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How many ways are there to enter God Father's presence according to the Bible? Is the only one way or are there more than one way?
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According to the bible, there is only one way.How many ways are there to enter God Father's presence according to the Bible? Is the only one way or are there more than one way?
Thanks for the answer. So, I see very clearly that according to the Bible there is only one way to God the Father - Jesus Christ. Only through Jesus Christ someone can enter Father's presence.According to the bible, there is only one way.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Let me break it down.Thanks for the answer. So, I see very clearly that according to the Bible there is only one way to God the Father - Jesus Christ. Only through Jesus Christ someone can enter Father's presence.
Another question: what does it mean that Jesus Christ is the only way( What does it mean that only through Him EVERY person can enter Father's presence?)
Thanks. So, the only way to enter Father's presence is to follow Jesus. To follow Jesus means to believe His word and to follow His example and to obey His commandments.Let me break it down.
The way – Jesus used the definite article to distinguish Himself as “the only way.” A way is a path or route, and the disciples had expressed their confusion about where He was going and how they could follow. As He had told them from the beginning, Jesus was again telling them (and us) “follow me.” There is no other path to heaven, no other way to the Father. Peter reiterated this same truth years later to the rulers in Jerusalem, saying about Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The exclusive nature of the only path to salvation is expressed in the words “I am the way.”
The truth – Again Jesus used the definite article to emphasize Himself as “the only truth.” Psalm 119:142 says, “Your law is the truth.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminded His listeners of several points of the Law, then said, “But I say unto you . . .” (Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44), thereby equating Himself with the Law of God as the authoritative standard of righteousness. In fact, Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17). Jesus, as the incarnate Word of God (John 1:1) is the source of all truth.
The life – Jesus had just been telling His disciples about His impending death, and now He was claiming to be the source of all life. In John 10:17–18, Jesus declared that He was going to lay down His life for His sheep, and then take it back again. He spoke of His authority over life and death as being granted to Him by the Father. In John 14:19, He gave the promise that “because I live, you also will live.” The deliverance He was about to provide was not a political or social deliverance (which most of the Jews were seeking), but a true deliverance from a life of bondage to sin and death to a life of freedom in eternity.
In these words, Jesus was declaring Himself the great “I Am,” the only path to heaven, the only true measure of righteousness, and the source of both physical and spiritual life. He was staking His claim as the very God of Creation, the Lord who blessed Abraham, and the Holy One who inhabits eternity. He did this so the disciples would be able to face the dark days ahead and carry on the mission of declaring the gospel to the world. Of course, we know from Scripture that they still didn’t understand, and it took several visits from their risen Lord to shake them out of their disbelief. Once they understood the truth of His words, they became changed people, and the world has never been the same.
So how do we follow Him today? The same way the disciples did long ago. They heard the words of Jesus and believed them. They took His words and obeyed them. They confessed their sins to Jesus as their Lord and God. They believed that He died to take the punishment of their sins and rose from the dead to give them new life. They followed His example and command to tell others the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment. When we follow Him in “the way,” we can be assured of following Him all the way to heaven.
From what I understand, this is not much different from what the LDS teaches. Is that correct?
Close but not exactly. You cannot earn your way into heaven by following the commandments. The key is to believe and confess that you are a sinner and do not deserve to go to heaven. Then you must accept that you need a savior and that Jesus Christ is that savior. You then repent your sins and ask for forgivenes. At that point you become "born again" and are saved. Although just believing in Jesus is not enough.Thanks. So, the only way to enter Father's presence is to follow Jesus. To follow Jesus means to believe His word and to follow His example and to obey His commandments.
Do I understand you and the Bible correctly on this point?
OK, I understand very well what you said. Again, thanks for explaining it to me.Close but not exactly. You cannot earn your way into heaven by following the commandments. The key is to believe and confess that you are a sinner and do not deserve to go to heaven. Then you must accept that you need a savior and that Jesus Christ is that savior. You then repent your sins and ask for forgivenes. At that point you become "born again" and are saved. Although just believing in Jesus is not enough.
On the other hand we read James 2:18-20.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
When you combine the scripture from John and James you get an understanding that we do not do good works and follow Jesus in order to be saved, we do them because we are saved. We follow Jesus and his teachings not for salvation because we dont have to worry about that. But rather, because we love him and want to please him.
I strive to follow His teaching and commandments because:I have to ask you this question. As a mormon, why do you strive to follow Jesus' teachings and commandments? What incentive do you have?
Basically, yes. That is the simplicity of the gospels. It is so simple that people have a hard time understanding it. If everything you say is true then you are saved. So don't let anyone tell you otherwise.OK, I understand very well what you said. Again, thanks for explaining it to me.
So, there is only one way to enter Father's presence.
This one way is to follow Jesus Christ means:
1) to believe that I am sinner and do not deserve to go to heaven
2)to confess that I am a sinner and do not deserve to go to heaven
3)to accept that I need a savior and that Jesus Christ is that savior
4) to repent and ask for forgiveness.
At this point a person becomes born again and that is why he or she does good works. This person also does good works because he or she loves Jesus and wants to please Him.
I strive to follow His teaching and commandments because:
1) it is His will. And His will is my will.
2) it is the only way to become like Him. If I want to BECOME like Jesus I have TO DO what He did.
3) to do good works is the only way to show God that I love Him. My words of love mean nothing if they are not supported by good works.
But I know that no matter how good my works are, or how many good works I do they will NOT bring me back to Father.
I may do lots of good works but I am also a sinner. I do some bad works. And if I do only one bad work all my good works are WASTE/NOTHING. So, without Savior who is Jesus Christ all my good works is waste. They will not save me. My bad works do not let me to enter heaven. No sinner can enter heaven.
P.S. So, please, let me know if I understood you correctly that there is only one way to enter Father's presence and it means to do four things you and I listed above.
Good questions. But I don't have the answer. I don't know how many Mormons do good works only because they want to become a ruler of their own world . But it is hard to believe that there are this kind of Mormons. Once we receive pure love of Christ we want to share it with others by doing good works. We want to do good works because we feel Spirit and it makes us happy.The only thing I would ask is how many Mormons do good works because they want to become a ruler of their own world and not simply because they want to show their love for Jesus? How many Christians do good works because they want to earn their way into heaven?
Thanks.Basically, yes. That is the simplicity of the gospels. It is so simple that people have a hard time understanding it. If everything you say is true then you are saved. So don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Your answer is correct, we don't know. Only God knows the intentions of the heart. I know it is hard to imagine but I would guarantee that there are some Mormons who are looking at the opportunity to become their own God of their own world as their sole incentive for their good works. You just have to make sure that you are doing good works for the right reason because you can't fool God. But is seems like you have a good grasp on this topic so I am sure you are doing fine. Better than many christians anyway.Good questions. But I don't have the answer. I don't know how many Mormons do good works only because they want to become a ruler of their own world . But it is hard to believe that there are this kind of Mormons. Once we receive pure love of Christ we want to share it with others by doing good works. We want to do good works because we fill Spirit and it makes us happy.
The only thing I would ask is how many Mormons do good works because they want to become a ruler of their own world and not simply because they want to show their love for Jesus? How many Christians do good works because they want to earn their way into heaven?
Exactly. There are many christians who are guilty of the same thing.Any person whom claims to follow Christ but does good works for any purpose other Him, is a poor disciple of Christ (whether they be of Mormon or mainstream Christianity).
As to numbers, that is not something I have quantified for any group, and shy away from because I am not The Judge.
Ok, so doing God's commandments is not only doing the good works. We have in our basic calling >I strive to follow His teaching and commandments because:
1) it is His will. And His will is my will.
Thank you for letting me know about your believes. It was very nice of you to share it with me.Ok, so doing God's commandments is not only doing the good works. We have in our basic calling >
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
Our Apostle Paul himself says that "in one body" we "were called" to be ruled by God's own peace in our "hearts". So, this is included in obeying Jesus. And I understand that being ruled by God's peace includes how our character . . . our nature . . . changes because of how God's own peace effects us. And our emotions and feelings and our thinking become corrected to be obedient to God's own peace in us. And how we relate stays in His peace . . . even while others are not relating with us in peace > they do not decide how we are and how we relate.
Our basic calling as Christians includes how we are commanded to relate in love >
"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)
Paul says to relate like this > in the verse before this, he says "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,"
And then, right after he says to walk worthy of our calling, he says how to relate like this in love . . . so that we are walking worthy of our calling >
"with all lowliness" > all humility . . . in our character, our feelings, thinking, ways of reacting, emotions, and desires, "and how we see others"
And "all" "gentleness" would include all these things, and I would say "all" includes even physically how we act and tone our voices . . . ?
And it says, "with longsuffering" > we need to be ready even for how more mature Christians can be wrong, at times > be always ready with "longsuffering"
And "bearing with one another in love" > this, also, is included in our basic love calling as God's children.
Ah . . . do we do this because we want to earn Heaven? I would say, no, but we become the way God's love in us has us becoming so we live in God's peace and relate in His love the way He desires. This is included in our love calling, and God in us is the One who succeeds in changing and correcting and curing us to become obedient and caring and sharing as His family. And God's love in us (Romans 5:5) is Heaven's love which is already in us, preparing us now for how we will need to be and relate in Heaven.
So, this is not just what we can understand, ourselves, and get our own selves to do . . . "trying" . . . but submitting to God and discovering all He does in us >
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
So, we trust God through Jesus to do this in us.
And . . . so . . . by the way . . . this is done only through Jesus. If you know people who have never heard of Jesus, you can see if this is what is happening in them. Whether it is their fault that they don't know, or not their fault . . . they are missing out, if they are not obeying how our Father rules us in His very own peace and has us relating and sharing and caring as family in Heaven's own love in the Holy Spirit. Paul has said, "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (in Romans 8:9)
And God knows what we need to do about this; so simply trust and obey Him
I will gladly answer this question however you have to answer one of mine. I know what you said about good works. Can you explain this to me?My question is this:
Let's pretend that
1)I am born in Americas in times when Jesus is walking on earth. I never heard about Him and about His gospel in my life. It is NOT my fault. How can I enter Father's presence if Jesus Christ is the only way to Father and you explained to me very well what it means?
2)I am born in the 1st century BC in Australia. I never heard about Christ. I never heard His gospel in my life. It is NOT my fault. How can I enter Father's presence if Jesus Christ is the only way to Father and you explained to me very well what it means?
3)I am born in 14th century AD on an little island where nobody ever heard about Christ and His gospel. It is NOT my fault. How can I enter Father's presence if Jesus Christ is the only way to Father and you explained to me very well what it means?
4) I am born in Saudi Arabia in 21th century. I am 15 years old. I was killed at this age. I never heard the gospel of Christ. I don't know what it means to follow Christ. It is NOT my fault. How can I enter Father's presence if Jesus Christ is the only way to Father and you explained to me very well what it means?
I will gladly answer this question however you have to answer one of mine. I know what you said about good works. Can you explain this to me?
2 Nephi 25:23
"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
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