So, Jesus said, “when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be.” (John 8:28, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “One of the ways overlooking the complexity behind most [opposing] views can prove most damaging is when it leads us to think that if you disagree with one position, then you must agree with its opposite. Very rarely are issues that binary, though. Putting questions into either/or boxes can help us make sense of complicated issues. That’s not how life works, though, and the truth is rarely that simple.
[In matters of faith and eternity, however, it is that simple]. Jesus is either God or He’s not. He either died for our sins or He didn’t. Salvation is something we can earn or it’s a free gift of faith.” (Dr. Ryan Denison, “The Daily Article,” Denison Forum, September 25, 2026). We might add that Jesus either rose from the dead or he didn’t, and Jesus is the only path to Heaven or He is not.
Paradoxically, it is that simple, while at the same time it is irreducibly complex. “Irreducible complexity is a term used to describe a characteristic of certain complex systems [truth claims] whereby they need all of their individual component parts [claims] in place in order to function [be true]. In other words, it is impossible to reduce the complexity of (or to simplify) an irreducibly complex system by removing any of its component parts [claims] and still maintain its functionality [truth]. The common mousetrap as an example of irreducible complexity. A typical mousetrap is made up of five integral parts: a catch, a spring, a hammer, a holding bar and a foundation. If any of these parts are removed…the entire system will fail to function.” (“What Is Irreducible Complexity,” gotquestions.org/irreducible-complexity).
Remove any of the above truth claims (Jesus is God, He died for our sins, it’s a free gift of faith, He rose again, He is the only path to Heaven) and Christianity is a false religion. By extension, if Christianity is not a false religion, then you must believe (and accept) all the truth claims are true in order to receive the free gift. In addition, if all are true, then whatever else Jesus said is true. Because He is God and “it is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18, NIV 1984). And He spoke many times about a literal Hell for anyone whose “name [is] not found written in the Book of Life, [will be] thrown into the lake of fire [hell].” (Revelation 20:15, NIV 1984).
My Advice – The stakes are incredibly high. So, if you think that there is even a small chance that the truth claims of Christianity might be true, they should be seriously investigated. Just because it happens to be the minority view of mankind (28.8% in 2020 according to Pew Research), does not mean that it is the wrong view. “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction [hell], and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life [Heaven], and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14, NIV 1984).
Here is the irreducibly complex narrow road:
A Catch: Jesus Is God – “We are not stoning You [Jesus] for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:33, NIV 1984).
A Spring: Jesus Died for Our Sins – “He [Jesus] was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV 1984).
A Hammer: Salvation Cannot Be Earned – “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.” (Ephesians 2:7–9, NIV 1984).
A Holding Bar: Jesus Rose From the Dead – “Christ died…He was buried…He was raised on the third…He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me [Apostle Paul] also, as to one abnormally born.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–8, NIV 1984).
A Foundation: Jesus Is the Only Path to Heaven – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, NIV 1984).
Opinions may be decided by consensus, but the truth does not depend upon consensus. If the majority opinion is wrong, it is still wrong. Don’t be caught on the wrong road, or you’ll end up at the wrong destination.
“What about you?” [Jesus asks]. “Who do you say I am [and did]?” (Mark 8:29, NIV 1984). Take the road less traveled.
