Number 13                                                    

"Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers."   James 1:22

   We hope these topicals encourage you to see what God's Word says. Please read
a chapter per day. It will change your life. We need to know His Word to know
Him. Only through a personal commitment/relationship with Jesus Christ will
you experience the joy of knowing God. In Hosea 4:6, God says that his people
are destroyed because they lack knowledge. Do something about it, today.

Please feel free to copy this newsletter or re-write it for your own use. If you
want to be added/deleted or want more info, please write us. It goes out to
about 50 families and friends.  What do you think about this month's topic?

         *   *   *     IS  JESUS  THE  ONLY  WAY ?    *   *   *

  If there's another way, Why did Jesus have to die? Why do we baptize in the
  Name of Jesus if we can be saved other than by His Death & Resurrection?

 *  Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man
      comes to the Father but by Me."                             John 14:6
    Jesus said "I am the gate ... enter through Me ... "          John 10:1-9
 *  "There is salvation in No other; for there is No other Name
      given under heaven by which men are saved."                 Acts 4:12
 *  "No man can lay any foundation other than the one already
      laid, which is Jesus Christ."                               1 Cor 3:11
    "As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."    1 Cor 15:22
 *  There is "one Mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus."    1 Tim 2:5
    "Christ died for sins, once for all."                         1 Pet 3:18
    "Who then can be saved? ... With man it is impossible, but
      with God all things are possible."   Matt 19:26  Mark 10:27  Luke 18:27

  There may be some provision for the "unreached" who've never heard about Jesus
  and God's plan of salvation. However, they will be judged on how they lived.

    "For since creation ... His eternal power and divine nature
      have been clearly seen ... so that they are without excuse."  Rom 1:20
    "since they ("unreached") show that the requirements of the law are
      written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness,
      and their thoughts now accusing or else excusing them."       Rom 2:14-16

  Too often people debate about the fate of the "unreached" and avoid facing the
  reality that Jesus is the only known Way for salvation. We know that God is
  "not wishing for any to perish" (2 Pet 3:9), and God is all Loving. However,
  Isaiah 55:8 says "My ways are higher than your ways". He established Laws and
  declares "the wages of sin are death". Would God let His Perfect, Holy Son be
  sacrificed in your place if there was some other way to free of from our sins?

  Those who have heard the Good News of Jesus have no excuses.  For those that
  have received the knowledge of truth and continued in their sinful ways there
  remains only the fearful judgement of God  (Heb 10:26f).

    "If you don't believe that I am He, you will die in sin."      John 8:24
    "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not
      believe stands condemned already because he has not believed
      in the Name of God's One and Only Son."                      John 3:18
    "Whoever acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also
      acknowledge him before the Father ..."          Matt 10:32   Luke 12:8
    "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"      Heb 2:3

  Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, need to daily look to Him.
  Beware of slipping away from the Truth and trusting in yourself or works.

    "Who has bewitched you? ... Did you receive the Holy Spirit by
      observing the law, or by believing?"                         Gal 3:2
    "Before this Faith came, we were held prisoners by the law,
      locked up until Faith should be revealed."                   Gal 3:23
    " whoever breaks one point of the Law is guilty ...  "         Jam 2:10
    " those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and truth."    John 4:24

  Look at Chapter 10 of Romans. It speaks of religious people who do what they
  think is right, but not what God wants (v2&3). The following verses say we are
  made righteousness based on faith in Christ, and professing that faith.

    "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart
      that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."        Rom 10:9
    "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."        Rom 10:17

  Why do we send out missionaries? If there is other ways to God, why bother ?

    "How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?
     And how shall they believe in Him whom they have never heard?
     And how shall they hear without a preacher? "                   Rom 10:14f
    "Pray to the Lord of the harvest, to send out laborers."         Luke 10:2
   "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Mark 16:15

  Perhaps, the saddest thing God sees is a church that has not listened to Him.
  The idea that there are many ways to heaven is a lie from hell and a direct
  contradiction to God's Word.  The idea that people can lead "good lives" but
  not know Jesus is so deadly. We have every opportunity to know Christ Jesus,
  yet how few respond. It's doubtful that many Buddhists, Hindus, and Islamics
  really are faithful to their religion either. The world is dying. Jesus is
  the answer for all people. Jesus is coming back soon for His beloved . Will we
  shrink back at His coming or will we be able to say we were a faithful bride.

           Is Jesus the only Way?  Why did He die on the Cross for you?