John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
In John 10, Jesus uses a figure of speech about sheep, sheep watching and caring to help us to understand some fundamental truth of the gospel. In the metaphor, Jesus said, "I am the gate" (John 10:9) which is the only entry into and exit from the sheep pen. He means that He is the only way of salvation, the only way to be with God the Father and have life and have it to the full (John 14:6) for both the Jews and gentiles (John 10:16). This is a clear and definite statement made by Jesus. However, many people in the world cannot accept this statement to be truth and there are many different religions in the world rejecting or downgrading the authority and teachings of Jesus Christ by proposing their own means of approach to God. Common sense reasoning seems to suggest that Israel as a nation the elect of God and the descendants of the father of faith Abraham should embrace God's salvation easily and naturally. In reality, many have not yet received Christ as the Savior, but faithfully follow their religious and humanistic traditions. It is difficult to descern the reasons why, but the Bible does make the assertions cutting to the chase of the reasons why in Jeremiah 2:13 and John 3:19. In other words, sinful people suffer from a broken relationship with God which will result in dissatisfaction and finally destruction in life. People reject Jesus' gracious invitation (John 7:37) and try various means to fill up the void in life while staying in darkness: materialistic lifestyle, pleasures, wealth, fame, busy activities, pursuit of occult spirituality, and even religions. However, it will not satisfy life's ultimate need to be reconciled and having a close relationship with the life giving creator God. If we study the Bible and think more carefully in light of the Bible, we can all conclude the same conclusive statement consistent with the revelation of God throughout the Bible: Jesus is the only way of salvation and abundant life.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 10:16
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Jeremiah 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
John 3:19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
John 7:37
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
Why Is There Only One Way of Salvation
God is holy, righteous, sovereign and merciful. Isn't it reasonable if God requires judgment and penalty of sin yet He loves the world though fallen into sin, He also specifies the equitable way of redemption and reconciliation with Him? Since salvation is so critical to the world, will He not communicate to us clearly the way of salvation? Indeed, if we study God's revelation in the Bible, the whole theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ and His mission of salvation and reconciliation of sinners with God. Let us consider the question of only one way of salvation in light of the Bible as follows.
A. There is One and Only True God
God has revealed to us that He is the only God and His people should not worship or serve other gods or idols. To ponder a little deeply, these are the additional reasons that I can find in the Bible: Worshiping other gods or idols which are man-made objects will lead to practices and values away from the one true God. God has expressively warned against this (Exodus 23:32-33). There are indeed evil practices and consequences of gods and idols worship as recorded in the Bible (2 Kings 17:3;Psalm 106:381). Moreover, false gods and idols worship is worthless and meaningless by nature (Jeremiah 10:5), and will lead their worshipers astray from the true way of life God desires mankind to follow. It will destroy the relationship with the one true God and eventually the lives of false gods and idols' worshipers. Unfortunately, many people choose to follow the way of falsehood even the true God has revealed Himself to them through various means: the creations, the prophets, His wonderful words the scriptures, miracles, Jesus Christ Himself, and many witnesses. A good illustration can be found in the story of Elijah who demonstrated that the God of Abraham, the God of Issac and the God of Jacob is the one true God and not Baal. After a miraculous demonstration of the power of God and the falsehood of Baal on Mount Carmel, king Ahab and many Israelites chose to return to false gods (1 Kings 18:21, 36).
Exodus 23:32-33
32 Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you."
2 Kings 17:31
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Psalm 106:38
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
Jeremiah 10:5
Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."
1 Kings 18:21, 36
Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. 36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
B. God's Words Are Trustworthy
God alone is holy and just. He is infinitely wise and the whole universe is designed, created and sustained by God. He knows every pitfall and falsehood. His words are the guiding light for every human being. Following His words, we will have life, an abundant life that lasts eternally. God gives us commands out of His great love and care, and not out of selfish desire of control and power over us like many dictators in world history. After all, God is so powerful and He is the creator of all things in the universe, He can and has the right to control everything. But, His words are given to mankind for our benefits. As the psalmist says, God's words are sweeter than honey and more precious than gold (Psalms 19:10), and are like the guiding light in darkness (Psalm 119:105). The whole Bible, Old Testament and New Testament reveals only one way of salvation. Jesus' death on the cross is God's plan of redemption of sinners (Numbers 21:8; John 3:14). Jesus Christ is the appointed High Priest (see also Jesus the High Priest) in the order of Melchizedek forever through Him repentant sinners may come to God to receive the grace of forgiveness and life (Psalms 110:4, Hebrews 6:20). This fundamental teaching is faithfully followed by the apostles (Acts 4:12). Preachings of false gospel as we may hear today are not new at all. As a matter of fact, even in Apostle Paul's time when churches were first established, false gospels were circulated even inside churches. Apostle Paul warned against both the believers and the false teachers who led believers away from the truth (1 Corinthians 15:2;Galatians 1:8). The true gospel always stresses that sinners are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:3-7), not of works or efforts that we or any other entities do even though they may appear good from the outside.
Psalms 19:10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Numbers 21:8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, Psalm 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrew 6:20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." 1 Corinthians 15:2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! Ephesians 2:3-7 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
C. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of Our Faith (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus is Word became flesh that made His dwelling among us through Him we may receive God's grace and truth. Jesus Christ is the core of faith for everyone at all time: Old Testament time and New Testament time. Before Jesus came, He was prophesied by the prophets and various events that He was the savior and the Lord. In the New Testament time, Jesus came and completed the redemptive work and sat at the right hand of God. His Kingdom will come in the future and lasts forever. Therefore, God's plan of salvation is fulfilled in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus and His work of salvation is the substance of our faith. Jesus Christ is the originator of everyone's faith for without Jesus, there is no redemption and salvation. There is no real and eternal hope for mankind to put their faith in.
Jesus came not only to complete the work of redemption on the cross, He also served as an example of our faith. He actually taught us the way of life pleasing to God: a life of selfless mission for the salvation of mankind even at the cost of suffering and death (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus' endurance of suffering was motivated by His love and the joy of blessings that others will benefit from His redemptive work. All who are saved by Jesus Christ will receive a born again life drastically different from his or her old life which was a life of selfish ambitions and pleasure seeking mixed with sin sick behaviors in the sight of God. Every believer will run a spiritual race in the born again and new life. Jesus Christ serves as the model for faith that is pleasing to God. Faith implies obedience. If we believe in something, a logical corresponding action will result consistent with what we believe. To illustrate this point, imagine someone recommends to you that an investment will return handsomely for your money. If we really believe in the recommendation, we will not just say thank and give a lip service complement of the recommendation. Rather, we will take our money out and make the investment. Jesus fully trusted and obeyed God in His earthly mission. He finished the requirements of God for sinners by suffering and death on the cross. All believers are asked to fix our eyes on Jesus in our spiritual running race which requires faith because in life there is bound to be distractions, temptation of sins and even persecutions in this world. If we do not have the faith, we will not be able to run a good race. Jesus not only served as the perfect example of faith for all believers to follow, but the Holy Spirit (the Counselor) as promised by Jesus will live within every believer's life to remind him or her of the words of God and give strength to continue running the spiritual race (John 7:38-39, John 14:26). Moreover, Jesus will reward our faith when we finished the race. His reward is eternal and will not fade away in contrast to everything in the world which is only temporary and will surely vaporize someday.
To reiterate, these are the implications and reasons why Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. Firstly, Jesus is the core substance of our faith through Him, we can receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life and the reconciliation with God. Secondly, Jesus' obedience to the Father and endurance of suffering in His earthly mission is a great example for us. As the students of Jesus Christ, it is quite natural that sufferings are part and partial of Christian life journey in the present world (1 Peter 2:20-21). Thirdly, the world around us is full of sins. Corruptions, injustices, and sufferings are abound. Most people will be discouraged and ask the questions: where is God? Does God care? Well, look at Jesus Christ, He is by nature God, but came to world as a human being and took on the sufferings and punishments on our behalf as a price of redemption of sins of mankind (Philippians 2:5-8). I think the answer is clear to the questions. God cares so much that He was willing to be humiliated and died a torturous death to pay the price of redemption for us (Please refer to this graphic illustration which may help us to visualize the redemption price of Jesus Christ for sinners).
God does not only care for, but indeed love us very much. The present world is only temporary. When God's kingdom and final judgment come, sins and sufferings will be completely purged. All the redeemed will live in God's glory and joy forever!
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
John 7:38-39
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
1 Peter 2:20-21
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Philippians 2:5-8
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
John 14:15-18, 26-27
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Mark 10:44-45
44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
D. Humans as God's Beloved Creation
Humans are created in the image of God and God loves humans and the relationship between God and humans should be close, pure and devoted. As a matter of fact, Israel as a nation, being God's elect is depicted metaphorically as the wife of God although not faithfully (Hosea 3:1). In the New Testament, the church as a whole in is depicted as the bride (Revelation 19:7). Therefore, when we study the Bible, we will see the anger and jealousy of God when His people worship and serve other gods and idols because the purity and devotion in the relationship have been violated (Exodus 20:3-6). Jealousy may carry a negative connotation and the person who has jealousy is selfish, insecure, weak, irrational and even has the tendency to commit wrongful behaviors. But, the jealousy of God against His people worshiping other gods and idols are out His Holiness and purity of love towards His people. It simply means that God loves His people and desires true worship from His people. There will be no jealousy if there is no intimate relationship built on the foundation of love and integrity. To help us to understand the meaning of God's jealousy, think about the relationship of a husband and wife. If the wife is promiscuous and play harlotry. It is not hard to understand the jealousy of the husband. It is reasonable for the husband to be jealous. If not, the husband does not really treat his wife as wife and the marriage is not real. The same principle applies to the New Testament era, if believers do not accept the gospel of Jesus Christ wholeheartedly and put their minds on cultic teachings and practices, their relationship with the Lord become impure (2 Corinthians 11:2-4).
By the way, Exodus 20:3-6 seems to suggest that the sin of idol worshipping will lead to punishment of the children based on the sin of the fathers. But, we should understand that sin is contagious and can influence from person to person. The closer the relationship, the stronger the influence (2 Kings 17:41). However, the Bible does not teach that descendants of a sinful man will receive the punishments for their father. Rather, it is their following of the practice of their fathers get punished. In other words, everyone is responsible for his or her own behavior and Ezekiel 18:20 has made it clear. This also remind us Christians have the duty as the salt and light of this dark world. We should help people who do not know Christ to know the gospel such that they may receive forgiveness and a born again life from the merceiful God.
Hosea 3:1
The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."
Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Exodus 20:3-6
3 "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
2 Corinthians 11:2-4
2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Ezekiel 18:20
20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
2 Kings 17:41
Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
Conclusion
God initiates salvation. He executed His salvation plan personally and not through any other means. Salvation implies restoration relationship with Him eternally and sinners become justified and may call God their Father. Therefore oneness is implied in all aspects of salvation and the eternal relationship with God. In fact, Jesus has taught that God is the ultimate one Master, Father and Teacher for all His children in Christ Jesus (Matthew 23:8), no one else may take His place. Therefore, any other teachings on an alternate way other than Jesus Christ to be saved and approach God are false teachings. Why will people not following God's specification of salvation? Unless they do not accept the authority of God and re-invent their own way of salvation. Or perhaps, they simply rebel against the authority of God.
Mark 12:29-30
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
Ephesians 4:4-5
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Romans 5:8-9
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
Matthew 23:8
8 "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.