All Roads Don't Lead to Heaven (Part 1)

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One message our culture, and therefore we as people, love to hear is that "all roads lead to heaven". "You'll be al
right as long as you're not a murderer or rapist". "Live how you want to as long as it doesn't hurt others or force your values on them". The problem with this message is that it's from us, humans, not from God. It's us trying to make ourselves feel better and have some sense of security. Well, lets see what God says about this.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Wait a second. God (i.e. Jesus) is telling us clearly here that what our culture says, and what we so often want to believe is wrong. All roads don't lead to heaven - only Jesus does. Heaven is where God is, and "No one comes to the father except through [Jesus]" because he is the way, he is the truth and he is the life.

The way
Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. God is perfect, holy and entirely righteous. In him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5). In contrast, we are all sinful. We have all stuffed up. We all reject God. We all disobey him. Obviously that means there's a problem. God demands and requires perfect obedience. No human can achieve that because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Yet, instead of just judging us as we deserve and sending us all to hell to suffer his wrath eternally, God sent Jesus (who is also God) into the world as a man. Jesus came and did not sin. He preached the gospel: That he would die for our sins, and that all who repent and believe (turn from sin and trust in him) will be saved. He then was crucified, taking God's wrath for all the sin of those who put their faith in him. he then rose again, proving that he had truly paid for our sin, since death is the result of sin.

You see, without payment for sin, God would justly have to condemn us. But because Jesus took that punishment and our sin on the cross if we're christians, we can be forgiven. Because he was perfect he could swap, taking our sin so we could take his perfection in God's sight. Because he was a man he could have our sin and live among sinful people. Because he is God he could pay the price that we never could. Jesus is the only way to God because he is the only way that we can be forgiven.

The question then has to be asked: Have you turned to Jesus as the only way to God? Have you given your life to him? Is this shown by how you live? Jesus is the only way to God - Mohammed isn't, nor is Buddha. Money can't get you to heaven, and your friends can't take you there because they're sinful too. God works won't even get you there, because no matter how much good you do, you're still guilty. A murderer doesn't suddenly become innocent by giving money to charity - that wouldn't be justice (I mean, I could go steal money and then give most it to charity: that wouldn't make me innocent). So many 'christians' don't truly follow Christ, they instead try to rely on their good works. This method will always fail because we cannot be good enough since we have sinned.

Jesus is truly the only way.

Can you say with Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

"By No Means!"

By No Means! Of Course Not! 

May It Never Be! Absolutely Not! God Forbid!

All of these phrases are translated from the same words used by Paul throughout the book of Romans. Within the book he constantly counters possible objections to his teachings by posing the question that people would ask and answering it with that phrase before explaining why. (To see this take a look at Romans 3:3-4, 5-6, 9, 31, 6:1-2, 15, 7:7, 13, 9:14, and so on).

The point I want to make is this: Paul cannot stand any false idea about God. He cannot stand the idea that Gd would lie or not be faithful to his promises. He cannot stand the idea of God being unjust. He cannot stand false teaching. He stands up for the truth, and he does it boldly. 

Not only that, he also explains his reasons. Paul doesn't just say 'you're wrong', he explains why from the whole bible. We should know what we believe and be ready to explain it to people. 

1 Peter 3:15b:

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"

Obviously there are things in the bible that there is room to debate over. Things that aren't as clear as we would like and that can be debated. But these things are never central to the gospel. They are never salvation issues. We need to stand up for the gospel, for the truth, never wavering. 

For example. when we come across those who say jesus isn't God or wasn't the messiah, We need to boldly tell them that they are wrong, because God's word says he is both. Just take a read of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus fulfils every prophecy about the Messiah. Likewise Philippians 2 says that Jesus was "in very nature God".

Do we stand up unwavering for the truth?