There are false prophets and antichrists today, spewing out their garbage that states, “There are many ways to Heaven.” How about, “All religions worship the same god?” And of course, the lie that started it all in Genesis 3:1; “Did God really say?” (post scripted) These are ploys the evil one uses, and has used successfully since the Creation of this earth. There are always those who are willing to listen to him and be drawn in. (any emphasis mine)
To give a response to the “many ways” statement, Acts 4:12: “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.”
Sorry, but there is no “except for” at the end of this passage. As Peter was being questioned by the religious leaders, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, he gave the above declaration. Prior to Pentecost, his answer may have been a bit different, but here he was prepared for whatever they were going to throw at him, even if it meant his death.
As for “All religions…,” please remember that religion is made for humans, by humans. How about we go way back to Exodus 2:3 and the very first of the 10 Commandments (not suggestions) that God gave to the Israelites; “You shall have no other gods before Me.” This was repeated in Deuteronomy 5:7, word for word.
For some reason, man (and woman) has had to have an object he/she could see and touch to worship and bow down to. To understand there is a “Triune God” that is not visible just doesn’t seem right. There is the “Father, Son-Jesus, and Holy Spirit” all in one, yet each is separate. The hardest part of all Christianity is to have faith; believe in the word of God; Confess that we all are sinners in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23); ask Jesus to forgive us our sins, and to save us from the Lake of Fire. And all this to worship an entity that we cannot see, but must have faith that He is there.
Although it is totally proper to give total praise, worship, glory and honor to the Father for all He has done for us, the only thing we can truly offer to Him is ourselves. There are no earthly treasures we can give to cause Him to love us, as He cannot be bought. Also, works don’t earn us anything, as stated in Isaiah 64:6; “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
This is where Jesus had so much trouble with the religious leaders of His day. Over the centuries, more and more so-called “requirements” were added to make their importance seem even more special. Sad part is, God was mostly left out of the equations. Many times, the Pharisees challenged Jesus for doing something “unlawful” on the Sabbath. He tried to set them straight in Mark 2:27-28; “And He said to them, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”
These were supposedly very educated religious people who should had faithfully studied the ancient texts. Had they done so, they would have realized that their Messiah was there with them, and at the proper timing given by the prophets of the Old Testament. If they knew anything about the scrolls of Isaiah, they would have seen He fit the 53rd chapter to a tee. Of course, the scrolls were not broken down by chapter and verse, but the content should have been obvious.
If they truly studied the scrolls of Zechariah, they should have taken special notice of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). However, in their hate for Him, they only saw this as an affront to their piety. The following Friday, they hung Him on a cross at Calvary, which fulfilled the main reason for His being on this earth as a human – to offer a gift of Salvation to all who would receive and accept it.
For the “Did God really say?” statement, it is still being used today by Satan to challenge any belief in Jesus. The answer is simple, and therefore not very popular – God cannot lie, and yes, He really did say. (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19). Any true translation of God’s word – not the faux Bibles being put out by man – is trustworthy and contains His love letter to us.
We are shown we have a fair and just God, who gives us a love that cannot be matched in human terms. Just looking back on my lifetime here on this planet, knowing everything during that lifetime I have done, I am amazed that my Heavenly Father has not turned me into a burnt cinder. Yet, when I honestly asked Jesus to forgive me and be my Savior, I have the confidence in His pure and loving nature to know that I am forgiven. I truly look forward to the sound of the “Trumpet of God” and the shout from the “archangel.” I am not worthy to receive such forgiveness, but my assurance is through my growing relationship with Jesus that I have an eternal Home with Him.
And this is not exclusively just for me. All; Everyone; Young and Old; no matter what Race, Creed or Color, have the same offer that I have received and accepted. It will be forced on no one. Some religions say their so-called gods demand obedience, or they are subject to martyrdom.
A true loving God, Our Creator, The Lord God Jehovah, allows us to have free-will to choose. He will turn no one away who chooses His Son, Jesus the Christ. For those who will not choose Jesus, He allows them a reservation at the Great White Throne Judgment and then the lake of fire, as given in Revelation 20:11-15. His earnest wish is that all repent and be saved, as given in 2 Peter 3:9.
As humans, we have an advantage over Satan and his fallen angels or demons. They cannot receive forgiveness as we can. The moment they chose to defy the Father, their eternal destiny was set, and the lake of fire was made for them (Matthew 25:41).
The unforgivable sin for humans is to not have Jesus as their Savior when they take their last breath on this earth. Are death-bed confessions acceptable? Did the thief on the cross receive forgiveness? (Luke 23:42-43). If the confession is true, the Salvation is there.
The best position is to realize there is no Salvation without Jesus. Today would not be too early to call on Him. We don’t know what is around the corner, or even in the next hour. The “Twinkling of an Eye” is closer than ever before, and judging the condition of this world is imminent (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Call now before it’s too late.
Shalom!