ONLY JESUS CHRIST SAVES?

ONLY JESUS CHRIST SAVES?

Jesus Christ said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” Mark 16:15-16). “I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:11). Contrary to what the Lord said, some teach that there are more than one savior and ways to God. As believers, we should be prepared to give everyone our Bible-reasons for believing Jesus is the only savior and way to God the heavenly Father.

TREATING JESUS AS ONE OF MANY SAVIORS

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association recently promoted a book titled Christ Among Other gods: A Defense of Christ in an Age of Tolerance, by Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer. He said he wrote this book to present Jesus Christ solely from the perspective of the Holy Bible, in light of organized attempts to treat Jesus as a god among gods, and not as the only way to God the heavenly Father.

Dr. Lutzer said he wrote this book after observing sessions of the Parliament Of World Religions which met in Chicago, and which teaches that there are other gods equal to Jesus Christ. And they teach that “all faiths eventually leads to God.” But Lutzer says he believes that the Bible teaches Jesus Christ is God incarnated, who is the only begotten Son of God, and is the only way to God the Father and eternal life (Philippians 2:6-8; John 3:16-18; John 14:6).

Lutzer alerts us to being on guard against unbiblical teachings. The Bible warns us that we are in spiritual warfare, and that we fight not against flesh and blood, but against powerful evil spiritual forces in high places (Ephesians 6:12; Matthews 24:4-5).

TEACHINGS THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH THE BIBLE REGARGING JESUS

Lutzer points out teachings and practices that do not aligned with the Bible regarding Jesus Christ being God the Son, and the only way to God the Father.

The Parliament Of World Religions promotes the idea of unity-pluralism- inclusivism as the way all religions should go.
Swami Chindanansa of the Divine Life Society, representing Eastern religious ideas, told the Doctor, ”there are many effective equally valid religions.”
As an affirmation of their own divinity, delegates at The Parliament shouted together, “I AM” —a name Almighty God uses to identify himself (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).
The Doctor said, he asked a pastor at a banquet, “do you believe Christ is the only way to God?” And “do you believed all the religions of the world are equally valid?” The response to both questions were, “of course!” But later the pastor whispered, “when I speak about Christ, I’m not talking about the Jesus of Nazareth!” Lutzer said the pastor believed in a cosmic Christ who dwells in everyone, who unifies many different religious ideas, but Is not a Savior who take you to where you ought to go ( p 137-138).
Dr. Lutzer said that people of the worldwide movement of New Age Spirituality who think of themselves as gods, have made Jesus a “Christ among other gods” and “stripped Jesus of his Deity.” And have become a “stumbling block” to many people. By being “tolerant of…hedonistic pleasures” that the Bible calls sin, they are attracting many away from the Lord (Romans 1:18-28).

Lutzer sees many Christian Churches promoting religious diversity, rather teaching than Jesus as the only way to God as the Bible says (John 14:6; John 3:16-18):

The World Council Of Churches, is seen as largely an ecumenical Protestant group of churches, which “stresses that only through religious dialogue amid the diversity of the world religions is it possible to see the totality of God’s revelation” (p26).
The Catholic Church is seen as being involved in an ecumenical movement toward unity-pluralism-inclusivism. Dr. Lutzer said since Vatican II, the papacy has “been known to pray with Hindus, Buddhists, and representatives of other faiths” (p26).
According to Dr. Lutzer, a Pew Research Center survey reported that among religious Americans, “seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life;” and “more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%)” share this view.

THE BIBLE PROVIDES AN EXTRAORDINARY DEFENDS OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONLY LORD AND SAVIOR

Lutzer uses accounts from the Bible about the extraordinary things about Jesus that demonstrate he is the only divine Son of God; the Christ who came In the flesh and died for the sins and the salvation of mankind; the one who is far above all others on earth and in heaven.

Jesus’ extraordinary birth—He was conceived of the Holy Spirit by a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Phil. 2:6-8).
His extraordinary life—His works of miracles which no other man did—raising the dead, calming raging seas, casting out devils, etc. John 15:24).
His extraordinary authority—God the father distinguished Jesus from other prophets like Moses and Elijah, in stating “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear him” (Matthew 17:1-5).
His extraordinary death—He died for our sins and was pierced for our iniquities as prophesied in the Holy Bible (Isaiah 5:25; John 19:34-35).
His extraordinary resurrection—Many people witnessed his resurrection after his being crucified on a cross and being buried in a sealed tomb. Paul wrote: (1Corinthians 15:3-8)
His extraordinary fulfillment of all Messianic prophecies—Jesus fulfilled all things written in the Old Testament concerning God’s promised Savior (Luke 24:44).
His extraordinary ascension into heaven—Which was witnessed. by his apostles (Acts 1:9-11).
His extraordinary return—which was promised by the Lord, his angels, and is apostles (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1Thessalonians 4:15-16).
Jesus is the only way to the heavenly Father; and God has given no other name under heaven than Jesus whereby people must be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Using the Bible’s defense of Jesus Christ in our age of tolerance, we have an extraordinary opportunity and responsibility to teach and preach the Bible-gospel of Jesus Christ. We can confidently tell others that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is “the way, the truth, and the life”— the only way to God the Father and eternal life (John 3:16; John 14:6).