Is There Only One Way To Heaven?

May, 2003

by: John Richard

One time as I was traveling from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, I had an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to a man on the plane. His excuse though in not embracing the Gospel was that since so many people have so many different ways to get to heaven, how could I be so sure that what the Bible says is true. He struck a philosophical cord that many people cling to. Often people attack the veracity of the Bible when challenged with the Gospel or state that all people can get to heaven through their perceived way. There are even some that promulgate the idea that a person can get saved without even knowing who Jesus is and what He did. Is this possible? Can a person get saved without knowing who Jesus is or what He did? Do all people get to heaven no matter what they believe? The answer to the last three questions is “No!” The Gospel is very exclusive, not inclusive. The Bible is the truth, thereby making it the only authoritative and sufficient source of information on how to get saved. This article is going to show how there is only one way to heaven.

Recently, when I was preparing to preach 1 John 5:13 to the high school students, something leapt off the page at me. It hit me right between my eyes, helping enhance my spiritual vision with regards to the Gospel. It crystallized my understanding that there is only way to heaven. So what was it you ask? Well, when John describes believers in this verse, he calls them, 'those that believe in the name of the Son of God.' The word 'name' is singular here, which means that they only believe in one name, not many names. There is only one way to get to heaven and that is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The noun 'name' refers to the identity of the person, referring to all that the character is. Thus, John states that believers are those who have placed their faith in the name (all that the Son of God is and did) of Jesus Christ.

True believers have repented and placed their faith in one name, Jesus Christ. This truth is not only found here in 1 John, but in Acts 4:12. Peter proclaimed here, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” The word “name” here is singular, signifying that there is only one name whereby we can get saved. Salvation is through Christ alone, not by our works or anybody else other than Jesus. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 that, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” The Gospel is very exclusive, not inclusive.

This theme runs throughout Scripture, as Jesus stated that there are not many who get to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 7:23). Jesus and the Apostles taught this exclusive gospel. In Acts 16:30, Paul and Silas were asked the question of a lifetime. The Philippian jailer asked them, “what must I do to be saved?” They responded by telling him to “believe in the Lord Jesus and he would be saved” (v.31). They didn't respond by saying, “Well everybody gets saved a different way.” They didn't say that, “Well, for Silas and myself it is through Jesus, but for you it may be through your good works. It may be through the Roman gods. Listen, there is no one right way to God, but through whatever works for you.” This is the same as telling someone today that they could get to heaven anyway they wanted to. Paul and Silas said that it was through Jesus Christ.

There is only one way to get to heaven, even though many people object. This is exactly what the Bible proclaims and which we should also proclaim. Jesus died upon the cross for our sins, so that we may have eternal life. This beautiful message is constantly attacked, but the Bible says it is the truth. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.