IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY TODAY?
Jesus Christ said about two thousand years ago: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus fulfilled all scriptures concerning God’s promised Messianic Savior of the world (Luke 24:44-48). And he did miraculous works which no one else could do unless they were from God (John 9:32-33; 15:24). But today some say, “there couldn’t possibly be just one way.” Jesus urges people to search the Scriptures because he said: “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,” as the only way to God the Father(John 5:39; 14:6; Hebrews 13:8).
COULD MAN’S GOODNESS BE ANOTHER WAY TO GOD?
A famous person who does not accept that Jesus Christ is the only way, reasoned: “What if you are somewhere on the planet and you never hear the name of Jesus, but you live with a loving heart.” The written Word of God says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12).
THE WORD OF GOD ANSWERS!
The written Word of God says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). “All have turned away…there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus said, “there is none good but one, that is, God” (Matthew 19:17).
However, the Word shows us the way to become clean and righteous in the sight of God: We must believe and accept that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
THE HEART AFFECTS WHO FINDS GOD
The Word of God says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart “(Jeremiah 29:13).
- A ROMAN CENTURION: There was a Roman centurion named Cornelius who did not know Jesus as his Savior and Lord, but “he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” However, knowing his heart, God sent the apostle Peter to tell him about the Lord Jesus Christ. Cornelius and his household believed the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ and they were saved. (Acts 10:1-18).
- A MACEDONIAN CALL: The Lord knew people in Macedonia had a heart’s readiness to accept him.Paul saw a night-vision of a man of Macedonia, urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul went to Macedonia, “concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:9-10).
Because of his great love for all, Jesus instructs those who have accepted him to go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation. And whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16; John 3:16-18).
OPPORTUNITY AND KNOWLEDGE ARE FACTORED INTO GOD’S JUDGMENT
The Bible says people who knew the Lord’s will, and did not do his will shall be beaten with many stripes–for unto whom much is given, much shall be required (Luke 12:47). But those who did not know God’s will, but “did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes” (Luke 12:48).
The Lord God is omniscient, knowing everything—including everyone’s knowledge, opportunities, deeds, conscience and heart– is able to make righteous judgments (Hebrews 4:13). And he will judge each of us righteously according to what he knows about us, whether good or bad ( 2 Corinthian 5:10).
MORE LIGHT ON HIS RIGHTEOUSLY JUDGMENT
The Word of God sheds more light on how he judges: The Lord tells those who are aware of his words, they should live by every written word of God (Matthew 4:4). As many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law. They that have sinned without the law shall be judge without the law. And people’s conduct related to their conscience of right and wrong shall be factored into God’s judgement. (Romans 2:12-16).
Because of God’s great love for the world (John 3:16), it is not his desire that anyone should perish, but that everyone should repent and believe in his only begotten Son Jesus Christ–the only way to the only true God of salvation (2 Peter3:9; Acts 2:38; John 17:3).
The Lord commands us who have repented and believe in him as our Savior and Lord, to pray for and proclaim the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to the world (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Timothy 2:1). And he tells us to “gently” instruct those who oppose the gospel, “in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25-26). Yet we should recognize it is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to convince people to believe; and the Lord’s position to judge them (John 16:8; John 5:22).
Pic-Jesus crucified3/Jesus is the only way