You are right. Years and years of Bible neglect have left Americans without the truth. The study also shows that as many as 65% of Americans never read the Bible. Mr. Barna’s research shows that even 65% of people who call themselves Bible readers have never read the entire New Testament.

Let’s do something to help people get back in the Word. Encourage reading and Bible listening. Incorporate Bible study with your family, listen to the audio Bible with your kids and small groups.

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)”

I think that many Christians have drifted from the words and teaching of Christ. Christ taught love thy neighbor as thyself. Many Christians do not do that. They preach superiority which totally goes against the teachings of Christ. In fact Jesus taught love in all aspects. He did not preach War and intolerance. If a Christian wants to make an impact on the world, he or she should not attack and wage war against another person’s beliefs. How can a person who does that honestly say they are a Christian? Think, think, think about this. I think that is what I and maybe those in the polls were trying to say.

Thank you so much, Mr. Thomas, for making the STAND FOR THE TRUTH that JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION! It takes a really dedicated, born-again Christian to stand for our precious Lord and Savior any time but especially in this day and time, and we believers thank the Lord that you are brave enough to stand for Jesus! Let’s pray for our country! According to a pastor I heard recently, he stated that America is “upside down” now. We formerly had “right and wrong” attitudes and now there seems to be an “anything goes” lifestyle and this is so dangerous. We, as Bible-believing Christians, know that we will give an account someday on how we have lived our Christian lives. We need to be telling the world that God loves the sinner, but NOT the sin! God bless you always is my prayer!

I believe Jesus Chirst is the one mediator between God and us. But I do not believe all those of other faiths are thus condemned. I believe they too can be led to Truth.

So why do I believe this?

I believe other faiths suffer defects, to be sure. But I also believe other faiths share elements of truth. By means of their participation in these truths and by means of following the natural law, in this way, then, I believe they too can be led to Truth - Jesus Christ.

Jesus was sent to earth as God in Flesh to make the ULTIMATE sacrifice to cover our (mankind’s sins). It only had to be done once. In the OT we were under the old LAW where sacrifices were made to cover those sins. Yes it is true God can do anything but he is not only a merciful GOD but a JUST God which means to just pardon sins then or now without a payment would not be JUST.
If you get a speeding ticket and were speeding the JUST thing is the fine /punishment to be carried out but God’s GRACE allowed our SAVIOUR, JESUS a PERFECT sacrifice to pay that debt. Thus PARDONING us from our sins.
I KNOW it is true that belief in and faith in (Complete trust) JESUS to have paid our debt is REQUIRED of us (such a small thing really) to become CHILDREN of GOD and thus RECEIVE our inheritance which we woefully DO NOT DESERVE.
To believe otherwise would be to call GOD a FOOL to make JESUS the perfect LAMB suffer as he did when there was another way.
It is not opinion it is in the BIBLE which is written by man and the inspired WORD OF GOD.

If you doubt the resurrection ask yourself this: Why would the Disciples who walked with JESUS, saw him crucified, and saw him after the resurrection DIE for something they KNEW to be false. They lost everything, status, money, and life for what?
Many did for what they believe (Muslim extremism) but nobody suffers and dies for a lie.

As for being judgmental.. I am not judging this is GOOD NEWS!!! You can also be saved we all can be saved. JESUS’s sacrifice was so great it can cover any and all sins.
I agree Christians need to understand this better. We aren’t quibbling over denominations but if you have believe and faith in JESUS CHRIST TO SAVE YOU.. then SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!
Christians remember Luke 9:26.

“Orthodox Christians have always believed – and their Bible teaches them — there is only one path to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ and him alone. One can believe whatever one wishes, but you can’t be considered a Christian without believing in this fundamental doctrine.”

You hit it on the nail. This is s a fundamental doctrine whose denial amounts to a denial of the faith. Men that spent time reading their bibles like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, they were all in agreement here. They may have disagreements in other areas, but they all shared that God saves man by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Without faith in Jesus Christ there is no eternal life, no salvation. Anybody denying this is denying the faith.

Hey C.T. Good job!!! Nobody is a child of GOD until they except JESUS CHRIST as their saviour (from final death & hell). Then they become true “children of GOD.” They also are joint heirs with CHRIST in His inheritance. We are also grafted into the tree of the chosen ones - the Jewish children of GOD!!! This & more blessings are all written in GOD’s wonderful word - the BIBLE….Read it. Thanks 4 list’nen.

[...] “Was Jesus a Liar?” [...]

Mr. Thomas,

I also want to thank you for speaking the truth. Of all the articles and comments I read, I have never seen as many words written as this article and the one Father Jonathan wrote. In the name of tolerance we say right is wrong and wrong is right . These are the words of Jesus we are talking about.”No man comes to the Father but through me” Dear people ..does anyone who calls himself a Christian want to take a chance that Jesus didn’t really mean what He said? To water down the words of Jesus Christ in the name of tolerance ,political correctness, or anything else is a line we cross to our shame and maybe the collapse of our nation.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
There are many who have commented who believe the truth. Pray for America that truth and righteousness will prevail..that God,s mercy will “triumph over judgment”

THANK YOU, Mr. Thomas! “Christians” need to hear your message. I pray that someone who reads your article will see the truth in it, research your claims in Scripture, and accept Christ as Savior. Thank you for taking a stand for Christ because He IS the only way of salvation.

The ignorant commentary by Mr. Thomas simply illustrates that he is no religious scholar, nor intellect, nor qualified plagerist.

This one doctrine, exclusivity, has lead to as many bloody abominations in the name of “The Lord”, “God”, etc., as any other religous delusion. Those who defend it can be counted as neither good Christians, or good people. If Jesus were to come back, he would curse you for dividing the sons and daughters of God over issues you have no certain knowledge of.

Although, the igorant, the evangelicals, the fundamentalists, and their like ilk would foist the belief that the current Christian Bible is the literal and inerrent word of God, a close examination will reval the absurdity of such a claim. It is willfull ignorance.

The core of the Christian Bible is of a piece with every other ancient middle eastern religious text. They all claim exclusivity as means of protecting the power, pretige, and wealth of the priestly class.
It is quite simply, a scare tactic used by man against his fellow man.

And thankfully a majority of the American public understand this.

Great article - God Bless you.

I am Catholic.

I believe this question — Are there many ways to salvation besides their own faith? — is not a very good one; it can be understood, or rather misunderstood, in more ways than one.

Perhaps we are answering different questions. For instance: Do only Christians go to heaven, while every Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu, to hell? If this is the question, then we can have a respectful and fruitful dialogue.

At the same time, however, the question can be viewed: Are Jesus and Buddha and Mohammed one and the same, all saviors and all divine? Perhaps others do not see a distinction here between these questions. I do, to be sure.

May the non-believers not waste their time here on earth. It is not just Planet Earth we return to. I am more than a physical appearance. There is this wonderful thing called a soul that makes me who I am. I ask you this. Have you ever witnessed someone dying? Have you ever been by their side as they reach for and talk to other loved ones who have passed on? Just as birth can make one feel close to God, so can death. The earth is a beautiful place, God created it. Just as He created his Son. We did a simple Christmas play when we were children. In the play, the angels were asking why would God go to earth? He creates a “Son” to go to Earth as a “BABY” so He can be close to His “CHILDREN”. Jesus had to walk among us to be close to us. He had to die among us to prove life everlasting. The blessed Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Thank You Jesus for dying on that cross for the non-believers and for those who believe. May those non-believers soon believe. Life on earth does not last forever, but life in Heaven will.

May God continue to bless you whether you realize it now or not. May you find Christ!

after reading many commints on your column it shows that many peolpe need the truth, thanks cal for the truth.

thinks cal for letting those who think jesus is a liar when he said the only way to the father was thru him,which is the solom truth.those catholics who think the pope can forgive sin will be very angry when jesus tells them i never knew you depart from me all who worh lawlessness.I just read revoluations again and those who are not ready for the rapture will go through a terrible 7 years of tribulations.Please keep spreading the truth about jesus and also tell these tree huggars Al Gore isn:t God.But he does worship the moon.

Romans 14:1-4

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Please do not confuse the religious doctrines of men with God’s word. They are not the same.

I can tell by your quote that your convictions are strong. Myself I’m not so convinced. Not the part about Jesus Christ and what he said, but about him being born from God. My question for you is What were they doing that was so bad in his time that hasn’t been repeated over and over up to and including now, that would cause God to create a son that could die, but only do it once?
I say this not to anger you or smear your religious beliefs, but I find solice in the beauty and natural
wonders of our Planet Earth, cause from what I see, when life is over, it just returns to the Earth.
Love the Planet it will love you back

At least people are reading you, Cal! That will give them something of substance to read in the Press.
As for the ones who do not think the Lord Jesus Christ is Who He claimed to be, all one has to do is explain away 1) the empty tomb and 2) the resurrection appearances!!

It’s summer. (Matt.24:32) If we embrace the prophecies about Him, His virgin birth, His miracles, His becoming our sacrifice and His resurrection then we must embrace His soon return.

Just a a quick thanks for the courage to present your very valid points.

Be God’s

Joseph Canfield

Cal…and other commentators…
One writer observed that a lot of information was floating around in the responses…I suspect more personal opinion than anything else…to not elieve what Jesus said or to interpret it to meet one’s personal philosophy is a lot like the Pharisees and Jewish rulers who refused to believe in Jesus, so individual interpretation is not new…you can see it today in “PC” churches and in political circles…maybe we need to understand the concept of faith…faith in the Bibke, and faith in Jesus Christ…as for many ways to heaven, John 14:6 is specific enough for me…and no, I don’t have answers to some of the questions raised about one who may never have heard of Jesus…but maybe we ought to be more concerned for ourselves and once secure in a position, reach or assist others to take Jesus to those who need to hear of Him ..here in the U.S. and abroad

Thank you Cal for speaking the truth. I believe with all my heart that Jesus is the only way. His love for mankind is beyond any words I could put down in writing. It amazes me that people are ignorant of it. His words are truth and will stand true through eternity. I am so greived that so many believe there are many paths to heaven when truly Jesus is the only way. I have a peace and rest I was never able to find before surrendering my life to God. Thank you again for your boldness in speaking the truth.

There will come a day when we take our last breath, that is for sure. When we stand before God we will be judged upon whether or not we truly believed in His son Jesus and accepted Him as our Savior. You can either choose to believe in Jesus or not, thanks to God’s gift of free will. I truly believe Christ is our Savior, and His free gift of salvation is available to anyone who receives Him.

Thank you for saying what has needed to be said.It is true.

Remember that the Bible was also written by MAN - MORTAL man - NOT a “god”. I believe the Bible is a good book of parables & a good system by which to live your life. However, it shouldn’t be taken literally. Do I really think there was a world-wide flood & an ark with 2 of every animal aboard? No. Do I believe a snake told Adam to bite into an apple? No. I also believe organized religion is no good. Religion is the most personal thing in life to an individual & should be treated as such. I need no one in Rome to tell me what I “should believe”. My God is a God who will save me regardless of which faith (if any) I follow. To me, that’s more of a correct definition of a so-called “Christian God” than the definitions put out there by hard core religious folks. To each their own - live & let live - pray if you want…or not.

Thank-you very much for saying what has needed to be said for quite some time. It’s true.

Thank you Cal for such a good article, glad to see some still believe the Words of Jesus Christ.
Upon reading the many comments it seems we are in a very sad state of affairs in this country! The pulpits of America which once made it great have failed. I have respect for the non-believer who just doesn’t believe, but for all the christians who have wrested the scriptures to suit themselves and put their own mind above the mind of God 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Also 1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. If Christians can’t agree on basic doctrines (Jesus the only way to heaven)
then it would seem not all have the Spirit of God . John 16: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,he will guide you into all truth..

Mr Thomas you are so right, god bless you for speaking the TRUTH, as you always have. I pray your message will open their eyes that have been blinded by Satan.
Thank You
Karen Bowen

I agree with Cal Thomas. Most Christians read the Bible selectively, and have little idea as to the totality of its content. Such is the sure explanation as to why Southern preachers were able to quote scripture, that is now ignored, wherein slavery is clearly condoned. Careful reading of the Ten Commandments (don’t covet thy neighbors servants–only property rights are banned from that sort of coveting), Exodus, and other places will confirm that assertion. Gays are not to be merely shunned, but stoned for being gay. However, disobedient children, blasphemers, witches (the very reason that Thomas’ Catholic Church caused the slaughter of millions of Europeans who were said to be witches, but were likely just mentally ill or unusual), and a host of others are specifically condemned for death by “the Good Book.” Pick up the Bible and read Leviticus 12 and 13 if you want clear examples of how primitive the Bible is. Want an admonition for violence? Read Numbers 31 and you will see how Moses condoned rape and massacre. It is only because people do not read the bible that they are able to hate gays and justify it by citing scripture. If you hate gays because of the scripture, then you need to advocate slaughtering disobedient children to be consistent. Google any number of websites on the Bible and then consult your own if you don’t believe me.

“Comment by King David
June 26th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Thomas’ argument is patently ludicrous, based on a 2000-year-old myth. How anyone can possibly believe in that anything in the Bible is true is beyond rational thinking. Consider the source: mostly illiterate, superstitious bedouins, most of whom never traveled more than 10 miles from their place of birth, who passed down fanciful tales orally for hundreds of years for entertainment and to reassure themselves that evil spirits wouldn’t harm them.

The results are similar to the children’s game of telephone, where the orginal statement is so distorted at the end that it bears no relation to the original when uttered by the last person in line.

Of course they feared death, the great unknown, and hence created heaven; to control that ragtag lot and keep them in line and subservient, the church created hell.”

Just a few points: There are 2 parts to the Bible: Old and New testaments. The old has been written long before Christs arrival (Torah). It has been studied for almost as long and the learnings codified in the Talmud.

The disciples weren’t illiterate, among them were fishermen, doctors, tax collectors, all educated in teh Jewish faith. Clearly not all bedouins. The oldest documents currently found are within 100-200 years after Christ. Paul documented many things in his letters to the different churches. So there are documents from within the era that are known to the people of the time. If Paul could write, he must have been sending the letters to some one who can read.

AS for oral hsitory, it has been documents to be much more accurate that you portary. In many tribes, the historian was an honored position who was given the responsbility to learn and repeat the history.

The old testament was inititally documented in writing around the time of Moses. Moses was a Prince of Egypt, and I would think quite literate.

This will not likely change your mind, but I suggest you investiage before you summarily dismiss.

Jesus was a liar or he was mistaken? Those are the only two choices or one is theologically ignorant? What breathtaking gullibility these Christians have. How about a third option … Jesus, a popular and charismatic Jew with Jewish followers, never actually said that. This saying was attributed to Jesus at the end of the first century, about 70 years after his death. It appears only in the Gospel of John, the last and least historical Gospel. As an accurate quote it has zero historical credibility. It never appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and Paul never quotes Jesus as saying it. Stop accusing rational people of being biblically illiterate just because they don’t buy into your childish theology. When will Christians ever start using their God-given brains to actually study the Bible?

Re: Comment by GetaGripWitYa2Faces
June 25th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

I don’t know what your comments were about, but your post
was too d**n long.

By the time I scanned across the words, “In conclusion…” there
were still five paragraphs yet to go.

C’mon man! Give us a break!

I am VERY happy that SOMEONE is speaking up and saying the truth!….Jesus IS the way… PERIOD.

All I kow is that Jesus died on the cross to pay for MY sins, put me right with God the Father, bought my ticket to heaven and promised to get me there.
If you want to pay your own way, buy your own space ship and find the way yourself, GO FOR IT. I can’t even find my own way to Indonesia or the Phillippines.

Thank you, Mr. Thomas. Well said!

“either you believe in something or you fall for anything” … and I think that is true today more than ever. I think America is losing its religion but is attempting to hang onto its faith. And in the final analysis, I think faith is the thing that is important, along with hope and love, it gives us something to believe in during the times when we just don’t completely understand the direction of our world … and sometimes even the direction of our personal lives. This Infinite Presence we call God, is still a great mystery. Religion attempts to define it, not realizing that It is beyond definition. So, let’s keep the faith … no matter what our religious or spiritual choices may be.

I write this comment for the eddification of the faithful and the correction of the ignorant. First of all, the Bible was not written by people who believe the world is flat. Isaiah 40:22 says that God sits on the CIRCLE of the earth and Job 26:7 says that He hangs the earth on nothing. The pagan nations or ignorant people who didn’t read the Bible may have believed the world was flat, but Bible reading Christians have never believed any such nonsense even when the secularist scientists of the time were given over to the whims of their own imaginations. Further, Copernicus wrote to Pope Paul III with full confidence that he would support his findings concerning the revolutions of the planets. You can read it for yourself in his book, Revolutionubus. Also, the line of the Messiah was accounted from the mother, and Mary’s geneology is given seperatly from Joseph’s in the New Testament, by which it is shown that she is descended from David from whence the Messiah was to come; Scripture says nothing about the Messiah coming from Solomon. As far as translation from Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, or Latin into English is concerned, we have an excellent translation and a perfect conveyance of meaning. Jesus did indeed say that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (Further, many pastors are themselves learned in the original Greek language of the New Testiment.) I hope this information was beneficial to some of you.

Wow! what he said is so true. Jesus is the ONLY way. No one else. Being a Christian isn’t a religion, it is a faith. If people took the time to see the true power and grace of God, they won’t know what hit them. I do not think I could have lived my life without God, to many things have happened that would have crushed me, if God wasn’t there to lift me up. Anyways I try to live my life for God each day, and no I’m not some older lady or anything. I’m a junior in college and it is hard to be a Christian and conservative in my viewpoints with professors slamming everything with their radical and athesist view points. They don’t even try to listen to your views and yes is coming from the so-called “conservative” Nebraskan University. I’m just saying persecution is out there and happening at this moment all around the world. Hundreds of thousands of Christians are being murdered, beaten, spit on, and cursed at just for believing in Jesus and wanting to read the Bible and tell people about their faith. They are not forcing people to be Christians at all. Go to Voice of the Martyrs website. Check it out. Be open-minded about things. I am. I more than willing to listen to someelse’s opinion. I might learn something, but being open-minded is a 2-way street. If you tell me to be open-minded at least listen to what I have to say.

This demonstrates the successful effect of the work of “New Age Christians” like the late and current Popes, as well as certain popular Modern-Evangelical pastors, who join Universalists and Humanists of all stripes and religions in helping the development of the One World Religion, where “all paths lead to god”.

This parallel “Fake Christianity” will join the world for the One World Religion, but true Christians will continue to follow Jesus, believing Him by faith, when He says that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father, but through Him.

Loretta
SF Bay Area

Cal,

I really appreciate you comments on this issue of other ways to heaven. I saw this on the CBS evening news with Catie Curic, and was appauled by it. She had two ministers on the news with her, discussing this. I was so mad, that I won’t watch her any more. I”m tired of LIBERAL news trying to brainwash the American people. They didn’t come to the basic american churches of this country to take their so called polls, but to the churches that believe Homosexual ministers are ok too.
Anyway, thanks for standing up for Christ, and broadcasting it.

Phil Zongker

BLah blah blog.

What does it take to make someone great. Do they have to right a book, do they have to be well traveled, have lots of kids, be loved by everyone, what is it?

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the Child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of His Divine manhood. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a Cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying—and that was His coat. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Such was His human life—He rises from the dead. Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the Centerpiece of the human race and the Leader of the column of progress. I am within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary Life. –James C. Hefley

To answer Anon (Name or anonomous) I must point out the following.

Your supposed contridiction in the first two chapters of Genises is a bit weak. If you read the chapters you’ll find that Chapter one is the overview of what happened during the 7 days of creation. Basically giving the highlights that happened on each day. Then Chapter two goes into a bit more detail for each event. It shows that all creatures were brought before Adam for him to name as well as to find a help mate for him. Non was found so then woman was created from Adam’s own body. This chapter also goes into the creation of the garden as well as other things. Obviously this chapter is just a expanded report of what was highlighted in chapter 1.

As for Jesus not Having the right lineage for the Messiah, your a bit misled here as well. If you check the gosples, you will find that there is two genological accounts of the linage of Christ. One for Joseph and one for Mary. Both of which provide that he did have linage which the Messiah needed. So I would beg you to do a bit more research and not be so easily led astray. Its easy enough for all you have to do is pick up a Bible and read it.

Comment by anon
June 26th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
well for inerrant believing christians that religion is easily debunked. in genesis ch. 1 “god” says he creates humans before animals or maybe it was vice versa in ch. 2 “god” says it was the other way around in the king james version. Not to mention the fact that jesus never was qualified to run for messiah in the first place because the jewish people base their genealogy through the mother not the father (one of the requirments to be messiah is one has to be a descendant of King Solomon).

Yes,
I believe it to be true that no man gets to heaven expcept through Jesus Christ.

But this can mean a lot more than you gave thought to. For instance, you yourself can not decide who get’s in. I can’t decide who gets in. And nobody else can decide who gets in. That is up to Jesus to decide.

Regardless of your shock and despair. it is not up to you…It is up to Jesus.

The Soul Perfecting Mystery of Jesus Christ begins with “faith” in Jesus Christ.

Now how would a non-beliver raised in his own cultural religious error ever be drawn unto Jesus Christ if all he saw from “so-called” believers was self-righteous judgement, and fire breathing rhetoric.

Jesus is not a Liar, he is the only path to salvation, just as he said.

The peace and love of the true and steadfast beliver in a most troubling world is what draws those unbelivers to the flock.

Those Things of the Spirit are dicerned BY the Spirit.

You can’t package them up and sell that understanding to the public as politics and usual.

Show them the fruit of your good work not just the sinfulness of theirs, understanding will come with time but only after the accept Christ in their hearts following your Godly example.

Love your enemies

Jesus is fiction, just like all religions

If you read the Bible you will see it is from God, not from man. The challenge is that too many people have set it in their mind that it is not from God, but there are evidences that it is. One things is to look at the science behind when books were written and the predictions they made that later came true (also scientifically dated) which provide some of the evidences of its author (e.g. NOT man). Just because a person doesn’t believe in something does not make it false (go ahead and say you don’t believe in gravity and then jump off a building). The whole key to God is to accept what he has provided us and submit to that…

Jesus is fiction, just like all religions. This debate is pointless.

Anon,

You worte “Not to mention the fact that jesus never was qualified to run for messiah in the first place because the jewish people base their genealogy through the mother not the father (one of the requirments to be messiah is one has to be a descendant of King Solomon).”

Another point that people are no longer litterate as to what the Bible says. Please see below. Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of David, shich was the promise.

“Joseph was clearly the son of Jacob (Matthew 1:16, so this verse [Luke 3:23 - says “son of Heli”] should be understood to mean “son-in-law of Heli.” Thus, the genealogy of Christ in Luke is actually the genealogy of Mary, while Matthew gives that of Joseph. Actually, the word “son” is not in the original, so it would be legitimate to supply either “son” or “son-in-law” in this context. Since Matthew and Luke clearly record much common material, it is certain that neither one could unknowingly incorporate such a flagrant apparent mistake as the wrong genealogy in his record. As it is, however, the two genealogies show that both parents were descendants of David—Joseph through Solomon (Matthew 1:7-15), thus inheriting the legal right to the throne of David, and Mary through Nathan (Luke 3:23-31), her line thus carrying the seed of David, since Solomon’s line had been refused the throne because of Jechoniah’s sin” [Dr. Henry M. Morris, The Defender’s Study Bible, note for Luke 3:23 (Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Publishing, Inc., 1995).].

Cal, whats your personal net worth? Do you think He was liar when He said “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kindom of heaven” or do you not care about going to heaven?

Those who would suggest there are many paths to God are those that want to justify their own lifestyles and acting the way they see fit rather than submitting to Christ. This was the warning about hypocrites that Jesus issued. Those who claim to believe in Christ but act in a manner inconsistent with their claimed beliefs will be “cut to pieces and assigned a place with the unbelievers”. We all know about the implications of unbelief in Christ.

Christians in this country had better wake up and start standing up for God or we will come to the same fate as those in other countries led by those committed to opposing God.

Gregg

Amen and well said, Brother Thomas. I’m afraid there will be a lot of “Christians” in the line that hears Jesus speak the words, “go away, I never knew you”. Their only problem will be that they never knew Him.

Well said, Heidi! There really is no debate. It is what the Bible teaches. Thanks for your perspective, as one who is not a follower of Jesus.

Also to the one who said they are astonished at the intolerance and lack of respect of Christians in this day and age - it’s not a matter of intolerance or lack of respect. But if we do what apparently many have done and decided that there are many ways to heaven, then we do not really believe what the Bible says, because the Bible is pretty clear on this matter. For another person to insist that we give up the ultimate tenant of our faith in order to get along with everyone in a wishy-washy sort of way, that is not tolerance or respect for us. America has become so caught up in the need to be religiously tolerant, so as not to offend anyone that she has walked clear away from her moorings and away from true faith in God and what she needs is not more tolerance; she needs to be revived and to go back to her foundations of faith in God.

That said, I do not reject a person who chooses not to believe as I do. I pray that that come to see the truth and know the love of the Father. But I choose to love them as they are. That doesn’t mean that I’m not going to challenge them with some thought-provoking questions. However, I think more importantly, I can show them that there really is a God who loves them and has a plan for them by the way I live. If I have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control, all fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in me, that goes a long way toward people being more responsive. I am not put on this earth to bash anyone or to try to convince them that they are wrong, just that there is a better way. But, my life better show that it really is a better way if I am going to tell people there is a better way. Yes, family?

The Christian/Biblical teaching that Jesus is the only source of eternal life does not need to mean that only Christians will be saved. The Bible also speaks of those who do not know God but do know right and wrong and whose own conscience does not convict them. It says God will accept those people.

I like the way C.S. Lewis dealt with the issue, when he wrote (paraphrasing):
“Jesus is the only source of salvation, but Jesus has not
revealed to us how He will save those who never knew about

only Jesus Christ offered a “son’s (daughters?) relationship with God. No other faith even approaches that wonderful promise. (Prodigal son parable). Moslem means “slave”.

Get over it or start a world wide holy war, knothead…and Jesus will judge you as you have judged them.
Best regards
Ken ( I sent back my southern baptist paperwork on stupidity like this).

This study has enlightened a flaw in some “Christians’” idea that more than one way exists for people to enter Heaven. The Bible is clear that the only entrance is through Jesus Christ. It does not use cryptic language or beat around the bush. Anyone who says otherwise is seriously confused about their Christian faith.
What I find amazing is that at least half the people posting here are either atheist or of some other faith than Christian. And I read post after post of people talking about the arrogance or ignorance of Christians.
First of all, Christians have no power to condemn. Christians, truly living by Crist’s example, exhibit the fruits of the indwelling Spirit as outlined in John 15 and Galatians 5. Arrogance and judgementalness are not among the fruits described. Maybe it is out of a fear that you are, in fact, incorrect in your ideas about Jesus Christ and your assessment of Christians that encourages the venomous remarks I have seen. Maybe you are sensing a conviction and you are fighting it to the bitter end, with Christians as an easy target to lay blame. Maybe you think that by shouting at Christians it will make it go away. But, frankly I cannot imagine wasting my time and spending so much energy with something I have no belief in.
Second, I fully understand the intellectual difficulty many people have in trying to wrap their minds around the idea of God. A few years ago, while attending college, if I would have seen this thread (I wouldn’t - since I had little time on my hands) I would have sided with those not believing what the Bible says, not believing in God. I happen to have a couple of degrees in biology and invertebrate ecology. However, as the years passed, I kept my mind open and was fortunate enough to be able to experience God’s calling and accepted Him through Jesus Christ. And now that I have Him in my life, I understand what it is I had been missing in my life prior. I wonder if some of the anxiety here is that you have searched through self-help books and false gods ranging from sex and money to Budha and Allah and they have turned up lacking. The one place you can find fulfillment will require a commitment and eventually lead to a change in lifestyle (as you are lead, in time, with God’s help) and maybe you cannot stand the idea that you might need to grow up and turn off the cartoons. I do not know what drives you, but I do hope that you would be still for a little bit and listen. I pray that your lives would be changed as mine has.

I must say, that after reading through a myriad of comments, that the vast majority of those in this discussion have, at best, read bits and pieces of the Bible, but have no or little understanding of Scripture as a whole. It is simular to stating that you love a traditional Hot Fudge Sundae, but hold the nuts, whipped cream, the cherry on top, and occasionally requesting No Hot Fudge or Forego the Ice Cream.

With that said, Man’s Pride withholds his ability to humble himself before The Creator of all things. The creature wishes to exalt self over the Creator. Therefore, it is impossible for the “Proud” to come before God…”God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Jesus said there is only One Way, and that way is through Him, and Him alone. That is that. Anyone who struggles with this, struggles with the ability to humble themselves before God. They will twist scripture, as many have done in these comments, and exalt “their own views”. A real Christian understands these are time tested truths, and again Scripture stands exalted by predicting that in the last days that man will try to appear godly, yet reject truth.

Paul, over two thousand years ago, describes our present situation to a T in Romans 1.

You have to accept The Bible as a Whole or not at all. You can not pick and choose. If you are guilty of one sin, you break the Whole Law. The ONLY Remedy is the Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ, the Mercy and Lovingkindness of God - Our Creator, and the guiding Presense of God’s Spirit.

Remember, God is in Control - Man is out of control - Put your trust in God - Not in the futility of man

Boy a lot of half facts get thrown around….

Jewish lineage is trace throught he mother, but mostly for the sake of determining jewishness.
“Why and how matrilineal descent evolved is unclear. Other aspects of lineage, such as one’s affiliation with the Jewish tribes, are traced through the father. And in the Hebrew Bible, paternal lineage often plays a more important role. Scholars have suggested various reasons for the use of maternal lineage in determining Jewish status. ” [Why is Judaism based on maternal lineage?Other aspects of lineage, such as one's affiliation with the Jewish tribes, are traced through the father. And in the Hebrew Bible, paternal lineage often ...ask.yahoo.com/20030806.html - 13k ]

Judism is a patriarchial society, and attachment to a tribe is traced through the father’s family. The Messiah was to be a descendant of Solomon, in particular the House of David, which is confirmed in the Bible and why Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, and the lneage is of the tribe of Judah.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I’VE BEEN WANTING SOMEONE WITHAN AUDIENCE TO SAY THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

DEBBIE MILLER
JACKSON TN

Dear Cal,

It has always been my understanding, and indeed what I was taught, that Jesus is indeed the bridge or pathway to the Father. We all have to cross that bridge to get to heaven. However, the notion that living your life as a Christian is the only way to get to the on ramp for that bridge is a false one.

At our particular judgements, we will each meet Christ, and get the big performance review. This will not be so much which religion we were affiliated with as much as whether we followed the message whispered to us in our hearts for all of our natural lives. Then the veil will be lifted and we will see clearly. At that time, there will be a natural culmunation of our lives, which prepared us to make this decision, which will last for all eternity. Those who lived good lives will accept Christ as their Savior, and those who cannot conceive of a higher power than themselves will reject him.

Now the argument can be made about which religion is the “higher calling”, but remember that those called to Christianity, living and practicing the whole truth, will be called to a much higher standard that someone without exposure to the Sacred Scriptures. That is why the responsibiity to “Go and teach all nations” is so awesome. However, for those not taught, I believe there is a different standard than for those who had the opprotunity to know Christ while here on earth.

There will be many suprised souls, who will then be reminded that “Calling Lord! Lord!” is not the only requirement to enter heaven.

I expect to meet many sincere Bhuddists, Shintoists, etc in heaven, and all of them will have met the Lord at the gate and have said, “Oh I recognize You. I have followed your message in my heart all my life.” Any Jesus will say, ” Come into My kingdom, prepared for you since the beginning of time/”

There will also be many “Christians who will say, “You are not the Lord I followed in my life”, and Jesus will reply, “Depart from Me, I know you not”.

Cal says: “People should tolerate and respect people of different faiths, or no faith.”

Sounds good, but I’m curious what that means to Cal. What does it mean to respect someone whose religion is very different from your own? Perhaps some examples of what it means and doesn’t mean will be helpful.

To “anon”:

This is a very poor attempt at debunking Christian Theology. The first rule for understanding the inerrancy of the Bible is that one must understand what they are reading. Without the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, no man can understand the spiritual truth and nature of God’s Word.

Bible translation, as with any language translation, is not up to the translator to “color” the message. There are a clear set of rules by which the translator, if being honest, must follow in order to come to the intended message. This is not just an understanding of words, but requires an understanding of culture, tone, tense, etc.

The passage in Genesis to which you refer is problematic for you because it seems out of order. However, the only sequential events mentioned are