The Only Door to Heaven
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:7–10
In our increasingly pluralistic society, it is becoming more and more unpopular to declare that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. But that was His message while He was here on earth, and it is the message all of His faithful followers must declare. Though God is love, and He loves the world, He is also holy, and the only way we can enter His presence is if our sins have been cleansed through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Many churches, even some that are at least nominally “Christian,” have backed away from this truth. Writing to Eygenio Scalfari, editor of the La Repubblica newspaper, Pope Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying—and this is the fundamental thing—that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.”
No one comes to God by following His conscience. No one comes to God by following the Pope or the Dalai Lama or any other religious leader. No one comes to God by joining a church, getting baptized, or being kind to others. We only come to God by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus in our place.
John 10:7–10
In our increasingly pluralistic society, it is becoming more and more unpopular to declare that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. But that was His message while He was here on earth, and it is the message all of His faithful followers must declare. Though God is love, and He loves the world, He is also holy, and the only way we can enter His presence is if our sins have been cleansed through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Many churches, even some that are at least nominally “Christian,” have backed away from this truth. Writing to Eygenio Scalfari, editor of the La Repubblica newspaper, Pope Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying—and this is the fundamental thing—that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.”
No one comes to God by following His conscience. No one comes to God by following the Pope or the Dalai Lama or any other religious leader. No one comes to God by joining a church, getting baptized, or being kind to others. We only come to God by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus in our place.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Jesus is the only door to Heaven, and we must accept His salvation by grace through faith to see Heaven.
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