Jesus is the way: most Christians disagree

Jesus declared, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6) and "Whoever believes in the Son [Jesus Christ] has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him" (John 3:36).

But most Christians disagree.

The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life surveyed 35,000 Americans about their beliefs. Eighty-three percent of mainline church members, 79 percent of Catholics, and even 57 percent of Evangelicals believe that "many religions can lead to eternal life." Perhaps the rejection of Jesus' statements stems from the 37 percent of people of faith do not believe their "sacred texts are the word of God" and the 27 percent who believe those texts "should not be taken literally."

So, some thoughts on Jesus answer to, What must I do to inherit eternal life?

What are your thoughts?

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Comments (46)

It's a "No-Brainer" for me - It's Jesus way or no way. After all one would assume that he knew what he was talking about. Either that or he was a nut-bar or a liar and I know he was neither.
All I can say is - if you believe that you can be saved some other way then you are calling Jesus a liar and I don't want to stand next to you on Judgment Day because I wouldn't want to have bits of you all over my nice new clothes. And if you don't like that comment, tough. What will it take to convince you of the Truth?
It's about time christians took Jesus at his word and stopped trying to massage it around to suit their own dodgy lifestyles. You can't walk around mouthing off and deluding yourself that you are a christian and living a lifestyle that doesn't fit with Gods word and still go to church every Sunday. That's hypocrasy.
Sin is sin whether in thought or action and if it is out of step with Gods word then WE need to change not warp Gods word.
Jesus made it quite clear that there will be those who call him "Lord, Lord" and he will tell them he does not know them.
So many believe that modern science has answered the mysteries of the Bible and as a result would rather interpret Gods word by mans works. Watch out guys, Satan conned Adam and Eve and they actually walked with God, knew God, saw God. We need our faith more than ever and if you study science in the light of Gods word you will see a totally differant and totally logical explanation for everything. You will see the Truth.
The devil is a deceiver. Focus on God and not ourselves.
There are many strange gospels afoot.
Would that those not subscribing mystically to Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life would not miscall themselves 'Christian'.
In much the same way, some events occuring these days have no business being labelled 'marriage'.
To men who'd set themselves up as God, your attention is drawn to Job 40:6-14, which is worth recalling in moments of hubris.
My comment is: who cares what people think. They could all be wrong, they could all be right.

What if you go into a school, and poll 50 people on what 10+10 is and they all say 25? Does that mean that 25 is now the right answer? No, it means that you walked into the school, and forgot to read up on the kids that go there, who all happen to be disabled in one way, shape or form.

Obviously I'm just using an example. The point is, whether "the masses" believe it or not, doesn't make it any more or less true.

Universal truth is not measured in mass appeal.
I think the wrong questions were asked. Seems like it should have been a freewrite instead of a true/false survey...
No religion saves. Religiosity and being irreligious are twin evils, 2 ways of getting around the fact that only God saves. We're fallen creatures doomed to death unless God regenerates us. This new life is only possible through faith in Jesus regardless of what "religion" you happen to be demographically classified as.
I think that everybody should live like Jesus lived, loving people and serving. This is the way to meet the Father.
Sorry, but wrong - you are claiming that orthopraxy, as opposed to orthodoxy, will get you into heaven.
Living like Jesus, loving people, and serving are obviously the way that Christians should live, but not as the way to meet the Father - We can't earn our way into heaven.
"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, not by works - so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Here's the twist that I heard most recently-- Jesus died for everyone, so that grace covers everyone, no matter what their religion. Once someone figures that out, they're more likely to *want* to acknowledge and serve Him, but it isn't necessary for salvation.
It's like a gift Jesus gives. If someone gives you a gift, you don't have to open the gift for it to already be yours. Jesus died to save the world. Whether they acknowledge it or not, they're saved.
(This was obviously from folks who don't take the Bible literally and don't believe in Hell.)
Shaye, the problem I have with this thinking is that God requires us to publicly acknowledge His Son Jesus as Lord and Saviour and chooseing to be baptised & knowing why we are being baptised. This gift is given freely to all who ACCEPT it. This is indeed necessary for Salvation.
If it wasn't necessary, then people like Hitler, Mao, Stalin, serial killers like Bundy, Dahmer or Gacy will just stroll into Heaven.
This way of thinking is used to try and convince themselves more than anyone else that they can continue to sin and not ultimately be punished. God may be LOVE but He is so holy and pure that He can't tolerate the prescence if sin, so how could these people get to Heaven?
Two points. First, when asked "What must I do to inherit eternal life?", Jesus' answer was not "I am the way..." Second, it is all too frequent to quote "No one comes to the Father but by me" without doing justice to the fact that the one who says this has been presented since chapter 1 of John's Gospel as the incarnation of the light that "gives light to every human being".

I doubt the swing in opinion has anything to do with a better understanding of the Bible, but that doesn't mean that those who selectively quote exclusive-sounding passages while ignoring others are doing better justice to the Bible's diverse statements on this topic.
Jesus did say I am the way: He said Follow Me.

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Main line Christians, as well as many Catholics and Evangelicals equate "religion" and "denomination." I've been asked, "What religion are you?" by fellow Christians so many times it causes my head to spin.

I need more context on how the stats were gathered and if things were defined for people.
Anyone who disagrees with Jesus is not a Christian.

Being a member of a church doesn't make a person a Christian. Quoting scripture doesn't make a person a B|eliever. Giving money to Christian causes does not a Christian make.

Jesus said, "You must be born-again." That is the only way a Christian is made. And, Jesus said so. Any other opinion calls Jesus a liar. Amen selah

a follower of The Lion of Judah
semper fidelis

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