Our pluralistic culture offers a variety of "ways" to heaven. Many of the so-called truths overlook the need for Jesus-or a savior of any kind. God's Word, however, reveals Jesus as the only way to salvation. He is:
- God's Son sent to earth by a loving Father (see John 3:16)
- God's plan to save that which was lost (see Matt. 18:11)
- God incarnate, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (see Luke 2)
- The second person of the Trinity, endorsed at baptism by the Father: "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'" (Matt. 3:17, NKJV).
- God's perfect sacrificial lamb to redeem humankind: "‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!'" (Rev. 5:12). "‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!'" (John 1:29).
Jesus' role as the only way to salvation is confirmed in numerous Bible passages. One is Galatians 3:13: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law [Adam's original sin], having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')." Jesus Himself declared: "‘For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me'" (John 6:38).
He also said: "‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" (John 14:6). Jesus even revealed His unique role as humankind's only Savior to Pilate: "‘For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world'" (John 18:37).
God's Word further testifies that Jesus is our only Savior, describing Him as "the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1-2).
In his book So What's the Difference? Fritz Ridenour boldly endorses Jesus' unique and singular role as the only way to salvation: "Mohammed is dead. Buddha is dead. Confucius is dead. But the Bible affirms that Christ is alive; and because He lives, the Christian will live also, eternally."
No one other than Jesus can claim to have risen from the dead. No other name is "above every name" (Phil. 2:9)-save that of our only Lord and Savior.
If you have any question about whether Jesus is the only way to salvation-look to God's Word. As God-breathed (see 2 Tim. 3:16), the Bible is infallible (without error) and inerrant (never failing). It can be trusted to be true in its endorsement of Jesus as the singular way to gain eternal life.
Read the words of Jesus: John 6:48, John 10:9 and John 14:6.
In each of the above Scriptures, Jesus presents a word image (or metaphor) of Himself that illustrates His position as the only way to salvation. Note-preceding each of the metaphors is the article "the." This article establishes that the description is unique to Jesus—the bread, the door and the way.
John 6:48-Here, Jesus says of Himself: "‘I am the bread of life.'" In the previous verse (47), He reveals His divine authority—the one and only authority that can offer us everlasting life: "‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.'"
In calling Himself "the bread of life," Jesus teaches that it is He-and only He-who can offer us life now and life to come. Confirmation of this truth is found in John 6:51: "‘I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.'"
John 10:9-In this verse, Jesus says: "‘I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.'" Only through the one door (or gate, as some Bible versions say)—through Jesus our Savior—can any of us enter into heaven.
John 14:6-Jesus claims: "‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" His statement-"‘No one comes to the Father except through Me'"—confirms His position as God's Son, the only way to salvation.
Memorize each of the preceding Scriptures. Get each one inside you so that when you are presented with offers of "other ways to salvation," you will be fully armed to counter with the truth—Jesus, the one and the only way to salvation.
