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.
Given this consideration, we learn from John 1:1 THE WORD IS ETERNAL. If you go back to the beginning, the Word “was” already there. If you go back beyond the vanishing point, the Word “was” already there. Second, THE WORD WAS WITH GOD. This defines God the Son as an undivided unity expressed in the threefold nature of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (The Trinity). Third, THE WORD WAS GOD meaning the Word was, the Word is and the Word always will be (beyond the vanishing point) deity. Fourth, verse 2 tells us THE WORD IS A PERSON (notice the use of the pronoun “He”). And the Apostle John goes on to help us identify in verse 14 that THE WORD IS JESUS CHRIST: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus Christ is the one who dwelt among John and the other disciples. They saw His glory as the only begotten from The Father. It is important to note Jesus did not give up any of His Deity in the incarnation. John says He was “full of grace and truth.” Although He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7), Jesus Christ continued to possess his divine attributes in bodily form (Colossians 2:9) but chose not to express them. He, God in the flesh, came to do the will of the Father and give His life as a ransom for many.
We thus conclude: Jesus Christ is the Word. The Lord’s affirmation is given in Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." From A to Z Jesus covers everything in the alphabet that can be said about the One true God. The writer of Hebrews says: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2. In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:1-3). In summary, The Word became flesh. His name is Jesus. He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature. And it is by “The Word” that God’s specific revelation (The Gospel) of salvation through Jesus Christ His Son is given not just to the Jewish people but (John 3:16) to the whole world. As early as Genesis 3:15 the promise of this specific revelation is given in Scripture: “And I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." The phrase, “He” in “He shall bruise you on the head” refers to the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on The Cross for mankind and “head” refers to Satan. The Scripture confirm, “…The Son of God appeared for this purpose that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) Thus, the Old Testament saints looked toward the Cross by faith while we, the New Testament saints, look back to the Cross by faith for salvation. The issue is never what have you done (Ephesians 2:8,9) but who have you trusted (John 3:16).
So what about those who have never heard the Word of God and God’s specific revelation (The Gospel) of salvation? Do they go to hell based on a message they never heard? To answer this question we must further understand who Jesus Christ is. The Apostle John tells us: “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” (John 1:3-9) Here we learn THE WORD, JESUS CHRIST IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS. Colossians 1:15-17 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Therefore, IT IS BY THE WORD, JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS THAT A GENERAL REVELATION OF GOD IS GIVEN TO ALL PEOPLE IN CREATION. The Apostle Paul says this about man’s accountability: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20) The Scripture says through creation a general revelation of God is given. That which is known about God is evident within the heart of each person for God made it evident to each person. Therefore, when a person reaches an age of understanding or accountability (note the term “being understood” in verse 20 of Romans 1), they are without excuse if they rebel against and reject the light they have been given of God’s general revelation provided in creation. The psalmist declares this same truth: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
John goes on to describe where this knowledge comes from. He says in verse 9 that JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” A better translation of this verse is “There was the true Light which enlightens every man coming into the world.” JESUS, THE SON OF GOD is not only THE WORD and THE CREATOR but also THE LIGHT: In other words, THE TRUE LIGHT, JESUS CHRIST, PLACES IN THE HEART OF EVERY PERSON A CONSCIENCE WHICH GIVES KNOWLEDGE OF HIS EXISTENCE. Scripture speaks of this in Romans 2:14-16: “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” You may remember the purpose of the Law is to serve as a tutor – to bring you to Christ (Galatians 3:24), the fulfillment of the Law. The Law condemns you and shows you your need for a Savior but has no power to save. The same Law is written in the heart of the Gentiles to achieve the same purpose; bring them to Christ, the fulfillment of the same Law written in their heart.
Second, you need to understand the basis upon which the Son of Man renders judgment. JESUS IS THE JUDGE OF THE WORLD. Like it or not you are going to face Him one day. The Gospel of John records: “and He (The Father) gave Him (The Son) authority to execute judgment because He (Jesus Christ) is the Son of Man (John 5:27).” Speaking of the Son’s judgment, Paul says in Romans 2:6-8 (RSV): “For he will render to every man according to his works; to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.” Ray Stedman (October 5, 1917 - October 7, 1992), long-time pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California, and author of Body Life and other books says this about Romans 2:6-8:
“Paul states clearly here that if anyone seeks to do good, and is looking for the truth, God "will give him eternal life." Now, "eternal life" is but a synonym for "Jesus Christ." Christ is eternal life. As John says, "This is the record, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son," (1 John 5:11 KJV). A little farther on in this same letter to the Romans, we read, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life..." How? "... through Jesus Christ" (Romans 6:23 KJV), his Son. Therefore, if God gives anyone eternal life, it is only by the knowledge of Christ, his Son. But truth obeyed leads to the knowledge of greater truth, until it leads at last to Christ.
So, what Paul is saying here is that it is God’s responsibility to bring those who are seeking good to the knowledge of Christ. And this he does -- we have accounts of it in Scripture: Cornelius was one like this. As we read in the tenth chapter of Acts, this Roman centurion was a good man -- he was devout, but a pagan nevertheless -- seeking to know the true God. An angel was sent to tell him to send men to a nearby town and follow their noses to the house of a certain tanner. There they would find a man named Peter, who would come and tell him the gospel. In the Old Testament, you have Rahab, the harlot (see Joshua 2:1 ff), and others. There is also the example of the Ethiopian eunuch, in the eighth chapter of Acts (Acts 8:27-39). These were eagerly obeying the truth that they had. And, you see, the test of whether a man is really obeying the truth and doing good is to offer him Christ. If that man is good, in the sense that God recognizes, then he will eagerly receive Christ. If he is only a respectable sinner, trying to appear good, he will reject the offer of grace. (Copyright: ©1995 Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church)”
Whether you agree with Pastor Stedman or not, Proverbs 8:17 and Jeremiah 29:13 seem to support his conclusions:
“I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.” (Proverbs 8:17) The prophet Jeremiah promises this to the seeker of God: “And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) God the Father will not deprive anyone of the opportunity to get to know His Son. He can make a way to The Way when there appears no way. Is anything too difficult for the Lord? Is His arm too short? “No.” He is God. I believe the Lord will move mountains if necessary for a seeking heart to find him. If you follow the Light revealed to you in creation and placed in your own conscience (general revelation) by the Son, it will lead you to the greater Light, the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. The Bible promises: Ask, seek and knock and it will be given to you. The question is whether you are seeking Him with all your heart.
Let me illustrate this point. Imagine you are sick (a sinner) and in an effort to get well you heart knows you need to go to the hospital (creation). In the hospital there is only one doctor on staff whom has the power (Romans 1:16) to cure (save) you of your illness (sin problem). If you go the hospital (general revelation) with the desire to be cured you will not be cast out by the doctor. He invites everyone to come to Him for the cure. If you trust and respond, you will be led to the doctor (Jesus) who can cure you. But if you reject and rebel against the hospital and its advice (general revelation) and refuse to go there but choose rather your own cure (your way), you never find the doctor (Jesus) who can give you life and your untreated condition results in death.
Now the Lord is not only the doctor in this illustration but also He is your judge. He determines if your death (Romans 6:23) is justified. The only way you can get life even if you die is through Him (John 11:25). As judge, the Lord will weigh the evidence justly and their will be no appeals.
Your response to the Light (witness) you were given not the light you did not have will determine your destiny. You will be held accountable for what you did know. In the Son of Man’s courtroom the witnesses of creation, your conscience and the Word will give testimony if called to the stand either for you or against you. It all depends on what you did with the Light (knowledge) you were given. The question will be: Did you respond in faith to the Light given or did you reject and rebel against it? The Lord as your judge will hold you responsible for the knowledge (the Light) you had and what you did with that Light.
We must pray for those deceived by the enticing voices of the world. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
My friends be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15). If you personally have not done so, come to the light. The Scriptures is clear: “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds my be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:20-21) You need not walk in darkness any longer. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
