It is a common view in our culture that "all roads lead to heaven." But is it true? Do other religions contain truth?
Could you make the case that people from other faiths might be saved?
Could you make the case the only Christianity provides salvation?
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We cannot enter heaven with grace.
However, I believe we are judged by our deeds. Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry, and you gave me
food; I was thirsty, and you gave
me drink; I was a stranger, and
you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you
visited me; I was in prison, and
you came unto me; ....
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as
you did it to my brethren, you
did it unto me.
On the other hand
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace we are saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
One of the most fundamental things that separates Christianity fromother religions is the concept of free grace. In every other major religion (anmaybe minor ones, i do not know), mankind is required to do something in order to obtain salvation: works, sacrifice, penance, etc. Jesus is the only one who teaches salvation from grace apart from works. Not that works are unimportant - scripture is clear that faith without works is dead - but they are not the path to heaven.
There is a tension here between faith and works.
Jesus says in John 5:28-29, "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."
It seems that our works DO matter. However just 4 verses prior to that, in John 5:24, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
I wonder if Matt Arceneaux meant to type, "We cannot enter heaven without grace." Clearly, grace - God's love in spite of our resistance and sin - is the reason we are able to come into a relationship with him. This relationship with God on earth is really the beginning of the eternal relationship we will spend with him in heaven.
But if our works differ from our words, then perhaps we do not really have faith at all. And if we do not have faith, then we really haven't accepted God's gift of grace. And if we haven't accepted God's gift of Grace, can we really expect to enter God's presence in this world or in heaven?
Of course we will never achieve perfection, nor will we earn our way into heaven, but what we do in life does matter, as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 15:7-8, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'"
The scripture speaks several times about rewards in heaven, earning crowns, and so on. I think the scripture is clear that we should store up treasures in Heaven, run the Race to win, and put our faith into action. In Romans 14 it says that all will stand before the Judgement Seat and will give an account of themselves to God.
However, I also believe that our salvation is a matter of faith, and it is not our works that get us through the door of Heaven, although they may certainly impact our reward once we get there (and on earth, I believe)
I once read a very challenging book on this subject called The Judgement Seat of Christ. One of the scriptures it references was I Corinthians 3:11-15, which says "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
I take this to mean that there is a reward for our works, but that Christ's sacrifice and the undeserved Grace that flows from it is how we enter the Kindgom of Heaven. If these was something we could do, or not do, to negate Christ's sacrifice, then where is its power?
I think Andrew is right when he says "But if our works differ from our words, then perhaps we do not really have faith at all. And if we do not have faith, then we really haven't accepted God's gift of grace."
Andrew was right to correct me.
I wanted to write We cannot enter
heaven without grace.
I think everyone has made some great points here, but have not actually answered the original question - do all roads lead to heaven? No. Jesus said, "I am THE way, THE truth and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me." in John 14:6. He also said in John 10:9 "I am THE gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." If Jesus Christ is truly God, then how can we worship other Gods and still go to heaven? God's grace is free. Praise the Lord for that. We can not earn it. No one can. And it's true that Christianity is not to be based on us doing something to earn God's love and favor. The other major religions teach the opposite. We cannot earn it, but we do need to receive it. God gives grace freely and willingly in Jesus Christ, but we must receive him as Lord. Then, once we receive him he will live in us through his Holy Spirit who will then enable us to live like Jesus. Again, this can not be done in our own strength and "righteousnss". Our only real "work" or "act" of faith is to receive by faith. If we do not, then our future is dim, apart from the Holy God. I personally reject the notion of universalism which teaches that Jesus died for all, whether we accept him or not. Faith is required, as it says in Ephesians 2:8,9.
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