The Only Way to Heaven
Most people want to go to heaven, but don’t know how to get there. According to the Bible, there is only one way to heaven. This Bible study will explain the only Bible way to go to heaven.
Most people want to go to heaven. Does this include you?
After all, who would want to go to hell, a fiery place of eternal torment? Some atheists comfort themselves with the thought that the material universe is all there is and when their body dies, they will simply cease to exist. But most people are not comforted by the idea of non-existence.
People want to live!
Table of contents
People Want an Easy Way to Heaven
People want to live, not die. Deep down people know there is more to life than just this physical existence. So they are afraid to die. And they should be, because: “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 / NASB).
People want an easy way to heaven. They would like many paths to choose from that all lead to heaven. They would like heaven to be a sure thing regardless of how they live or what religion they follow.
People would like to think that anyone who sincerely seeks God by practicing any religion, or who lives what they consider a “good” life will make it to heaven. People want a permissive god who accepts people on their own terms; not a Holy God who judges people based on His standards.
People want a permissive god who accepts people on their own terms
Many see religion as a cause of division and strife between people, and point to wars and killing that has been done in the name of religion.
They “imagine” that “the world could live as one” if only there were no god or heaven or religion. But that false dream would be a nightmare!
The problem is not with God or heaven. The problem is with the sin nature of people that leads them to rebel against their Creator and fight with each other (even in the name of religions that teach love as a highest good).
Ultimately, it does not matter what people want or what they would like to think. What matters is the truth.
If there is a God in heaven who created the world and all life (as taught in the Bible), then He gets to make the rules. He has the right to judge us by His standards. We must all obey His will, or suffer the consequences of disobedience.
Jesus is the Only Way to Heaven
Many people would like Christianity to just be one of many ways to heaven, but that is not what the Bible teaches. Either Jesus is the only way to heaven, or Christianity is not a way at all. Let’s examine the Scriptures to find the truth God has revealed.
John 14:6 – Jesus is the Only Way
On the night of the last supper, Thomas asked Jesus, “. . . how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). In response, “Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.’” (John 14:6)
Jesus clearly stated that He is the only way to the Father. Now, this is either true or false. If it is true, then Bible Christianity and its faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.
If this were false, then Jesus would either be mistaken or a liar. In either case He would not be God and He could not save anyone. If this bold statement were false, then all of His teachings would be suspect. If this were false, then the Jews would have been right to convict Jesus of blasphemy and reject Him as their messiah.
Either Jesus is the only way to heaven, or Christianity is not a way at all
Christ’s declaration leaves no room for Christianity to just be one of many ways to God. Jesus was God in the flesh, and died to pay for our sins as the only way to heaven. Either this is true, or the Bible and Christianity are wrong.
John 10 – Jesus is the Door
In John 10:1-18, Jesus declared, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9). “I have come so that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me” (John 10:14). Jesus said that He is the door, and He is the good shepherd. All others are thieves whose goal is to steal, kill, and destroy.
Matthew 7:13-14 – The Narrow Way
Jesus also indicated that there is one way to heaven in Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus warned that the gate to destruction is wide, the road broad and spacious, and that’s the way most people are going (Matthew 7:13). Jesus said the path to eternal life is through a straight gate, along a narrow way that few find (Matthew 7:14).
Peter’s Testimony
Acts 4 records the arrest and defense of Peter and John after they healed a lame man, and preached the gospel of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus, the resurrected Christ (Acts 3). In response to their examination, Peter declared:
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 4:10-12
As Peter declared,
Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ
There is No other way to heaven
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