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Post by Josh on Nov 25, 2007 20:28:55 GMT -8
Is Jesus Christ the only path to salvation? If so, what does that mean in relation to other religions? How can the path to God be limited to those who have heard the Gospel? Is the path to God limited in such a way?
Important questions to our generation. Anyone want to chime in before I do?
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Post by rlcastle333 on Jun 6, 2009 19:10:21 GMT -8
In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)
If there are other paths to salvation, then Jesus is making quite a claim. In fact, the claim could be said to be absolutely false, if there are other ways to salvation. Jesus, however, was unique in one very significant way...He was God in the flesh (and I can cite several passages of Scripture to show this).
In Acts 4:12, Peter says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven give to men by which we must be saved." (NIV)
I can't remember ever reading that it will be for anyone other than those who turn their lives over to Christ and live according to HIS word. Since all authority was given to Him, then He is the only way to salvation. Buddhism, Tauism, Islam (sorry to my Moslem friends...but let's face it), Hinduism, nor any other religion can say that theirs is "a way to God and salvation".
This is not intolerance, it is truth, and it's truth that we need to tell as many people about as we can so they can come to know Christ and come under His grace.
That's the short answer.
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Post by Josh on Jun 7, 2009 7:45:08 GMT -8
Thanks for responding to this. Saves me some work.
I'm fundamentally in agreement with you.
Scripture squarely teaches that it is Jesus who will judge all mankind and only Jesus who redeems all mankind.
That said, I do think it is possible for Jesus to save those who may not be consciously aware that it is "Jesus" who is saving them, but yet trust God that He will provide a means of salvation.
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Post by yeshuafreak on Jun 9, 2009 2:51:19 GMT -8
now, i dont think the view i am about to set foward, but i wanted to put it out there:
some people think that as long as Yeshua is a mediator to their religion, than their practices will please God.
they dont think that Yeshua is the only path to salvation, but is the only mediator to Yah.
shalom- john
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Post by Josh on Nov 11, 2009 19:20:11 GMT -8
And yet Yahweh is the only God. Doesn't that lead them full circle?
I'm curious how the other theists on this board see this issue.
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Post by krhagan19 on Dec 15, 2009 20:20:16 GMT -8
God has created a place of utter suffering and misery for all eternity. If you for whatever reason do not accept his son, then you will be sent to this place of pain and suffering for all of time. By the way, God loves you!
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Post by Josh on Dec 15, 2009 20:38:01 GMT -8
Well, if you're attempting to demonstrate the "problem of hell", you've presented a nice set up for the question. Here's a link to many discussions on the afterlife. You can see why I wouldn't state describe hell as you have. aletheia.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=afterlife |
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Post by rbbailey on Dec 16, 2009 22:37:06 GMT -8
I look at part of this issue in a strange way. I look at it backwards.
The fact that there are many religions, specifically, many vastly different ways of practicing religion, says to me that there is only one way to the one true God.
Imagine only one God. That one God would communicate to his created people in a very consistent way and the religion the people set up to attempt to reach the afterlife with that one god would essentially be a single, global religion.
However, we know that there are multiple gods, but only one true God. This means that all the different religions of the world have been set up in response to multiple gods, and therefore they have multiple different practices, some which are directly opposed to the other religions, for reaching their version of god.
In other words, the way we see religion and worship set up in the world, and throughout history reflects the second scenario -- that there are multiple gods, but only one true God.
OK, so once we eliminate the first scenario we then realize that from out of all these other multiple religions there must be only one or two that have targeted that one true God, all the others are on the wrong track. But! And this is important! They are not actually wrong -- they ARE attempting to get to god. Their god. And in this we see how hard the situation is: We are left with arguing truth with truth.
Yes, there are multiple religions with multiple ways to get to multiple gods. They may, each of them, be practicing actual religious ceremonies that are "real". But if you think of all those religions as maps, and all those other gods as possible destinations. Well, the destinations are dead ends, and the maps, while they may be accurate maps to get to those other gods, they are inaccurate for getting to the one true God.
There is only one way to salvation after life, through Jesus Christ. But there are infinite roads to Jesus.
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Post by Margot on Dec 18, 2009 7:03:18 GMT -8
The hardest thing for us to accept as humans is that the gate is narrow.
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Post by krhagan19 on Aug 7, 2011 22:40:40 GMT -8
I would like to ammend my statement. I have grown a great deal in my church here in Georgia. I now confess that the Bible in the infallible word of God in its totality. All parts equally the inspired word of God. I feel shame in my sarcastic comment above, it was very immature. The only way to have salvation is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the only son of God and part of the triune Godhead, three persons of one substance.
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Post by Josh on Aug 8, 2011 8:08:11 GMT -8
Kevin- it's great to hear from you again!  I'm glad to hear you've been working through some spiritual quandries. |
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Post by asaph on Jun 6, 2015 7:13:24 GMT -8
This comes as two questions on the forum - 'relationship with God' and 'path to salvation.'
I believe Yes, a person can have a relationship with the Creator apart from knowing anything about Christ - Rom. 2:14-16.
Nature testifies of a Creator, Rom. 1. People have connected with the Creator without knowing Christ or the plan of salvation. But, having a relationship with God is not the same as being saved from the penalty or power of past, present or future sin. Christ, alone, is the only way, truth, and life for that.
That said, how can any man know if ignorant people down through time connected with the Creator, and even sensed the weight of sin, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and asked the Creator's forgiveness. What does God do, say, Sorry, it is only through My Son, and this person is with the wrong program. I cannot comply." Is Christ looking at those people with His nose turned up? There was not even a Christ for 4000 years. Even the Jews had short-sighted understanding of the sanctuary system. Where does that leave humanity?
I am a Protestant. Do I believe rosary beads or holy water, or stations of the cross praying do anything? No. Do I believe God turns away from the sincere person saying their rosary as the only sincere and honest thing they know? No. God does not turn away. He is no respecter of persons. Sincerely go to God, God sincerely accepts you. The path of truth can be made plain from there.
How can anyone know what happens in a person's mind over a lifetime? How can anyone know what God has done throughout human history when it comes to special cases? We cannot know. It is better left with God, as Creator and judge.
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Post by Josh on Jun 15, 2015 19:45:12 GMT -8
Asaph, I know we disagree on a lot of things, but I agree with almost everything you said here (except, of course, the 4,000 years reference   ) |
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Post by asaph on Jun 16, 2015 11:52:06 GMT -8
I know you believe in different time spans as the age of Earth but, you do not believe biblical history, from Adam to Christ, was around 4000 years? Do you believe all the patriarchs were not real people?
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Post by Josh on Jun 28, 2015 17:05:05 GMT -8
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