Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?

Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven? - http://christinprophecy.org/?sermons=the-inbox-11-is-jesus-the-only-way-to-heaven

 

I am not really a fan of heights, but inevitably, a good handyman will find himself having to climb up on a roof. And once up on that roof, you hope there will be a number of solid ways you can easily get down. But, then you come to the realization - there was only one way you were able to get up on that roof, and therefore only one way to get down. Sure, you could try some other more drastic methods, but the truth is, there is only one way to climb up on the roof - a ladder. It is just what it is.

 

Likewise, there is only one way to get to Heaven - Jesus Christ. And that, too, is just what it is. How can I make that claim?

 

Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?

 

After all, you're probably thinking that just me claiming that Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven is rather intolerant, right? After all, what about all those different beliefs other religions have? Isn't universally everybody going to make it to Heaven, or at least all the "good" people? God is all love, right?

 

If it was just me making that claim, then you'd be right. I'm just a man. What do I know? But, I didn't originate this claim. Jesus did.

 

Jesus' Outrageous Claim

 

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it... [And] not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:13-14,21).

 

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

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

 

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

 

The Apostles' Outrageous Claim

 

The Apostles - Jesus' followers who witnessed His miracles, death on the cross, and testified to His miraculous resurrection from the dead - also claimed that Jesus taught that He was the only way to get to Heaven.

 

Peter: "Let it be known to you all, that by the name of Jesus Christ... salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-12).

 

John the Baptist: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them" (John 3:36).

 

Paul: "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

 

John: "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life... believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13).

 

The Bible's Outrageous Claim

 

The claims of the Bible in many, many passages reveal that:

 

All people are born rebellious against God and hurt people with our sins.

 

Our sins need to be forgiven, so God sent Jesus to be the world's one and only Savior.

 

To reject Jesus means to continue to face God's wrath and just judgment in Hell.

 

To put one's faith in Jesus means to be saved from God's judgment and to live eternally in Heaven.

 

Our own sin separates us from God and that's what keeps us out of Heaven. But, God provided THE way for our sins to be forgiven with someone who could take the punishment on our behalf, a perfect sacrifice for an imperfect people.

 

The Bible teaches that God sent His very own Son to come to earth as a man to die in our place, which He did on the cross. Jesus then beat death by resurrecting Himself from the dead.

 

That God provides just one and only one way to get to Heaven shouldn't leave us upset, for He didn't have to provide any way at all. No one drowning in the ocean complains about which life preserver is thrown to rescue them. Rather, we should be praising God that He loves us that much!

 

Your Eternal Choice

 

So what about Jesus being the only way to Heaven? When it came to Jesus' claim that He was both God and Savior, author C.S. Lewis wrote:

 

"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice."

 

You, too, must make your choice, and it is an eternal one. If Jesus is indeed the world's only hope to be reconciled with God, have you grabbed hold of that lifeline? It's a free gift, but you have to accept it.

 

To grab hold of God's promise, from your heart in faith and repentance pray: "Dear, Jesus, please forgive me of my sins, and be my Lord and Savior." The relationship with God is then restored. You are a new creation, a child of God. And when you die, He promises you will live forever with Him (John 1:12; 10:28-29).

 

Heaven awaits you!