Father Jonathon,

Jesus Christ is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No man comes to the Father, except by Christ’s atoning sacrifice that He made at the cross - by which the holy and just wrath of God has been appeased, and now, in Christ alone, God is pleased with those who are in Him. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)

This salvation is for those who are near and those who are far off - for as many as the Lord our God shall call. By God’s grace, there will be people in heaven from all walks of life - from drug addiction, to prostitution, to Islam, to Evangelicalism. God’s grace is sufficient to save all of us from our sins.

But that said… the Bible is obvious that outside of Christ there is no salvation. While Islam may have some tenants within it that are good (inasmuch as some Islamic tenants do not contradict biblical Christian theology), no Muslim will be saved without Jesus Christ.

How Jesus reveals Himself (or not) to those born in predmoninantly non-Christian lands is a great mystery. But I don’t need to know those details to confidently assert that there is no salvation besides the salvation that is provided for us by the penal substitution of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross.

The way is narrow.

God bless.

Dan

Okay, someone needs to study their Bible a little more. There is not two ways to heaven; there is only one! When Jesus said you will have eternal life by obeying The Commandments, He was speaking to those of His time. That statement does not stand true today. If you study your Bible more you will learn that Jesus is the only way. Eternal life is provided through believing Jesus Christ is the savior by faith through grace not works - this equates to repentance and living for the Lord. Belief is Jesus Christ for the sole purpose of salvation will not provide eternal life; if the prayer you prayed did not change the way you live then it did not change your destiny.

I am sorry to be the one to break it but the Catholic belief is false and a lie and Obama does not have a clue what he is talking about. He is your average corrupt politician; he says whatever he needs to at the time to benefit his political career.

Strictly speaking, there are TWO ways to heaven (everlasting life). Unbelievably, Jesus says so! Let me explain. When one person quotes Scripture to support their view and then another uses other verses to counter (contradict); the Lord is not divided! All Scripture is God-breathed and therefore true. Both of the verses used to support those individual viewpoints are true (though not necessarily the viewpoints themselves). They are NOT in opposition! Since they are BOTH true, they must HARMONIZE to return the truth the Lord wishes to convey.

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments (Matthew 19:16-17).” You see, Jesus also says to obey the commandments to have eternal life. Why? Why does Jesus point to the commandments and say to follow them to “enter life,” if “He is the Way, the Truth and the Life?”

There are two reasons for this. First, if you keep all of the commandments, you WILL enter life. Jesus does NOT lie! For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous (Rom 2:13). But, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).” So, “when the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matt 19:25-26).”

The second reason Jesus pointed to the commandments is, “the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24).” Yes, he pointed to the commandments so they will lead us to a savior, HIMSELF! “There is only One who is good.”

What he is revealing to us is that RIGHTEOUSNESS is the key to entering life. You can be “careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness (Deut 6:25.),” OR “I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, NOT having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the RIGHTEOUSNESS which comes from God on the basis of faith,…(Philippians 3:8-9).

How does this apply to others who do not know of the Gospel (those that lived before Christ and those that have never heard)?

Nazario A. Gonzales, indeed, has the answer, “then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right (Acts 10:34-35).” What did God do for Abraham? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Rom 4:3).” Since, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2),” he can credit righteousness as he sees fit. Does not God judge righteously? “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).” Then rest assured HE will.

We preach the Gospel to bring glory to Christ and the sacrifice he made for us. This is Good News, because we, and those in the jungle (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for THEMSELVES, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them (Rom 2:14-15).), know we cannot perfectly keep the law. The Righteous One brings glory to the Father by imputing and crediting righteousness to us, and, in turn, the Father glorifies us through his Son. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are (1 John 3:1)!” Praise the Lord of all creation!

Why is Jesus and his father so arrogant in that people must believe in them to enter heaven? I believe in the principles that Jesus taught us, but I find it hard to reconcile with these principles the fact that we must worship him to enter heaven. Why would a man who represents so much goodness have so much conceit to require us to worship him? I personally want to believe that regardless of what religion, if any, that we follow will allow us into heaven so long as we are a good and giving person. I just can’t imagine that Jesus and his Father would be so egotistical to turn down a good soul for simply not putting them on a higher pedestal.

Fr. Jonathan, I think many have not comprehended what you said. I fully understand what you said, and 100% agree with it. I know many who are not Catholic and will find Christ in the end. The road is narrow and not many will find it, doesn’t mean that only Catholics will find it. It means that with the way the world is today, if people don’t change their hearts, they won’t find it. God’s Divine Mercy is Limitless. God bless you forever! Great job as always and I always look forward to your columns.

God bless you Fr Jonathon! As a fellow Catholic Christian I too share your love of the gifts of Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition and the Holy Spirit that inspired and intertwines both so closely together!

Friends - it is not a contradiction to believe that only through Jesus one can be saved AND that those of other faith (or even no faith!) can also be saved.

When we die we will all face judgement before Jesus Christ - not just Christians but all humanity. Therefore all of us have an opportunity - before Jesus Christ - to enter into eternal life and be saved by Him.

I am a great believer in the Divine Mercy of God. He wants ALL of us to be saved. Of course if you are a Christian and followed Christ’s teachings you will find it easier to get into heaven - but that does not make it IMPOSSIBLE or HERITICAL that God will not have Mercy on you!

Why not stop throwing stones and let God decide who gets to heaven? This isn’t political correctness… only God can judge another… all we can do is follow His example and forgive others lest our own sins are not forgiven.

May the Peace of Christ be with you all!

Anthony

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines religion as:
a) a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes,
beliefs, and practices
b) a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

If one were to utilize the definition of “a personal set of beliefs”, then currently there are over 6 billion different religions in the world. Obviously, many of these people with these different religions will be granted eternal life with God. However if one were to subset these sets of beliefs down to the critical belief, namely having Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their life, then there can only be ONE TRUE belief. Unfortunately, Father Jonathan fails to clarify his position on this core belief with his article.

You’re going to burn!

Mat 25:31 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory.
Mat 25:32 And all nations shall be gathered before Him. And He shall separate them from one another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats.
Mat 25:33 And indeed He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats off the left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in;
Mat 25:36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
Mat 25:37 Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink?
Mat 25:38 When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You?
Mat 25:39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
Mat 25:41 Then He also shall say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Mat 25:42 For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink;
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.
Mat 25:44 Then they will also answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?
Mat 25:45 Then He shall answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.

I’ll live my life rejecting the judgement of men and submit to the judgement of The Christ and God’s will alone. What I fear hearing are words to be spoken to the unrighteous….

Thank you, for I’ve had my chance to speak my heart on this matter. Yeshua is my only Savior, Yehova is my only Master. I’ll leave the judgement of others’ beliefs and hearts to the only One fit. I will live in love for my brothers and sisters, no matter their percieved shortcomings, and in loving service to the Lord. I will share that which I feel has been revealed to me by the One who sits above in judgement through my study and my faith. Reguardless of those people who spit on me and condemn me for it. I will reject the hatred, condemnation and division that others wreak in the faith. And I will minister to those that seek the love of God, as well as those whose hearts are hardened because of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit called hatred.

May God bless you all. God’s will, not mine, be done.

The concept of contradiction is flawed, purely subjective and speculative… as with all statements of Truth there are catalytic variables… You can say that water freezes at 32 degrees farenheit and I can show you that with a flowing current present this statement can be proven false. To the unenlightened mind which has not been given the spiritual insight necessary to “rightly divide the Word of Truth” what seems to be contradictory may actually stand quite well.

I am glad that so many believe in God and want to be saved. However, I must respectfully disagree with the author of this article because scripture does so. But rather than give opinions with which we may argue, I’ll simply provide scripture references as God’s word is the power for salvation, not mine:

Matthew 17:1-5
Acts 3:22-23 (Deut. 18:15)
John 12:48-50
John 17:8, 14, 18
John 14:25-26, 16:12-13
Revelation 20:12
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3
Revelation 22:18-19
Gal 1:6-9
Matthew 7:21-23

– Kevin

These two articles and the discourse that has followed are a perfect example of how we ALL must learn to hear His voice for ourselves. There is no mediator between God and men other than Jesus and it is The Holy Spirit who leads us as individuals into all Truth by giving us the ability to “rightly divide” The Word.

I think that the article is essentially correct, but unclear. Jesus IS the only way, but through General Revelation, those with no knowlege of the Gospel can come to know Him in their hearts. Those who have heard and have rejected the Gospel are just as clearly lost.

I have read Father Morris’ thoughtful comments with much interest. This statement in particular caught my attention: “In other words, as a Catholic Christian, I believe the grace flowing from the redemptive act of the passion and death of Jesus Christ is capable of reaching out to all people of all places in ways we can never fully grasp. Christian belief in Jesus as the one mediator between God and man should not be understood as an eternal death sentence for the man born in a remote jungle who will never hear the name of Jesus. In God’s limitless creativity, he will always find ways to present himself as a gift to each of his beloved.”

When I comtemplate the love that God and His Son Jesus Christ must have for each of us, I too believe that they would somehow provide an opportunity for salvation “for the man born in a remote jungle who will never hear the name of Jesus.” Would it not be a beautiful doctrine to believe that God would make available to each of His children, regardless of where or when they lived, the opportunity to learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, and then have the chance to accept His teachings? Such a teaching would be in perfect harmony with the Savior’s teaching recorded in John 14:6. Every one of His children would be given the opportunity to come to the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. But it would also satisfy the belief of Father Morris and other good-hearted people that God “will always find ways to present himself as a gift to each of his beloved.”

I believe that such a doctrine is true, and references to it are found in John 5:25 (the dead shall hear the voice of the Son), I Peter 3:18-20 (Christ preached to the spirits in prison after His death) and I Peter 4:6 (gospel preached to the dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.) Paul even speaks of baptisms being performed for the dead. (I Corinthians 15:29). It is wonderful to me to consider that God and His Son Jesus Christ have provided for those who have lived and died without an opportunity to know “the way, the truth, and the life” that is found in Jesus Christ. This opportunity will be given to them either in this life, or after they die. If they choose to reject it when it is offered, they will have to bear the consequences. But no one will be denied the opportunity.

By the way, this doctrine is a central teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Mormons”) of which church I am a member. This is the very reason the Mormons build temples around the world, and the very reason so many members of the LDS church expend great effort in researching their family history, so that all who have lived will have the opportunity to learn of Christ.

Father Morris,

So simple - yet made so complex.

I do believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father of Heaven. After that - we get into so many hypotheticals and other messes.

My job is to maintain a relationship with Jesus Christ - after that; it is God’s job to sit on the Judgment Throne, and Jesus’s job to stand by my side (if appropriate) when judgment is declared. If Jesus is by my side offered as THE sacrifice for me - I get to spend eternity with the Father (a.k.a. Heaven). If not - I will spend eternity without the Father - eternally separated (a.k.a. Hell).

All humans are spiritually eternal. Will we spend eternity with or without the Father? God will figure out how He will make the gospel available to everyone who has, does or ever will exist. That’s His job. Other than that - any other “debate” is meaningless (just ask Solomon). There are religions that lead people astray - I just hope I am not one of them - but I trust in Jesus to help comfort me that I am not astray.

Respectfully,
And blessings, In Christ’s Name

Dear Father Jonathan,

In my humble opinion, with all my heart, I believe you have it right. You said it so eloquently “the grace flowing from the redemptive act of the passion and death of Jesus Christ is capable of reaching out to all people of all places in ways we can never fully grasp.” Beautiful!

Father Jonathan,

I may continue to read your column for political analysis, etc, but definitely not for instruction on theology. You are way off base on this one. If your point of view is based on an alternative interpretation of one scripture, that’s bad enough. But if you consider the rest of the new testament and still conclude that salvation is available to all men of good will, even if they do not accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then you are deliberately ignoring scripture in order to hold to a popular philosophy of men. Shame on you.

I am very surprised by Fr. Jonathan’s article. I had the pleasure of touring with a gospel groups for several years. We performed in any denomination of church that invited us. One of the points I always made to the congregations was that every church we performed in had one thing in common: at least one depiction of Jesus Christ. We used this to make the point that denominations are based on very minor man-made differences but that the one common thread between all of us was our faith in Jesus as being the ONLY way to salvation through faith in the redeeming properties of His blood. To accept the belief that there are other ways other than John 3:16 would mean that every word of the Bible is suspect. I will never ever believe that.

Father, “Choose you this day who you will serve…”. Will it be God through His word or man through his political correctness.

Seeking For A Sign From God

May I ask this question? Is the world seeking for a sign from God as to His existence and the reality of Him? I see where people run to the media with a photo of light and shadow on a tree, door, in food, and many other places. Each seems to resemble Christ, but who has a original photo to compare them to?

Here is what Holy Scripture says of it: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, but no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonas the Prophet” (Jonah). What sign did Jonah give to the great and wicked city of Ninevah? Repent of your sins! Repent of your sins! Repent of your sins! Repent of your sins! For God will destroy this city in 40 days. Absolutely nothing else. The command is still the same. God said I am the same yesterday, today and forever. I change not! His clear directions to attain heaven are found in His Holy Bible, (the unimproved version). How can one improve upon God? He said search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. He said also If you seek me with all of your heart you shall find me. Are you actively seeking Him and not chasing illusions on doors, weeping statues, Idols oozing blood etc etc? Everything cast into our path outside of the living word of God are illusions put there to draw us away from God and His directions to his wondrous heaven. The first thing Satan did when walking into Adam and Eve’s perfect world was cast doubt with a question….Yea! Hath God said? They knew God who is good. Satan offered knowledge of himself and they bought it. Look where that knowledge has taken the entire world. All of you that doubt the veracity of the Bible please consider this statement found in it: “It is appointed unto men once to die and after death the judgement.” How many folks do you know that are over 140 years of age? Over 120? Over 110? The Word stands on it’s own record.

Sincerely, Ken

Thanks Father Jonathan for clarifying that. Thanks to “Lost sheep” too. Good comments. Hey evangelicals; Jesus said narrow road, not narrow mind! Might help to take that log out of you collective eyes.

Father Jonathan,
As a Catholic, I believe Jesus died for our sins and He is the only way to the Father. The Father’s salvation plan was brilliant, merciful, and filled with love. The Father’s grace and brilliance should not be limited as to how He brings men and women to come to know Jesus. We should not limit Our Father from saving us and others from our sins and bringing jesus to us.

Reading Acts 10:34, I found for myself the answer to this question posed in this discussion. Peter meets Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man seeking God. Upon meeting Cornelius, Peter spoke, “In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” These are God’s words engraved in scripture.

Our Father saves by grace and how grace is dispensed a mystery. Let God be God and let Him save whomever He wills. We are only obligated to preach salvation through Jesus and spread Jesus’ love to others. Let’s spread the seed of salvation carefully, generously, and with faith in God who sends grace to water the field we sow.

Father Jonathan:

Thank you again for a great article. And thank you for your service as a priest. I think the personal attacks on you are entirely uncalled for.

It is amazing how many bloggers here feel that they know exactly what Jesus meant when he said “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.” I think many are missing the message for sake of the words.

Thank you again.

Steve

Jesus, the Son of God, is the way to the Father and we are saved by His redemptive death, which is the greatest gift of generosity on God’s part. If God can conceive of sacrificing His son for us, He can conceive of saving someone who doesn’t know Jesus, but loves God. Peter, upon meeting Cornelius spoke, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Acts 10:34. We, as Christians, must not limit God’s power, love, or saving grace.

I would hope that, after all this time, Christianity would be able to make a persuasive argument that didn’t boil down to either a promise of eternal paradise, or a threat of eternal torture. Guess not. If this doesn’t say everything you need to know about Christianity, just look at the intolerant, inconsistent, irrational, and often downright nutty arguments made by various Christians in response to this article.

Didn’t CS Lewis say, in Mere Christianity, something to the effect of “We know that people can only be saved through Christ. But we don’t know that only those who KNOW Christ can be saved THROUGH Christ.”?

Father Jonathan is openly admitting he is a heretic by rejecting that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He is also betraying the two greatest catholic theologians of all time Augustine and Thomas Aquinas who knew that without faith in Jesus Christ there is no salvation. Father Jonathan has denied the faith and the saving power and exclusivity of the gospel.

For God saves people through covenants. The old testament was God’s first covenant with the jewish people and the new testament (gospel) is his second covenant both for the jew and the non-jew. Salvation comes only through God’s revelation, which is in his word. There is no salvation outside this revelation. This is the christian faith, a faith affirmed by the four greatest theologians of all time Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin. a faith that father Jonathan denies. Father Jonnathan would be well advised to read scripture instead of fancying a pagan religion out of his own imagination, where people can be saved outside God’s revelation through his word.

Ahhh… but we can buy and work (by good deeds) our way into the lives (hearts and minds) of unbelievers. How can someone call on the name of one whom they have never heard? Yet scripture says that one day every tongue will confess His Lordship. That may be willingly or unwillingly but never-the-less it will occur for all. “Belief in” or “Faith in” something that you don’t even know about would be quite ridiculous. The fact that men elsewhere search for a future destination other than this world is rather Abrahamic isn’t it? A city not of this world whose builder and maker is God. These “seekers” do strive for something more noble than simple greed do they not? Even the men on the road to Emaus (?Christians?) did not immediately recognize who it was that they were traveling with until they “invited” him to stay with them. I would submit that both things are true… Jesus is the only one who ever was or ever will be worthy to have made a path into heaven for all men. Yet God can use all things (including other religions) for His glory. How He is revealed to each man is His domain alone. As servants of Jesus it is our (Christian’s) duty to preach the gospel…
“in(deed)” not just in lip service. Our names theoretically are not so much at some point “written” into the Lamb’s Book of Life as they are “not blotted out”. Every man’s name has final edition “potential” or a “reserved space” via the power of the cross. Whether or not our name is “found” therein is another story… I think that this can obviously be a touchy subject… but I have found it stimulating as well…

I am a Southern Baptist and agree with Father Jonathan on this issue.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, no one comes to the Father but by Him. This is a simple truth. However, there are many paths to Jesus. Even the rocks and trees cry out to the man in the jungle. This man is capable of finding the light and truth without ever hearing the name ‘Jesus.’ While the path to Heaven is narrow, many roads can lead to it.

Truth is not what is “taught” or “believed” by a certain denomination like the Catholic Church. Jesus says he IS THE TRUTH. So everything we hear and are taught by “the church” or “the father” is to be tested against THE WORD OF GOD…THE BIBLE. Dont base your belief in religion or religious leaders. The Bible was not created by the Catholic Church. It was the inspired words of God spoken to His disciples, long before there was a Catholic Church.

The Bible IS Truth and nowhere else, and from noone else, can we find Truth. We can only hear the truth or lies proclaimed and then must TEST the proclamation against the Bible-the Truth.

Dont stake your salvation on misguided “Christian” leaders who are deceiving you and taking you down the path of destruction, desecrating the name of Jesus and HIS Truth that HE is the ONLY Way to Salvation, and that anyone who does not BELIEVE in HIM and REPENT FROM SIN is damned to eternal separation from Him. This is not casting judgement on any person, it is proclaiming TRUTH to every person, so that he can decide for himself what his judgement will be.

Know the TRUTH (Jesus through HIS Word, the BIBLE) and the TRUTH Will set you free.

It all comes down to this. Either Jesus IS God and His Words are TRUE or He is not and His Words are false. If Jesus IS God, you MUST believe HIS words, not the Words of Man…and even if we do not fully comprehend or see how HE is just and fair. God says His ways are not ours. If we believe Jesus to be God, we believe all that he says and does. God was just and fair in saving some and allowing others to perish. For we ALL have sinned and fallen short of God. We all have also been fairly given the opportunity to accept the free gift of Salvation from eternal separation from God in hell. This gift is through Jesus sacrifice and death in our place. All we have to do is accept HIM. We all have the same choice, but our will / choice will determine our response to God when He reveals Himself to us through Jesus.

Jesus says I am THE way, THE truth, and NO ONE comes to the father but through me. He also says that narrow is the way to God and that few will take the path to Him. Wide is the way of destruction, which many will follow.

If JESUS IS GOD, than HE IS the ONLY way to salvation.

If Jesus is not God, than you can get to God any way you want to or think is right.

Both statements cannot be true. It is either Jesus’ way or it is not.

People cannot be Christians and believe that all paths lead to God or that all will be saved. To be a true Christian, you MUST believe in Jesus 100% and trust Him 100%. If you do not, you are not a Christian and are not saved.

The Bible (Matthew 7:21) says:
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Many will THINK they are Christians, and claim to be Christians, and do things in the name of Christianity, but will NOT be saved. When 87% of Protestant “Christians” do not believe in Jesus and His claims to be the ONLY way to salvation, they are NOT Christians, as they DO call Jesus a Liar by ignoring His words and perpetuating a lie from Satan.

Romans 3: 5 -
But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—”Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.” [b]

13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.” [c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.” [d]

14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” [e]

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and misery mark their ways,

17 and the way of peace they do not know.” [f]

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” [g]

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in [h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, [i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

The WAY is indeed narrow.

God is Just and Fair and gives the same opportunity for Salvation to ALL. Choose this day whom you will serve….if you love, accept, follow and profess JESUS as Lord, the ONLY TRUE GOD and ONLY WAY to salvation, your merciful God will accept you as His and you will be saved. Apart from Him, there is NO salvation.

Thank you Lord for showing us YOUR truth in THE Word of God, the Bible, in which we can test every word, opinion, thought, to find truth and descern deception. Especially in light of the fact that the Word says that even from amongst the leaders in the church, shall deception rise up and be so cunning that even the ELECT (those who are saved) could be deceived, if it were possible. People, do not be deceived by this priest who CLEARLY preaches another gospel…not THE gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!

Read the Bible and know it inside and out. It is THE Word of God and we must know it to know Jesus and to be able to give an account of what it means to BELIEVE in HIM as the ONLY WAY!!!

If you are unsure about how to get to God, open the Bible and begin reading in the New Testament. God will show you the way. It is up to you to accept it or reject it….but your eternal destiny is worth the time and effort to know enough about Jesus to make your own decision.

May God’s Word not return void.

John 14:6

All anyone needs to know, surprised at this article.

Father Jonathan,
I would ask that you invite Jesus into your heart and ask Him to reveal the truth about who He is. If you still feel the same way as you wrote in your article I would be very surprised. I must make one comment though, which I feel is important for any leader who professes to be a Christian, and ask you to be VERY certain about what you teach before you pass it on as truth to anyone else. To lead the Lord’s fock astray bears great repercussions.
James 3:1-6 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
There is life and death in the tongue so be sure to choose wisely what you say.

well someone needs to tell that to mel gibson who said “my wife is a good woman but she will go to hell because she is not catholic”.

Comment to: THE TRUTH RIGHT HERE
Believe what you want. If I am wrong in believing that Jesus is the only way to Heaven I have lost nothing. If, on the other hand, you are wrong, you have lost everything.
I can’t answer any of your questions. They remind me of such silly questions as whether Adam and Eve had belly buttons or where did Cain get his wife. What does it matter? What matters is the condition of your heart. What matters is whether you believe in John 3:16. What matters is where you will spend eternity. What you think doesn’t matter. Only what is truth matters.
The good father can believe whatever he wants as well. The collar won’t save him either. And what the Pope tells him won’t as well. All that matters is John 3:16. The rest of the Bible tells us how to live, how to interact with each other, how to interact with God.
Good works won’t save you. Your beliefs won’t save you. Only trusting in Jesus as your personal Savior and believing that God raised Him from the dead will save you. Believe what you will. When you face God on judgment day, it will be too late. He will say, “Depart from me you cursed. I never knew you.”
The prospect of Hell is awful to comtemplate. Imagine the worst thing or the worst event that ever happened to you. Now mulitply that by eternity and you have some idea of what Hell is like. It is that event, or something like it, that has no end….ever.

I also found this column to be “off the mark”. While there are grey areas (must Jews accept Jesus to be saved?) your column seemed to start off with “all roads lead to heaven” and end up with “any road may lead to Jesus”. I found this column to be poorly written, which is not like you.

The bottom line is, for a person to enjoy the assurance of salvation, to know that they know that they know that they will go to heaven when they die, they must accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. No membership in any church, no adherence to any other faith will provide that assurance.

Father Jonathon you are a brave man for Christ. Fulton Sheen was right there are millions who hate what they falsely believe to be the Catholic Church. Even though, like it was said by another comment column, you only have a small space to talk about this, many so called christians are so quick to judge & condem, which is contray to the bible they so boldy proclaim, without seeking further explanation or review. Of course there is no salvation without JESUS CHRIST. But JESUS Christ decides who gets saved and not you people. Prasie be to God. Jesus said from the cross “father forgive them for they know not what they do”. And yes these people outside are in Gods hands. Thank God. You Bible buffs are big on quoting your verses for your grand stand and throw every thing else Christ said and did in the bible out the door. Jesus said “I require mercy”& “do not judge lest you be judged”. He descended into the land of the dead and preached to the dead who did not have a chance to hear him. This is in Peter. If he did it then do you think he would do it again for those who did not have a chance? I believe he would. Because the bible shows me that that is how he is. Somehow Jesus would give them that chance. Those who knowingly reject his thruth is different. There are so many more. Its easy to quote the bible, the devil does that, it’s another to live it as Jesus Christ has commanded us to do.

“religion” has been a stumbling block since the begining of time. no “religion” will save you!!!! jesus said, “i am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except by me”. these statements that people make like “my faith” has done this or that - well, what is your “faith”? say it. or are you scared to acknowledge your savior? i have faith in jesus, not religion.

Hi Father,

Jesus wasn’t a liar, but you are creative with “your” new “fairness ” interpretation (doctine} (i.e., responsible to God in as much as God reveals himself).

What part of NO do you not understand? Cal Thomas seems right.

Your “post Jesus” Catholicsim represents the true harm of Vatican II. Little wonder so many priests handed in their collars with Vatican II.

It is not your knowledge that is flawed but it seems as if your logic is.

Who knew that the missionaries and saints were really giving up their lives just to make it difficult for their converts to gain access to heaven.

After all, the Aztecs were happy with their blood sacrifices. Why not leave them alone? Why penalize them with eternal damnation, because they failed to go to Mass on Sundays (without good reason) or ate meat on Fridays. After all they were being good Aztecs following what was taught as goodness. They did not understand that sacrificial killing is bad and they were not burdened with all those rules of the Catholic Church (e.g. eating meat on Friday) that might get them in trouble.

We know that given your intepretations, at least, those with the greatest chance of going to hell include: otherwise devout little old Catholic lady’s, who intentionally ate meat on Fridays or missed several Masses without good reason, or the aged in the nursing homes who often give up in the belief of God. As for Jihadists,pagans, aetheists who knows?

I guess with your interpretations, you do not have to “worry”, too hard about converting them. No, you can reside in the salons of the powerful and even have lunch with them to discuss weigthty matters.

I pray that you develop a little humilty.

Besides Jesus said alot of things, but he did not articulate Morris’ “fairness doctrine”.

Regards,
Lj

“I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.” is the only way……..

I am Catholic. I have read many, perhaps all, of the responses.

For those of you who are Catholic and confused about Father Jonathan’s argument here, yes, he is correct. Indeed Catholics believe Jesus Christ is the only mediator between us and the Father. Certainly without the action of Jesus Christ there’d be no salvation. Only through him are we saved. Catholics, the Pope, the Vatican, Father Jonathan: they all believe this Truth, to be sure.

Father’s argument, in my opinion, is more targeted however toward whether Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, the man in the jungle — those souls of other faiths — what waits for them on the other side of eternity: Are they all condemned to hell? The answer is no. This, in my opinion, is Father’s point of discussion. And, I believe his view is the correct view.

The Catholic Church teaches its faithful this by means of the Catechism. In short, yes, Jesus alone saves. But this does not translate to: all those of other faiths are without hope. For they too have received sufficient grace for salvation. In as much as they participate in Truth, they have hope, they can be saved. This is not relativism.

Relativism is this: There is no absolute truth; all faiths are equally true. This is relativism and it is wrong. To be sure there is an absolute Truth: Jesus Christ.

So why should any one trust the Catechism of the Catholic Church? Here I have seen many responses which view the Church in a rather negative light. So my question is: If you don’t trust the Catholic Church, why then do you trust the Bible? For the Bible is a product of the Catholic Church. So therefore, logically speaking, how can one trust the Bible if, at the same time, it is a product of something not to be trusted. I believe this illogical.

For instance, imagine someone makes this accusation: Bill Gates does not know how to operate Windows. Of course, this accusation is illogical. Certainly Bill Gates knows Windows, because without Bill there’d be no Windows. In the same way, this is why I believe the Catholic Church to be the teaching authority as regards biblical interpretation: because, just like Bill and Windows, without the Catholic Church there’d be no Bible.

Also: This is not a competition. This rather is a discussion in regard to Truth. Here we have an opportunity for critical thought and rational argument. Christians should treat Atheists and those of other religions and faiths with kindness and the full measure of respect and dignity. Let us not fail to see Christ in those who do not yet know him.

Father Jonathan you fulfill an old saying, “Tall trees catch a lot of wind”. Just kidding.
I just know I am thankful not to have to make these divine decisions.
John 3:18 “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
It can not be said that the man in the jungle does not believe in Him, simply because the man does not know of Him. In other words, you have to know what it is before you can believe or not believe. If you never heard of the Gospel how can you have a choice of believing in it or disbelieving.
Now those who heard the Gospel and reject it regardless in whatever “religion” that may have been I believe will be troubled when the time comes. You can’t buy or work by good deeds your way into the Kingdom of God as far as I am concerned. But again I will not be the Judge sitting on the throne.
While on the subject, tell me will Adam and Eve who brought sin into the world be in heaven?
By bringing sin into the world, God sent His only Son to be sacrificed for all His children to bring redemption and wash those by His blood shed as white as snow. If by His grace they will enter His Kindom then perhaps others will be allowed as well?

Seriously,I don’t know how Father Jonathan can be a priest in the Catholic Church and miss the fact that his own Catholic Church has insisted that Protestants are not saved.The most recent Pope even had the audacity to say that Protestant churches are not “real churches.” EVery time I go into a Catholic Church I am reminded I am not worthy of partaking of the body of
Christ. Only Christ alone knows who is saved-not the Catholic Church,not Evangelicals,not all the bloggers on this page.

Either the Bible is all true or it is all a lie. I do not see how a person can claim to be a Christian and not believe in the biblical truths stated about Christ. The Bible say’s that Salvation is available to all, one only has to accept that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, died for our sins, arose on the third day and by admitting that we are sinners and asking him for forgiveness and accepting him as our Lord and Savior we are saved. We are not saved by good deeds or living a good life. Faith in Christ is our salvation.

Jonathan,

Maybe you should READ the New Testament in your spare time. Of course, you do not believe that the Bible is the final authority do you. Jesus said that “He will build MY church” (not churches) which, to me, does not leave “wiggle room” for all other religious beliefs!

Father Jonathan! How is it possible to get to heaven except through Jesus Christ? Didn’t he say that he was the only way? If there are more than one way, why did God send his son to die, and if you believe there is more than one way, then couldn’t I argue that how then can you be sure that your religion is a way? There is only one way to Heaven and that is by understanding and accepting that Jesus Christ is our savior and is the only way to salvation…period.

You need to repent.

Well Father Morris you ahve 1 major problem with your thinking. 1st Mattew 23:9 states there NO ONE is allowed to call another one on Earth There Spiritual Father. Our ONLY Spiritual Father we have is our Heavenly father.

2cd now with your own words you state “Elements of goodness and truth found outside the structure of Christianity may still lead its followers in the right direction. YOU say yourself “MAY” , there is NO other way to Heaven but throught Jesus Christ. all who choose to believe otherwise will find out the hard way, But I pray they read and learn fast and change to read and believe the Truth not the lies of what too many others out there are saying.

Oh the Bible also states that Jesus will NOT Return until every one on earth have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ 1 time. YOu can call us True Born Again CHristians all you want, the bible says HIS True chidlren will be persecuted for his names sake for speaking the Truth and not allowing ourselves to be deceived by the world’s say of “RELIGIONS”.

See Religion is for all those in the World that refuse to accept GOD for who HE Truely is and Blame GOD for all there problem that happen. Religion doesn’t exist except for those who refuse to Believe in HIM and use HIM as an excuse for everyting that goes wrong. Human being messed this wqorkd up NOT GOD. We don’t listen enough to HIM.

I learned along time ago in the Spirit that the Roman Cathlics changed there name many ages ago. GOD showed me they were actually called the ROMAN PHARASEES. The ones who persecutes Jesus and Crusified HIM. They refused to believe to that he wasn’t the messiah and the chosen ONE. But HE was and is still alive today.

The bible states that many will come in myu name and say that they are the way to go to Heaven. They are bold faces liars. JESUS CHRIST MY LORD AND SAVIOR IS THE ONLY AY TO GET TO HEAVEN !!!! TAKE THE BLINDERS OFF YOUR EYES !!!!!!!

Dr. Bret Stanley you have misquoted the Bible Jeus NEVER said “Jesus Christ himself set up the teaching of his gospel to the dead” Jesus Christ came to preach to the living that with salvation one who Never die and have eternal Life With HIM. Jesus even told many ppl let the dead bury there own dead after one was asking to go home and bury there family member. JESUS CHRIST was always preaching to the living even raised some of the dead like Lazarus.
So Dr. Bret Stanley get your facts striaght before trying to say anything.

I am not surprised by Jonathons teaching at all…This is all I have to say, meditate on this one

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD and HE is the only way to eternal life. End of discussion!!

May the Lord open the eyes of the blind.

RESPONSE TO COMMENT BY WALTER ABOUT THOSE POPE’S DECLARATIONS

Comment by walter
June 29th, 2008 at 6:28 pm

Dear Fr. Johnathan,
I have enclosed below a few quotes from our Church Fathers, in a hope that you will review the dogmatic teachings of the Catholic Church.
Dear Walter, I read some of the long list of dogma put out by your popes. Here is what Christ said about it and He is God:

Come unto me all ye (you) that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

All that come unto me I will in no wise cast out. Jesus Christ

Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. V 17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world (we were condemned already by the fall of Adam) but that the world through Him might be saved. Not some dogma that excludes anyone by some man’s decree. No man can annul God’s Holy Word by dogma, decree, statement, punishment, inflicting death, or anything else. The apostle Paul wrote “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities and powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing (Satan) shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Do you believe the Popes or God? Paul met Him on the road to Damascus and his life was forever changed by that event. Have you met the living Christ? He is not in dogma, creed, rote, rite, recital, statues, tradition, fire, winds, earthquake, but in a still small voice. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning, and without Him was not anything made that was made. V 14 And the word (God) was made flesh, (the virgin birth) and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the ONLY begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Were you veiling a threat to Jonathan to tow the line of the Popes? Best be advising folks to follow the Bible. The living wor