Only One Way to Heaven | "All Roads" Do NOT Lead There
- Summary: You hear people say, “All roads lead to God.” However, the bible exposes this as a tragic error that is leading millions to eternity in hell. By contrast, numerous Scriptures plainly declare that the one and only way to God is through the Savior, Jesus Christ. Let’s see what the Bible clearly teaches about God's one and only plan of salvation — that is, Jesus Christ!
Acts 16:30-31
- •• The apostle Paul was asked by the Philippian jail keeper, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul’s immediate response was to exhort the jailer to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” and he would be saved. And today, as then, that is the one correct explanation of how to be saved. There are surely millions, like that jailer, who are wondering how to be saved and go to heaven. The simple answer is eternally the same: faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior who died for our sins and rose again to save all who come to Him in repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
- •• Paul did not offer or suggest multiple roads to God. He set forth Jesus Christ as the pathway to salvation.
- •• Jesus Himself stated this same truth, as the next Scripture shows.
- •• The way, the truth, the life! Not “a way”. Not one of many ways to finding God, but “the way” (singular). In one brief sentence, Jesus is the way to go to heaven and to God's presence.
•• ”I am the way ... to the Father,” said Jesus.- • One dismisses Jesus’ statement at one’s eternal peril, for Jesus is the only way to heaven and the presence of God the Father.
• Or one can accept Jesus as declaring an all-important truth — that is, that He and He alone is the pathway for men and women to come to God.
• Jesus did not allow for other avenues to salvation. He plainly said that “no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
- •• The apostle Peter joined Jesus and the apostle Paul in declaring the one and only way to salvation, as the following verses show.
- •• Peter’s words are unequivocally clear about God's determined plan of salvation: “Salvation is found in no one else" [than Jesus Christ, vs. 10].
- • Not in good works, not in good intentions, not in trying hard. Sadly, millions of people have fallen for the error that says our good works will surely earn us a place in heaven. But the Bible clearly indicates that God's "great salvation" is by the Lord's grace, not by our good works.
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Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.
•Titus 3:5 , KJV Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.
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- • Not in good works, not in good intentions, not in trying hard. Sadly, millions of people have fallen for the error that says our good works will surely earn us a place in heaven. But the Bible clearly indicates that God's "great salvation" is by the Lord's grace, not by our good works.
- •• Likewise, Peter asserted that no other living being — past, present, or future — could lead us to God and to salvation. He said, “There is no other name [than Jesus’ name, vs. 10] ... by which we must be saved.”
- • Great men like Abraham, Moses, Paul, and Peter cannot save us.
• The heroes of other religions — Buddha, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, etc. — certainly cannot save us.
• Only Jesus Christ the Son of God can save us and bring us to God. Only Jesus can truthfully say, "I am the way!"
- •• Let’s examine in the following verses a variety of insights into our main theme — that is, that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to God and to eternal salvation. First, let’s look at some of the insights offered by the apostle Paul.
- •• Paul states succinctly that it is through Jesus that both Jew and Gentile “have access to the Father”.
- • Jesus came from God the Father in heaven to earth (John 1:14; John 16:28).
- • And now it is through Jesus — and His death, burial, and resurrection — that we have access to God the Father in heaven. The question of how to get to heaven and the presence of God is now eternally answered: through Jesus Christ! His crucifixion and resurrection secured our salvation. And His own words laid out the "one way" — "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
- •• The Book of Acts relates the story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-22), now known to us as Paul the apostle. This persecutor of the early church had failed to find salvation in his strict adherence to Judaism. Then he found salvation, eternal life, and peace with God through his new faith in Jesus Christ.
•• Thereafter Paul had one dominant message — “Jesus Christ and Him crucified”!- • Paul preached Jesus Christ as Savior — Jesus, who had died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. That, he said, was “the Gospel”, the Good News (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). To offer any other savior, or way of salvation, is bad news!
- •• Too many people in this world try to lay some other foundation for salvation — for example, the doing of good works; living a decent, honorable life; going to church, etc. These are certainly good things to do, but they are not the foundation for salvation.
- • “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus and Jesus alone is the only foundation for our salvation. He alone is the Rock upon which we can take our eternal stand. As the hymn says, “All other ground is sinking sand.”
- •• Paul writes to young Pastor Timothy that the one and only mediator between God and man is the Son of God, who came to earth and became man for us, that is, Jesus Christ. He is the one mediator, the only go-between between lost sinners and a holy God.
•• Now let’s examine a number of very clear Scriptural declarations by the apostle John of the unique place Jesus occupies in the salvation of our souls.
- •• John 3:16 is among the bible’s most famous verses. It promises eternal life to those who come in faith to Jesus. But verses 18 and 36 add some important warnings.
- • Vs. 18 — “Whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” To reject Jesus is to incur God’s condemnation.
- • Vs. 36 — Eternal life is mentioned again as the reward for those who come in faith to Jesus. But we read the dire warning: “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” It is a fatal decision to reject God’s only provision for salvation, Jesus Christ.
- •• At a time when some of Jesus’ disciples were leaving Him, Peter spoke words of wisdom for seekers of all generations: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter knew that there was no other source, no other words, no other avenue that led to salvation than the words of truth that Jesus spoke about Himself and God the Father.
- •• In contrast to all other men, including His own apostles, Jesus asserted, “I am from above.” His origin, His rightful place, and His current place of enthronement, is heaven itself.
•• That being said, Jesus warned His hearers that if they did not believe in Him and in His words, they would die in their sins. Again, He was making a clear, unequivocal statement that it was through Him alone that we would be saved from our sins.
- •• Who speaks to the Father in defense of us sinners? Jesus Christ!
•• Who is the “atoning sacrifice for our sins”? Again, Jesus.
•• The Bible declares us all guilty sinners (Romans 3:23). What remedy, what redemptive plan of salvation, has God provided for that? Only one — “We have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ.”
- •• All roads do not lead to God. It is God, not man, who has the right to determine how lost sinners will have their relationship established with Him. And He has determined that His Son Jesus will be that divine provision for our salvation.
- • “The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
- •• John echoes Jesus' words that He, Jesus, is the only way to God the Father. He declares in no uncertain terms that "no one who denies the Son has the Father".
- •• It is wonderful to find eternal “life in His Son.”
•• It is an eternal disaster to look elsewhere for salvation, for “he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
In closing this bible study, let’s look at two final Scripture portions, both from the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews.
- •• Why is Jesus the one and only way to God? Because it is uniquely Jesus, God’s Son, who was chosen by God to “taste death for everyone.”
- • As Paul wrote, it is Good News (“gospel”) that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3) and “was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
• We serve a crucified and risen Savior, the only one God has ever appointed to such a glorious task.
- •• This same crucified, risen, exalted and only Savior Jesus Christ “will appear a second time ... to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”
- • Are you waiting for Him as Savior? Or have you fallen for the eternally fatal deception that says, “All roads lead to God”?
• Jesus is waiting warmly, graciously, and openly today for you to come to Him for salvation. Believe in Him as the crucified and risen Son of God. Bring your sins to Him in sincere sorrow for forgiveness. And experience His welcoming you into the family of God and into the sure hope of spending an indescribably glorious eternity with Him and with God the Father.
• If you desire some additional help in finding salvation and peace with God through Jesus Christ, evangelist Billy Graham offers clear guidance on how to be saved and have eternal life.
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Check out our helpful list of "Salvation Scriptures" (How to Be Saved)
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Pentecostal Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.