"Young Born-Again Evangelicals" Listen Up

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  John 10:27

The other day I heard a statement that disturbed me. The statement was that 2 of 3 “young born-again evangelicals” do not believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this. The statement disturbs me on multiple levels.

First, I’m making the assumption that if you identify yourself as a “born-again evangelical” not only do you believe in Jesus, but you believe Jesus.  In John 14:6 Jesus clearly and unambiguously stated that He was the only way to heaven.

Second, if you are claiming to be “born-again” you must believe what Jesus taught about being “born-again”. In John 3:5-7, Jesus said for someone to go to heaven they must be “born-again.”  He did not mean this as a figure of speech.  When you are “born-again” it means you have placed your trust in Christ. Upon trusting Christ the Holy Spirit enters your heart and you become a new creation in Christ (Ezek. 36:24–27). There’s no other way to be “born-again” except through Christ. Other religions do not claim this process of regeneration; they just offer a way to try to work off your sins.

Finally, if there were other ways why did God subject His one and only Son to the brutality of the cross? Why did Jesus subject Himself to the agony of the cross if there was another way? It was on the cross that the blood of Jesus paid for your sins.

Jesus said that His sheep will listen to His voice. I would encourage you to listen to your Shepherd.  “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) These are Jesus’s words and He did not call people to believe in “a name” or “a way,” but to believe in “His name” as” the way”.

In our culture today with our modern way of thinking, it feels intolerant and unloving to say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. However, Jesus clearly stated that He was the only way to heaven.  Although Jesus’ claims are exclusive to Himself, His call is not. He calls out to come and believe in Him and whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  If you believe what your Master says, the most loving thing you can do is point people to Him and Him alone!