Why is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?
Detailed Answer:
If God is absolutely just, meaning holy, without any stain of sin, and necessarily has to act justly by allowing sin to reap due consequences (punishment and/or separation from what is holy), then I am not going to make it to heaven with God, and neither are you, because a just God cannot keep justice from us.
If God is the standard of love, then his love for us would be absolute and we would see the highest version of love from God. Does love include allowing loved ones to do anything they choose, reject holiness without repercussions, or growth towards something better? If you believe so, why, and how do you know your way is better? The solution God provides accomplishes both justice (punishment demonstrating and accounting for the seriousness of sin) and possibly the highest standard of love. Jesus demonstrated self-sacrificial love, even sacrificing himself not just for those who love him, but for all those who reject and abuse him as well.
The reason why Jesus is the only one possible to save us is because a debt to justice demands payment, and if we are unable to pay the debt of holiness required, the debt of justice had to be paid by a worthy substitute in our place, who voluntarily takes the debt and punishment of our wrongdoings (sin) on himself. Where can you find an innocent substitute, who is capable of paying the holiness debt by not being guilty and owing the debt of his own sins – there has only been one free of debt able to take on our debt – God himself.
No other belief system provides the answer of perfect justice, which history has shown we all call out for, and perfect love both being applied simultaneously.
Why do Christians wear crosses? John F. Kennedy supporters do not wear bullets on a necklace, nor do Michael Jackson supporters wear excess medications. Why, because those were tragic and sad examples of life taken. The cross was used by Romans for an excruciating death, yet has become the symbol for all the hope, love, and answers provided by a life given. We can expect perfect justice and love from our creator, because justice and love were crossed at the Cross.
We might not understand holiness, the seriousness of sin, the natural consequences and justice sin requires, or how our relationship with a holy God can be remedied. Nonetheless, whether we fully understand something or not does nothing to change the facts of the situation.
And the biblical God spells these facts out clearly. If you disagree with the Bible’s assessment of sin, holiness or our situation, then what reasons do you provide for your claim that you know better? This is a God who has established his authority and being in a position to know the facts in an unparalleled way (see blogs about the beginning and cause of the universe, and about the Bible’s reliability). How have you established that you or your sources are in a better position to know? If you haven’t, wouldn’t it be reasonable to trust a source that has provided reasons beyond compare, or do you think you can just go your own way anyway, without consequence? You and I will both find out, someday, and someday can come much sooner than we expected.