Is Jesus The Only Way To God?

Is Jesus the Only Way to God?

A prayer request and Internet link to a video clip of the Oprah Winfrey talk show was recently forwarded to the Prayerneed Internet ministry of praise, prayer and encouragement. The sender requested prayer for Oprah Winfrey and the many people she influences daily through her successful television broadcast. Watchman Fellowship, a ministry of Christian discernment, is distributing the clip on the Internet and they state this about Oprah Winfrey on their website: “Although raised Baptist, Oprah Winfrey’s faith has undergone a significant transformation towards New Age spirituality.” If you are interested, the clip is shown at the link below at no cost. If you can’t click on the link then type it exactly as you see it in the Internet address bar below:

- Click Here to Watch: "Oprah on Jesus"

Whether you are able to access the clip or not, the segment shows Oprah Winfrey interviewing and showcasing several New Age luminaries. But when a Christian woman in the audience asks Oprah, "What about Jesus?" Oprah insists Jesus "can’t possibly be the only way”... And the sparks fly!

Whether Oprah Winfrey is a Christian or not, I cannot say. I do not know her heart and I am not her judge. I believe she is a good person and certainly has done a lot of good for others regardless of what her motives might be. And if “good works” got you to heaven as many sadly believe, she would have a ringside seat. However, the Word of God tells us good works are not enough and never will be enough (Read Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9) to assure you a place in heaven. Let’s face it we are born with a sin nature even before we get started in this life (Ephesians 2:3). Given Ms. Winfrey’s Christian upbringing, my mercy side wants to believe she is a Christian who has been led astray by the deceiving voices of the world. My concern is Oprah draws the wrong conclusion based on what she understands about God by insisting there are many ways to God. Although I cannot imagine she intended this in her heart, she makes Jesus Christ out to be a liar. Can you imagine calling the Son of God a liar on national television? To answer the question, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ removed any doubt about the way to God when he said in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus said there is no other way and that settles it. He is the door (John 10:9) and there is no other entrance through which you can reach The Father (Acts 4:12).

However, many people not just Oprah Winfrey struggle with the question: “Is Jesus the Only Way to God?” I believe we all have. So, how would you answer this question if a truth seeker asked you? It is often a response (or excuse) we hear from people who reject the Gospel message.

Given the hope Oprah has not rejected Christ outright (1 John 3:23), let me explain my theory why she and many others often draw the wrong conclusion in answering this question. People know God is good and God is just. He is a God of love (1 John 4:7-8). His Love and His Justice make up His Perfect Holiness. Therefore, both his love and justice are perfect. So it goes against the grain of logic to think a God of love would send someone to hell because they never heard the gospel. Thus, people draw the conclusion there must be other ways to God than through Jesus Christ alone. Otherwise, God would appear to them unjust and unloving, which violates His unchanging character. However, this fallacy and dangerous conclusion comes from a lack of knowledge concerning who Jesus Christ is and the basis upon which the Son of Man renders judgment.

First, you must understand who Jesus Christ is. The Apostle John records four important truths about Jesus in John 1:1-2. This passage says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was in the beginning with God.” The term for “Word” in the Greek is “Logos.” “Logos” represented to the Greek culture in that day wisdom which was the soul and essence of all that existed for them. To the Hebrew culture, “Logos” referred to God the thinker and the omniscient genius behind the created universe. For example, by the power of The Word, God spoke creation into being.

“Beginning” in John 1:1 is a time word and has no meaning for eternity. Psalm 90:1-2 can best describe and define “beginning” for us to better understand who Jesus is: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” The word “everlasting” in Psalm 90:1-2 means “beyond the vanishing point.” It best represents the meaning of the word “beginning” in John 1:1.