Is Jesus the only way to heaven?

Question

Both men were great teachers. They both encouraged compassion and modesty. We all can agree that both Jesus and Buddha were a good men. To Christians, does this mean that Buddha will go to hell since he did not recieve Christ? He lived before Christ was born so how can he receive Christ? How can a decent man go to hell when he has done good works to mankind simply by not accepting Christ?

I noticed most people said Jesus is the only way to heaven. But nobody answered if Buddha will go to heaven. He was a good man. Do you think he will go to hell?

Answer 1

On the question of Buddha, and for that matter any one before or after the time of Christ who never had a chance to hear about Christ, can they go to heaven?

There are several places in the scripture that deal with the question. One of the best is the opening chapters of the book of Romans. Paul writes to the Romans at a time when the main makeup of the Christian faith is switching from being mostly Jewish to being mostly Gentile (non-Jewish). So he talks about people who never heard of the Jewish law and how they relate to God.

He writes in Romans 1:18-20 about how the exist of God is obvious from nature - whether one ever heard about the Bible and Jesus, or not. History demonstrates this has every culture and people in the world have had some kind of religious belief in god(s). So Paul says that no one has an excuse for living in sin. They all know certain things are right and others wrong. Yet people still continue to do the things they know are wrong.

As he enters chapter 2 of Romans, Paul then gets after the Jews, who have God's written law and should clearly know right from wrong, yet continue to committ the same sins. There is no excuse for them. They are just as condemmed for their sins.

Paul then agrues that God has also written in his laws into the hearts of men, so that they know what is right. When a person who has not heard of the Bible, Jesus, the Law, etc., follows those laws written within his heart, that it excuses them from their sins. And if they do not follow, it accuses them (See Romans 2:14,15).

But in the end, any person who takes an honest look at their life, will have to admit that they will never be able to live a perfect life on their own. They need the help of "god" to do it.

For Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, this took the form of offering to God the first and best of his increase. According the Hebrew 11:4, this witnessed to Abel's righteousness. He did not know Jesus by name, but he had faith in God that saved him.

For Abraham, that help came in the form of a convenent with God. He pledged his life to God by faith, and became the founder of the Jewish and later Christian faith. By faith he followed God to an unknown land, lived in tents rather than cities, and trusted God to enable him to have an heir at the age of 99. Abraham did not know who Jesus was, and could not have told you his name. But his faith still saved him. (See Hebrews 11:8-12)

Moses lived before the time of Jesus, but was saved. Again, by faith in God (Hebrews 11:24-29) he turned from the corruption and carnal pleasures of Egypt to bring freedom to his people. He parted the sea so they people could cross over. He was given the Passover as a sign of the one to come - that is Jesus - so that the people would recognize him when he came. But Moses did not personally know Jesus.

For the Old Testament Jews, they got the "help" through the Law of Moses, with its rituals and sacrifices. These were signs to point them to Jesus who would come to fulfill all those sacrifces on the cross. They did not know Jesus by name, but they were saved through faith that God was providing a way of salvation.

All these people were saved without specific knowledge of Jesus Christ. Instead their faith was based on a belief that God wanted to have a righteous relationship with his man, so God would provide the help, sacrifice, etc. needed to make things right between them. Abel showed it in his offerings to God. Abraham showed it in his willing to give his son Isaac if needed. Moses showed it in the Passover and other sacrifices he learned from God. They all looked to God for a Savior.

Paul in Romans 3:25 picks this up, and declares that amoung the things Jesus did was to provide rigteousness for all those in the past who were looking for his blood - for him to come and provide the redemption for sin. They looked not to their own works, but to faith in God and his works, for salvation. (See Romans chapter 4 for more examples of this)

What those people believed was that God himself would provide the sacrifice needed to change their hearts - make them alive again - so that they could follow and obey God.

Now we come to the question of Buddha. One would have to examine his teachings and see if he agrees with this idea. Did he teach that man needed God's help to be saved? Did he teach the need of a sacrifice to cover our sins? Did he teach that God himself would come and bring a new birth for those who trusted him?

Or does he teach that man works his way into heaven by following the right 8 paths in his life? Does he teach that man is saved by the sacrifice of God, or by his own repeated living life after life until the man finally gets it right and diappears into Nirvana?

When the teachings of Buddha and the Christian faith are compared, they are very very different. They teachs totally different paths to "god", and totally different results when you get there (nirvana is not heaven). They both may include some good moral teachings ("love your neighbors", "do unto others..."). After all, those are part of the law written on every man's heart. So it is only reasonable that most people would figure them out.

But on the issue of "how one is saved", the two teachers are every different. Jesus taught the he himself was the only "way , truth and light". Buddha taught many paths. If fact, Buddha appears to have been more of an agnostic, then teaching any single "god" or religion.

While each person must make up their own mind on what is the true religion, that difference in beliefs between the Christian faith and the Buddhist faith are such that it would be difficult to show that Buddha was "saved" under the beliefs of the Christian faith. He did not look to God to provide a Savior, but rather to his own works to reach perfection.

Answer 2

Except you be born again you shall in no way enter into heaven.So unless Buddha was born again he will not go to heaven.Never before has a man resurrected from the dead,and ascended into heaven.The wages of sin is death.What that is saying is, there is a cost involved when we sin.In order for someone to resurrect from the dead that cost must paid.Jesus is and was the only one that could pay that price because He was without sin.Therefore hell could not hold Him because He had not incurred the debt.He now stands at the right hand of the Father paying the debt for those who except him.We as well as Buddha will all stand before the throne of God someday and be Judged by a wise and loving God.No one will be judged unfairly or accused falsely.Many on that day will be surprised who is lost and who is saved.He died so that not one would perish.

Answer 3

Hi, if you read the story of the fall in Genesis and then the prophecies and also the words of Jesus then you get the full message.
God placed a certain condition on the redemption of fallen man and that was, that all must accept and believe in His holy anointed one(Christ)
Christ of course being divine said that you must be born of water and the Holy Spirit(baptism in Christ) now Buddha is not God and therefore would possess no divine right to demand this,no matter how good he was.
only God has rightful dominion over that which He Himself created,but the trouble comes about when we protest and defy God`s authority.

Answer 4

The fact is, the Word of God is quite explicit about God's plan. (Yes - He has a plan!) That plan is beautiful. It is fair. It is exciting. Of course each man and each woman who has ever lived will face judgment. Each of us will answer for our every word and every action. Every murderer or thief or extortioner or liar or adulterer or terrorist - even if he now escapes true justice - will surely face judgment. The ledger isn't closed in this life!

But every man, woman and child who ever breathed on this planet will be given his or her chance of living forever!

In God's plan for mankind there's provision for what some despise as a "second chance". But even if that were so - what's wrong with it? Did you ever give your child a second chance? That first failed attempt at walking - did you stuff little child into his crib saying "You've had your chance. Just stay there"?

Of course not. Nor does God. He is not less merciful than His creation. And in such a serious matter as eternal life. However, we don't in fact get a "second chance" at salvation. For few in this life have a first one!

God invites (calls) into His Family and to salvation (John 6:65). The call is highly selective, and not everyone who is called accepts the invitation (Matthew 20:16). Further - not all stay faithful (Revelation 17:14). (It is selective. But God does not often call mankind's "giants" - I Corinthians 1:26-29!)

For the vast majority of mankind, however, the phone doesn't ring. They don't ever, in this life, get a call!

The billions alive before Christ, the billions since who never heard his name, the young children who die from disease or accident or by some act of human depravity, the billions whose hope of salvation lies with their good works, or with Allah, or with a multiplicity of Hindu gods - none of those have yet been called to "get salvation".

But they will have their chance! Jesus tells us (Revelation 20:5) that they will live again. But that resurrection won't take place, he says, until after the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ. That thousand years hasn't even begun! And when resurrected to face Jesus Christ they will be judged in the flesh "out of the books". The same standard for judgment, In other words, that face Christians today - the books of Scripture.

But if you hear God calling - you had better answer it, now!

It may be your only window of opportunity to live forever.

Answer 5

Gettin good with the Baby Jesus is the only way to get into Heaven. You get good with him by doing what your told to do by you Christian Leaders. There's a whole lot of people going to hell soon though cause they voted for them folk who don't believe in the Baby Jesus.

Answer 6

Buddha was just a man. He died and did not rise from the grave. Jesus was/is God come in the likeness of man. He died for the sins of mankind, was buried in a tomb and was raised from the dead on the third day. Buddha never said that he was the way to heaven. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." It is the blood of Jesus that saves. Buddha did not die for anyone.

Answer 7

Yes Jesus is the only way for heaven. At least, that's what the bible teaches. In my opinion, God is all knowing and merciful. He is the only one who can say for sure who goes to hell and who comes to heaven.

Answer 8

Read John 14:6

If one never heard of Jesus Christ, then he will be judged on his works.

Answer 9

You think God is so unjust that he will send a peace-loving and kind person to 'hell', just because he never had a chance to know the truth of God? NO! God is just and everyone who didn't have a chance to hear the truth will be resurrected to be preached, for the first time in their lives, the word of the Lord. Actually everyone will be resurrected....I strongly recommend to read this article
http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/cgi-bin/tw/tw-mag.cgi?category=Magazine20&item=1104114104

Answer 10

Absolutely!

John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Answer 11

Jesus is a prophet of God, and like all his fellow prophets, he is a human being. We love him, and believe in him, and affirm all of his miracles, bestowed upon him as a favour from his Lord. He called for the worship of God alone and for righteousness - as every prophet of God has done. However, his pure monotheistic message was gradually changed by 'Christians' into a polytheistic one, by transforming Jesus(the servant of God, into a mythological God-incarnate figure to be worshipped alongside God All-Mighty.