by J.C. Weeks

Created on: September 25, 2008

We live in a culture that is widely diverse and vastly different than any which has preceded it. It seems what is right for one person may not be right for another person and still a third and fourth person may have a completely different concept of "rightness." In this deeply secularized society where individuality is praised and there is no absolute standard by which everyone lives, how can we think there is only ONE way to be saved! In every other facet of life we have a plethora of choices. If I want a hamburger I can buy the ground beef and grill it up at home or I can take a trip to any of a number of fast food restaurants to get any style of burger I desire. We are accustomed to be able to pick and choose what we want, how we want it and when we want it. Many try and approach the issue of salvation in much the same way.

Salvation is not a buffet. It is not a cafeteria where you pick and choose what you think you want. There is no truth in the mentality that there are many roads that all lead to the same place, i.e., salvation.

As we look at the question of Jesus being the only way to salvation we must understand we cannot approach salvation, spirituality and faith in the same way we approach the unsacred or the mundane things of life. There are absolutes that truly are "one size fits all." One of those absolutes is that Jesus is the only way to salvation. The Bible is replete with details about this One named Jesus Christ being the only authorized provider of salvation.

Acts 4:10-12 says "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men by which we MUST be saved." (NKJV)

There is no other name under heaven given by which we must be saved. Do you know what that means? It means the name Buddha can't save you. The name Hare Krishna can't save you. The name Islam (Allah) can't save you. The only name that can bring salvation is Jesus!

In John 14:6-7 Jesus answered them and said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV)

Scripture leaves no doubt, whatsoever, that God's plan was for His Son, Jesus Christ to be the one and only way for salvation. According to John 3:16, God gave Jesus for just that purpose. Jesus was the only, spotless, perfect sacrifice who could win the battle over sin and death. And just as the first Adam, created in the Garden of Eden, ushered in the age of sin, the second Adam (Jesus) gave His life to usher in salvation and forgiveness of those sins.

It is increasingly clear that in our intellectualized, spoiled, "it's all about me" world people want choices, choices, choices, but we are not trying to find the cheapest car insurance here, we are talking about eternity. And that is pretty important!

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