“Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. You know the way to the place I’m going.” Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have really known me, you will also know the Father. From now on you know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father; that will be enough for us.” Jesus replied, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been with you all this time? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I have spoken to you I don’t speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me does his works. Trust me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe on account of the works themselves. I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father can be glorified in the Son. When you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:1-14, CEB)
I have heard people say that Jesus says here that the only way to heaven is through him.
Is that what he said?
Jesus, in other parts of the gospel of John, said there are sheep of other folds that will be coming along, and who are they? Are folds denominations? Are folds religions? Who are these sheep from other folds that are coming?
Paul talks about levels of heaven, so which denomination gets which level? Or which religion gets which level?
Which level is closer to God?
But no, Jesus did not say in John 14 that the only way to heaven is through him. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No one gets to the Father except through him. Not into Heaven, but to the Father. Is it possible to be in Heaven and not be with the Father? Or is it a Christian understanding to say that Jesus is with the Father in God, so to be with God is to be with the Father through Jesus? And getting to that point is by Jesus’ choice, not us saying the right words or believing the right thing.
Do not make the scripture say things they do not say to make yourself feel better about the things you did or the things you believe.
Do what God has called us to and love.
Love all.
aSacredRebel 