Matthew 25 seems to suggest otherwise. Apparently having the supposed "right theology" bes not the grand key to it all that some suppose it to be.
As a matter of fact, it recalls Paul & co. having no small bit of trouble with a rival sect back in NT times, the gnostics, who believed that salvation bes a matter of having the "right knowledge". Many fundamentalist-literalist positions today seem to echo that sentiment, that salvation bes determined by whether you have the right knowledge or the right beliefs. The JC of the Gospels sure seems to suggest otherwise, strongly, on numerous occasions -- Matthew 25 being but one of the most clear of these.
Scripture says no one comes to the Father but by Christ. It does NOT stipulate that this process depends upon their personal perceptions of it nor even their awareness of it. It bes interesting to read Matthew 7 in this light ....
[bible]Matthew 7:17-23[/bible]
And there you have it. A bad tree CANNOT produce good fruit -- so if Ghandi had been a "bad tree" (destined for destruction) he would not have lived as he lived.
Not all who say "Lord, Lord" (believe in JC as Lord, obviously) enter the kingdom, but those what DO the will of the Father. By their fruits you shall know them. Even if he never once named the name of JC as "LORD" with his lips, Ghandi lived a life that proclaimed JC as Lord, and that matters far more.
Don't take Moriah's word for it. It's there in the Bible.
I believe Jesus made it pretty clear that living a life of self-sacrificial love and service to others is what following Him actually
is. There are plenty of verses like the one you mentioned throughout the Gospels.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34-35
In regards to this verse:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
If we attempt to understand this verse without our spiritual lens, and try to tie it to western ideas of "objective/literal" truth, Jesus comes across as being somewhat of an egomaniac.
But if we understand Jesus as being the very embodiment of truth, indeed, Love itself, we realize that when
we have love toward others, we align ourselves with Him, and therefore become One with God(truth), just like Him.
I think John understood that Jesus'
way of Compassion, sacrifice, service and grace is not
a way, or
some way, or
part of the way, but
the Way. And anyone who lives in this way is a follower of Christ.
If we look at it like this, these statements come out not as "It's either my way or the highway", but rather, "It doesn't matter how you
describe it, there is only one Truth... not one for me and none for you, but you and I, after all our sinning against each other, all our wandering and suffering, are ultimately connected to this One source of all Life and Love."
or something...
Also, I consider myself "Gnostic",(even though I don't place an awful lot of value on labels) but someone who claims to "know", and doesn't manifest this inner knowledge outwardly through Love, probably doesn't really "know" to begin with.
