Is Jesus the Only Way?

Jesus is the only way to Heaven for several reasons. Jesus was “chosen of God” to be the Savior (1 Peter 2:4). Jesus is the only One to have come down from Heaven and returned there (John 3:13). He is the only person to have lived a perfect human life (Hebrews 4:15). He is the only sacrifice for sin (1 John 2:2; Hebrews 10:26). He alone fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). He is the only man to have conquered death forever (Hebrews 2:14–15). He is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). He is the only man whom God has “highly exalted” (Philippians 2:9).

Jesus spoke of Himself as the only way to Heaven in several places besides John 14:6. He presented Himself as the object of faith in Matthew 7:21–27. He said His words are life (John 6:63). He promised that those who believe in Him will have eternal life (John 3:14–15). He is the gate of the sheep (John 10:7), the bread of life (John 6:35), and the resurrection (John 11:25). No one else can rightly claim those titles.

The apostles’ preaching focused on the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Peter, speaking to the Sanhedrin, clearly proclaimed Jesus as the only way to Heaven: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Paul, speaking to the synagogue in Antioch, singled out Jesus as the Savior: “through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38-39). John, writing to the church at large, specifies the name of Christ as the basis of our forgiveness: “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12). No one but Jesus can forgive sin.

Eternal life in Heaven is made possible only through Christ. Jesus prayed, “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). To receive God’s free gift of salvation, we must look to Jesus and Jesus alone. We must trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as our payment for sin and in His resurrection. “The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Romans 3:22).

At one point in Jesus’ ministry, many of the crowd were turning their backs on Him and leaving in hopes of finding another savior. Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will ye also go away?” Peter’s reply is exactly right: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:67-69). May we all share Peter’s faith that eternal life resides only in Jesus Christ.

—GotQuestions.org

Originally posted on gotquestions.org