Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say [one of many paths to God].” (Mark 8:27–28, NIV 1984).
My Musings – This, of course, falls short about what Jesus claimed for Himself. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV 1984). The simple truth is, if there are many paths to God then Jesus is not one of those paths. “For if righteousness could be gained through the law [or any other path for that matter], Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21, NIV 1984).
Think about it. If there was even just one other way, why would Jesus have willingly laid down His life to make another path? It wouldn’t have been necessary. And why would the Father command His Son to do so? “I [Jesus] lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17–18, NIV 1984).
To borrow C.S. Lewis’ words, “this is the [another] thing we must not say.” The Apostle Paul was even more blunt. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted [any other path or paths], let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:9, NIV 1984). It really is that serious.
My Advice – “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…’Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.'” (Acts 4, 8, 12, NIV 1984). Don’t follow any other path. They all lead “to destruction.”
The Brew Is A Musing 