“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” declared Jesus. Only through me may anybody approach the Father (John 14:6). “No one else can bring us salvation, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given to humans by which we must be saved,” declared the apostles (Acts 4:12). According to Acts 10:43, “all the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” This is the consensus of the Old Testament prophets. The Bible’s message is therefore very clear: “God’s wrath remains on him who rejects the Son, for he will not see life, but whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36; compare 1 John 5:11–12).
What about other religions?
What about other faiths, though? Why, as the Buddha taught, is it not possible for philosophy and “spiritual enlightenment” to save us? Why, as Muhammad taught, cannot we be rescued by our good deeds and earnest prayers? Why is it that worshiping other gods, as Hinduism teaches, cannot help us? Whatever positive lessons we may learn from other religions, none of them address our greatest need—a restored relationship with God—which is why there is no salvation in any of these other faiths.
Wrath and friendship
We require both external and internal salvation (Romans 1:18): external salvation FROM God’s wrath and internal redemption FOR relationship with God (James 2:23). Because of what He has singularly DONE and because of Who He uniquely IS, only Jesus can assist us in this situation.
Only Jesus has done what nobody else has ever done
What Jesus has done is unmatched by anyone else’s. For our sake (Romans 3:22; 5:17), only Jesus led a totally blameless life (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22), so that we [may be credited righteous by faith] (Philippians 3:9). To save us from God’s anger (Romans 5:8–9), only Jesus underwent an atoning death (1 John 2:2; 4:10) for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 Peter 3:18). Acts 1:22 states that only Jesus was raised from the dead in order to justify us (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:17) and grant us eternal life (Romans 6:5–11). And only Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11), which is necessary for our regeneration (John 3:5-8; Titus 2:5–6) and the pure love that God (Romans 5:5) desires to fill our hearts.
Jesus is unique
No other person or religion can do what Jesus has done, because Jesus Himself is unique (John 1:18). Other men and women may have lived comparatively good lives by human standards (e.g. Luke 1:28), but even they need a Savior (Luke 2:47), for only the fully human (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14), fully divine (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8) Son of God (John 3:16) offers to God, on our behalf (Romans 10:3-4), an acceptable righteousness (Galatians 2:21). Other priests may have prayed for their people and offered sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 10:11), but only the eternal High Priest is able to pray for His people forever (Hebrews 7:25) and offer a sacrifice that is fully sufficient once for all (Hebrews 7:27; 10:12). Other men and women may have been raised from the dead (e.g. John 11:43-44), but only the One with life in Himself (John 5:26) has been raised with an immortal resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:42-54) and authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-12) and grant life on judgment day (John 5:27-30). Finally, whatever earthly authority other religious leaders may have possessed, only Jesus is now seated at God’s right hand (Luke 22:69; Ephesians 1:20), with all authority in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:21-22), even to pour out the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33).
The great commission
God’s command to followers of non-Christian religions is gracious but uncompromising: turn “to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead – Jesus, Who rescues us from the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of Whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15) Therefore, Christians must obey the Great Commission. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).
