Once people are convinced that Jesus is sufficient to bear the death penalty their sin deserves, they must choose, in their hearts, to put their trust in Him to do so. In essence, they are admitting that Jesus is Lord over everything and everyone.
Crossroad Sign: You must choose to trust in Jesus alone for your salvation.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Challenges in Teaching about Salvation in Jesus Alone:
This is a major hindering block in today’s world looking for open-minded tolerance and flexibility. People today like choices but they don’t like the options presented in Scripture of choosing Jesus or Hell (eternal separation from God). They struggle with the either/or, exclusive terms of Bible-believing Christians. Beliefs today are rather eclectic wherein people feel they should be able to pick and choose what they want to believe, a little of this and a little of that. How can we say Jesus is the only way? Yet, that is what God says in His Word. — “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Students will not struggle as much with this issue if teachers have answered the challenges of the first three road signs. (Be sure to read through the related posts in this series.) If people continue to have doubts and questions about God being the highest, greatest, and absolute perfect One whose very Being provides the standard against which we measure our lives, people will not see the need for a Savior from the consequences of being unable to appease such a God and His ability to provide a perfect solution to bridge the gap between us and Him.
Teachers must take the time to answer questions students might have, to provide a safe place to express their doubts and concerns, and to patiently bear with them in their struggles to understand.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect … (1 Pet. 3:15)