...because of his quote, "No one may enter heaven but through me."
What makes you think this refers to a belief in his divinity? Couldn't he have meant that no one enters heaven without his approval, or without following his teachings? Why or why not?
2007-05-19 18:00:01 · 21 answers · asked by DougDoug_ 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are two hundred more quotes like it in the New Testament. I will list a few for you.
John 3:15 tells us that "everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
John 5:24 says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
In John 11:25 Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
John 23:46 says, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 20:31 says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
2007-05-19 18:07:25 · answer #1 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you need his approval, but I don't think it is something you earn. He gives it to you when you ask him for it. From what I understand, the New Testament is all about that. It isn't based on how well we follow his teachings, or how good you can be. If it were, would you ever know if you were good enough? I think it has to be based on something else, and I think that the bible says it's based on the crucifixion and the resurrection. Almost like somehow, that was enough to undo whatever wrong I've done.
Sometimes I read that, and it sounds negative, like it's meant to keep someone out of heaven. Sometimes, that's how I hear it used. But I think about it as though Jesus was trying to keep us from stressing about it, so that we could just accept that we didn't have to live up to some standard in order to earn our way in. I don't think that God is trying to keep anyone "out".
2007-05-19 18:14:00 · answer #2 · answered by dr. phileo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe we all end up in heaven after we to are time of hell for the times we were away from JESUS as a punishment but enter into heaven because of JESUS love & death on the CROSS. JESUS SAVES ALL NOT JUST THE GOOD 1'S
2007-05-19 18:10:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't difficult to believe that Jesus is God, there is a figure called the Father that is God, and that there is a Holy Spirit that is God IF the Bible is read with understanding.
You brought up the divinity of Jesus. It would be terribly unfortunate if someone who read the Bible didn't see that Jesus is God. After all, we can see that God calls Jesus God!
Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
So if you are going to ask: "What makes you think this refers to a belief in his divinity?"
It would be blindness, of the worst sort, not to see this as a fact IF the Bible is showing us what the truth is.
2007-05-19 18:07:57 · answer #4 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dougie me boy! Our sins are what keep us from going to heaven when we die. Thus God provided a means for us to get to heaven by sending His Son to die in our place for our sins. Christ was the only one who could do this because He was the perfect sacrifice for He had never sinned. The scriptures say"for it is by grace we are saved through faith and not that of ourselves". It is the grace of God combined with our faith to believe Christ can save us from our sins.There can be no other way to heaven or Christ would not have had to go to the cross. At the great white throne judgment those that have rejected Christ as Saviour will give an account of their lives but because they are still in their sin they will be cast into the lake of fire. The believers will have their names written in the Lambs book of Life and will not go through this judgment. So you see Christ cannot use His approval to let someone enter heaven if their sins have never been dealt with. God is Holy and sin cannot be in His presence. Hope this helps, I like your questioning mind, that is good and healthy, keep seeking truth, Cheers Sport!
2007-05-19 18:15:52 · answer #5 · answered by Steiner 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
JOH 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME.
MT 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
?? A belief in his divinity? He declares himself the Almighty God! How much more do you need to believe in his divinity?
RE 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty
2007-05-19 18:09:07 · answer #6 · answered by John 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you believe in Him you believe in His divinity.
To be saved is to be saved from eternal separation from God. This requires realizing that we need salvation. Jesus came to pay the penalty for sin. He did that when He died on the cross.
So when we realize that we sin, and sin is what separates us from God, we see that without placing our faith in Christ and without repenting, turning from our own way and following Him we are bound for hell.
It is not about approval or seeing if we've done enough good in our lives. God and only God knows the condition of our heart. We are destined for heaven by placing our faith in Jesus, taking up our cross and following Him daily. Faith and believe mean the same thing in the original language.
You HAVE TO FOLLOW. Faith without works is dead.
Read and study the Bible, if you want help with that email me.
2007-05-19 18:10:49 · answer #7 · answered by redeemed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because that is not the only scripture that points to Jesus for salvation. John 3:16, which is very well known, says whoever believes in Jesus will be saved. Another verse, there is no other than under heaven (than Jesus) by which anyone might be saved. Another verse, whoever confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead shall be saved. Another verse, there is one God and one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. Another verse, Jesus speaking to the Pharisees, "if you have not the son, you have not the Father".
The bible confirms itself by repeating, in many ways and places, salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
2007-05-19 18:05:00 · answer #8 · answered by Esther 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The Cross of Christ. We must have our faith firmly anchored in Christ and what he did at the Cross. Since Jesus paid the sin dept for us, He acts as intercessor for us to the Father. The Bible plainly states the no one shall come to the Father, without going through Jesus Christ first.
2007-05-19 18:20:49 · answer #9 · answered by sparkplug 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6
Jesus is saying that HE is the way, the truth, and the life. Notice that Jesus doesn't merely say that his teachings or his approval (which are important to follow), but he emphasizes himself.
For this reason I told you that you'll die because of your sins. If you don't believe that I am the one, you'll die because of your sins." John 8:24
2007-05-19 18:04:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋