truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. . . . When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things yet to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you."
John 16:7, 13-14
After his resurrection Jesus appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, Jesus gave them this command:
"Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 1:4-5
Jesus' disciples recognized the Holy Spirit as God:
'A man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money . . . . .
You have lied not just to man, but you have lied to God."
Acts 5:3-4
The Holy Spirit speaks:
'The Holy Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
Acts 8:29
'The Spirit told me (Peter) to have no hesitation about going with the three men.'
Acts 11:12
'While the church at Antioch was worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Acts 13:2
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was caused to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit:
'His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.'
Matthew 1:18
'An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit,"
Matthew 1:20
5) The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are 3 distinct persons
All of the above, plus:
All are present at Jesus' baptism -
'As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:16-17
Jesus said to baptize in all three names:
"Go and make disciples in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20
Wasn't Jesus just a good moral teacher?
'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
Jesus is the Dividing Point between All Religions
Historical Christianity - Jesus was God from the beginning, he came to earth and died for our sins, he rose from the dead on the third day - Jesus is the Son of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Islam - Allah has no son - Jesus was a prophet and Muhammad was the greatest prophet.
Mormonism - Heavenly Father and Mother had many spirit children - Jesus and his brother Lucifer among them. Lucifer went bad and Jesus was sent to earth to save us. The Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are separate Gods unlike the Christian trinity. Jesus was created and not eternally God.
Jehovah's Witnesses - Jesus is God's created son and not part of the trinity.
Jewish - Messianic Jews accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior - non-messianic Jews do not.
Hinduism & Buddhism - various beliefs about Jesus - but he was not God's only Son and part of the Trinity
Liberal Christianity and others - Jesus was just a good moral teacher
Jesus Came to Earth for You
'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's One and Only Son.'
John 3:16-18
If you stand condemned Jesus made it so easy:
The apostle Paul was asked:
'What must I do to be saved?'
He replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."
Acts 16:30-31
'If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.'
Romans 10:9
A note to the reader:
There are many teachers today who are teaching that putting your faith in Jesus means pretty much an end to all your troubles - you can be healed physically if you have enough faith, you can be rich financially, etc.
All of Jesus' apostles were killed for their faith - except for John - and many Christians around the world are today experiencing great persecution and many are being put to death. Any many precious believers are dirt poor - and many struggle with poor health. And many of these have great faith.al
Jesus himself said: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Some day Jesus will return and make things right. Until then those who have put their faith in Jesus have the Holy Spirit indwelling them to help them in their journey - this is an incredible benefit in this life - but beware of those who are teaching that all Christians can and should be healthy and wealthy.
Be thankful if you are and help those who aren't.