There’s a lot of that going on today. People with an interest in spiritual things are quick to say, “We’re all Okay. You’re on your road to heaven and we are on our road. After all, all roads lead to heaven.”
Any logical person with enough sense to truly, objectively, look at that proposal would have to say, “No, all roads do not get us to heaven.”
Think about it, do Mormons go to heaven? They have some far-out ideology made up by an uninspired man. How about the Seventh Day Adventists? They have weird doctrine not found in the New Testament. And Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are they on their road to heaven? From what I see, they exude misguided teaching.
Now, all three of these groups have strongly opposed teachings. All three of them were started by humans. They may indeed be on different roads but from I read in the Bible, none of them are heaven bound. Let’s look at this:
Who started the church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)? Joseph Smith, 1830, Fayetteville, NY.
Who started the Sevent Day Adventists: Joseph Bates James White Ellen G. White J. N. Andrews, 1863, Battle Creek, Michigan.
Who started Jehovah’s Witnesses: Charles Russell, 1879, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
None of these man-made religions were around in 33 AD when Jesus died on the cross for everyone. Nor were these religions around in 33AD when Jesus began His church.
Now, it is obvious that none of these so-called churches are legitimate. They are on the road leading to hell.
It should also be obvious that any mainstream denominations are not on the road to heaven! Billions of souls are at stake. If we don’t live according to God’s word, we will be lost.
Is There Another Word True, Apart From The Bible?
If 2 Timothy 3:16 is true, then, the One True God delivered His words to inspired men who wrote them down. If that’s true, the only road to heaven is the one He provided. Afterall, He lives there, and He ought to know how to get us up there with Him. He told us how to be with Him there – in the word.
So, to say we’re all going to heaven regardless of the road we’re on, insults God’s word that He so preciously breathed out to us.
Consider the denominations. They claim to be on separate roads leading to the same place. Absurd. That can’t possibly be. If one says God demands we do this or that and another says God demands we do something else, then, the road to heaven is clouded with confusion. Check out
1 Corinthians 14:33. God doesn’t like confusion.
What’s more, if all roads lead to heaven, then the base line is that we’re not able to understand what God says to us. So, would God give different Bible interpretations to all the differing churches? Is He intending to fool us so that none of gets there? We would call that a scam of some sort. We know God doesn’t do that!
In fact, the Scripture given to the apostle Paul states we can understand the word, just as God intended, by simply reading it, Ephesians 3:4. That’s imperative. If we truly want to get everyone on the only road to heaven, then we must read the Book without colored lenses of denominationalism.
So, let’s not insult God’s word.
Is There Another God Than Jehovah?
You know, God started the Hebrew nation with Abraham, about 4,000 years ago. God promised him land, as many descendants as the stars, and through him He would bless the world. It was a covenant between God and Abraham. Abraham accepted the sign of the covenant, circumcision. Thereafter, his male descendants also accepted the original covenant being circumcised. God fulfilled His promise to Abraham. This was the beginning of the Hebrew nation. There is no other God. He’s the creator along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Lord our God is one God, Jehovah (along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit).
At Mt. Sinai, the Hebrews agree to honor God and follow Him, His laws, statutes, and ordinances. Through God, Moses led them to the promised land, but they couldn’t enter because of disbelief, Hebrews 3:1-4. Rather insulting, don’t you think? God fed them and watered them. He took care of them on their journey. Nevertheless, those Hebrews didn’t think God would be their champion in their battles for the land. That generation died in the wilderness. Another generation accepted God and entered the land God promised to Abraham.
God worked with the Hebrews for 2,000 years and when they rejected the Prince of Peace – Jesus, He did away with the Hebrew way of life. Rome destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. In essence, the Jews insulted God in many ways, and He did away with their way of life. It is estimated that perhaps over one million Jews were killed.
Now, God works the same way with us in the Christian age. For over 2,000 years He’s been waiting on people to come to Jesus for salvation, 2 Peter 3:9. He’s also been working on Saints, to get them ready to enter the true Promised Land – heaven where He is.
So, when folks don’t do as God directs in this last age, they will never be with Him, unless they come to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ. Those who pay attention to the truth of the Scriptures are humble, mourning over sin, and they are gentle, meek people ready to submit to Jesus. Jesus said, only those who keep God’s will are the ones to see heaven, Matthew 7:21.
Let’s not insult God, saying all roads lead to heaven. They don’t.
Is There Another Savior Apart From Jesus?
No. Acts 4:12 has this, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Luke recorded Peter saying those words concerning Jesus.
God’s plan for the people of the first century, was to
have Jesus leave heaven, be born of a woman, live as the perfect Son of God and the perfect Son of Man, and die as the perfect sacrifice for all sin for all time. Ephesians 1:3-14 tells of God’s redeeming plan through Jesus. Jesus said that those who listen to His word are like folks building a house on rock. Those who won’t listen to Him build their houses on sand. In the end, those who have houses on rock are saved. Those of the sand will be eternally lost, Matthew 7:24-27.
Let’s see an example. Jesus taught that the only reason for divorce was for sexual immorality. So, if one divorces and remarries, he is committing adultery. The one who marries the divorced person also commits adultery. This teaching is found in Matthew 5:31-32.
Now, if one ignores His teaching on this, he commits sin and the wage for sin is death, Romans 6:23. At judgment this one will be cast into hell, Revelation 21:8; sexual immorality.
So, don’t insult Jesus and His sacrifice by saying all roads lead to heaven, because they don’t. Can you imagine the consequences of doing so? Don’t pay that price. Save yourself, building your house on the rock of Jesus. Get on the only road that leads to heaven.
Is There Another Holy Spirit Than The Spirit Spoken Of In The New Testament?
Of course not. The Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus to guide the apostles into the truth, John 14:16-17. John 16:13-15 has this: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
“He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
“All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
So, what happened in Acts 2:1-4? The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, and they began speaking in languages they did not know, proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ and Savior of the world. From that point forward, the apostles spoke the gospel of Jesus everywhere.
If one is sincerely following the true road to God, he has the Spirit dwelling in Him,
1 Corinthians 6:19. Christ is in him, 2 Corinthians 13:5, and the Father also, 1 John 4:12.
If the Spirit of God delivered the word to the apostles and the apostles wrote those words that make up the New Testament, then don’t you think it’s an insult to Him to say something that is not spiritually true? Can you imagine the number of people lost by saying all roads (denominationalism) lead to heaven?
Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit. Don’t insult Him, either.
Conclusion
Jesus said it, friends, there’s only one path to heaven. It’s difficult and there are obstacles but that’s the only way to heaven, Matthew 7:13. The road to hell is an easy path and most people will follow it, Matthew 7:14.
Amen.
Garland Van Dyke
garland.churchofchrist@gmail.com
http://www.matthewsstreetchurchofchrist.com
https://www.biblepoints.org/bible-points