“There are many ways to heaven.” So says a common platitude spouted by non-Christians who take issue with the exclusivity of Jesus Christ for salvation. Three words in these two statements help us give an answer for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15): heaven, exclusivity, and salvation.
Pastor Don Stewart clarifies the three heavens as found in the Bible:
1. Our Immediate Atmosphere – the first heaven (Genesis 6:7)
2. Outer Space (The Sun, Moon, And Stars) – the second heaven (Matthew 24:29)
3. The Home of God – the third heaven – (Hebrews 8:1)
heavenR.C. Sproul
what whereup
The other two key words for Christians regarding the unbeliever’s question about Jesus being the only way are exclusivity and salvation. Both directly address who Jesus is and why He came to earth.
Jesus made the definitive statement of His exclusive means to get to heaven when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44). The Holy Spirit is involved as our Helper, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (John 14:16). God is working in His triune nature to draw men to Himself; all salvation comes through Jesus Christ. Period.
Authors Joel Beeke and William BoekesteWhy Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation,
- To save sinners (Timothy 1:15)
- To bring light to the darkness (John 12:46)
- To testify to the truth (John 18:37)
- To destroy the devil (Hebrews 2:14)
- To be worshipped (Matthew 2:1-2)
- To bring joy (Luke 2:10)
- To preach the kingdom of God (Luke 4:18-19)
- To enact judgment (John 9:38-41)
- To fulfill the Law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17)
- To serve and be our ransom (Mark 10:45)
- To seek and save the lost (Luke 19:5)
- To bring peace (Ephesians 2:14-18)
- To bring a sword (Matthew 10:34)
- To be the second and greater Adam (Romans 5:14-15)
(and the list goes on…)
Christians are saved. But saved from what? A wise pastor says we are saved by God, from God, and for God. What does this mean?
God created Adam as a perfect man, designed by God to live for eternity. When he sinned (The Fall), he became our federal head (i.e., our representative), death ensued (both spiritual and physical), and his sin was imputed on all mankind proceeding from him (Romans 5:12; 3:23). We deserve death — spiritual separation from God in hell (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:3). God cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13), and therefore man was lost and without hope. We needed a perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins, and God sent His Son — Jesus Christ — fully God and fully man, to die the death we deserved. God raised Him from the grave, the penalty for our sins having been paid for by Christ when He atoned for them on the cross (Hebrews 9:22). Knowing this, a person is saved when he repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-49; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Mark 1:14-15). A saved person is called a Christian — saved by Christ (God).
only. all invited
The choice indeed is black and white with no grey area. A person is either for Jesus or against Him (Matthew 12:30; Mark 9:50; Luke 9:40; Revelation 3:15-16).
God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 89:14; Romans 2:6). He is also loving and kind and patient. God cannot do anything without all His character acting in tandem. A human can be angry and not loving. Not God. Even in His wrath, He still and forever loves. He gives men chance after chance to say “yes” to His kind invitation to come into His kingdom (Matthew 22:1-14; Romans 2:4). Man has no excuse because God has made Himself knowable, and men decide to suppress the truth (Romans 1:18-32).
saved
Christians are saved for God — to be a light in the dark world and to walk with Jesus in His triumphal procession, “spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
ambassadors for ChristGospel
why
All other religions’ founders are dead in the tomb. Only Jesus’ tomb is empty; He is alive forever (Revelation 4:9)! Jesus accomplished what no mere mortal ever could; He died and rose from the grave. The founders of other religions took their false beliefs to the grave with them, yet the devil continues to pander and propagate their lies.
Logos
He is a cross pendant.
He is engraved with a unique Number.
He will mail it out from Jerusalem.
He will be sent to your Side.
Emmanuel
Bible Verses About Welcoming ImmigrantsEmbracing the StrangerAs we journey through life, we often encounter individuals who are not of our nationality......
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