(For Christians only) Do you believe Jesus is the only way for EVERYONE?

Question

"None can come to God but through me, his only begotten Son" This verse is one where Jesus is talking about himself. Do you believe Muslims or Jews can't make it to heaven without believing in Jesus Christ as the son of God? What do you tell to someone who has studied another religion their whole life? Should they just drop everything they know. In other words- is Jesus really the only way for everyone?

Answer 1

*sigh* In my personal belief, no.

I like the metaphor from one of my favorite books, The Physician. The division between live and afterlife is a river, and fath is a bridge. It doesn't matter which bridge you choose, so long as you choose A bridge. I mix my christian-style beliefs with my native american beliefs. God is the god of abraham and the holy spirit, and god is also the great spirit the native americans speak of. The beliefs are compatible, in my opinion, even though some hardcore christians would call me a heretic.

Answer 2

If one reads through the Gospels and Acts, the good news is not really about making it to a future heaven when you die.

For Jesus Christ and the Apostles, heaven was a present reality on earth. (The Kingdom of Heaven has come/ is near/at hand.) He did not mean it is imminent or about to come. He meant that Heaven had come to earth, and you can enter eternal life on earth.

The message of Islam and nearly every other faith is about Life after Death. Judaism and the message of Christ is about Life Before Death. Christianity is Judaism Fulfilled. A modern Jew who believes in Jesus Christ is simply a True Jew.

As a Christian, I believe that no one can enter and experience the present heaven on earth except through Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Him.

Someone who has studied another religion their whole life still needs to experience the reality of the Living God through Christ. There is no other way.

As for post-judgment heaven, well that's a bit more difficult. One day, everyone will be raised from the dead and will be judged by Jesus Christ. I'm not Christ, so I don't know his final verdict.

At the end though, you can only reach either present heaven or future heaven through Jesus Christ alone. Whether one accepts Him now, or meets Him on Judgment Day. Christ will be the Judge.

Answer 3

This is an excellent question. I've wondered this myself sometimes. I do believe that Jesus is the ONLY way. But then, knowing what I know about the character of God, I think we may be surprised by who makes it to heaven. The Bible says we will be judged according to what we know. I believe that only God knows the answer to whether Jesus is the only way for EVERYONE. I do believe that God, the righteous judge that He is, would not judge the earth until we, the body of Christ, live out a standard by which He can righteously judge the earth. If the Christian church is fractured and competing amongst one another, rather than ministering as Jesus did, why would someone of another faith WANT to know anything about Jesus? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. God is the only judge. When the church gets it right, there will be a lot more people wanting to know and love this Jesus we serve.

Answer 4

YES. But not quite. I'm a Catholic but not the bible-quoting, salvation-obsessed kind. I think that whether you are a Jew, atheist, Christian, Muslim, or whatever, you will get to meet Jesus when you die. At least that's the report coming from people who have died and lived to tell about it. He is on the road/bridge/tunnel that brings you to the Creator after you die. However, I think all of us, whatever our religion, would have heard about some of Jesus' teachings, especially those basic teachings of His: Love God with ur all; and love ur neighbor as urself. We, having heard these teachings, may be judged by our response to them: did we accept them as Truth and sought to know more? (bringing us thus closer to God), or did we reject them, reject Jesus, and in essence reject God? What other religion teaches so clearly the Way? From the clarity of these teachings, I think we could do away with the trappings of religion and live Christianity simply as a Way of Life!

Answer 5

Yes we do believe just that. However I also believe that God will have a way of giving then the truth that they will know with out a doubt he is the way and the truth either on this side or after we die and are waiting for the resurrection and Judgment. No doubt the prophets are still convincing people on the other side of the truth and it would be hard to deny Christ if Moses were telling you it was Jesus that he was talking about when he gave the laws and preached to the people.

Answer 6

As a Christian, I can only say what the Bible tells me and go by what it says. According to the Bible, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, but through Me". It also says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. And whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life". This is pretty clear. Now as for Jews, Muslims and others who were raised to believe differently and honestly cannot begin to fathom how their beliefs could be anything but right, I believe God looks at their hearts. As for whether or not they could go to Heaven is not for any of us to judge. Only God can do that. As a Christian, I can only cling to what I know from what the Bible tells me, and live by that and tell others about God's love for them through His Son Jesus Christ.

This is one of those things that I don't believe we humans are qualified to answer. How would one believe about natives in far reaches of the world where they have never heard about God, or in not-so-remote areas of the world where they have never heard about God? What about children who die without ever having an understanding of Christ in order to make an informed decision to accept Him? Or what about those who are mentally incapable of making such a decision (retarded people etc)? I believe that God sees the whole picture and He understands that which we can't. He created us out of love and if we are interested in fairness, how much more is HE, when He is a loving God who created in us the good virtues of fairness and righteousness? I think that we should live by Christian principles, do our best to share the good news of salvation to others, and to love and accept everyone as Christ does. Then, I believe after we have shared Christ with others, we need to give it over to God and allow Him to work in someone's life according to what He knows that person needs. Only God is able to look at a person's heart and to judge them. We just need to be obedient in our walk with God and leave the decision as to who goes to Heaven up to God.

I do believe you have asked a very good question. Many people have wondered about this very thing, including me.

Answer 7

Yes, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but by him. John 14 v 6.
Whether they drop everything else is up to them. Just try Jesus and see what happens. When you allow Jesus into your heart you have no choice but to give up all others and follow him or leave him. The choice is yours. I knew I tried him and I had to give up all others because he has been so good to me.

Answer 8

What can I say? I am a Christian. I believe the Bible. Jesus is the only way.
What do I say to someone who believes otherwise? None can come to the Father but through the Son, Jesus.

What would you say to me if I said any thing otherwise? You should say: How can you say there is another way and also say you are Christian?

Answer 9

It is written "I am the way, the truth and the light and no one comes to the father except through me" In the beginning was GOD, GOD spoke the word, the word became life and the life was JESUS the Christ who gave his life for everyone. I believe if you believe JESUS is the son of GOD and GOD in the flesh as it is written then you will have ever lasting life. Ask JESUS to be your savor and receive the gift of life, GOD Bless you.

Answer 10

Yes, He is. Read John 14:6. 1 Timothy 2:5. He is the only Way, the only Mediator. John 10:9 (The only door). I spent a good deal of my life believing that Jehovah's Witnesses were the only way. I had to come to the realization that salvation if found only in Jesus. And I'm glad I did. Better they should find out now than face eternal consequences later.