Are There Many Roads to God? If not, why not?

"What will happen to those who have never heard the Gospel?" This is one of the most frequent questions asked. People believe that God is just, and they cannot reconcile that belief with the idea that He might cast a person in Hell who never was given an opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Therefore, increasingly, many are concluding that there must be many roads to God and that sincere Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Roman Catholics, New Agers and others will make it to Heaven.

Crucial questions

What does the Bible have to say about this important issue? Are those who live and die without hearing the Gospel condemned to an eternity in Hell? And what about those who have put their faith in the god of some religion other than Biblical Christianity and who strive to live righteous lives? Are they also condemned to Hell? Is it possible that God has revealed Himself in different ways to different peoples, and therefore there are many different roads to God?

Please continue reading this article to the very end.

What the Lord Jesus said

People are constantly asking: “What is so special about Jesus? Why is He the only way that someone can know God?” Along with this problem of the heathen, there is no question asked more often than this one. We are accused of being narrow-minded because we teach that there is no other way to get to God. The first point to make is that we did not invent the claim of Jesus being the only way. This is not our claim; it is His. We are merely relating His claim, and the claim of the writers of the New Testament. Let's begin our search for an answer to these questions by taking a look at what Jesus had to say —

“For unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6).

"Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33).

"The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me" (Luke 10:16).

“I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3).

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

What conclusion can we draw from these statements? I would propose the following:

1. Jesus is the one and only way to God.
2. Those that repent of their sin and put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior alone will be saved.
3. Those that reject Jesus will be condemned, for those who reject Jesus are guilty of rejecting God.
4. The essence of salvation is to be reconciled to the one and true God and a personal relationship with Him.

What God through His apostles in the New Testament said

These conclusions are affirmed in the Epistles (Romans to Revelation), as you can see from the following statements —

“…from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen” (Romans 9:5).

“…His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

"Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him [Jesus] both Lord and Christ [Messiah] — this Jesus whom you crucified…repent …in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:36-38).

"Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead...there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-12).

"God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself as a ransom for all..." (1Timothy 2:3-6).

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ [Messiah]? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also" (1 John 2:22-23).

"...God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life" (1 John 5:11-12).

Again, the conclusions that can be drawn from these statements are self-evident:

1. Jesus was the Messiah — the Savior — promised by God.
2. There is salvation in no other person except Jesus.
3. Those that reject Jesus are guilty of rejecting the Father.

Confirmation of these conclusions: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).
It is clear that God must deal with sin for He is a just God (Psalm 37:28 and Isaiah 61:8). He deals with sin in one of two ways, either grace or wrath. Whether or not a person is under grace or wrath depends upon whether he or she has repented of sin and have put their faith in Jesus alone as their Lord and Savior. Those who have done so, have the promise of eternal life. Those who refuse to do so will experience God's wrath.

What God through His prophets in the Old Testament said

“Yet I am the Lord your God…And you shall know no God but Me; for there is no savior besides Me” (Hosea 13:4).

“Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me;…Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand” (Deuteronomy 32:39).

“I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He.” (Isaiah 41:4).

“…Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:10-11).

“There is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me” (Isaiah 45:21,22).

“Listen to Me,…I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last” (Isaiah 48:12).

“Our Lord is above all gods…The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands…they who make them are like them; so is everyone who trust in them” (Psalm 135:5-7,15,18).

The conclusion is clear: people all over the world who worship anything than the one true God revealed in Scripture, are idolaters living in darkness and sin, subject to His judgment.

God's desire pertaining to salvation

But does it not say in 1Timothy 2:3 that God "desires all men to be saved"? Yes, and it is repeated in 2 Peter 3:9: "God does not wish that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

There is no doubt that it is God's perfect will that all should be saved. But in His permissive will, God allows people to reject His Son and thus be lost. In other words, God does not force anyone to be saved. And because of the depraved nature of mankind, the vast majority of those who have ever lived will be lost and consigned to Hell as their eternal destiny.

Jesus stated point blank: "...The gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it...Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:13-14 & 21).

The nature of man

Again, the Bible emphasizes that the fundamental nature of man is evil because we are born with a sin nature that puts us in rebellion against the holiness of God. "There is nothing more deceitful than the human heart" (Jeremiah 17:9).
"There is no one who does good...they have all turned aside...there is no one who does good, not even one" (Psalm 14:1-4; Romans 3:10-18).

The Biblical message is clear that because of our natural depravity, we have no hope apart from faith in a Savior, and Jesus is that Savior. Isaiah summed it up this way in a prophecy about the promised Messiah: "All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him [the Messiah]" (Isaiah 53:6).

In the beginning

To understand why this is so, we must go back to the beginning. An infinite-personal God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and man in His own image (Genesis 1:26). When He finished creating, everything was good (Genesis 1:31). Man and woman were placed in a perfect environment, with all their needs taken care of. They enjoyed perfect fellowship with God in a personal way (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7-23; 3:8-9). They were given only one prohibition; they were not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, lest they die (Genesis 2:27). Unfortunately, they disobeyed and eat of the tree (Genesis 3) and the result was a fall in four different areas.

(1)The relationship between God and man was now broken, as can be seen from Adam and Eve’s attempting to hide from God (Genesis 3:8 - 12,14). They suddenly were self-conscious of their guilt. They felt exposed.

(2)The relationship between man and his fellow man was severed, both Adam and Eve arguing and trying to pass blame to someone else (Genesis 3:12-13).

(3)The bond between man and nature was also broken, with the ground producing thorns and thistles and the animal world to longer being benevolent (Genesis 3:17,18). (4)Man also became separated from himself, with a feeling of hopelessness, emptiness and incompleteness, something he had not experienced before the fall. He became a sinner and a criminal in God’s eyes for deliberately breaking His moral Law. If Adam did not disobey, somebody else would have; like you or me. Since then the history of mankind is one of moral and spiritual decline and his condition is worse than ever before (Romans 1:21-32; 2 Timothy 3:13). Darwinian evolution gives no explanation for the human dilemma and also no solution to it. Why is humanity so plagued with so many moral and spiritual problems? It will never be able to answer that question. Pure naturalistic evolution cannot give a reason for anything that is moral or spiritual. Only the Word of God provides us with absolute truth about our condition.

Test yourself against the Word of God: “Whatever comes out of man is what makes man unclean. From the inside, out of the heart of men come bad thoughts, lying, stealing, gossip, deceit, ingratitude, rebellion, selfishness, jealousy, pride, envy, sex sins of a person married, sex sins of a person not married, killing other people, wanting something that belongs to someone else, doing wrong, having a mind that is always looking for sin, speaking against God/using His name in vain, thinking you’re better than you are and doing foolish things. All these bad things come from the inside and make man unclean” Mark 7:22 (TNLB). Clearly we are incapable of saving ourselves because of the transgression of God’s moral Law. Like a criminal in court we are condemned to experience the wrath of a just and holy God. “Sin came into the world by one man, Adam. Sin brought death with it. Death spread to all men because all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

One way only

However, the one true God promised to make all these things right and gave His Word that He would send a Savior, or Messiah, who would deliver the entire creation from the bondage of sin (Genesis 3:15). God’s Word indeed came true. God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 29). Jesus eventually died in our place in order that we could enjoy again a right and personal relationship with God. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself” and “He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew know no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21). God has done it all and our responsibility is to accept that fact. We can do nothing to add to the work of Jesus; it has all been done for us.

If mankind could have reached God any other way, then Jesus would not have had to die. His death and resurrection illustrates the fact that there is no other way. Therefore, no religion or religious leader can bring someone to the knowledge of the one true God. When it comes to eternal matters, we are going to ask the one who is alive the way out of our predicament. This is not Mohammed, not Confucius, not Mary or the Pope, but the Lord Jesus Christ. He is unique. He came back from the dead. This demonstrates He is the one whom He claimed to be (Romans 1:4), the unique Son of God and the only way by which you and I can be reconciled to the true and living God and have a personal relationship with Him.

The message of the Scriptures is clear. There is only one road to God and that is through Jesus of Nazareth. There is no hope in the modern day false religions of Rabbinical Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Roman Catholicism, any of the multitudes of natural religions like Animism or post-modern ideas like pantheism (“god” is in all things) or panentheism (“god” is all things), etc.

An important question

This brings us to a crucial question: Are there any exceptions to the rule that you must repent of your sin and place your faith in Jesus alone in order to be saved?

The answer is yes. We agree with God’s Word (the 66 books of the Bible only) that there are three groups of people who will be saved and will be in heaven without placing their faith in the Lord Jesus per se.

The first group

The first group is composed of infants and those children who have died before the age of accountability. Also included in this group are the millions upon millions of babies who have been killed in their mother’s womb by way of an abortion. The Bible does not specifically state this truth, but it is arrived at through deduction from Biblical statements.

First, there is the example of King David's child that was born of Bathsheba. When the child died seven days after it was born, David proclaimed by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that although the child could not come back to him, one day he would go to be with the child (2 Samuel 12:23).

The idea that those who die before the age of accountability will be saved is reinforced in the New Testament in the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:13-14: “Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"

This principle of not holding children accountable for their sins before they know the difference between right and wrong is also reflected in the book of Deuteronomy. When the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief and were afraid they would be defeated by the Canaanites, God punished them for not trusting Him by making them wander in the wilderness until the rebellious generation had died off (see Numbers 13 & 14).

The Lord proclaimed that only two people of the current generation would be allowed to enter the land — namely, Caleb and Joshua, the two spies out of twelve who brought back a positive report stating they believed the Lord would defeat their enemies (Deuteronomy 1:34-38). But then, another exception was made: "Moreover, your little ones...who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there [the Promised Land], and I will give it to them, and they shall possess it" (Deuteronomy 1:39).

When God decided not to destroy the wicked city of Nineveh, He said to the prophet Jonah: “And should not I have loving-pity for Nineveh, that great city, where more than 120,000 persons are who cannot discern between their right hand and their left – and much livestock?” (Jonah 3:11).

Another argument in behalf of the salvation of children who die before the age of accountability is the justice of God. The Bible asserts over and over that our Creator is a God of justice (Zephaniah 3:5). He has an overwhelming passion for justice (Micah 6:8). And He promises repeatedly that justice will be one of the characteristics of His Son's millennial reign (Isaiah 42:1-4). How could a God of perfect justice condemn to Hell children who never knew the difference in right and wrong?

Those who die before the age of accountability will be granted eternal life. However, this can happen only by having the blood of Jesus applied to them (Hebrews 9:22).

The second group

This same exception would apply to the mentally handicapped who reach adulthood. Since they are incapable of determining right from wrong and are also incapable of repenting and putting their faith in Jesus, it is only reasonable to conclude that a just God would not hold them accountable and would apply the blood of Jesus to their sins.

They are a constant reminder to us of the fact that we live in a fallen world. There is no doubt that one day, either at death or at the Rapture, their minds will be set right, and will be able to enjoy fellowship with the triune God in heaven eternally.

The third group

The third group that has been saved is those people who lived and died before the birth and revelation of Jesus as God's Son, but who placed their faith in their Creator. Hebrews 11 tells us that people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham were justified by their faith in God.

After man sinned in the Garden of Eden, God responded to Adam and Eve’s faith in His promises (3:15-16, 20) by removing their flimsy man-made garments and clothe them with acceptable garments that He Himself provided (Isaiah 61:10). In other words, God slew an animal - the first blood sacrifice, symbolizing the bloody cost of atonement – and covered their shame with the skin taken from that sacrifice. In a similar way, Christ, whose atoning blood was shed for us on the cross, provides His own righteousness as a garment that covers all those who repent from sin and put their trust in Him as Lord and Savior. It’s a picture of what Jesus did for sinners on the cross when He died for a sinful world (2 Corinthians 5:21). These early believers had no Scriptures and their knowledge of the coming Messiah (Jesus) were limited, yet because they related to their Creator in faith, they were saved.

Abraham

Specifically, Genesis 15:6 says that because Abraham believed the Lord, "it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

We should note that Abraham was counted righteous when he believed the promise regarding the Seed. For, in all ages, salvation ultimately comes to rest in the person of Christ. He is the seed. It is not mere faith that saves – but faith in Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that in all ages imputed righteous (salvation) comes by faith in God’s promise of the Messiah.

What was Abraham’s greatest need? Righteousness. This is the greatest need of each individual from past ages, in our world today and in future ages, because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). It is not enough to be ‘religious’ or ‘spiritual’; God demands that we have perfect righteousness or He will not let us enter His heaven.

How did Abraham receive this righteousness? He believed the Lord, and righteousness was imputed to him. “Impute” means “to put to one’s account.” On the cross, our sins were put on Jesus’ account, when He suffered the punishment that we deserved (Isaiah 53:6, 12). When you repent (leave your sinful ways and change your thinking about yourself), and trust Him alone as Lord and Savior, His righteousness is put on your account (2 Corinthians 5:21), and you stand righteous and forgiven before a holy God.

Still, each of the third group, and many others like them, were dependent upon the future sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for their salvation to be sealed. The forgiveness of their sins depended upon the sacrifice of a perfect person who did not deserve to die. Only the blood of such a person could produce forgiveness of their sins.

That's why Old Testament saints did not go directly to Heaven when they died. They went, instead, to a place called Sheol (Hades in the New Testament), and their souls resided in a compartment called "Abraham's bosom" or "Paradise." They could not be ushered into the presence of a holy God until their sins were forgiven.

After Jesus' death on the Cross, He descended into Hades and made a proclamation (1 Peter 3:19). We are not told specifically what He said, but most likely it was, "The blood has been shed!" We are also told that when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He took a "host of captives" with Him (Ephesians 4:8). In other words, He emptied Hades of those who were saved. Paradise was moved from Hades to Heaven, a reality that Paul later affirmed when he said that he was taken up to "the third heaven," which he identified as Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

Another exception?

This brings us back to one of the questions we began with: What about those Gentiles who lived and died throughout history before the Lord Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago and those today who live and die without ever hearing the Gospel? Are they destined to Hell? Many times it is asked to relieve the individual of any personal responsibility to God. The answer to this question does not determine whether Biblical Christianity is true or not. This matter has already been solved in Jesus Christ by His resurrection from the dead. The matter of authority has been solved once and for all.

Other religions do not lead to God. The Word of God (the 66 books of the Bible only), repeatedly says that God hates, despises, and utterly rejects anything associated with heathen religions and practices. Those who follow such idolatry are not regarded as finding their way to God but rather as having turned their backs on Him, following the ways of darkness.

Because God is a just God (Psalm 89:14) and the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25), therefore He gave us the answer to this question.

No excuse

The Bible reveals that no one has any excuse. “We see the wrath of God revealed from heaven against all the sins of men who suppress the truth in ungodliness. Men know about God. He has made it plain to them. Men cannot say they do not know God. From the beginning of the world, men could see what God is like through the things He has made namely His eternal power and deity. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)

God has given witness of Himself in the universe around us. As we view the world with everything in it and the universe, it is evident that someone made them. This testimony is universal. We know from Scripture verses that God is an invisible spirit (John 4:24; Romans 1:19-20). The physical eye cannot see Him. But His existence is manifest in what He has made – the creation. The creation, which is visible, reveals the existence of the Creator, who is invisible.

Although the people have enough information that God does exist, they become willfully ignorant of the things of God because their hearts are evil, for e.g. rejecting God’s creation acts but ascribe it to the unscientific theories of Darwinian evolution and a ‘big bang’. All people – regardless of whether they have heard about Christ or have read the Bible – are accountable before God. All are without excuse. Their choice to ignore the revelation of God in creation is indefensible (Psalms 19:1-6; Romans 1:20). Scripture teach that those Gentiles who have never heard who respond to the limited light around them (such as God’s witness of Himself in the universe) will receive further, more specific light.

The Bible teaches that God is going to judge the unbelieving world fairly and righteously (Acts 17:31). Just this fact alone should satisfy anyone who wonders how God is going to deal with people who never heard the Gospel. Therefore, the people who ask this question should be very careful not to use this as an excuse for not coming to Christ in repentance and faith in Him alone.

“For when Gentiles (those who have never heard the Gospel) who do not have the Law, do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them on the day when, according to my Gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (Romans 2:11-16).

Gentiles “who have sinned without the Law” will therefore “also perish without the Law,” that is, they will be judged according to their limited knowledge of God. That includes the vast majority of humanity of all times who have never been exposed to the Gospel and the Scriptures. Because they have God’s natural revelation in creation, as well as the witness of right and wrong in their hearts and consciences (vs. 15), they are guilty and accountable. They know instinctively that they are guilty and worthy of death (Romans 1:18-32). Throughout history there have been many unbelievers who have been honest, respectful, faithful, caring, and generous. The fact that they did good things, knowing they were ethically good, proves they had knowledge of God’s “Law written in their hearts.” Therefore if those people never come to trust in the true God, their good deeds will actually witness against them on the Day of Judgment.

The heathen are condemned because of conscience. Men recognize they have an instinctive, built-in sense of right and wrong that generates guilt. The heathen are lost because “their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” Building on the instinctive knowledge of right and wrong that the conscience provides, even unbelievers have the obvious ability to determine that certain things are basically right or wrong. Even pagans, agnostics and atheists are able to discern basic right from wrong. No person can stand guiltless before God’s judgment.

An Inuit hunter asked a missionary:”If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?” The missionary said:”No, not if you did not know.” The Inuit hunter asked earnestly:”Then why did you tell me?”

The missionary made a mistake. This is foolishness to have such a thought. God would be unjust to send anyone to Hell because for not knowing something. No one will go to Hell because they haven’t heard of Jesus Christ. The fact is, those who have never heard will perish for lying, stealing, lust in the heart, hate, adultery, fornication, greed, deceit, unthankfulness, gossip, sodomy, bitterness, idolatry, etc. Not recognizing the place of God’s moral Law, eternal damnation will make no sense to the unbeliever. It seems unreasonable that God would eternally damn them for not believing something.

Sin is not failing to hear the Gospel. Rather, “sin is transgression of the Law” (1 John 3:4). If you as a sinner refuse to trust in Jesus Christ when you pass through the door of death, you will perish. This isn’t because you refused to trust the Savior, but because you transgressed the Law of God.

The fact that they do not turn to God proves they do not live up to the light God has given them. The person who genuinely seeks to know and follow God is divinely assured he will succeed. ”And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart…He made from one blood all nations who live on the earth. He set the times and the places where they should live. They were to look for God. Then they might feel after Him and find Him because He is not far from each of us” (Jeremiah 29:13; Acts 17:26-27).

All professing Christians?

This brings us to another group of people — those professing Christians who have never been born again. These are people who claim to be Christians because they profess to believe in Jesus, but they have no personal relationship with Him. Many of these are people who attend church regularly. Some are elders, deacons, teachers, and even pastors. Can they get to Heaven through church membership or by participating in Christian rites like baptism or communion?

The answer of the Bible is a clear "No!" Jesus Himself said that no man can see the kingdom of God unless he is "born again" (John 3:3). That means a person must repent (change his thinking about himself as a “good” person) and put his faith in Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. It is not sufficient to simply believe that Jesus lived. The Bible says that even "the demons believe and shudder" (James 2:19). But they have rejected Jesus as their Lord.

Going to church or participating in Christian rituals is not another road to Heaven. Our churches are filled with unsaved people who are trusting in their works to get them to Heaven. But the Bible says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith...not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Someone pointed out that two words sum up one of the fundamental differences between Biblical Christianity and all religions in the world. Those words are "do" and "done." Regarding access to Heaven, all the false religions of the world say, "DO!" Islam for e.g., in the Qur’an says in Surra 23:102,103 that your works will be weighed in the balances on the Day of Judgment and it will then be decided who is saved and who is not, based on whether your good deeds outweighed your bad deeds.’ All false religions and sects basically teach the same thing. Biblical Christianity, in stark contrast, proclaims "DONE!”. In other words, Biblical Christianity declares that Jesus did everything necessary for your salvation through His death on the cross. There is nothing you can add to that.

False expressions of Biblical Christianity (and all religions) require you to earn your salvation by doing works that they require. True Christianity says there is nothing you can do to earn your salvation because it is a free gift of God through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. In this sense, true Christianity is not a religion; rather, it is a relationship. Jesus made this clear when He prayed to God, saying, "...this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).

Billy Graham

In this regard I feel compelled to state, respectfully, that this is an area where Billy Graham seems to have strayed from the Gospel. I say this because he has made it very clear in his writings and his public statements that he believes the Roman Catholic Church is a true expression of Christianity.(1)

This is unfortunate because his endorsement of Roman Catholicism has made many Roman Catholics feel comfortable and safe in their false faith of Mary worship, penance, purgatory, transubstantiation, etc. And although I am sure there are some Roman Catholics who have truly repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus, the vast majority have not because the Roman Catholic Church has always taught salvation by works — which makes the religion of Roman Catholicism a false form of Christianity.(2)

The bottom line

From a Biblical, Christian perspective, there is no way to escape the conclusion that the Lord Jesus is the only way to God, either through direct faith in Him, or by having the blood of Jesus applied to a person who has responded to God in faith through the testimony of instinct and nature.

To argue that there are other roads to God, as some apostate “Christian” leaders are doing today, is to deny that the sacrifice of Jesus was necessary for the forgiveness of sins. If there really are other roads to God, then Jesus came to earth to die a horrible death for no purpose. His sacrifice was all in vain. Either we are saved by the blood of Jesus, or we are not.

Do you have a personal relationship with the one true and living God?

Billions of people live in false hope and die in that unrepentant, unbelieving state. It is terrible to see people live like this and gamble with their souls and eternity. I ask you: where will you go when you die? Death is not the end of anyone of us. Do you think you will go to heaven? If there is one, are you good enough to go there? What do you trust in to go there? Is it church membership, trusting in sacraments, growing up in a certain tradition, following a religion or teaching or a certain code of ethics or doing so-called good works, with the motive to be a good person? Let’s do a quick and simple test:

How many lies have you told in your life? What about dishonesty in business, work or at home? Have you ever stolen anything, taken anything that does not belong to you, no matter how small? Have you ever had sex before or outside of marriage? Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Have you ever look with lust at another person? Have you ever used the name God or Jesus or Lord or Christ in vain when you’re are angry, frustrated or irritated? It is blasphemy and very serious. Do you have feelings of hatred towards another person, culture group or nationality? The Bible says hatred is the same as murder (1 John 3:15). Do you desire what you don’t need or wish for what belongs to another person e.g. his/her house, car, spouse, lifestyle, money? It’s the same as and therefore called idolatry.

By your own admission you are: a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, an adulterer/fornicator, idolater and murderer at heart. If you have done these things and still do them, this is how God sees you: guilty of breaking His moral Law. When you one day stand before God, the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25), on Judgment Day, what will the verdict be? Guilty or not guilty? Guilty, I know myself, you say. The Bible warns that all the guilty like you and me will end up in the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8, 27). ALL liars, thieves, and fornicators/adulterers, murderers and idolaters at heart and in deed will get their just reward at the Day of Judgment.

BUT God, “who is rich in mercy” does not want you to perish. He became a human being in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. He, the Savior, died on the cross taking your sin, guilt and punishment on Himself. You and I broke the moral Law of God, but He became a human being without sin to pay our fine, the Sinless One for us guilty sinners. Then Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death. That means God (the Judge) can now freely dismiss your case and cancel your death sentence. Does it make sense? Of course it does. What must you do now?

(1)You must repent (turn from sin) and leave your sinful lifestyle. Change your thinking about yourself – you are a guilty and lost sinner.

(2)Confess your sins to God who knows all secrets. Turn from praying to another god or other gods.

(3)Place your trust in the Lord Jesus alone (just like you would put your trust in a parachute to save you from a death drop). You let go of your own good works as a means or trying to please God (trying to bribe Him), and trust in Jesus alone what He has done for you on the cross and in His resurrection. Simply throw yourself on the mercy of the Judge.

Do this today because you don’t know when you will die. Pray something like this: “Righteous and merciful God, I admit that I’m a lost sinner. I disobeyed your Law. I’m willing to turn from sin (name them). I accept and believe the Lord Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the only Savior from sin. Wash me in His blood from my sin, guilt and condemnation. Give me the gift of eternal life. I will follow Him and obey His Word. In Jesus name. Amen.”

He promises: to forgive your sin, declare you not guilty anymore, set you free from the power of sin, grant you the gift of eternal life, give you the new birth and enable you to be a witness for Him and the truth of His Word.

“You will find Him when you seek Him with your whole heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

Go to www.livingwaters.com and www.needGod.com and click on “Save Yourself Some Pain” to find principles that will help you to grow in your faith.

Notes:

1) John Ashbrook, "Billy Graham's Catholic Connection,"
cnview.com/on_line_resources/billy_graham_catholic_connection.htm. This is just one of many examinations on the Internet of Graham's endorsement of Catholicism. There are also video interviews of him endorsing the Catholic faith.

2) Graham takes this position because he says "Catholics believe in Jesus." But, again, do they simply believe he existed (as do Muslims), or do they believe in the sense of trusting Him, and Him alone, for their salvation? If their trust is truly in Jesus, then why are they instructed to pray to Mary? A great source for unbiblical Roman Catholic beliefs is pro-gospel.org/x2

Bibliography:
Haley, John: Alleged Discrepancies in the Bible
McArthur, John: Romans 1-8
McDowell & Stewart: Answers to Tough Questions
Phillips, John: Exploring Genesis
Reagan, David: Article on Prophecy Update
Rhodes, Ron: Answering the Objections of…
Walfoord & Zuck: Bible Knowledge Commentary
Wiersbe, Warren: Bible Exposition Commentary (6 volumes)

PRAYERS OF “NATIONAL REPENTANCE” (no. 10)

* It has become customary to speak of prayers of “national repentance”.

* On May Day, this year - 2010, a large number of people met at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC to pray various prayers of repentance “on behalf of the American people”. I remember a number of times, here in South Africa, that the Government and leaders of different organizations, Christian and secular, called national days of prayer and repentance in the hope that God would intervene in certain matters. Many churches, groups and individuals prayed prayers of repentance on behalf of the nation for the sins of the past and the present. And the list goes on. But is this a Biblical idea?

* The short answer is no – there are a bunch of problems with this notion. The first is that repentance is something that needs to be done, rather than prayed. Every day millions of prayers ascend to God in which people pray prayers of repentance. The vast majority of these are a waste of time since the prayer has no intention of changing their actions, lifestyles or habits. Repentance is about doing not talking. The word itself means a change of mind and of direction. You can be heading down the road and say a million times that you are going in the wrong direction, but until you actually make that U-turn and stop going in the wrong direction and start going in the right direction, nothing will happen. It’s as simple as that.

* John the Baptist said that the Pharisees who had come to see him baptize must: “Bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8). Paul, speaking of the mission to the Gentiles said: “That they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20). Isaiah said: “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). So, no prayer of repentance is worth anything unless it is accompanied by actions. In spite of the many prayers of repentance prayed on behalf of the nations, all nations are becoming more sinful and thus those prayers clearly do not work.

* Secondly, there is no such thing as repentance “by proxy”. This means you cannot repent on behalf of other people, whether living or dead. No-one except Hitler himself can repent of the things he did – and he cannot because he is dead and it is too late for him. You can repent on behalf of your family as much as you like, but until they individually and personally repent, nothing is going to happen. We cannot repent on behalf of our family, a church, and least of all, a nation.

* Sin is personal. When we sin, each who has sinned is guilty of that sin and each one has to personally repent. One could argue that Israel sinned as a nation when they refused to cross the Jordan (Numbers 14), yet the two individuals that did not agree with the majority were saved and entered the Land. So, was God dealing with them as a nation or individually? Clearly individually; since Joshua and Caleb would have had to perish with the rest of the nation if God was dealing with them as a group. When God destroyed the world in the Flood, righteous Noah and his family is saved. The same happened in Sodom. Thus, even in the Old Testament, God’s dealings are on an individual basis.

* Thirdly, God does not deal with nations, He only deals with individuals. Jesus did not die for America or England – He died for each of us personally. The only nation God ever had a relationship with as a nation was Israel (See the first article in this series). Yet, Jesus did not even die for Israel. All the verses that are quoted as examples of God’s promises or dealings with a nation are directed at Israel and they cannot be claimed for any other country. When Israel eventually returns to God (Romans 11:26), each individual Jew will still have to make a personal decision. Israel will not be saved because of a decision of the government, but because of the cumulative effect of each Jew coming to personal repentance. We need to be clear a third of the Jews in the end will be saved, not because they are Jews, but because each of them has personally repented from their rebellion and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

* One of the favorite verses used by those who promote the idea of National Repentance is 2Chronicles 7:14: “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”. This promise is very specific – it is to “my people who are called by my name”. Is South Africa, or Germany, or America, God’s people? Obviously not. Which country is called by God’s name? None – except Israel. So this verse has nothing to do with any nation other than Israel. The only people who can claim both those conditions are Christians. They are the people of God (Romans 9:25, 1John 3:1-3, 1Peter 2:10). And they are called by His name (Acts 11:26, 1Corinthians 12:12).

* But then you cannot apply this verse to Christians since their Land does not need to be healed. The Christian’s land is the New Jerusalem and that is perfect. Here we are but strangers and pilgrims. (Hebrews 11:13, 16). The often-recited verse in 2Chronicles 7:14 only applies to one nation, and that is to Israel, and even then the promise has been suspended since Israel rejected the offer one time too many.

* Should we not pray for nations? Yes, we can pray but there is only one valid prayer and that is that people, individually, will come to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and repent. Because we are often too lazy to name individuals before the Throne of Grace, we resort to those catch-all phrases: “Lord save the Chinese”, “Lord help the poor”, or “Lord be with those in prison”. What does that mean? I don’t want to be insensitive, but it means absolutely nothing.

* As Christians we can make a difference, but it begins where you are. Pray for each of your unsaved family members; pray for others you know by name – your colleagues, neighbors and others you have dealings with. First pray that the Lord will help you to show them what it means to be a real Christian. Next pray that the Lord will soften their hearts to the Gospel and bring them to repentance. Finally pray that the Lord will open an opportunity for you to share your Hope with them and that He will give you the courage and wisdom to do it right. Do this until Jesus comes. Yes, that is a lot harder than “Lord save the lost”, but that is our duty; everything else is a copout.

Adapted from Anton Bosch

WHEN TEMPTED (no. 9)

Over sixty years ago, a faithful German pastor was executed on Hitler’s orders. After his death the following words were found in his journal:

"In our members there is a slumbering inclination towards desire which is both sudden and fierce. With irresistible power desire seizes mastery over the flesh. All at once a secret, smoldering fire is kindled. The flesh burns and is in flames. It makes no difference whether it is for wrong sexual desire, or ambition, or vanity, or desire for revenge, or love of fame and power, or greed for money, or, finally, that strange desire for the beauty of the world...At this moment God is quite unreal to us, he loses all reality, and only desire for the creature is real; the only reality is the devil. Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God.... ”
Temptations are all around us. Because temptation to sin is so powerful, we need help. Now before any of us think this message isn't for us, read James 1:13-15: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Yes, temptation is inevitable, inescapable and is going to follow us all through our earthly lives. One word is very important – lust. Lust (‘epithumia’: super desires) is dreadful, dangerous, and deadly. Lust is surrounding us and in various forms, planted within us – and is either chasing for pleasure or fleeing from righteousness. Read 2 Timothy 2:22: “Flee (‘I command you to always flee’) also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

So we must all decide to flee lust, no matter what our age. Why should we flee these lusts that tempt us to sin against God? Because they cost us far more than we could ever imagine.

But do we look on temptation and lust as carefully? We should. God wants us to flee all forms of lust by counting what it will really cost us. God warns us over and over in His Word of the price of lust. It does not usually bring immediate consequences in response to our actions when we feed our lusts little by little. Because we often do not see the negative consequences of our bad choices right away, we are often persuaded to make bigger and more foolish mistakes. Because God's judgments are usually long delayed in time, we think we escaped the consequence of that poor choice. But sin always pays us back with boredom, guilt, shame, loneliness, confusion, emptiness, loss of purpose, not to speak of loss of rewards. All sin is forgivable but – all sin also has consequences.

So since lust is what entices us to sin, what are the these lusts that we are to fear and flee? Read 1 John 2:15-17: “…For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,…And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Temptations are enticements from our lusts. God says that lusts are packaged in varied shapes, sizes, and colors. They fall into one of three categories:

· We are tempted by the flesh to chase pleasures; this equals the cravings of the body. These are all the sensual temptations. This is lust for another person. The desire to have and enjoy the body of an individual, although such pleasure is illegal and/or immoral. We can feed these lusts by going to places where we see uncovered bodies, or watching immoral images on TV and movies, or by seeking out images in magazines and online that feed these evil desires.

· We are tempted by the eyes to chase stuff; this equals the lusting of the eyes. These are all the material temptations. This is lust for things. The things may be as large as a house or as small as a ring, as bright and dazzling as a new sports car or as dull and dusty as a two-hundred-year-old antique dresser. Lest we think that this is not as bad as the lusts of the flesh, remember that covetousness (insatiable longing for more things) is as damnable as idol worship. That means that the lust for possessions is as wicked as the lust for immorality. Beware of both, they are deadly!

· We are tempted by pride to chase status, and boasting. These are all the personal temptations. This is selfishness because I’m most important. This is irritableness because life revolves around me. This is untruthfulness because I need to protect myself. This is laziness because I want to rest and comfort myself. All of these are pride as well as lust for status and special recognition. Pride also shows up as lust for the status of fame, fortune, power, or authority. Pride may also be wanting a title that makes heads turn, like “top executive” or “president” or “executive director” or even “doctor”. In Isaiah 14:12-14 this was Satan’s sin. Pride in all its forms is an abomination to God.

Any form of lust God hates. Any form of lust we must flee and also hate. It is possible to say no to lust. It is possible to have temptation's powers lessened as we mortify (put to death) our flesh by starving our lusts. This is our responsibility.

Precious Pearls/Kosbare Pêrels

Take the test: Are you a New Ager? (no. 8)

This may seem like an inconsequential question, even a silly question to ask, but many people may not know how involved they are in the New Age movement that has permeated our society.
In other words, do you believe or practice what is taught in the new age movement without knowing it?

Here are some questions to ask yourself...

Do you believe God is a force? That God is in all things (pantheism) or that God is all things (panentheism).

Do you believe in karma and reincarnation as Hindus or Buddhists do?

Do you believe life is not real an illusion and the real world is unseen?

Do you believe that all religions and spiritual paths lead to the same place and are acceptable to God (universalism)?

Do you deny a moral standard for all people that are understood by our conscience or the law given to Moses?

Do you believe that all holy books are given by God at different times?

Do you believe that all religions and spiritual beliefs are based on or point to the same God who is known by different names?

Do you think Jesus was an enlightened master like many others? That he discovered God by realization of what is inside him?

Do you believe God is a force or is a he or a she?

Do you believe we can leave our bodies and visit other realms though psych spiritual techniques or dreams?

Do you believe that we can come in touch with God through Yoga or meditation?

Do you believe that man can pass onto you by touch a spirit or gift?

Do you believe that ghosts are people that once lived and are trying to communicate with us?

Do you believe space aliens are visiting to give us knowledge for the advancement of human kind?

Do you believe that spirit beings from other dimensions desire to channel to us information?

If you believe any of these you are involved to some degree willingly or unwillingly.

If you believe any of these as a Christian, then you are accepting beliefs and practices that go against the faith that is to be focused on Jesus Christ alone and the Word of God (the 66 books of the Bible only). Let Us Reason Ministries

“…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“…Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our offences, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:24-25

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,…” 1 Peter 3:18

“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Amen.” Revelation 1:6-7

“God…now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31

Precious Pearls/Kosbare Pêrels

WHERE WILL YOU TURN? (no. 7)

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalms 19:7-8

Where can you find absolute truth in this post-modernistic society? Where will you turn in a time of crisis? When tragedy hits? When disaster strikes? Will it be your favorite Web site? People magazine? The morning newspaper? The evening news? You will need something to give you strength and direction in your time of need, and that will come from the Word of God. As one writer said, "One gem from that ocean is worth all of the pebbles from earthly streams." Just a pebble from the ocean of God's Word can make all the difference in the world. How many in their troubles have found comfort from Scripture?

I can tell you from personal experience that I have put the Word of God to the test, not only throughout my years as a Christian, but especially in the past 2 years in the midst of personal trials and a world in crisis after crisis. I have trusted in what the Bible has said, and it has sustained me and given me direction and hope and comfort when I needed it. Clever sayings don't help, but the Word of God does. It has been said that "he who rejects the Bible has nothing to live by. Neither does he have anything to die by."

Things go in and out of style, but the Word of God never goes out of style. It never goes out of date, unlike this morning's newspaper. The Word of God always will be relevant. It converts the soul, makes wise the simple, opposes all man-made theory with “This says the Lord”, cheers us, rejoices the heart, takes away all uncertainty, gives us guidance for today and promises for tomorrow, and has a cleansing effect on us. Someone has said: “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” A lady once asked a captain if he knew where all the rocks and shallow water in the sea is. “Oh no!” he said, and point to his chart, “but I know where the deep water is.” God’s Word is a chart which will steer us clear of the rocks.

That is why I urge you to get a good foundation in this Book. Be disciplined in reading, studying and obeying what you understand. Set aside those things that rob you from getting to know the Savior better. It is only a matter of time until hardship will strike you. Trials will come our way. Disappointment will occur. Tragedy will strike. It happens in every life. There are no exceptions. But if you have a foundation in the Word of God, you will be ready for it when it comes. Don't wait until then to try and catch up.

Get that foundation now.