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. 

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 19:10, 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….

• John 11:26: …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!

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 everyone 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.

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.

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 you’re heart will be asking, What will He do with me?”