FAQ^± About God
     ^{± (frequently asked questions)}

Why do Christians say there is only one way to God?                      

Christians are people who try to live in a Christ-like manner and who accept as authoritative what he says. That is something that gets us Christians in trouble with a lot of other people. For example, a common belief today is that there are many valid ways to reach God. But Jesus said he is the only way, that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Now if the head of Christianity declares himself to be the only way, as a so-called believer we would look kind of stupid if we concluded he was wrong, and there are actually other ways. Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh, and God is all-knowing, so if we reach a conclusion other than what he said, then we don't really believe he is God. So you see, committed Christians don't really have a choice but to believe that Jesus is the only way, because he himself said so.

Is it really so far-fetched to believe that Jesus is the only way?

Why would God need to provide more than one way? The way provided was very expensive. The Son of God had to give up his status as God, take on the form of man, and die as a man by crucifixion to pay for our sins. The other suggested paths to God do not involve any payment for sin, and therefore do not solve the sin problem.

What is the Sin Problem?

A key characteristic of God is his Fatherhood. God has a father's heart, and He wants a great big family. So in eternity past, God decided to create man. He wanted to have a love relationship with man. That implies man must have a will. I can make my computer display the message "I Love You," every time it is turned on, but it wouldn't mean a thing. So if God created man as automatons with no choice, he would not find being loved by such a creature very satisfying. So he gave man a will, knowing that many would choose not to love him.

So a sin problem developed. God created man with the capacity to choose good or evil. Many choose evil as a pattern of life, and all of us often choose to do things contrary to God's will. The problem we face is that God is perfectly holy, he is perfectly righteous, and he is perfectly just, and on our own we have no way to get to him. There is nothing about us that would bring us to God on our own merit. The wages of sin is death.

So the problem is:

• God's holiness gives him a huge dislike for sin, such that he can not tolerate the presence of sin. Are you wondering what sin is? It is any thought, attitude, behavior or action that does not meet his standard of perfect holiness.
• God's justice does not allow him to just overlook sin. He cannot just say, "That is OK, Bud, just forget it." There is a penalty for sin, and the price has to be paid.

OK, we have a problem. What is the solution?

Now consider who is available to pay the price to redeem us out of the situation we are born into. Since we humans all are born with a sin nature, and do in fact sin, none of us would be acceptable. A parent might be willing to die for his or her child, but even if they were willing, it would be unacceptable, because we are all tainted by sin, and therefore would be unacceptable to God. If no human would be acceptable, then what was God to do?

Before man was ever created, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit foresaw this problem, and decided that in the fullness of time that the Son, Jesus Christ, would give up the glory and majesty to which he was entitled as God, that he would be born as a human. He would live the perfect, sinless life, making him acceptable to God as the payment for sin. And since he is God, he is of infinite worth, therefore his death would pay for the sins of as many as choose to accept the wonderful gift of forgiveness.

His dad was a carpenter, and he learned that trade, but at the age of 30 he began his public ministry. Because his message of love and forgiveness was different from that of the religious establishment, a conflict arose between him and them, and after 3 years they conspired to put him to death, and did, by crucifixion. He was buried, and the third day he arose from the dead. In a few weeks he returned to heaven, and now sits on the right hand of God the Father. The penalty has been paid, and the procedure is simple:

Romans 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

What must I do to be saved?

Repent, trust, and obey. You must recognize that you have sinned, and continue to sin, although perhaps not as much as some people you know. Sin is our undoing. The wages of sin is death. Death means separated from God forever. You must recognize that by your own power you are unable to make yourself acceptable to God. You must trust in the adequacy of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which means he allowed himself to be crucified but was resurrected from the dead on the third day. Admit to Jesus that you are a sinner, and invite him to be the Lord of your life. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Though not essential for salvation, you will want to be baptized, and become part of a Bible-believing church. The evidence to others that you are indeed saved will be progress as a disciple as you make an effort to live according to the principles laid out in the New Testament.

Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

"Saved?"  What do you mean,"saved"?

To be saved means your sins are forgiven, you are free from the eternal penalty of sin, and the power of sin. It means you are in right standing with God, you have become part of God's family, and you can never be separated from him. It means that for the rest of your life, you can enjoy a personal relationship with God, and his Son, Jesus Christ. You are forever safe in God's hands.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.