8. Is Jesus the Only Way?

[@BrandtDary]

Amen! Jesus is THE way. The only way!

[@alihoussney7870]

Amen, HALLELUJAH!!!! We have a perfect Savior and do not have any longing for another!!! All others are counterfeits and failures!!!

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois With the above mentioned point made, the point can now be asserted that: If the NT documents are historically reliable in context (as affirmed by the secular), then why would one "assume" they are not historically reliable about the specific events they describe (i.e. miracles)? We can not pick and choose what we want to accept when it comes to verified historical documents - if we do then we must have a presupposition within our position.

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois As to the second point about point (4) Josephus was an ancient JEWISH historian - lived and wrote between 37-100 A.D. ( "Antiquities"). Earlier than him we have Tacitus, a Roman historian who lived and wrote between 56-117 A.D. ("Annals"). Both men (non-Christians), described events of their day just as the NT documents do. Jesus' crucifixion and ascension was in 33 A.D., the disciples lived from the 30s to 90s A.D. (some died martyrs before that of coarse (60s A.D.)

[@ndrthrdr1]

@xchampx I don't ask that question because I'm "searching". I ask it to point out that xtians don't seem to be listing reasons for the selection of their religion, but rather simply claiming that the bible tells them that the bible is true.

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois Regarding the two points, let me explain: point (2) means that we have a immense amount of early manuscripts from the times of Jesus and His contemporaries - thus no room for mythology. As for point (3) I mean it is not logically impossible that a resurrection could occur - thus one can not assume it as myth - if you think it is logically impossible, you need to show that it is.

[@RonJones_eVisibleMarketing]

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby ye must be saved." ~Acts 4:12 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." ~Romans 10:9 (see Luke 23:39-43 for an illustration of this).

[@crazyliclay]

May I ask your religion, so I can better under stand where you stand, and thus know how to respond to your questions about my religion

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois , As for other non-Christian writers who lived and wrote during the life time of Jesus, his disciples, or at least within 100yrs: Suetonius (Roman historian) (70 - 130 A.D.); Thallus (Greek/Roman historian) (1st Century A.D.); Pliny the Younger (Roman governor) (61 - 112 A.D.); Emperor Trajan (Roman Emperor) (53 - 117 A.D.); Emperor Hadrian (Roman emperor) (76 - 138 A.D.); Lucian (Assyrian writer) (125 - 180 A.D.) ; Mara Bar-Serapion (Syrian philosopher) (1st Century A.D.)

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois Also, wholly apart from nearly 17 extra-biblical early non-Christian sources (those mentioned earlier) confirming the historical accuracy of events surrounding Jesus and the Early Church there are at least 26 extra-biblical early Christian sources confirming the events surrounding Jesus and the Early Church (i.e. Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Eusebius...ect).

[@alihoussney7870]

Amen, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life but whoever rejects the Son WILL NOT see life, and God's wrath remains on him (John 3:36).

[@ndrthrdr1]

@xchampx I always try to be receptive to new ideas and differing viewpoints. It seems to me to be irrational to decide that my opinions are facts.

[@joestfrancois]

unable to post

[@edgarmorales4476]

When Jesus said: I am the way, the truth, and the life; Jesus was stating the truth. God, or the force of Love that animates all of life; is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus was not speaking personally about himself. What Jesus meant is that Love is the way to live, Love is the truth, and Love is the way to eternal life; not in the sense of heaven, but as a way to know yourself as the eternal being that you are. When you know yourself as Love, you know yourself as God. God, the I am that is within Jesus, is the same God that is within everyone. The spirit that is within Jesus is also within everyone. God is the same in everyone, and God's name is Love.

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois About the point that the "secular documents only briefly mention Jesus, and only as a man" is not the point. The point is the secular documents MENTION Him (and not all do this "briefly") and the events surrounding Him as historical - thus the central point: The secular documents affirm the historical accuracy and reliability of the biblical documents....(continue new post above)

[@ndrthrdr1]

@brandtdary When I ask Christians if they have looked into many religions to see which is most credible, or simply latched on to the nearest one, they say that they have done the research. Then I ask them to name five other religions (other than Judaism, Mormonism, and Islam - also Bible-based), and the names of the books on which each is based, and they can't. Hmmm.

[@Evid3nc3]

1:06 Wait a second: you mean that Jesus, the central focus of Christianity, says he is the only way? Who would have guessed? What a knock-down argument: Jesus is the only way because he says he is. Circular reasoning ftw! Also, this is a loaded question because it presumes that the audience believes in heaven. I don't think there is any credible evidence that heaven even exists. This is like arguing about the best way to get to Wonderland, which we have just as much evidence for (none).

[@derhammerman]

The Hebrew god demanded blood sacrifice in the OT and Jesus was supposedly this sacrifice (Colossians 1:20). Why is this required? Explain without citing Scripture. How does blood sacrifice work? Why is it necessary for "sins" we may or may not have committed?

[@TrinityMartialArts]

@yodeboubtripin God sacrificed Himself FOR us, not to Himself. and He did that so that His blood could pay away our sins as in a dismal of a charge in court. And He only needed to do it once b/c His blood was perfect and sufficient to cover our sins. What a great opportunity we have now to restore our original purpose through Jesus... to have a relationship with Him and to help build His Kingdom on the Earth.

[@Jugglable]

"I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the father but by me." There are other ways to interpret this than "Only Christians go to heaven." I think just as a doctor wouldn't be vague about a prescription, we can expect that if only self-professing Christians could go to heaven, it would be more explicit in the Bible.

[@alihoussney7870]

Nope, John 14:6 is PERFECTLY CLEAR that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven!!!!!

[@EmpiricalMind]

There maybe many paths my friend, but there are only 3 types of people 1.Those who know what reality is, and accept it,even if they don't like what it shows them. 2. Those who know what reality is, and DON'T accept it,because they don't like what it shows them. 3.Those who don't know what reality is.

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois Also, I will say that wholly apart from extra-biblical sources on this issue, one could simply affirm the central importance of the historical reliability of the Book of Acts, which is immensely detailed about the formation and expansion of the Early Church, and the people, places and events connected with such formation. The historical reliability of Acts also affirms the Gospel of Luke - both Luke wrote. In both books events, people and places are historically affirmed

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin You can't also expect for God to do everything Good in Christians. He sometimes allows troubles and problems for us, so we can be a better person by turning to Him and praying to Him. Jesus suffered a lot of problems so that means, we Christians are going to suffer problems, but not because God hates us but because he loves us and we can be better people.God promised to Christians that those that suffer problems will be nothing compared to our eternal prize in Heaven.

[@MrBobbymcBobbers]

So you're trying to convince me that not believing in some fairy tale makes me a bad person by quoting some book that you believe is true despite the fact that there is no evidence for any of the stories in that book?

[@alihoussney7870]

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life (1 John 5:11-12).

[@RequiemNocturne1]

Actually having a doctor giving you different treatments based on what suits you is better than having one narrow choice, because that one narrow choice may not be best for you. I would like to think if there is a god he wouldn't be narrow, he would accept the many different beliefs as long as people were good people who only wished to help the world overcome it's problems and be self less. Why should faith overpower karma?

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois I must respectfully disagree. Have you read upon how long it takes mythology to enter into a historical event? Prominent scholars have already discussed this. It takes roughly 2 to 3 generations after the events for events to become "mythologized." Simply put, this is not the case for the Gospels for several reasons: (1) the authors were directly acquainted with the events they describe (they did not write events that happened 100 years prior to themselves); ...others posted

[@BackToOrthodoxy]

@Th1sWasATriumph I disagree and to a certain level agree with you.This is because there are certain things that are universally known to the Christian. Such as the need for a savior, the recognition of sin and how it separates us from God and the NEED FOR A SAVIOR.This is what the Holy Spirit said it would do. It will give you a heart to please to Lord (with or without failing). The recognition of the mercies of GOd and his wrath too.Deep things like the Trinity can be hard to grasp as expected.

[@crazyliclay]

@017524062 wh do you watch videos like this if you dont believe stuff like us?

[@Jugglable]

Plenty of Christians don't think that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Vatican 2 for example says that even atheists following their conscience can be saved. What he is saying in that quote is that he really is God, so of course nobody goes unto the father but by him.

[@alihoussney7870]

any such Christian who denies John 14:6 is not a true Christian! We are commanded not to tamper with Scripture (Revelation 22:17-19). Also we read in Matthew 7:21-23 how Jesus clearly distinguishes between those who have true faith and those whose faith is counterfeit.

[@crazyliclay]

well then there is nothing i can do to help, cause if you cannot have faith on anything without hard evidence, then you cant have faith on anything. Faith by definition means that there are some things that you cant see of understand, but if you're still interested in my faith, then i would encourage you to read a book called, "the case for faith" That will be able to provide more answers than me

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin you were a christian??? what happened???

[@joestfrancois]

"We can be sincerely wrong." Ok, the bible does say those things, why should we treat that any differently than any other mythology?

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois You need to read Flavius Josephus' works (Antiquities) and Tacitus' works (Annals), both of these non-Christian writers lived during the same time of Jesus and his disciples - their historical works correlate (in events, people, places...ect) to the Gospels and the Book of Acts. It does not matter if these guys only "briefly" mention Jesus or not, the fact is THEY MENTION HIM and the events surrounding Him! (and these two do not mention Him briefly, although others do I concede)

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois Simply put, the Bible is not just a doctrinal, epistemological, and spiritual work, it is a historical work. The New Testament Gospels are historical writings - eyewitness accounts - of the accounts of Jesus and the Early Church that took place during 1st century Judea. The Gospels are not written as myths, they do not have the same characteristics as myths: they include real historical people, places, events and they include embarrassment and humanness - myths do not do this

[@BackToOrthodoxy]

@xchampx Due to a finite being trying to grasp the infinite. Understanding everything about God isn't necessary, just of what he reveals to us in the scriptures.

[@woohaa27]

Odd I can't see the comments

[@notskilledskater9780]

i commented

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin It's not just that.You knowJesus was REJECTED by some people too.He was hitted by people,he was spat by people everyday in his lifeHe had a long painful DEATH.But do you know what's more painful than that???Him seeing people go to Hell because they don't believe in Him,that's why he made christians so we canGO tell the world about him.To show how much He loves us, He stretched his arm on the cross and did all that trouble that he doesn't have to do just for US HEARTLESS SINNERS.

[@Gupitor]

@yodeboubtripin the holy trinity. god the father, god the son, & god the holy spirit. they are all separate but yet united in one. there is only one god but he works by 3 different functions. For example, im a student at a college, i work part time in retail and a parent. I am the same exact person but operating by 3 different functions.

[@BackToOrthodoxy]

@ndrthrdr1 These aren't my opinions though, they are God's facts. Opinions and facts differ.

[@DarkOneRRp]

0.55 you want the doctor to be narrow? You want him to just give you a recipe for a painkiller without checking if you're allergic for it? Without checking if you're using other medication that can lead to complications like ACE-inhibitors? I certainly hope your doctor will not be that narrow.

[@derhammerman]

Your second list accomplishes nothing. The basic premise of your first point is flawed. I say the universe is probably infinite. You say your god is infinite and created the universe. We don't know that. Neither of us can demonstrate either position. #5, how do you know a god created the universe? You cannot demonstrate a single point. So your statements are mere words and nothing more.

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois Those aforementioned ancient writers described in their writings Jesus, His ministry, His ascension and/or the formation of the Early Church (of coarse in an anti or non-Christian manner) - describing them all as, not mythology, but historical events that occurred. In closing, I would need to see what precisely you are talking about being "questionable evidence" from these extra-biblical writers that somehow dis-confirms or mythologizes the New Testament accounts.

[@MrErskine01]

@derhammerman It all depends upon what you mean precisely by "know" something to be true. Are you meaning in a 100% way or in a probabilistic way? If the former, then almost nothing can be known, including your own existence, your own ideas, universe truths...ect. If the latter, then the importance is which major views that exist are more highly probable to be true - pertaining to concerns about about the afterlife, creation of the universe, supernatural realm...ect.

[@BackToOrthodoxy]

@ndrthrdr1 If you've found the truth, why would you keep searching?

[@MrErskine01]

@derhammerman You can not discuss a doctrinal issue such as the Doctrine of the Atonement or even the Doctrine of Christ - both of which are to be discussed to answer your question of blood sacrifice - without citing or supporting it with Scripture. Scripture is the foundation for doctrinal concerns. Thus, you saying "cite no scripture and answer this question" is not possible. Belief in the redemptive power of Christ's blood is upon Faith and Scripture - not Science.

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin he sacrificed himself bcz nobody else would die for themselves to save the world, its because of GOD'S AMAZING, EVERLASTING LOVE ON US ::) I hope u understand.

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin God is still working on all of US everyday, it's not like he died for us and that's it, that's not it, He has a plan for us, He is a WORKING GOD, He is not Lazy. Even though we are bad people, He is forgiving and forgiving us. Read the Bible, Pray to God.... It will help you understand more :)

[@joestfrancois]

@MrErskine01 (2) we have reliable reproduction of original manuscripts (3) the Gospels do not report LOGICAL These two points, Whatever, doesn't mean anything. (4) extra-biblical historical writers (Christian and Non-Christian) confirm the events of the Gospels There is some questionable evidence, and not directly from the time period, so I disagree.

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin pray to God, ask him to show you any mracle or something like that, but it's not gonna happen so soon, wait for him patiently, you will see... Ask Him to let you understand him. And I will try to see other Religions, only see, and learn about them.

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin Extraordinary doesn't mean extraordinary evidence. You see, us christians have FAITH in God. That means we love and believe him, without seeing any evidence. It's the heart. That's excactly what the Bible say. Please pray to God about it

[@derhammerman]

There is only the material world--unless you can demonstrate otherwise. Just because philosophers such as Kant, Kierkegaard, Socrates, St. Paul, and others discuss an afterlife doesn't mean it even exists. You need to first ask yourself how you know such things. If heaven, hell, god, angels, and demons cannot be demonstrated as true or false, then the concepts are meaningless and not worthy of discussion.

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois In non of just these six major points do you find correlation between other myths and the Gospel accounts. Thus, they can not be treated us mythology because they have non of the characteristics of mythology. Now, unless you are considering mythology the "supernatural" events, then this is not a question of historical reliability then - you have moved to metaphysics and epistemological questions about the nature of truth, nature of reality, "the beyond."

[@davidedwards2754]

well would if multiple sites said they could offer you a free trip to Hawai? see how your logic fails

[@cristovienechristiscoming740]

Jesus is King of kings and Lord lords

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois (5) There is no genealogical connection between ancient pagan mythology and the origin of the disciples' belief in the Resurrection (Jews knew of pagan myths and harshly rejected such, so they would not have created such things out of thin air); (6) myths do not make people utterly change their religious, cultural, economic, and personal values and beliefs as what occurred with the disciples and many 1st century Judeans.

[@derhammerman]

@MrErskine01 Exactly and that's why the doctrine is ludicrous. It's based on speculation and nothing more. Scripture is not enough. Isn't it ironic that the very Bible that offers the solution is the same one that sets up the problem to begin with? Imagine that! If the Bible is removed from the argument, there is no discussion on the supposed-issue.

[@derhammerman]

Morality is innate and this has been demonstrated scientifically throughout the animal kingdom. So, if you want to call it rational. I suppose I could go with that. However, your logic is in error in every other area. Basic logic tells us that if a statement cannot be demonstrated as true or false, it is meaningless. You make a lot of assumptions. How can you demonstrate 2-5 of your first list? Simply saying it doesn't make it true.

[@MrErskine01]

@derhammerman If the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and can be demonstrated to be such through apologetic inquiry (which I believe it can, wholly apart from quoting Scripture) then the Bible is an accurate account of WHAT God did to create the universe (notice I say what He did, not HOW He did it). Therefore we know God created the universe from the Scripture - this can also be discovered through scientific investigation of origin sciences, biological evolution, physics and astronomy.

[@derhammerman]

First you have to establish that there is an afterlife. Second, you have to demonstrate that there is a god. Third, you have to demonstrate that this particular god is the Hebrew god. Fourth, you have to explain why he demands blood sacrifice. Then, you have to explain fully and show evidence why Jesus had to die. Simply saying "the Bible says" is not a sufficient answer. Only narrow-minded, ignorant people are Christians.

[@joestfrancois]

Dude, you can't have it all ways. The bible is disputed as a historical eyewitness record, some myths encompass real historical people and places, and compared to any other myths they include no more embarressment or"humanness". The bible is no different than any other superstitious writings. Sorry.

[@BackToOrthodoxy]

@Th1sWasATriumph Yes, we can be wrong. God cannot be.

[@crazyliclay]

@yodeboubtripin BECAUSE THERE NEEDED TO BE A SACRIFICE!!!!! People are bad and the only way that they could get into heaven is for their sins to be repaid, but no human can ever be perfect so they cant be a sacrifice for others. Only God can be perfect, but he , being a god, can't die and thus cant be a sacrifice, and that's why he sent Jesus. Jesus is the perfect man who acted as the sacrifice.

[@joestfrancois]

@MrErskine01 Dude sorry, I thought I wrote about all your points, but it seems I did not post them or something. Make shorter posts that are complete in one response. I will concede all the copies of writings, but nothng in Jesus' lifetime and almost nothing outside of the bible. Everything is hearsay removed by many decades. wiki/Historicity_of_Jesus Secular documents only briefly mention Jesus, and only as a man, not anything else.

[@MrErskine01]

@joestfrancois (2) we have reliable reproduction of original manuscripts (over 5,000 - which more or less correlate with one another); (3) the Gospels do not report LOGICAL impossibilities (notice I say logical - not ; (4) extra-biblical historical writers (Christian and Non-Christian) confirm the events of the Gospels as historically reliable (Plutarch, Josephus, Tacitus);...more posted

[@LetReasonPrevail1]

Apologist = Someone who speaks with a false conviction about things that they in fact can not possibly know. This guy has NO IDEA if Jesus is the "only way" into Heaven much less if Heaven even exists. Nor does he have any idea what it means for a sentient being (aka Jesus) to "be the way". These concepts are hopelessly muddled and unintelligible. What is left is pure subjectivity. In other words: It means whatever you want it to mean.

[@greaseizdaword]

Is this a joke? Cuz it's not funny

[@notskilledskater9780]

Yes Jesus the only way. aint no joke. Other religions are false and i don’t care if they get offended. Better to be harsh and honest then to be pretend nice and lie a little.

[@DeJay14]

@derhammerman your narrow minded dude by saying they are are wrong to hold that view

[@katherinaJee55]

milline jama

[@MrBobbymcBobbers]

People who believe in god are fucking idiots. Stop wasting your lives trying to get to heaven, heaven doesn't exist.

[@017524062]

Is Jesus the only way to heaven? Let's ask Jesus! Is the Zeus the only way to heaven? Let's ask Zeus. This man is a moron.

[@rcforeva]

@yodeboubtripin pray to God, ask him to show you any mracle or something like that, but it's not gonna happen so soon, wait for him patiently, you will see... Ask Him to let you understand him. And I will try to see other Religions, only see, and learn about them.