Question: Is Jesus just one of the paths to get to heaven?
Answer: The people of the many religions of the world are hoping that their earthly worship of other men, women, animals, and objects will earn for them a heavenly future. The Bible warns that, sadly, those beliefs are false. Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation the Bible shows that we can trust. The scriptures assure us that He rules over ALL the nations now and always will!
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Even the father of these counterfeit religions, Satan, will ultimately bow down to Jesus (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 45:13). God’s word, the Bible, shows that all people will definitely have eternal life, but, importantly, not in the same destination. Jesus is the judge between heaven and hell, as He explains in the Bible books of Matthew and Luke. Jesus referred to Himself as the “narrow gate” and the “narrow door”:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Jesus in Matthew 7:13-14
“Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. ‘Lord,’ someone asked Him, ‘will only a few people be saved?’ Jesus answered, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, Lord, open the door for us. But he will reply, I do not know where you are from. Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And He will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.” Jesus in Luke 13:22-30
God purposed for His only Son to suffer a painful, gruesome death in order to satisfy the penalty of blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. If there had been any other way for this to be accomplished, God would not have asked this of Jesus. Jesus knew this was His destiny, God’s reason for sending Him into the world, to reconcile to Himself all people who would come to Him through His Son. Jesus’ words in John 14:6 proved He knew He was the only door to heaven: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Jesus in John 3:36
Bearing what Jesus foretold In John’s chapter 3 as “the wrath of God” is an indescribably horrible state and is described in the Bible as part of what happened to Jesus during the beating and torture before He was crucified (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, John 18-19, Luke 18-22). Difficult for us to comprehend was the separation from God that Jesus suddenly felt during that punishment, and it must have been devastating. However, these are not all we would suffer if we didn’t put our trust in only Jesus for our future. It is difficult even to imagine an eternity in the fires of Hell, separated from God’s light and comfort, fulfilling the punishment that was due us! That is NOT what God, our Father, desires for us, though; hell was the place He created for the devil and fallen angels. He sent Jesus into the world to pay the penalty in a once-and-for-all blood sacrifice so that we could enjoy His presence and Paradise – forever!
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (substitute payment) for our sins.” I John 4:10
As you can clearly see, GOD LOVES YOU IMMENSELY!
He commanded His Son Jesus to die for you. He is ready to send His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to indwell you and help, teach, and comfort you. Do you know how to ask Him to forgive you and guide you through the rest of your life? All you have to do is ask, and you can right now. You can say something like this:
Dear God, I know that I have sinned in many, many ways. I’m sorry for all my wrongdoing, and I want to turn away from this past life and start anew with you. Please forgive me. I believe Jesus Christ is your Son; I believe He died on the cross for my sin, and you raised Him back to life 3 days later, just like the Bible documents. I want Him to come into my heart and take control of my life. I profess right now that I am trusting Jesus to be my Savior and will follow Him as my Lord and Master from this moment forward. In the Wonderful Name of Jesus I ask this, Amen!
“Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
