Calvary Chapel
of the Canyons

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
John 1:5

Is Jesus the Only Way?

To the Seeker with Intellectual Questions

Is it True that All Roads Lead to God?

10 Important Reasons for Switching to the One Narrow Road that Leads to the God of the Bible and to Eternal Life:
by M. Tyner, M.A., Christian Apologetics

I. Truth:

There is a common belief that many roads (or all paths) lead to God. While it is noble to respect each other’s religious faith, actually there is a higher issue —the issue of TRUTH. And if truth is absolute (not just relative or subjective), wouldn’t people want to know the Truth about God? After all, a person’s religious beliefs could have drastic eternal consequences! And according to the Bible, truth is a life or death matter.

II. Logic:

When we consider the various teachings about God from different religions, we see that they cannot all be true. God cannot at the same time be both impersonal and personal, both singular and triune, both finite and infinite, both knowable and unknowable. There is no way to reconcile the various world views, such as monotheism (only one God), polytheism (multiple Gods), and pantheism (all is God, including nature and man). Logically, either none of them is true, or only one of them is true.

III. Evidence:

When using an “evidential” approach to discover religious truth, biblical Christianity prevails! It is based on objective, verifiable evidence — the historicity of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Yet many people remain loyal to the religious belief system they have been taught either by family, culture, or sincere people. Typically, people are reluctant (or even fearful) to examine the evidence once they have adopted a religious point of view. However, the Bible warns us that:

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” Proverbs 14:12

IV. Resurrection:

Jesus Christ made an exclusive truth claim, stating:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6

The Gospel (or “Good News”) is: God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. That was the only way we could be reconciled to our holy God and have eternal life. And Jesus’ resurrection from the grave validates the message of the cross! Jesus even predicted His death and bodily resurrection, which He said would substantiate that He was God incarnate (John 2:18-21). No other religious leader claimed to be God, nor rose from the dead, and is alive today!

V. Biblical Prophecy:

Another area of evidence is fulfilled Biblical prophecy. The Old Testament (written over a period of 1,500 years and miraculously preserved) contains 330 predictions as to the coming Messiah. Amazingly, every one of them was fulfilled with l00% accuracy in the life of Jesus Christ, hundreds of years later! And 64 of those prophecies were major “Messianic” prophecies. They predicted such things as the time and place of Messiah’s birth, His miracles, and the events of His death. (The statistical probability of even eight of such prophecies being fulfilled in one person has been determined to be one chance in 1017!) Through prophecy, God revealed history in advance to mankind. (See Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39- 40,46; Matthew 26:56; 2 Peter 1:19-20 ).

VI. Relationship:

Christianity is relational. It is not a “religion,” but rather is a love relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. Religions are based on some form of works righteousness, that is, man’s own efforts to become acceptable to God (or to become God). With Christianity, however, getting to heaven is a matter of what Jesus has already done for us! He redeemed us on the cross at Calvary to establish a personal relationship with us now and forever (1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus said:

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” John 15:13

VII. Only Road:

The Bible teaches there is only one road to eternal life in heaven. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for the sin of mankind. For all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If there were any other way (road) for us to be reconciled to holy God, Jesus would not have had to die on the cross at Calvary to redeem us. Out of immeasurable love, God the Father provided His Son as the sacrificial Lamb to die for us. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Trinity, declares:

“I am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” John 10:9

VIII. Counterfeits:

The Bible teaches there is a battle going on for the souls of men and women, and Satan is the enemy of our souls. The powers of darkness devise false doctrines to draw people away from Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4,13-15). We are told to beware that not all “spiritual” experiences come from God (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). And not all supernatural signs and wonders are of God (Matthew 24:24; Acts 13:6-12, 16:16-20; Revelation 16:14). Jesus said:

“The [enemy] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. But I have come that [you] may have life, and that [you] may have it more abundantly” John 10:10

IX. Freedom:

Many people reject Jesus Christ because they don’t want to give up the freedom to live their own way. The irony, however, is that at the moment we surrender our life to God, we are liberated! First, we are liberated because we are free to choose whether or not to sin, no longer being in bondage to sin. Second, we have peace with God, no longer being in rebellion to Him. Then we are free to do what we were designed to do, that is, fellowship with our Lord and seek His fulfilling plan for our lives. (See Romans 5:10; Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 2:10, Revelation 3:20.)

X. Other Roads:

In one sense, all roads do lead to God — but it will be for eternal judgment (Hebrews 9:27)! The Bible tells us that someday, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess “that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11). But only those people who are trusting in Jesus for their salvation will be welcomed into God’s presence for all eternity. The Bible warns there are only two roads — one leading to heaven and one leading to a place of utter desolation and separation from God. Jesus exhorts us:

“Enter [heaven] by the narrow road; for wide is the road and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” Matthew 7:13

Conclusion:

Jesus Christ voluntarily died on a Roman cross 2,000 years ago to pay the penalty for our sins and to demonstrate His love for us. He is “God Himself who came in the flesh” — the promised Messiah. He offers every person the free gift of eternal life. He invites us to enter the only road to heaven. Whoever believes in the biblical Jesus Christ — who lived, died, and then three days later was resurrected — will have eternal life in heaven! Jesus says:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine [fellowship] with him and he with Me” Revelation 3:20

(See John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 11:25.) Jesus stands with outstretched arms, saying to each and every person:

“Come, Beloved! Accept My eternal forgiveness for your sin! Choose life! ENTER IN!”

Sample Prayer to Recieve Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:

“Dear God, thank You for Your love and grace. Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross for my sins. I realize that I am not on the path to heaven and that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Please, Lord Jesus, forgive me of all my sins and come into my life as Lord and Savior. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and I want to follow You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

C.S. LEWIS QUOTE:

“God will invade [our world again]...something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side [road].... God is holding back to give us that chance.” – Mere Christianity, p. 66

Human/temporal point of view:
All people should be able to get to heaven, no matter what spiritual road they take!

God’s eternal point of view:
Beloved, I sent My Son to die for you, to provide the only road to heaven! (John 14:6)