A. INTRODUCTION
1. Current non-Christian belief. Candidate Barack Obama on August 17, 2008 at Saddleback Church, California was asked by Rick Warren. “Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?” He responded, “I believe that there are many paths to the same place . . . all people of faith – Christian, Jews, Muslims, Animist, everyone knows the same God.”
2. Pew forum reported 65% of Americans believe many religious led to heaven.
B. WHY SOME CLAIM THERE ARE MANY WAYS
1. Because a God of love shows compassion on those who honestly seek Him, from whatever religion.
2. A broad interpretation of Scripture, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold” (John 10:16).
3. Logic. Since there is a supreme Being that is worshipped by many religions and men believe the supreme Being would allow Him to be worshipped by many different sources and ways, i.e., there must be many ways to heaven.
4. Their argument.
a. What right do we have to claim an exclusive way?
b. You are narrow minded and bigoted.
c. Since the Bible has errors, how can we be sure our view is right?
C. WHY CHRISTIANITY IS THE EXCLUSIVE WAY
1. Because of the claims of the Bible.
a. Jesus, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:61).
b. Peter, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name . . . by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
c. Paul, “There is one God a Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
2. Because of the inclusive plan that Jesus died for everyone, suggest other religions and plans of salvation are not included and not needed.
a. All inclusive: “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 7:29).
b. Loves all. “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16).
c. Satisfied the penalty of all. “He is the propitiation for our sins . . . for the whole world” (I John 2:2).
3. Because God rules out all other religions and all idolatry.
a. No idols. “I Am the Lord . . . my glory I will not give to another nor my praise to carved images” (Isa. 42:8).
b. No salvation. “I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior” (Isa. 43:11).
4. Because God condemns other religions, other gods, and other points of view.
5. What is truth? “Truth is that which is consistent with its self, and it corresponds to reality, i.e., correlation to the laws of nature.”
a. The contradictory nature of other religions excludes Christianity. Mormonism must do good works. Hinduism has thousands of gods but none of them are Buddha, Allah, or Jesus. Muslims and Jehovah Witnesses are Unitarians. It each denies the others, and Muslims deny all other religions. Shakerism denies Christian marriage.
b. Christianity is the most rationalism of all “religions.”
6. Because of the unique claim that Jesus was raised from the dead.
a. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection” (John 11:25).
b. No other religion makes the claim their leader was raised.
7. Because no one can love God or come to God while they reject His Son.
a. Recognize Jesus. “He who does not know the Son, does not hear the Father” (John 5:23).
b. Accept Jesus. “If you had known me, you would have known the Father” (John 8:19).
c. Exclusive, “If God were your Father, you would love me” (John 8:42).
8. Because of examples of those in other religions who realized they were lost without faith in Christ.
a. Paul, a Pharisee and Jewish leader (Acts 9:1-5; Ph. 3:3-11).
b. Unsaved in Thessalonian, “turned to God from idols” (I Thess. 1:9).
c. Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:27-34), Cornelius (Acts 18:1-48).
d. Ravi Zacharias – “If God told the world they could be saved by most religions, but not every conceivable way they think up, they would call God intolerant. The issue is man’s ego wants to make the decision, and reject any outside restrictions.”
9. Argument Absurdum (Latin). When you push an argument to its two logical extremes, the absurdity of one claim demonstrates its error.
a. Jesus claimed to be God; to be the way to the Father, and that there is no other way to heaven.
b. If Jesus knew He was not God, then He’s a liar.
c. If Jesus didn’t know reality, i.e. that He was not God, but believed it any way, He is a lunatic.
d. If Jesus claimed to be God, and there is logic to prove it, then He must be Lord.
e. If Jesus is the LORD, you must yield and worship Him.
10. Common Sense. Illustration of text messaging. Suppose Jesus lived today and you could text message Him to find the way of salvation, will any web address reach him? NO! You must be letter and number perfect to text message Jesus. You must come one way which is the only way and the right way.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
For more information on the TRBC Pastor’s Bible Class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.
