IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD TODAY?
Jesus Christ told people 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). But today some people say, “there couldn’t possibly be just one way.” Jesus urged people to: search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). And they witness about his being “from God” (John 9:32-33).
The Scriptures tell us “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. They tell us how he raised people from the dead (John 11:38-44; Mark 35-42). And the Scriptures tell us how Jesus fulfilled all prophecies concerning God’s promised Messianic Savior of the world (Luke 24:44-48). Jesus, by the power of God, did “miraculous signs among them that no one else could do” (John 15:24). And Scriptures state that whoever comes to God must come through his Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16; John 14:6).
SOME PEOPLE SAY HUMAN LOVE OR GOODNESS IS ANOTHER WAY TO GOD.
Someone said there has got to be another way, then 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 “inspired” Scriptures of God, which fully “prepare” his people (2 Timothy 3:16-17), say: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 12:2). Nevertheless, the “inspired” writings say: In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” ( Acts 17:30-31).
The written Word of God tells us: “there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). “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).
Because of God’s goodness and great love, he sacrificed his sinless Son to died on a cross for the sins of “whoever believes” he is the way to God. (John 3:16). “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).
The Bible informs us that it is not by human love or good works that any person is saved or determined to be righteous in the sight of God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith [in Jesus Christ]—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16)).
THE BIBLE SAYS GOD WILL JUDGE EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO GOD”S WRITTEN WORD.
1. The biblical Word of God Says: All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares” (Romans 2:12-16).
2. When people heard the apostles preach the gospel Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected on the day of Pentecost, they asked, “what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts2:38). God gave the Holy Spirit with God’s power and grace to help believers keep his commandments (John 14:15-17; 1 John 1:9).
3. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:47:48)
Evidently, the Bibles reveals that In the plan or mind of God, our loving and righteous judge, his Son Jesus Christ was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8); for the sins of everyone who believes and obey him, according the light God has given them—whether it is the light of the conscience, the law or the gospel (Romans 2:12-16; Luke 12:47-48).
THE BIBLE TELLS BELIEVERS TO PROCLAIM THE LOVE OF JESUS AS THE WAY TO GOD.
Because of God’s great love for people (John 3:16; Roman 5:8), it is not his desire that anyone should perish, but that everyone should repent and believe in his only begotten Son Jesus Christ—who is the only way to the only true God of salvation (2 Peter3:9; John 17:3). In his love for all people, the Lord commands us who have repented and believe in him as our Savior and Lord: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16).
The Lord instructs believers who proclaim the gospel of Jesus, to first pray that people would receive it (1 Timothy 2:1). And he tells believers 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 it is the Lord’s position to judge them (John 16:8; John 5:22).
God will greatly reward all repentant believers who proclaim the gospel of Jesus crucified and resurrected as the only way to God. (Luke 18:30; 2 Timothy 4:8). And he will return to all take everyone who trust him as their Savior and Lord, to be with him eternally in heaven, (John 14:3; Acts 1:11).
