No matter where you share the gospel around the world, you will encounter people from various backgrounds holding numerous beliefs. And because there are countless belief systems, many people balk at the idea that following Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
“Of all the religions in the world, do Christians really believe that Jesus provides the only answer to salvation?”
Many contend that there are multiple ways to get to God, and believers may sometimes have difficulty explaining the exclusivity of the gospel.
When it comes to the question of whether the gospel is exclusive, the answer is not a simple yes or no. The beauty of the gospel is in its complexity and its ability to illuminate truth about God’s righteousness and His pursuit of all people.
The Exclusivity of the Gospel
In one sense, the gospel is exclusive in that it reveals that there is only one way to be in right standing with God, and that is through Jesus.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” -John 14:6
This was a bold claim from someone who looked and talked and walked like any other person. In His words, Jesus declared that He was providing the way to the Father, something that was not available to the masses before that time.
That is because God made it clear that unholy people cannot be with a holy God by their own efforts.
When the Israelites were building the Tabernacle, God instructed them to make an intricate curtain (or veil).
“‘Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.’” -Exodus 26:33
The Most Holy Place is where God would descend to meet His people in a cloud. Only the high priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement. Even then, the high priest had to perform a cleansing ritual and make sin and burnt offerings before entering the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place and the curtain were also in the Temple in Jerusalem.
The curtain separated what was holy from what was unholy. Anyone who tried to go past the curtain without God’s permission faced deadly consequences. Just see what happened to Aaron’s sons, who likely tried to enter the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 10:1-3).
While the curtain served a physical purpose in the Temple, it also represented the separation between God and mankind that sin caused. Mankind cannot have a right relationship with God without atonement for sin, which is why what happened to the curtain upon Jesus’ death is so important.
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” -Matthew 27:50-51a
Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection made a way—the only way—for unholy people to be with a holy God.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, … let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” -Hebrews 10:19-20, 22
This is why the gospel is exclusive, because the veil was torn only when Jesus became the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins.
“‘Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’” -Acts 4:11-12
The Inclusivity of the Gospel
In another sense, the gospel is inclusive in that anyone and everyone can be saved through it. No matter what faith or lack thereof you grew up practicing, no matter what sins you committed, no matter your family background or economic status, everyone who calls on the name of Christ will be saved.
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” -Romans 10:11-13
This removes the burden of needing to be good enough or a certain type of person to be accepted by God. No one is excluded from this invitation, including those who come from people groups outside of the Israelites.
The same Temple where the curtain separated the people from the Most Holy Place was intended to be a place where people from every nation—not just the Israelites—would worship God.
“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” -Isaiah 2:2-3
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, “Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.” And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.’” -Zechariah 8:20-22
The Lord’s messengers prophesied that the Gentiles would abandon all other religions for the one true God. Jesus made a way by tearing the veil, and now He welcomes people from all nations to walk through the doorway to freedom.
God Made a Way
Despite the gospel’s inclusivity, its exclusivity will still offend some people. The gospel is good news, but some won’t see it that way.
“… but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” -1 Corinthians 1:23-24
Many will stumble over the gospel, thinking it foolish, until God opens their spiritual eyes to see its truth.
To help overcome this mental hurdle, prolific pastor and author John Piper suggested reframing the way believers talk about the gospel’s exclusivity.
“… I think one helpful way to relate to this criticism, before you hear it and after you hear it, is to communicate the amazement that God would supply any way of salvation—not that he didn’t supply ten, but that he would supply any way of salvation to be reconciled with him. In other words, Christians should shift the amazement away from the fact that there is only one, to the fact that there is one. There is one!”
In His infinite mercy and grace, God provided a way. He didn’t have to, but He so loves the world and wants all to be saved. Regardless of what people think of the gospel, believers need to share it with the world. Tell others how Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Responding to the Great Commission
The Great Commission is not a suggestion; it’s a command. At East-West, we continue to dedicate everything to that truth. Every day, we are pressing into dark and distant places to bring the light of the gospel to those who have never heard it. God is on the move, and we refuse to stay still. Do you want to see how? Tap below to learn more.
