How Many Doors?

The Ark of Noah (depicted in our Creation Museum exhibit) is a picture of salvation, with one door leading to salvation.

Some things surprise me, some don’t.

During an interview earlier this summer with a secular reporter, I was not all that surprised when I was asked, “Do you believe Moslems are going to hell?”

The answer I gave went something like this: “My authority is the Bible—God’s Word. God tells me in His Word that ‘unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John 3:3). We’re also told in Romans 10:9 ‘that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’”

I concluded: “So, whether you’re a Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Moslem, or Hindu—if you’re not born again as the Bible states, and have not received the free gift of salvation in Christ, the Bible clearly teaches you will not spend eternity in heaven with our Creator and Savior. You will be in hell separated from God—forever.”

I also shared a number of other verses, such as:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

I [Christ] am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved (John 10:9)

Thus, the Bible clearly teaches there is only one way, only one door, to heaven, Jesus Christ.

As I thought about my response to the reporter, my mind raced to the Noah’s Ark exhibit in our Creation Museum. The Ark, of course, is a picture of salvation. Just as Noah and his family had to go through a door to be saved, so we must go through a door (i.e., the Lord Jesus) to be saved. Jesus is the only Ark of Salvation for us to receive eternal life with our Creator.

You will probably be shocked to learn, though, that 57% of people in America who attend what they call an “evangelical church” now believe there is more than one way—or door—to heaven! Several weeks ago, the Pew Forum, a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization, released the results of a survey that should cause preachers across this land to do an “emergency series” on basic Christianity. In part 2 of the Pew research results we read:

“The survey finds that most Americans [including Christians!] have a non-dogmatic approach to their faith; for example, most do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. The survey also finds that religion is closely linked to political ideology.”

57% of evangelicals believe there is more than one doorway to heaven.

Those who said they attend an “evangelical church” were asked:

“. . . tell me whether the FIRST statement or the SECOND statement comes closer to your own views even if neither is exactly right. First/next: My religion is the one, true faith leading to eternal life, OR: many religions can lead to eternal life.”

57% of “evangelicals” (supposed Bible-believing Christians) answered “many religions lead to eternal life.” But John 14:6 and the other verses above clearly show that Christianity is an admittedly exclusive religion. There is only one way—only one door—to heaven.

Many people in today’s secular society (and even in the church) accuse Christians who hold to this exclusive teaching of being intolerant and dogmatic. I wish to point out, however, that those who insist there are many ways to heaven are intolerant themselves: of God’s Word, which states there is only one way. People who assert their view of many ways leading to heaven—and who reject the Bible’s teaching that there is only one way—reveal their own intolerant dogmatism.

Ultimately there are only two ways to look at this: a person is either for Christ or against Him. That person walks in light or darkness. So, there are two religions in conflict: one which is based on the authoritative Word of God and one built on man’s fallible ideas/opinions. In fact, this is the real nature of the “culture war” in America. Yet it is really the same war that started in the Garden of Eden over 6,000 years ago when Satan tempted Eve—God’s Word was not accepted, and humans decided to determine truth for themselves.

How many salvation doors are there? Only one! As the Bible states, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).