There Is One Way to Heaven, Not Many Paths

With enough turns, any road in the continental United States leads to Chicago. However, not all spiritual roads lead to heaven, regardless of the number of turns.

Repentance and believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior is the only path to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). It is Jesus’ idea. But when we repeat it, it strikes many people as inclusive, arrogant, and narrow-minded.

Sharing the gospel always offends some (Galatians 5:11). Something offends every generation.

Increasingly, people in our culture value accepting and not discriminating against anyone. In the religious realm, they believe no religion has the whole truth.

They think Christ is just one religious leader among many. Christianity offends this cultural value of inclusiveness.

The idea of only one way to God does not travel without resistance in a world that gives other belief systems equal billing. Surprisingly, some professing Christians believe in many paths to God.

Not trusting Jesus’ proclamation that He is the only way to God tears the engine and transmission out of Christianity. If repentance and faith cannot take us where Jesus claimed they could, they are worthless.

Christianity becomes like an empty can with a picture of Jesus without nourishing content. If what Jesus said is not true, we might as well throw the can in the recycling bin and move on.

Those who believe Christianity and other religions are the same do not understand Christianity or other religions, or at least do not take their teachings seriously. It is like saying Windsor Castle and a pup tent are the same because they provide shelter.

Religions have different content. For example, some believe in one God, some many gods, and others say there is no God. Christianity teaches that Jesus died for our sins. Islam teaches that He did not. They cannot both be true.

Professing Christians who embrace the false gospel of many paths stab Christianity in the heart. The Bible does not teach that.

For example, when the Ephesians were separate from Christ, Paul wrote that they were without hope and God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). Those who are without Christ are without God.

Righteousness comes through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice (Romans 5:6-10,17). Good works (the go-to of most religions) cannot provide it (Romans 3:20, Ephesians 2:9).

Jesus is the only way to God, but we must share the message with humility. Sharing our offensive gospel with an attitude of superiority only compounds our challenge.

The way of the cross is God’s idea. We are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ironically, most people consider Jesus a good person, and we, His followers, who repeat what He said, to be otherwise! ¹ What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.

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1.     Christianity and Religious Pluralism - Are There Multiple Ways to Heaven? (probe.org)

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.  

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