The Lord Jesus Christ: The Only Way of Salvation

Salvation is not found in man-made ceremonies. Neither is it obtained through ordinances or religious sacraments. Instead, Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). Still, multitudes believe that the pursuance of good works or the following of a prescribed code of ethics automatically earns them the guarantee of eternal life. Others talk about the benefits of the Golden Rule, the Sermon on the Mount, or the observance of the Decalogue-God’s Ten Commandments-as the way to prepare one’s soul for heaven. Although such ideals should be part of a believer’s life, they are a result of salvation, not a means of achieving it.

Ephesians 2:10 states, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…. In other words, good works accompany salvation because Christ, who lives within the believer, is doing the work in him. Thus, we see that it is because one is saved that he works. He does not work in order to become saved. Too often, however, mankind puts the cart before the horse and attempts to reverse the gears of God’s program. The result is humans trying to do that which only Almighty God can do. The end is frustration, false doctrine, and eternal damnation. Man plays no part in obtaining salvation. It is all of God. Titus 3:5 declares, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

God’s Word

Let me be as dogmatic as I have ever been and state that our Holy God has provided no other way of salvation except through the merits of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Notice that last phrase again: There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Zoraster, Dr. Moon, Maharajah Ji, and multitudes of others are unable to save because the Holy Word of God explicitly states that there is no other name or god who can save. Christ is the only Saviour.

Someone may immediately and antagonistically cry out within himself, He is quoting some isolated text from Scripture. The Bible is not that narrow in its limitations concerning salvation. Were he using all of the Scriptures, his conclusion would be different. Let me tell you something shocking. I read the entire New Testament through in a four-day period, marking every verse indicating that salvation is in Christ alone, not in creeds, works, ethics, rites, or ceremonies. I found approximately 400 portions of Scripture presenting this clear-cut truth.

Now if God said it once, that would satisfy my searching mind. However, when He declares it nearly 400 times, one had better believe it. In fact, I am presenting the entire list later in this chapter. The heart of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ will be blessed as he takes time to study each of these passages. For the present, let’s examine just a few of the texts that prove that only Christ can bring salvation to needy hearts. We will begin with the statements of the Saviour himself.

Jesus’ Word

In order to bombard you with truth, my comments on the verses will be limited. This way I can cover approximately 75 portions of God’s Word.

Matthew 16:18: …upon this rock I will build my church….

Matthew 26:28: … this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mark 8:38: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

In Luke 5:24, Christ states that the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

To the thief on the cross, the Saviour said, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). Only God could make such a promise.

In John 4:13, 14, the Lord said to the woman at the well, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that l shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

In John 5:40, Christ said … ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

John 6:37: …him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 8:12: …I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8:24: …if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

John 10:9: … I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved….

John 10:28: …I give unto them eternal life

John 11:25: …I am the resurrection and the life….

Verse 26: …whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die….

John 12:32, 33: …if I be lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all men unto me. This he said. signifying what death he should die.

After hearing the statements of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, one would do well to obey God the Father who said in Luke 9:35, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Jesus also said in Matthew 12:30, He that is not with me is against me…. One cannot say, “Oh. I admire Christ, but I believe there are other ways.” One is either for Christ or against Him. One either accepts what Christ stated about himself through 35 pronouns and references or rejects it. Neutral one cannot be!

The Holy Spirit’s Word

Next, let’s consider the blessed Holy Spirit’s statements, dictated as He moved upon the various Bible writers (see 2 Peter 1:20, 21). Thus, we will actually be hearing from Him as we investigate the verses He inspired these men to write. I am using only that portion of each verse which supports the truth that salvation is found in Christ alone. Please investigate each one thoroughly, as nothing has been taken out of context.

Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth …….. Notice it is the good news concerning Christ that is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. It is not to all who are sprinkled as babies or immersed as adults. It is not through confirmation or reformation. It is not based on works or a system of ethics such as the Sermon on the Mount, the Golden Rule, or the Ten Commandments. No, it is the good news about Christ that is the power of God unto salvation to all who-watch that word-believe, believe.

Romans 5:1: … we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8: …Christ died for us.

Romans 5:9: …we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 6:23: … the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…. Think of it-no judgment or hell if one is in Christ Jesus!

Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 13:14: …put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ….

First Corinthians 1:2: [We are] sanctified in Christ Jesus….

First Corinthians 2:2: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Why Paul? He is the only way.

First Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. He is the foundation on which the superstructure, the Church, has been built. Praise God, He is the rock or foundation, not Peter or any other man.

First Corinthians 6:11: … ye are washed… in the name of the Lord Jesus….

Second Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature….

Second Corinthians 12:2: I knew a man in Christ…. Amen, that’s the only way to be-in Christ.

Galatians 1:4: [Christ] gave himself for our sins….

Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ ….

Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

Galatians 3:26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 5:1: …Christ hath made us free….

Ephesians 1:3: …our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith….

Philippians 3:10: That l may know him, and the power of his resurrection….

Philippians 4:21: Salute every saint in Christ Jesus…. Saints are produced in Christ.

Colossians 1:20: [He] made peace through the blood of his cross….

Colossians 1:27: Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 2:10: … ye are complete in him….

First Thessalonians 1:10: …Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come.

First Timothy 2:6: [Christ] gave himself a ransom for all….

Second Timothy 2:10: …they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Hebrews 2:9: … that [Christ] by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 5:9: …he became the author of eternal salvation ….

Hebrews 10:12: But this man [Jesus], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.

First Peter 2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree….

Second Peter 2:20: . they have escaped the pollution’s of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ….

First John 4:9: …God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

First John 4:10: [He] sent his Son to be the propitiation of our sins.

First John 5:11,12: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Jude 21: …looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Revelation 5:9,10 pictures the eternal future when believers shall be with Christ in heaven. It also records the words of the song the redeemed shall sing in that day. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and halt redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. If one never sings about the blood of Christ in his high-class services, he will never find himself in heaven with the throngs singing redemption’s story.

Revelation 7:14 pictures the Tribulation Hour. Here we find that the same plan of salvation exists after the Church is removed from this earth. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Christ is the Lamb of God (see John 1:29).

Revelation 14:13 states that the only ones called blessed or happy are the dead which die in the Lord. If one doesn’t die in the Lord, he will be lost. Dear reader, I sum it all up by saying that you will never see God unless you come by the way of Christ’s shed blood upon the cross.

Revelation 21:27: And there shall in no wise enter into it [heaven] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: But [hear it, don’t miss it] they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life [Christ’s book of life].

These references but skim the surface. Four hundred passages reiterate this same glorious truth. The following compilation of references from Matthew through Revelation is printed chronologically. This allows one to follow the entire program of verses by simply turning the pages of the New Testament. In fact, I suggest that you highlight or underline each portion in your own Bible as a permanent record. The list is by no means exhaustive. Try to find others in your own study of the Word.

Matthew 7:21, 22, 23; 11:28, 29, 30; 16:18; 18:6; 19:14; 26:28; 27, 28 Gospel Story

Mark 5:6; 8:35; 8:38; 9:41, 42; 10:28, 29, 30, 31; 15, 16 Gospel Story

Luke 1:46, 47; 2:11, 29, 30; 5:24, 32; 9:23, 24, 25, 26; 13:25; 19:10; 23:43; 23, 24 Gospel Story

John 1:4,12, 29; 3:16, 17, 18, 36; 4:14, 42; 5:40; 6:28, 29, 37, 47, 48, 51; 7:5; 8:12, 24; 9:38; 10:9, 28; 11:25, 26; 12:32, 33; 14:6; 17:3 19, 20; Gospel Story 20:30, 31

Acts1:8 4:12 5:30, 31, 42 8:5, 12, 35, 37 9:20, 27 10:36, 43; 13:38, 39; 15:11, 17; 16:30, 31; 17:2, 3, 4; 20:21,28; 28:31

Romans 1:16; 5:1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 18, 19, 21; 6:23; 8:1, 3, 10, 32, 34, 35, 39; 9:33; 10:4 ,9, 10, 11, 13; 12:5; 13:14; 14:10, 11; 15:16, 29; 16:18

1 Corinthians 1:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 18; 2:2; 3:11; 4:1,10, 15; 5:5; 6:11, 15; 10:4, 16; 11:1, 25; 15:1, 2, 3, 4, 23; 16:22

2 Corinthians 2:12; 4:4, 5, 6, 14; 5:15, 17, 18, 19, 21; 8:9; 10:7; 11:2, 10, 23; 12:2, 19; 13:5

Galatians 1:4, 6, 7, 8, 9; 2:16, 17, 20; 3:13, 14, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 24; 6:12, 14, 18

Ephesians 1:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 22, 23; 2:5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 20, 21; 3:6, 8, 11, 12, 17; 4:12, 13, 15, 21, 32; 5:2, 5, 23, 25, 27, 30

Philippians 1:1, 6, 27; 2:10, 11, 16; 3:8, 9, 10, 14, 18, 20; 4:13, 19, 21, 23

Colossians 1:2, 4, 7, 13, 14, 18, 20, 27, 28; 2:6, 7, 8, 10; 3:1, 4, 13, 17, 24

1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:14; 3:2; 4:14, 16; 5:9, 10, 28

2 Thessalonians 2:14, 16; 3:16, 18

1 Timothy 1:1, 14, 15, 16; 2:6; 4:6

2 Timothy 1:1, 9, 10, 13; 2:1, 10; 3:15

Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:4, 5, 6

Philemon 1:6, 25

Hebrews 1:3; 2:9, 14, 15, 17; 5:9; 7:25, 27; 9:12, 14, 15, 25, 26, 28; 10:10, 12, 14, 19, 20, 29; 12:2; 13:12

1 Peter 1:18, 19; 2:5, 7, 21, 24; 3:18; 4:1

2 Peter 1:1, 11; 2:1, 20; 3:18

1 John 1:7, 9; 2:2, 24, 25, 28; 3:23; 4:9, 10, 14, 15; 5:1, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20

2 John 1:9

Jude 1:1, 4, 21, 25

Revelation 1:5, 18; 3:20, 21; 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12; 7:14; 12:11; 13:8; 14:4, 13; 15:3; 19:1, 9, 10; 20:4; 21:7

At this point, one final question remains, “What will you do with Jesus?” You are a sinner. Christ shed His blood for your sin, and now you must receive Him. Remember the words to that old hymn, “What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be. Someday your heart will be asking, What will He do with me?” If you reject Him, I can give you the answer today. John 5:40: …ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Again, John 14:6: No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Revelation 20:15: And whosoever was not found written in the [Lamb’s] book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

PEACE IN A TROUBLED WORLD

In the light of all that is going on in our world today it may sound strange to hear that you can have peace in a troubled world. In our beloved country everyday we have :

• 10 teens commit suicide


• 135,000 teens bring a gun to school


• 7,742 teens become sexually active


• 2,705 teen girls get pregnant


• 1,106 teen girls have abortions


• 623 teens get a sexually transmitted disease


• 211 teens are arrested for drug abuse


• 437 teens are arrested for drinking or drunk driving


• 1,512 teens drop out of school


• 1,629 teens are in adult jails

As shocking as this is, it is not only a national dilemma, but also a global plague. Jesus knew this situation would engulf the globe prior to His return by prophesying that “iniquity would abound” but He added “Let not your heart be troubled”. What did He mean by this reassuring statement of comfort?

I want to let you in on the greatest truth I know. Everything I can say about real peace is centered in this fact. Without it, none of us can ever be genuinely at rest.

This truth has transformed millions of people throughout the history of the world. It has made derelicts into saints, hypocrites into godly men and women, and sinners into children of God. It is the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Throughout this study, we have touched on some priceless spiritual verities that have a direct bearing on how to deal with the issues of life that can cause us to feel baffled, bewildered-perhaps even befuddled. In fact, we might say that achieving genuine satisfaction is completely a spiritual issue. To me, satisfaction is the normal state of a healthy soul. A person who neglects his spiritual needs cut himself off from the possibility of knowing real and lasting peace and fulfillment.

The greatest spiritual truth of all is what God has done to redeem us from our sin. By giving His Son to die in our place, God has paid the price of our sin and is able to save us from the bondage and dissatisfaction that comes with it.

Let me clearly say that I am not speaking of religion. Many people who are religious know nothing about salvation. Religion is of human origin, and it almost always requires that we do something. God’s salvation, however, is entirely His work on our behalf. It requires absolutely nothing, since God has already accomplished all that is necessary. Our part is to simply accept it by faith.

A personal commitment

I have been privileged to conduct two wonderful interviews with the Reverend Peter Marshall. He is the co-author (with David Manuel) of two marvelous historical accounts of God’s plan for America and divine intervention in the founding of our nation-The Light and the Glory and From Sea to Shining Sea. Peter grew up in a marvelous Christian family. His father, the late Dr. Peter Marshall, was for many years chaplain of the United States Senate, and his mother, the late Catherine Marshall, is known and loved by millions for her many wonderful books.

I asked Peter what impact his distinguished parents had on his coming to Christ. He explained that they had made clear to him from his youth just what it means to be a Christian. As a result, he never took Christianity for granted, and he never assumed that just because his parents were well-known Christian leaders, he was automatically a Christian as well.

In fact, Peter told me it was not until he was 21 years of age that he felt he had really committed his life to the Lord. Although he had grown up surrounded by Christian teaching and in his head knew it was true, he had not yielded his heart in making a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.

“I graduated from college, and I was lost,” he told me. “I had no idea who I was or why I was here. I thought I was going into the foreign service, the United States Diplomatic Corps, but the Lord shut that door and it didn’t work out. So I had nothing. No plans. No goals. Nothing.

“Then I went to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes conference in Colorado in the summer of 1961 and heard Don Moomaw speak. I gave my life to the Lord as a result of that encounter. Two weeks later I was in seminary, and in 1965 I was ordained to the gospel ministry.”

God took Peter Marshall’s aimless life and gave him direction. And, as I interviewed him, Peter expressed his concern and burden that many people do not understand what Christianity really is.

“Christianity is not just running around trying to do great things for God,” he said. “We must understand that we need Jesus Christ because we are sinful human beings-weak and needy. In my pride, I had a hard time accepting this.”

I believe one of the reasons so many people-so many religious people-are dissatisfied is that they perceive religion as something we do for God. But true peace begins when we accept what God has done for us! The Bible says, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9).

You see, if salvation were something we could earn for ourselves, it would only contribute to our pride, for when we earned salvation, we would have much about which to brag and boast. Thus, what Peter Marshall says is absolutely correct-all of us are needy sinners-there is none righteous, no, not one…for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10,23). Yes, all of us fall short of God’s standards, and if we are to receive salvation from our sins, we must receive it as a gift, not as a meritorious award for service.

What sin does to us

Some may have difficulty accepting the fact that all of us are sinners. We all know people who are good, moral, honest, generous, thoughtful human beings. Surely they are not sinners in the same way hardened criminals are sinners-are they?

From God’s perspective, the answer is “yes.” Because His standard is absolute holiness-one hundred percent perfection-the issue is not how many sins we commit or what kind of sins we commit, but if we have sinned at all. And Scripture is clear that none of us can honestly say we have never sinned.

In the presence of absolute holiness, even the smallest sin is as offensive and out of place as the darkest, most heinous act of evil one can imagine. Because God is so completely holy and uncompromisingly righteous, He cannot permit sin to exist in His presence. And the only just penalty for sin is death-For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

But just as God is holy, righteous, and just, Scripture also informs us that He is a God of mercy and love. Because of His great love for us, He does not wish to condemn us without mercy. Since in His righteousness He cannot simply overlook sin, He found a way that He could make us righteous without compromising His own holiness. However, it cost Him the sacrifice of His Son!

Perhaps the most familiar verse in all of Scripture is John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That verse, more than any other, has opened people’s eyes to the truth of God’s salvation and the way to real satisfaction.

Salvation explained

What this all means is that you do not have to earn God’s approval. You do not have to work to make yourself righteous. You do not have to become deserving of God’s grace. All the work has been done by God himself, and He offers His grace freely to those who will receive it by faith!

Nothing gives a greater sense of personal worth than the truth that God loves us so much that He gave His Son to pay the price for our sins. And nothing on earth brings more complete satisfaction than the confidence of knowing you are secure in God’s salvation.

May I ask you some important personal questions? What are you counting on to make yourself acceptable to God? If you were to stand before Him and give an account of your life, what could you point to that might make you acceptable to Him? Would it be your own works of righteousness? I hope not, because Isaiah 64:6 says, all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. God cannot accept works of righteousness from unrighteous people. Would you point to your heritage? Scripture is clear that salvation is not anyone’s birthright. In fact, Jesus said, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

The only thing any of us can point to that makes us acceptable to God is the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. We must simply trust Him with childlike faith and receive His gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Dear Jack & Rexella

I just love reading your newsletter it lifts me up and the way Mr. Van Impe breaks it down to layman’s terms it’s so much easier to understand. I try to catch your program on Friday nights in VA that’s where I live because I love seeing and listening to you both explain the times we live in the Lord is coming very soon and it’s sad that people don’t want to believe it. Keep up the good work and may God bless you both for the gospel and the truth you preach and teach.

A. H.

Dear Jack and Rexella,

Over the years I have not only watched your TV programs and DVD’s, read your books, but also have been receiving your eNewletter – such a blessing indeed. I love the balance with which you impart the Word of God and about the standard of integrity by which to live as Christians.

I’m just one of the thousands of souls God has used you both to be a blessing to – be encouraged. This is just a short note to say THANK YOU from my heart. This email was long overdue, but as they say, “It’s never too late” 🙂

Much love and prayers,

Pastor Mark C.

Dubai

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