Is the Lord Jesus Christ the Only way of Salvation?

We are living in an age of strange beliefs and bizarre practices. I suppose that in one sense this has always been the case but in my limited experience I must say that it surely is today.

Although we could cite many examples, let’s refer to this one alone. The faithful Christian knows that there is only one way to God and to enter heaven. Notice, for instance, this statement from 1 John 5:11-12: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

We know that this statement of truth can alienate some of our readers and can anger others. Yet it is true and will always remain true. In sum, what we are seeing in this passage is that eternal life is something that we receive through Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father. Further, eternal life is found in Jesus the Son of God alone. It is not found in Buddha, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, Ellen G. White, Sun Myung Moon, Ramakrishna, the so-called Pope, John Calvin, or any other religious leader, but it is found in Jesus Christ alone. Although these religious followers may not plainly say that they are following a false messiah or false leader, this is exactly what they are doing!

Yet, we must all admit that vast numbers of people do accept other religious leaders and expect to find a home in heaven through this heavenly leader or ecclesiastical head. Billions of followers (literally) do look to an earthly ruler to give them life eternal in blessedness in heaven. We must plainly conclude that these billions of people are wrong—dead wrong in their views!

Even if we were to eliminate the headship of certain leaders, still their writings often come to the same conclusion. In other words, some may reject the idea that John Calvin is their spiritual leader, still the writings of Calvin (such as the Institutes of the Christian Religion) are what really is the chief text that guides the thinking and life of millions of people. If the Quran is the leading writing of Islam (as it is) we know that over one billion people place their eternal fate in the words of this false book. Or if the Vedas lead the lives of millions of Hindus, we must see that adherents wrongly think that this is really the means of salvation of these poor people. I say “poor” since the vast numbers of people are dead wrong regarding their means of salvation.

How about you? Do you follow the inspired sixty-six books of the Scriptures alone or do you find comfort, insights, and direction from some other source? Are you willing to place your life here and eternal life in the hereafter in a human document that has no saving contents? Do you follow the earthly, fallible writings of imperfect humans—or are you following the inspired, truthful, and authoritative words of God Almighty Himself?

In conclusion, let’s notice that Scripture (the inspired Word of the living God) clearly says that Jesus is the only way of salvation! Notice, for example, John 3:17. “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” Or notice Acts 4:12: “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.” Also notice 1 Timothy 2:5: “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” I think that no one reading these clear passages can say that God has given us some other way of salvation, that we can have eternal life through any human being.

In light of all of this truth, we urge you to come to God now through Jesus Christ our Lord. Find your refuge, your life, your salvation, and your fulfillment through Jesus the Lord! There is no other way!