Is Jesus the only way to God?

PaladinGirl said:

You don't believe that the Bible is the word of God?

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I don't know what's hard to understand. What about your thread where you were a wiccan and a hindu.

Besides..... why would I believe they are the words of God?

To me they are spiritually inspired works, hand picked by Paulian/Roman Church fathers over and above all the others scriptures at the Council of Nicea so that they could create a sect to control the masses and repress people.

PaladinGirl said:

Hi everyone. I got this idea for a thread from my other thread which I bowed out of. In it I quoted the following verse:

John 14:6 RSV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

So, my question is, is Jesus the only way to the Father? Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?

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I look at John 14:6 and I wonder why we feel like we have to take it so literally. If Jesus is God, or representative of God, it only stands to reason then that he's much bigger than the physical form we generally attribute to him, in my opinion. If we take that into account and begin to look at him more as the 'Logos' as identified in John 1:1, as the summation of God's word which, according to Galatians 5:14 for example, is love in both word and deed, we can then go back and read John 14:6 in a different light. 'Love is the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by love.' It may sound a little corny when put that way, but I don't see why it couldn't be a possibility.

fieryphoenix said:

I have done a lot of thinking about this verse over the last decade. I have researched various religions also. While Christianity is the only religion to have Jesus Christ as savior, I believe that God reveals Himself to each culture in a way that people of that culture will understand. Many of the teachings that Jesus taught are not unique to Christianity. You can find a lot of those same teachings in other faiths.

I like the linebacker analogy. It is a very interesting way to describe how Christianity has been traditionally taught. I disagree with the claim that only a Christian can reach God; therefore, anyone not Christian is hellbound.

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I agree 100%.

I don't believe that knowing Jesus is a necessary prerequisite for reaching God. A lot of people don't know Jesus but they live better than many Christians.

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I think this is a good example of support for what I said above. A lot of folks live good, 'holy' lives, and not all of them are Christian, or even at all religious or spiritual.

Of course you don't see why John 14:6 is literal. You are both Unitarians. Realizing that under the Unitarian umbrella there are a wide range of doctrines, I also know that for the most part, Unitarians, some more, others less, fall outside the road of mainstream Christianity and do not necessarily accept the literal nature of John 14:6 and the absolute meaning that Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Substituting words like "love" for "Christ" in this scripture turns it into a nice sentence, but is in fact heresy for most Christians and does change the wording of the Holy Bible. Some Christians regard the Holy Bible as the inspired word of God and others, regard it as both inspired and innerant (without error). The only churches that accept scripture as anything else are in the minority and consist mostly of cults or churches that do not accept the Holy Trinity.

The "I don't see why" argument is not new but it is fruitless with regards to the Holy Bible because the written words of God are inviolate whether we like them or not or agree with them or not. It is always man's attempt to hold logic, reason and fluffy feel-good philosophies up as being more holy (or just as holy) than that which is truly Holy. It is substituting man for God, man's ideas for God's instructions, i.e., man's wishes for God's directions.

If one falls outside Christian doctrine with one's beliefs, and starts taking away from the divinity of Jesus Christ by putting in one's own "version" of who Christ is, then one has actually fallen by the wayside of Christianity IMO. Important to remember and relating to this specifically is the following scripture where Jesus says:
13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ony a few find it. (Matt 7:13-14)

sacerdote said:

Of course you don't see why John 14:6 is literal. You are both Unitarians. Realizing that under the Unitarian umbrella there are a wide range of doctrines, I also know that for the most part, Unitarians, some more, others less, fall outside the road of mainstream Christianity and do not necessarily accept the literal nature of John 14:6 and the absolute meaning that Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Substituting words like "love" for "Christ" in this scripture turns it into a nice sentence, but is in fact heresy for most Christians and does change the wording of the Holy Bible. Some Christians regard the Holy Bible as the inspired word of God and others, regard it as both inspired and innerant (without error). The only churches that accept scripture as anything else are in the minority and consist mostly of cults or churches that do not accept the Holy Trinity.

The "I don't see why" argument is not new but it is fruitless with regards to the Holy Bible because the written words of God are inviolate whether we like them or not or agree with them or not. It is always man's attempt to hold logic, reason and fluffy feel-good philosophies up as being more holy (or just as holy) than that which is truly Holy. It is substituting man for God, man's ideas for God's instructions, i.e., man's wishes for God's directions.

If one falls outside Christian doctrine with one's beliefs, and starts taking away from the divinity of Jesus Christ by putting in one's own "version" of who Christ is, then one has actually fallen by the wayside of Christianity IMO. Important to remember and relating to this specifically is the following scripture where Jesus says:
13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ony a few find it. (Matt 7:13-14)

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I think you pretty much summed it up when you said 'IMO' because that's really all there is, just personal opinion. Love the irony of your scripture reference, btw.

I want to be careful here, my intent is not to attack your opinions or your beliefs.
With that said:
The highest and most important issue for man, is to know God. If God exists, if heaven exists, if eternal life exists, these things would be worth knowing. In fact there would be nothing more valuable to know.
The bible describes the God of all creation pursuing man. Jesus came after us. That's not like any other religion. Most religions are based on man finding god. The bible says be still and know that I am God. What you need to ask yourself is why God has not found me?. People don't get to know the truth of the bible by reading it, comparing it to other books, they get to know the truth of it by reaching the end of themselves, and trying it, testing it.

Here is something to consider. you can chase religions for a lifetime and still not be sure. I have personal experience with that statement, I have known men with these doubts at critical times in their lives. But if a man is willing to humble himself and sit still, God will come to you. On the other hand, I have yet to minister to a born again Christian in a crisis, that said they wanted to talk to a buddhists or universalists.

I can't prove that Jesus is the only way to heaven, or that a certain understanding of scripture is the only way; But God can, and will. But you got to get to the end of yourself first.

God bless.

Minty said:

Well said

There will never be a true answer to the OP...never...many will claim to know that answer, and also will say that their answer is the only answer, regardless, and that everyone else is wrong.

I often wonder if Jesus would be proud of the people that profess to speak for Him?...I think that He'd be quite sad to see how His message has been twisted and warped into a shadow of it's former glory

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What?

If I understand what you are saying, you believe that the question "Is Jesus the only way to God?" is unanswerable..... but there is a direct quote of Jesus Himself saying that He is the only way right above the OP......

sacerdote said:

Unitarians, some more, others less, fall outside the road of mainstream Christianity and do not necessarily accept the literal nature of John 14:6 and the absolute meaning that Jesus is the only way to the Father. . .



. . . Important to remember and relating to this specifically is the following scripture where Jesus says:
13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ony a few find it. (Matt 7:13-14)

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To me this sounds like a ringing endorsement for those who fall outside the road of mainstream Christianity.

Also, it sounds awfully interesting that somebody would play the trinitarian card in any debate where their goal is to effectively separate Jesus and God if one wishes to be saved.

Jesus is God, right?

Therefor faith in God is faith in Jesus.

Consider this, for analogy's sake:

The trinity is somewhat similar to the fact that water can exist in 3 forms; vapor, liquid or ice. It's all hydrogen hydroxide.

An equatorial human may never have seen ice. Sure, you can tell him/her all about it, but they may not believe what they can't see for themselves.

But this person likes to drink water to stay alive.

One day, proof is offered that during one of the ice ages, all water was frozen solid. A scientist boldly announces that there is no liquid water without ice.

"Great," says the equatorial human, who still drinks water and continues to live a long and wonderful life. "But I still don't believe in ice."

"But!" announces the scientist, "There is no water withour ice! You have to believe in ice, or you can't possibly drink the water!"

"I see . . . " says the equatorial human (with a wink and a smile as he enjoys a long sip of water).

-end of analogy-

John was saying that Jesus is God. There's no way to the Father except through the Son.

Yup.

Cuz it's all the same thing . . .

And nobody is going to convince me that God sits up on His High Throne thumbing His nose at everyone who prays to Him if they do not precede their prayer with "Jesus is God, but not so much so that I can't wantonly separate Him from the Father every time I'm pronouncing the shortcomings of every other worshipper of the one true God, the Creator, and Giver of life."

But it would be really interesting if God was that way . . .

DeanM said:

To me this sounds like a ringing endorsement for those who fall outside the road of mainstream Christianity.

Also, it sounds awfully interesting that somebody would play the trinitarian card in any debate where their goal is to effectively separate Jesus and God if one wishes to be saved.

Jesus is God, right?

Therefor faith in God is faith in Jesus.

Consider this, for analogy's sake:

The trinity is somewhat similar to the fact that water can exist in 3 forms; vapor, liquid or ice. It's all hydrogen hydroxide.

An equatorial human may never have seen ice. Sure, you can tell him/her all about it, but they may not believe what they can't see for themselves.

But this person likes to drink water to stay alive.

One day, proof is offered that during one of the ice ages, all water was frozen solid. A scientist boldly announces that there is no liquid water without ice.

"Great," says the equatorial human, who still drinks water and continues to live a long and wonderful life. "But I still don't believe in ice."

"But!" announces the scientist, "There is no water withour ice! You have to believe in ice, or you can't possibly drink the water!"

"I see . . . " says the equatorial human (with a wink and a smile as he enjoys a long sip of water).

-end of analogy-

John was saying that Jesus is God. There's no way to the Father except through the Son.

Yup.

Cuz it's all the same thing . . .

And nobody is going to convince me that God sits up on His High Throne thumbing His nose at everyone who prays to Him if they do not precede their prayer with "Jesus is God, but not so much so that I can't wantonly separate Him from the Father every time I'm pronouncing the shortcomings of every other worshipper of the one true God, the Creator, and Giver of life."

But it would be really interesting if God was that way . . .

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I'm glad you enjoyed my post. God bless you.

PaladinGirl said:

Hi everyone. I got this idea for a thread from my other thread which I bowed out of. In it I quoted the following verse:

John 14:6 RSV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

So, my question is, is Jesus the only way to the Father? Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?

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Yes, believing in Jesus is a core principle of Christianity.

Spectre01 said:

What?

If I understand what you are saying, you believe that the question "Is Jesus the only way to God?" is unanswerable..... but there is a direct quote of Jesus Himself saying that He is the only way right above the OP......

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You've lost me...right above the OP...where?

My answer is my opinion, as yours is yours...you don't have to like it, my friend, but you do have to accept it

Minty said:

You've lost me...right above the OP...where?

My answer is my opinion, as yours is yours...you don't have to like it, my friend, but you do have to accept it

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Excuse me, I'm sorry about that..... what I was trying to say was that the original post included the quote from John 14:6, in which Jesus answers the question this thread is about...... I just thought it was at the top of the original post.... so I'm sorry about the confusion.

I was trying to make the point that the fact Jesus is the only Way to God isn't just my opinion, it was the truth that Jesus Himself said.

Spectre01 said:

Excuse me, I'm sorry about that..... what I was trying to say was that the original post included the quote from John 14:6, in which Jesus answers the question this thread is about...... I just thought it was at the top of the original post.... so I'm sorry about the confusion.

I was trying to make the point that the fact Jesus is the only Way to God isn't just my opinion, it was the truth that Jesus Himself said.

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Not a problem...I was looking at the top of the post for ages trying to see where