“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
It’s common to hear people today, sometimes even Christians, say that all religion is essentially the same, that as long as you’re a good person and follow the same basic morality that most major religions teach, you’ll go to heaven. It’s a feel-good sentiment. It lets people think that everyone goes to heaven and that no one ever faces punishment. Unfortunately, it’s not true.
We know, because Jesus told us, that wide is the path that leads to destruction, but narrow the road that leads to heaven. We know that the key to heaven is not to be a generally “good” person, because none of us are good. Even Jesus, when a man called him “Good Teacher,” responded, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good.”
The plain truth is found in this verse from Acts 4. Salvation, eternal life with God in heaven, is found in no one and nothing but Jesus Christ. There is only one true God, and he has only one true Son, Jesus. From the very beginning of the world, men have developed similar moral codes across many religions because God created us all and has placed in ourselves an understanding of what is right and wrong. We didn’t figure it out ourselves – otherwise it would just be completely arbitrary – it was given to us by God. It is God’s law that we rebel against when we choose not to follow that moral code, it is him against whom we are committing sin. Therefore it is him, not any other god, that we must be reconciled to in order to be saved. And it is through Jesus Christ alone, no other prophet or king or priest or savior of any kind, that we are able to be reconciled to God.
Don’t fall for the myth that all religions lead to the same place. They don’t. Only through Christ may we be saved. Jesus said it himself in John 14:6 when he says, “No one comes to the father except through me.”
You can’t be a Christian who truly believes in Christ but also claim that all religions lead to heaven. Jesus himself said otherwise.
So why is that so important? Simple. It means that everyone out there who doesn’t believe in Jesus is headed down the wide path to destruction. It is our job then, not to assume they’re all safe, but to do everything in our power to show them the good news of Jesus. Otherwise, why preach the gospel at all? But remember Jesus’ final instruction to his disciples at the end of Matthew’s gospel, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Why? Because he wants them to be saved, and the only way is through him. And they only way they’ll know is if someone tells them. Why not let that someone be you?
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to realize the importance of evangelization in light of the fact that only through Christ may people be saved, and there are a lot of people that we know who don’t know Christ. Let that be a motivation to reach those that we love, and even those that we don’t know with that message.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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