Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

The Path To Salvation
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. In June of 2008, the Pew Forum On Religion & Public Life released a U.S. Religious Landscape
Survey based on interviews with 35,000 American adults
2. One of the issues covered was this one: Is there more than one path to salvation?
3. Here are the percentages of those who said “Many religions can lead to eternal life”...
a. Hindus - 89% g. Historical black churches - 59%
b. Buddhists - 86% h. Evangelical churches - 57%
c. Mainline churches - 83% i. Muslim - 56%
d. Jewish - 82% j. Mormon - 39%
e. Catholic - 79% k. Jehovah’s Witnesses - 18%
f. Orthodox - 72%
4. The responses are interesting...
a. Most people believe those of different faiths will be saved
b. Among Catholics and mainline Protestants, that view is overwhelming
c. Even the majority of those who view themselves as “evangelical” agree
[Clearly most people believe there are many paths to salvation. Is that true? What did Jesus and His
apostles say about the path to salvation, the way to eternal life...?]
I. THERE IS ONLY ONE PATH TO SALVATION
A. ACCORDING TO JESUS...
1. He said the way to life was difficult and narrow, found by few - Mt 7:13-14
2. He taught that unless we believe in Him, we will die in our sins - Jn 8:24
3. He claimed to be the only way to the Father - Jn 14:6
-- There is only one path to salvation, and that is through Jesus!
B. ACCORDING TO HIS APOSTLES...
1. Peter said salvation is found only in Jesus’ name - Ac 4:12
2. John said whoever denies the Son does not have the Father - 1 Jn 2:23
3. Paul said those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ will experience vengeance when
Jesus comes again - 2 Th 1:7-8
-- There is only one path to salvation, and that is through Jesus!
[Both Jesus and His apostles were very clear: the path to salvation must go through Jesus Christ! If not,
consider for a moment the implication of what many people believe...]
II. THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO SALVATION
A. IF SO, CONSIDER WHO LIED...
1. Jesus lied, when He said no man comes to the Father but through Him - Jn 14:6
2. His apostles lied, when they taught salvation comes only through Jesus - Ac 4:12
Topical Sermons 259