This question has existed for a long time and has been a debate amongst different cultures, religions and even amongst believers. So today we are going to look at what the Bible says and make a comparison amongst other beliefs, other religions and denominations and draw a conclusion from it. This article is not written with the intent to spark debate but rather to settle it and we cannot draw a conclusion without using the Bible.
Who is Jesus?
A dedicated article to this question will be published soon but according to the Bible, Jesus is God the Son, who left heaven to live as an example to humanity and die for our sins to give us salvation. His death was a willing sacrifice for the sake of His creation to save them from the doom of hell because of their sinfulness.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. - John 1:10 NKJV
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3:23 NKJV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 NKJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 NKJV
The Law of God
The concept of sin does not make sense to most people so I will try to explain it. When God created the world from the beginning in Genesis, He created Adam and Eve. Eve was tempted by a snake to break God's command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree, they brought sin into the world and from then on everyone was born with a sinful nature.
We all know sin naturally because we naturally know the difference between right and wrong. This is why universally all cultures, tribes and people agree on the basics of morality. This would be, do not steal, do not lie, do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not covet or do not disrespect your parents. We all know these things naturally and cultures that have never met can hold the same principles because they are universal. When we break them, we know we know that we have done wrong a.k.a sin. These principles are from the 10 commandments which is the moral law of God.
And Your law is within my heart.” - Psalms 40:8 NKJV
How is Jesus Involved in This?
For the forgiveness of sins there must be bloodshed. This is because sin is so serious in the eyes of God the punishment for it is death i.e. hell (Romans 6:23). So, if we sin, we deserve death as payment for our actions and to gain salvation we would have to be put on the cross and die for our own sins. However, God only accepts a clean sacrifice without blemish and sin is the blemish to our souls making us imperfect and unfit to die on the cross.
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. - Hebrews 9:22
Jesus Christ came and lived a perfect life here on earth, as I stated at the beginning He lived as an example for us. He had no sin, but He carried all our sins when He was put to the cross. His blood was shed when He died making us right with God and He rose again on the third day and continues to live, He is God (stay up to date with the site for a dedicated article about this).
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; - Peter 2:21-22 NKJV
So How is He the Only Way?
Let us start with an analogy, imagine you are on a journey to a certain town and in this town, there is everything that you need and desire. It is the perfect place. However, when you started your journey, you did not have a map, so you did not know which way to go. As you walk you come across a group of ten people and you ask them for directions, and they all give you ten different ways to get there. One says "go north. " Another says, "east. " Another says, "west." Another even dares to say "north south." And the others mention completely different directions too.
This is not helpful and obviously not all directions given are correct but out of all the ten there has to be one who is completely correct. To know if he is correct, you assess the situation and look at the facts and reality and you make your decision but that can also be wrong. So, the one with the correct directions gives you a map with the path to follow and a compass to correct your course in case you take a wrong turn. Everyone else jumps in and gives you a map too and they all seem to be leading to where you want to go but they miss all the important details (landmarks, street names etc).
That's how it is with all other religions, almost all religions of the world teach self-righteousness by saying that you are a good person, and you can work for your salvation. But Christianity says you are a wretched sinner, and you can never be good, you cannot work for your salvation. Instead, you deserve to die for your sins but fortunately Someone has paid the bail for you, so instead of prison time you are free to go. This is why Christ is the only way,
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” - Romans 3:10-12 NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - John 14:6 NKJV
Conclusion
We do not deserve salvation, each of us knows our sins and that we deserve consequences for it, just like how criminals know they deserve to go to jail even if they deny it. Not all people accept this truth of the Bible, no matter how good the evidence may be, some people will always deny the truth. My prayer is that this post has helped you and answered your question but if it has not, I suggest that you read the Bible and do in-depth research on this topic. Do not handpick your favourite but assess the facts and accept them. Stay blessed.
