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The short answer to the question posed by this study’s title is: Yes and No. Yes Jesus is the only way to know God as Father, which comes by receiving Jesus’ life as God’s son. God can be known without Jesus Christ, but only as a lord and taskmaster, as He was in the Old Testament. Either way, Jesus Christ is the only way to live forever; either by receiving his life today in this age, by believing unto him; or at one of the two resurrections, when man will be judged by God (via Jesus) according to his works, and either given eternal life at that time, or be consigned eternal death.
Jesus says unto him (Thomas) I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto (pros – toward) the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
This is the verse which many use for their belief that the only way to God is by believing in Jesus Christ. But this verse doesn’t say “God,” it says “the Father.” There were many people in the Old Testament, all of whom lived before Jesus Christ, who had a fairly good (at least at times) relationship with God; not as Father but rather as Lord. They didn’t come to God by Jesus. Are they all to be damned?
For preaching about this cult leader (Jesus) to the crowds, Peter and John were thrown into jail overnight and then brought before some of the same politically powerful men who had had the Romans kill Jesus, and were questioned as to what right they had to preach Jesus. Peter finished his spirit-inspired reply by boldly proclaiming,
Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
Salvation is only by means of Jesus Christ. Is salvation the same as knowing God? No. Is salvation the same as living forever? Close. One of salvation’s most important aspects is victory over death; and whether one believes unto Jesus and receives the spiritual adoption of God and His (eternal) life now, in this age, or receives that life at one of the two resurrections in the future, life after and victory over death is only possible because of and by means of Jesus Christ.
Many quote John 3:16, and this verse does indicate that everlasting life comes to a person by believing unto Jesus as the Christ, the son of God. This verse, of itself, does not indicate that Jesus is the only way to God, or to everlasting life.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in (eis – unto) him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Jesus himself proclaimed again and again that he had been sent by God to reclaim mankind for God. Following are but a couple of the many examples to be found in the four Gospels.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)
He who believes on (eis – unto) him (God’s son) is not condemned; but he who believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in (eis – unto) the name of the only begotten son of God. (John 3:18)
So far we have read that no man comes to God as Father but by means of Jesus Christ. We’ve learned that believing unto Jesus Christ as being God’s son is the means of receiving everlasting life; of not perishing but living forever. Now the question is whether or not people who never believed unto Jesus Christ, especially in this age, will or can ever receive everlasting life; and can they ever know the true God, apart from Jesus Christ.
Surprisingly, the answers to the above seem to be yes and yes. Jesus himself had this to say:
For as the Father has life in Himself; so has He given to the son to have life in himself; And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the son of man. Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they who have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they who have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:26-29)
Jesus is speaking of the two resurrections (which do not include the gathering together of the saints, also known as the rapture). Notice that he says, “… they who have done good …” and “… they who have done evil … .” Here he does not mention anything about the need to believe unto him, only the judging of men’s doings. So it seems that those who have done good (enough, according to the judgment of God) will be raised in the resurrection to live forever. This is confirmed in the book of Revelation.
And I saw th dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:12-15)
Again, in the resurrection men shall be judged by their works, not whether or not they had faith in Jesus Christ. The following section from the book of Romans reaffirms this very truth.
For as many as have sinned without (outside the) law shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves; Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
(Romans 2:12-16)
Note that the above section speaks of the judgment of Jews and Gentiles, but says nothing of the judgment of the church of God, the born again believers.
What we come to understand from reading all the above is that the only way to know God as Father is by means of receiving the spirit of God’s son, Jesus Christ. To those who have believed unto Jesus Christ as the son of God, the judgment of God has already declared us to be righteous and holy beings. To us who have been born of the righteousness of Christ, we will be gathered together with him (whether alive or dead at the time) before the resurrections and judgments spoken of in Revelation.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them who believe; for there is no difference (between Jew & Gentile); For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
(Romans 3:22-24)For the Lord (Jesus) himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17)
To all others, whether they knew God as a lord and taskmaster or not at all, they shall be judged by their works and either be consigned to the second death (where there will be no consciousness) or granted eternal life, handed to them by Jesus Christ at the resurrection and judgment of God. So even if they don’t believe unto him in this life, it is still by means of Jesus Christ that they receive eternal life.
Which would you rather have: God as loving, generous Father? or God as harsh, demanding taskmaster? Raised to ever be with Christ who is your life, having been granted the righteousness of Christ as a free gift when you believed unto him as God’s son? Or standing before God and His son and be judged for your works, the determination of eternal life or death hanging over you?
Can you know God without Jesus Christ? Yes, but not as a loving Father, only a lord and master, like those who lived in the Old Testament. Can the final judgment be avoided? Yes. The final judgment for those who have Christ has already been handed down – justified, righteous! We who have believed unto Jesus as the Christ have already received his eternal life as our own!
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:2-4)
The only way to live forever is through the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ. That can become yours now, today, before his return, where you will come to know God as loving Father. If not today, then the best you can hope for is to know God as a lord, as you live your life in the condemnation of sin, waiting for the judgment of your works at one of the two resurrections by Jesus Christ before the throne of God, where either you will receive everlasting life, or you will receive everlasting death.
It is not for me or for any other man to make that judgment of another. (Only one man, Jesus Christ, has been awarded that right and responsibility). But it is for me to make known the choices you have in life. May you believe unto Jesus Christ, not only today but all your days, and learn to enjoy the eternal, righteous life which is freely yours in Christ.
That in the administration of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. (Ephesians 1:10)
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Related Studies
If you enjoyed how this study challenged your thinking and opened up your understanding of Christ, click on one of the related studies below:
Where is Heaven and When do we get there?
What is Death and Hell?
Is God in Control?
The Gift of God’s Righteousness
Justified, what it means
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