Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?
Yes.
In every religion, there’s no security—no way of knowing if you’re enough and if you’ll ever do or be enough. In every major religion, you have to be obedient and live right to be saved. If the resurrection is true, as we’ve shown, then Jesus is truly the only way to God. Which is actually really good news for us. But is this fair? Why can’t there be many ways to God? If Jesus is so loving, then why not accept everyone?
Christianity is both inclusive and exclusive. Inclusive in the fact that anyone can join. Exclusive in the fact that there’s only one way to God, through Jesus, and you have to say yes. Perhaps you’ve been called “narrow-minded” for believing that. But just because we or others don’t like something doesn’t mean we need to discredit it. Let’s examine it and see if it holds up to scrutiny.
“Fair” is an opinion. What is fair? According to our standard or God’s? No one is entitled to salvation. And no one deserves to be saved. This is what makes God’s grace so unfair: it’s a free gift! And I’m putting all of my confidence in the belief that every single person will have an opportunity to say yes or no to Jesus.
If there were many ways to God, how would we know which was right? If it were based on works or right living, how would we know if we ever did enough? Christianity is the only belief system that offers salvation freely by grace. It’s not narrow-minded or judgmental to believe this, especially since our message is not a secret. The offer of salvation is not being hidden from people. God wants all people to come to repentance, and we can trust in God’s goodness that everyone will have a chance to be saved.
The gate of salvation is narrow because only Jesus saves. What’s crazy is that most people would rather earn, work for, or achieve salvation instead of letting Jesus save them. That’s the wide road of religion—performance, achieving, and striving. The narrow gate is entered by humility. We simply say, “We can’t save ourselves, Jesus, but You can.”
So why can I trust in Jesus?
As we saw earlier, there is overwhelming proven evidence about the resurrection and the early church and the Scriptures. Since Jesus is alive, then everything He said must be true. Since the New Testament is reliable, we can trust the claims it makes. Furthermore, not only did Jesus claim to be God, but He pulled it off. He rose from the dead.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can go to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). We can never be good enough or do enough good works to be saved. Jesus said the standard was perfection. None of us are perfect. But then He became our sin and told us that He has met the standard for us. Jesus is a gentleman, and He will never force anyone to say yes to Him. He’s pursuing the entire world, wishing none to perish.
All it takes is trust in Jesus. That’s it. Jesus will not force anyone to be saved. He is drawing people to Himself by His love and kindness. He doesn’t force people to love Him back. He wants them to freely choose. And He’s inviting everyone to a life-giving relationship that is more than going to heaven one day. It includes His love, care, and friendship with us right now. We get to come to Jesus, mess and all. He isn’t asking us to clean ourselves up or start behaving better. He’s inviting us to come and receive life—His life.
You can visit the tombs of Abraham, Buddha, and Mohammed. They are all dead.
Jesus ... well, He’s alive.
In every religion, there’s no security—no way of knowing if you’re enough and if you’ll ever do or be enough. In every major religion, you have to be obedient and live right to be saved. If the resurrection is true, as we’ve shown, then Jesus is truly the only way to God. Which is actually really good news for us. But is this fair? Why can’t there be many ways to God? If Jesus is so loving, then why not accept everyone?
Christianity is both inclusive and exclusive. Inclusive in the fact that anyone can join. Exclusive in the fact that there’s only one way to God, through Jesus, and you have to say yes. Perhaps you’ve been called “narrow-minded” for believing that. But just because we or others don’t like something doesn’t mean we need to discredit it. Let’s examine it and see if it holds up to scrutiny.
“Fair” is an opinion. What is fair? According to our standard or God’s? No one is entitled to salvation. And no one deserves to be saved. This is what makes God’s grace so unfair: it’s a free gift! And I’m putting all of my confidence in the belief that every single person will have an opportunity to say yes or no to Jesus.
If there were many ways to God, how would we know which was right? If it were based on works or right living, how would we know if we ever did enough? Christianity is the only belief system that offers salvation freely by grace. It’s not narrow-minded or judgmental to believe this, especially since our message is not a secret. The offer of salvation is not being hidden from people. God wants all people to come to repentance, and we can trust in God’s goodness that everyone will have a chance to be saved.
The gate of salvation is narrow because only Jesus saves. What’s crazy is that most people would rather earn, work for, or achieve salvation instead of letting Jesus save them. That’s the wide road of religion—performance, achieving, and striving. The narrow gate is entered by humility. We simply say, “We can’t save ourselves, Jesus, but You can.”
So why can I trust in Jesus?
As we saw earlier, there is overwhelming proven evidence about the resurrection and the early church and the Scriptures. Since Jesus is alive, then everything He said must be true. Since the New Testament is reliable, we can trust the claims it makes. Furthermore, not only did Jesus claim to be God, but He pulled it off. He rose from the dead.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can go to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). We can never be good enough or do enough good works to be saved. Jesus said the standard was perfection. None of us are perfect. But then He became our sin and told us that He has met the standard for us. Jesus is a gentleman, and He will never force anyone to say yes to Him. He’s pursuing the entire world, wishing none to perish.
All it takes is trust in Jesus. That’s it. Jesus will not force anyone to be saved. He is drawing people to Himself by His love and kindness. He doesn’t force people to love Him back. He wants them to freely choose. And He’s inviting everyone to a life-giving relationship that is more than going to heaven one day. It includes His love, care, and friendship with us right now. We get to come to Jesus, mess and all. He isn’t asking us to clean ourselves up or start behaving better. He’s inviting us to come and receive life—His life.
You can visit the tombs of Abraham, Buddha, and Mohammed. They are all dead.
Jesus ... well, He’s alive.
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You're Not LukewarmSaints Not SinnersAs Righteous As JesusThe Resurrection Worked, TooDraw Near to God?You Cannot Lose Your SalvationGod's Grace Is Not A License to SinForgiven of All SinsIf a Christian commits suicide, are they saved?Does Science Point to God?Do we have to give (tithe) 10% of our money?What about 1 John 1:9? Do we need to confess our sins daily?What About the Violence in the Old Testament?Can believers lose fellowship with God?Do Believers need to ask God to forgive them each day? What about the Lord\'s Prayer?Is there historical evidence for Christ and His resurrection?What Does It Mean to "Fear God"?Does the Holy Spirit Convict Believers of Sin?Does God cause suffering?What is God's Will for My Life?Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?What Does the Bible say about Depression? Is it wrong for a Christian to be depressed?What is God's Discipline?You Are Not Under the LawWill Believers be Judged for their sin?
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What did Jesus mean when He said, “I never knew you. Depart from me”?Does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean we can lose our salvation?Did God Kill Ananias and Sapphira?The Unforgivable SinWill we have to give an account for our sins?What does it mean to Grieve and Quench the Spirit?What Does it Mean to take Communion in an Unworthy Manner?
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