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[Jesus said] “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.”

“I just don’t know. I’ll have to think about it some more.” That was all John could say. He wasn’t sure if he could agree with what Paul had told him.

Paul had just told his friend about the way to heaven. He wanted to make sure John knew it was only through Jesus that he could be saved. This concerned John and made him ask, “Then, what about everyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus? Will God exclude good, moral people if they don’t believe?”

The debate still lingers. People like John still feel there are various ways to enter heaven. However, Jesus reveals something completely different. There is only one way to enter heaven, and that is through him. When he says, “I am the gate,” there are only two things that can happen. The door into heaven will be opened, or the door will be closed, and the only way the door will be opened is through Jesus Christ.

In spite of what Jesus says, there is still the desperate hope that other alternatives exist. I may even hope that there are other ways which God would find acceptable. Unfortunately, everything else fails because entry is only through Christ alone.

Jesus is the only way because he did what was needed for me and for all people to enter heaven. Jesus offered his Father the perfect, obedient life that was required, which I could never live. Jesus paid his Father the full price, which was required, and which I could never pay.

Without Jesus, I may desire to be in heaven, but I will never enter it. This is why I need to look to Jesus alone. He makes it possible for me to come into heaven, where he gladly welcomes me. Then I will have everything I need and will live in never-ending joy. How truly blessed I am to know that I am saved through Christ alone.

O dearest Jesus, my Lord and my Savior, you have provided the way to heaven, and you have called me through your word to enter eternal life. Give me the faith I need to trust that I am saved through you alone. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.