I have run into so many "Christians" lately who believe that there are many paths to God. I was wondering what this verse means? It happens to be my favorite verse...it is on a little decorative rock in my flower bed, it is on my living room wall and it is on a picture frame in my bedroom. So my question is...how do Christians that believe the many paths theory get around this verse?

I am the way, the truth and the life. No Man comes to the Father but by me. John 14:6

Jesus Christ said it....doesn't sound very "tolerant" or "open minded" to me. What say you?

450donn

Exactly what it says. I (Jesus) am the way( to the father), the truth ( of my existence) and the life ( the one true way to salvation). No man comes to the father except by me. ( no man can claim that he is in direct contact with God except Jesus)
Don's explanation.
So praying to Mary,Joseph, or anybody other than through Jesus is not the way to reach the throne of God. IMHO

sndbay

The pride and power that people have given to Oprah's way.. It is a false teaching!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seAPQ9WihN0&NR=1



2 Cr 3:11 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

inthebox

I think it is very tolerant.

It is not written "you must,..... or else"

It is a statement and it opens up other questions:

Do you believe in "the father?"

Do you want to come to "the father?"

if yes, well, here is the way

[ for Thomas [v 5 ] the answers were yes ]





G*P

sndbay

450donn

I am not sure why you disagreed? The simplicity of Christ is that He is the only way. To believe there are others ways is to have your mind beguiled as Eve was.. Zero tolerant because your mind is corrupted!

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.(Jhn 14:6)

What I had commented on was the statement that was made---.quote: that many "Christians" lately who believe that there are many paths to God..

I consider it a false teaching, and the source is Oprah. That is why I gave the web link showing Oprah's way...

Are you saying you believe what Oprah teaches?

450donn

OOPS! Guess I was misreading your comments. Yes, Oprah is a false teacher. She has a cult like following that is/has made her very powerful. I just did not understand the correlation between that and the OP's question.

De Maria

I also believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And no one comes to the Father but through Him.

But I wonder, how did the Jews before Christ, come to the Father without Christ? Or did all the Jews perish in eternal hell?

The only way I can answer that is that they came through Christ, to the Father, after they died. Does that mean that some who don't know Christ in this life may come to the Father through Christ after they die also?

450donn

But isn't that the difference between the old and new testament? In the old testament (BC) people could and often did talk directly to God. They also had the ten commandments to follow. They also had the priests appointed to offer sacrifices for their sins.
In the New testament (AD) God provided the ultimate sacrifice for our sins by sending his Son, Jesus, to the cross for us.
The Jews are a different story altogether are they not? Since they are Gods chosen people can they fail and go to hell? I really cannot answer that for you.
Third part of your comments, the answer is a resounding NO! A person that has died is finished and he/she will have to stand before the throne of God and answer for their actions on Judgment day. No one can pray and have them saved after they are dead. Salvation is a one on one experience. Each person MUST ask and accept the free gift of salvation on their own. The words must be spoken by the person asking for the gift.

De Maria

According to St. Paul, the sacrifices weren't effective:
Hebrews 10:4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Correct. And He instituted the gift of Baptism to apply those merits to our souls and make us children of God.

And God Himself warned the Jews that they could fall:

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

This one?
Who said they didn't? You seem to be reading something into my post which isn't there.

Who said they could? Did I?

Or are you referring to the well known fact that the Jews prayed for their dead?

The only other thing I can figure is that you are somehow misunderstanding the doctrine of Purgatory, not realizing that those in Purgatory are already saved.

Since you seem to be denying that this could happen in the after life, I assume you mean that these conditions which you list must happen when one is alive.

But you seem to have left out the name of Jesus.

So, are you saying that one can ask for salvation without mentioning Jesus? Or should I assume that you mean "salvation through Jesus"?

Also, I don't think that God acts differently from one time to another. If God is absolute. And one must come to the Father through Christ, I suspect the Jewish Fathers also had to go through Christ to be saved.

The only way I can see that happening is in the after life. Because I believe that most of them died without knowing Jesus. Am I right?

450donn

OK, Then exactly how or what do you mean by this comment?
Quote
"The only way I can answer that is that they came through Christ, to the Father, after they died. Does that mean that some who don't know Christ in this life may come to the Father through Christ after they die also?"
From that I am reading that you are believing that the Jews or all people can be saved after death. Am I wrong in that interpretation?
Quote
"The only other thing I can figure is that you are somehow misunderstanding the doctrine of Purgatory, not realizing that those in Purgatory are already saved.How can people that are in Hell be saved????
Since you seem to be denying that this could happen in the after life, I assume you mean that these conditions which you list must happen when one is alive."
That is correct. There is to my knowledge nowhere in the scriptures that claim that a person can be prayed to salvation after they are dead. This I understand is a Catholic belief am I right or wrong on that?


Quote
"But you seem to have left out the name of Jesus.

So, are you saying that one can ask for salvation without mentioning Jesus? Or should I assume that you mean "salvation through Jesus"?"

That I did. I guess I assumed that everyone here on a Christian board would realize or understand that. If you did not, then that is my mistake and I apologize for that omission.

Quote
"Also, I don't think that God acts differently from one time to another. If God is absolute. And one must come to the Father through Christ, I suspect the Jewish Fathers also had to go through Christ to be saved.

The only way I can see that happening is in the after life. Because I believe that most of them died without knowing Jesus. Am I right?"

How can that happen. Jesus did not appear until 2,000 years ago. Until then the Jews were under the rule of law and the ten commandments. Even today the Jews do not accept Jesus was the son of God. so in reality are they not still under the old testament law of Moses? Besides we are not discussing the Jews, but new testament peoples.