Are there many ways to get to Heaven? If we listen to the popular culture of today we will hear a multitude of voices telling us that there are many ways to get to Heaven. Is this true? Well, our Bible tells us a very different story. It tells us very clearly that there is only One Way to get to Heaven – there is only One Way to get to God! Our Bible states clearly that Jesus Christ is THE ONLY WAY to gain eternal life – to gain Heaven! Let’s explore several scriptures that explain “THE ONLY WAY” to Heaven.
Perhaps the most familiar scripture relating to salvation is found in John 3:16 where we read the words of Jesus, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” In these familiar Words of Jesus, He tells us why He came into this world, to be the Savior of mankind. He is God “in the flesh” and His whole Purpose in taking upon Himself a body of flesh was to be our Savior. Jesus continues in John 3:17-18, "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (18) " He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Here, Jesus explains that He is “The Only Begotten Son of God”! In addition He explains that He was not sent by His Father to Judge the World, rather He was sent to “Save” the world (mankind). (The word used here for “world” means mankind rather than the “Cosmos.”)
In the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew Jesus further describes Himself and His Purpose. In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus states, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. (14) "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Here Jesus uses a descriptive term that would have been very familiar to His hearers who had every-day contact with sheep, shepherds, and narrow gates. He refers to Himself as the “narrow gate” through which one must enter to gain Salvation. He also speaks of the alternative, the “broad gate” through which so many enter to find their eternal damnation.
In the tenth chapter of John, Jesus again refers to Himself as “the door” through one must enter to gain Salvation. In John 10:7-9 Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (8) "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. (9) "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. In verse nine Jesus clearly states that one must enter through Him to gain Salvation.
In the fourteenth chapter of John Jesus presents Himself as not just “a way” but “THE ONLY WAY” TO GAIN SALVATION. In John 14:6 He states, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Amazingly, Jesus states emphatically that HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD, THE FATHER! If we are to believe the statements of Jesus we have no choice but to conclude that He is THE ONLY WAY TO SLAVATION – THE ONLY WAY TO GOD, THE FATHER! As for me, I choose to believe! Praise God, He has provided THE WAY TO SALVATION – HE IS THE ONLY WAY!
Others attest to the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to gain Salvation. In Acts 4:10-12 we read these Words from the sermon of the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost, “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by this name this man stands here before you in good health. (11) "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. (12) "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." Peter clearly states that there is no other Name – no one else, in whom Salvation can be found other than Jesus Christ.
The Apostle John in 1 John 4:9-14 makes this statement, “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. (10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (12) No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. (13) By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (14) We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” John clearly gives us his first-hand witness that Jesus (The Only Begotten Son of God) was “sent” by God The Father to be “The Savior of The World.”
In announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the angels proclaim Jesus as Savior in Luke 2:8-11 where we read, “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. (10) But the angel said to them, " Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; (11) for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” NASU
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Pastor J. Gilbert Hammond