“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”  John 14:6

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

Jesus warns us that the path to truth is narrow and so does Luke, and so does  Paul,  In fact almost every New Testament writer tells us the same thing.  Regardless of that, we live in a world that adamantly denies the narrow path and is trying to open up the gates to heaven to non-citizens in a way that is strikingly similar to the US and its southern border.  People use the same arguments for allowing anyone into heaven as do those who argue for open borders in America.  See if any of these arguments for open borders seem to fit the “everyone should get to go to heaven” argument.

“It is is not fair that we should get to have (this country) (heaven) just to ourselves.”

“There are a lot of good people who deserve to be in (our country) (heaven).”

“They should get to be in (America) (heaven) to avoid the terrible conditions they will face elsewhere.”

“(Our country) (Heaven) is a most wonderful place, so we should be able share it.”

“(We are) (God is) good and (good people) (a good God) would not keep people out.”

“The (constitution) (Bible) does not have the right to decide who can enter, and besides, the (constitution) (Bible) is outdated and written by people who are out of touch with the times.”

So let’s face it.  Many people believe that heaven should have open borders and there should not be any requirements or restrictions on any who enter.   Of course, the only way we can say that is to ignore the Bible’s teaching, or to decide the Bible is not the inspired Word of God.  The Bible says that salvation comes only through Christ, but there are many false alternatives that the world accepts for entrance into heaven.  Some even think intelligence should be a factor. After all, how could so many smart people be wrong.  But Paul warns Timothy in I Timothy 6:20: “O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called ‘knowledge.’”

Others believe that if we keep the law we will be saved, but Galatians 2:16 says, “yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”

But surely if we are good people, we deserve to go to heaven.  But what does the Word say? “For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8)

“But I have been baptized” say many, “surely that will get me into heaven.  But Paul tells us in I Corinthians 1:17  “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.”

Even giving to a church, going to church, building a church, or even pastoring a church, does not get us into heaven.  Well, what does, then?   Salvation is through grace  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.”  (Titus 2:11), which is proceeded by faith:  “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1), and followed by the Savior’s peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Unfortunately, the learned and stubborn of this world have defined faith as “blindly following,” but that is not faith. It is not opinion or acceptance of that which flies in the face of evidence.  It is a sense of knowing.  True faith is as real as anything can be and it is faith in Christ that leads to salvation.  Nothing more; Nothing less; Nothing else.  It is this faith that comes by the Word of God: “Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17), and we change our minds about God, so that we might please God: “Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6), and thus there is only one way to be saved. “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)  “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all …” (1 Timothy 2:5)   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)

In other words, as much as people want it to be so, heaven does not have open borders.  There is a step that one must take to become a citizen.  Good intentions are not enough, and the never-changing Word of God lets us know the truth and no matter what others want to think, there is only one way and that is through Jesus Christ.  It is not in the Bible, but there is a saying that says, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions,” and that is true. People who preach that all roads lead to heaven, may be well intentioned  (but I doubt it), but their words, if taken as true, lead people away from heaven. As Paul said, “If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.”  He doesn’t have a plan B attached to that!