"I am the Way"

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)

This seems like a straightforward statement by our Jesus to His disciples. No one goes to the Father, to heaven, except through me. So then, why are there so many people, who believe they are truly Christians, who are told they must work their way to heaven?

If I taught world religions, it would be the easiest course to take because there are only two religions in this world, true Christianity, being, salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, and everything else which are works based religions.

When reading the Bible, there is nothing that says one must earn salvation. Christ did not come to earth and say, “Okay, I am going to bear the sins of humanity, die, resurrect myself, and I need your help to make his happen. You must do this (fill in the blank).”

Understand this, Christ was sent by the Father to redeem humanity from its sin. The minute we add anything else to the equation of salvation it is no longer a free gift of God, and Christ died in vain. That seems pretty simple right? Right, it is that simple.

So why do people believe they must do something to earn heaven. This will be offensive to some but then again the truth is never easy is it? The reason is money. Sad but true, the root of all religion works based salvation is money.

Catholic doctrine teaches that heaven cannot be "earned" through good deeds alone. Those who believe in salvation through faith in Christ alone are an anathema, they are damned and excommunicated. In their doctrine, salvation is a free gift of God's grace initiated through Baptism. No where in the Bible does it say that water saves anyone. You must pay the church for a baptism.

This doctrine also believes it is necessary to engage in regular participation in the Eucharist and frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) to heal the soul after committing mortal sins are vital components. They believe the Eucharist is the actual body of Christ and not a representation. The confession must be to a priest and the “Father” will assign you penance. I thought Christ told us in the Bible, “And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” That seems odd, does it not?

Other sacraments cost money, “First Communion,” and “Confirmation” both cost money and are necessary sacraments required to go to heaven. But it is not just sacraments, there are also indulgences. Indulgences are where you can pay money to shorten your time in purgatory, or someone else’s time. What’s purgatory? I’ll get to that in a minute. So, if you pay money to the church, God will lessen the time it takes for you to get to heaven?

The Catholic doctrine states there are venial sins, and mortal sins. Venial sins are so called little sins, lies, cheating and so on. This drops you down on your climb to heaven. As you earn your way up the ladder to salvation. These venial sins set you back a rung or two. You must confess your sins and receive penance. However, a mortal sin knocks you completely off the ladder and you have to start over. I thought the Bible taught sin is sin and even a small lie is a mortal offense before a all holy God. Paul wrote in  Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Was that not the reason Christ came to pay for our sins?

Oh yes, purgatory. Catholic Doctrine states one must go to purgatory to be cleansed of your venial sins before you go to heaven. It does not say how long that takes. I guess it depends on your sinning. But do not forget you can buy some reprieve from the church in the form of indulgences.

Now, I am not just picking on the Catholics. Lutherans have similar beliefs in the part of baptism, and the Eucharist, as do Mormons, Presbyterians with maybe the exception of the Eucharist. Then there is the prosperity gospel which we find in some Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. In these denominations, you can get your best life now and go to heaven depending on how much you pay God through the church.

I think this is why true Christianity is looked down upon. This is exactly what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” Why would one want to be told they are a depraved sinner? Why would anyone want to be required to repent or change their mind about their sinning. We like to sin, right? Most would pay money every month if they could keep sinning and still go to heaven. This mentality exists because our society has been turned over to reprobate minds. Paul also wrote, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”( Romans 1:28).

Good has become evil, and evil has become good. People now live by their carnal desires and passions, not by the Word of God. I was once asked, “So you think when you die you will be holy enough to go to Heaven without being cleansed?” My answer was yes. My reason was because I have already been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus and I will never be more justified than I was when He saved me.

My friends, we are saved through Christ alone. We believe in salvation in the five Solas:

Sola Scriptura – through Scripture Alone

Sola Gratia -  by Grace Alone

Sola Fide – through Faith Alone

Solus Christus – in Christ Alone

Soli Deo Gloria – for the glory of God Alone.

Come to the Lord today. Ask Him for salvation through His sacrifice on the cross. Change your mind about your sin and repent them before God. Be immersed in the water in Baptism as an outward display of your inward faith in Christ. There is no other way to get to heaven. Remember Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Grace and Peace.