Before the fall into sin there was no need for salvation. Adam and Eve already enjoyed perfect bliss and happiness in paradise. But since the fall and the consequent loss of paradise, restoration of perfect bliss and happiness (eternal salvation) is regained only through the One who was promised by the Father and who came from the Father to rescue mankind from its lost condition.
Upon the giving of the first promise in Eden after the fall, there is no salvation apart from faith in the One promised by the Father. In the face of contrary opinions and false assertions suggesting that it makes no difference in whom or what one believes as long as one believes in someone or something, the Christian Church has confessed with the apostle Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Only through the Seed of the woman, the promised Son of God who was born of the virgin and “suffered for our salvation, descended into hell; [and] rose again the third day from the dead” (Athanasian Creed) can the sinner attain eternal life.
Scripture says, “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). Of the significance of believing in “the only begotten Son of God,” Scripture says, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
Who is the One to whose name is attached such significance? Who is the Lord of whom Peter was speaking? His name is Jesus, the name assigned to Him from heaven. Joseph was told concerning that child to be born of Mary, “She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1: 21).
Already in eternity the offended God had resolved to send the Savior for all people; in other words, from eternity God’s incomprehensible love includes all. “God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). Anyone who teaches that sinners are outside the circle of those whom God loves is a false teacher. At the same time, the ultimate fulfillment of eternal salvation is exclusively linked to faith in Jesus. “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11,12).
It is simply not Scriptural to hold to, allow, or teach that eternal salvation is attained in any other way than through faith in Jesus Christ. They who profess to be Christian cannot deny the above passages from Scripture and still be what they claim to be. The inspired word of the apostle John, who wrote under the influence of the Spirit of God, says, “But these [words of Scripture] are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name” (John 20:31). Apart from Christ Jesus and without faith in Him, there is no salvation. To teach or believe otherwise is a denial of Christ as well as of the Word of God.
There is only one Savior—it is not Allah, Buddha, any other god of man’s imagination, an amalgamation of deities, man himself, or man’s works. There is only one Savior and His name is Jesus. It does make a difference what one believes and in whom one believes. “Our Savior, Jesus Christ…has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:10). Lord, keep us steadfast in this faith and teaching!
Jesus! Only name that’s given
under all the mighty heaven
whereby man, to sin enslaved,
bursts his fetters and is saved.
(TLH #114:5)