Forrest Darrell Moyer
The Gospel way has received more criticism because of its exclusiveness than for any other distinctive feature. Some would have us believe that it is too narrow to teach that there is only one way into heaven. Aren’t all religious people headed for the same destination? Does it really matter which road we travel to reach that destination? While such questions are asked almost every day, the gospel remains the same for every generation; and it teaches an exclusive way. May we observe some of these features that are exclusive?
There is No Other God
When Moses was given the ten commandments, one of them was: “I am the Lord thy God…Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Ex. 20:2-3). This teaching had been so indelibly impressed upon the Jewish people in Jesus’ day that a scribe said unto Jesus, “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he” (Mark 12:32). By inspiration, Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one” (1 Cor. 8:4). He likewise said to the Ephesians: “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:6). These passages are positive in their teaching that there is only one God — there is no other!
Hence, it should be easy to recognize the sin in making an idol—a false god of wood, stone, or metal. “We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device” (Acts 17:29). Some, however, who would never be guilty of bowing down before an idol do, nevertheless, worship a false god. Maybe it is a mental image—a god that has been manufactured in the imagination of some man’s mind. Quite often this is true. People are heard to say, “The god whom I serve is too good to give punishment to any person.” This is a false idea concerning God. It is in reality another god; but there is no other than the true God. Let us serve the one true God of the Bible in His own appointed way.
There is No Other Christ
While Jesus was here, He warned that there would arise false Christ’s: “For there shall arise false Christ’s. and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before” (Matt. 24:24-25). Paul also warned against such: “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached…” (2 Cor. 11:4). Why? “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5). Therefore, there is no other Christ than Jesus of Nazareth.
But some “preach another Jesus, whom we have not preached.” Modernists tell us that Jesus was only a man—a good man, to be sure, in fact, the world’s best man—but only a man. This is another Jesus, for the Jesus of the Bible claimed to be more than just a man; He claimed to be the Divine Son of the Living God. He told the formerly blind man in John 9:35-38 that He was the Son of God and accepted worship from him. He said to Philip, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Now if Jesus claimed to be the Divine Son of God and was not, He made a false claim with the intent to deceive. One who is a liar and a deceiver is not a good man; most certainly not the world’s best man. This is another Jesus.
There is No Other Gospel
Paul’s purpose in writing to the churches of Galatia is expressed in Gal. 1:6-8:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
When someone preaches something other than that which is revealed in the New Testament, he is preaching another Gospel. But Paul informs us that there is no other Gospel! There is only one Gospel and that is the one which Paul preached. It did not originate with him or any other human being. “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:12). To preach the Gospel is simply to preach what is revealed in the New Testament. How often is preaching politics, social ethics, etc., palmed off as genuine Gospel preaching! Gospel preaching will draw the line sharply and clearly between truth and error. We need more Gospel preaching! It is an exclusive gospel; there is not one for me and another for you. There is “one faith” (Eph. 4:5). Truly, there is no other!
There is No Other Name
Speaking to the high priest, the rulers, and scribes, Peter declared:
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:11-12).
Do you say, “There is nothing in a name”? Then reread this passage. To say that there is nothing in a name would be to say that we could be saved in the name of Beelzebub as well as in the name of Jesus. We all know that such is not so. This eliminates my name. It eliminates Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Mary Baker Eddy, Joseph Smith, et al. Only through the name of Jesus—the name which is above every name—can we be saved. There is no other!
There is No Other Foundation
All people build their religious houses upon some sort of foundation. Some specifically state that their churches are founded on men such as Wesley. The Catholics claim to build upon Peter. But the true foundation is fixed with iron-clad certainty in 1 Cor. 3:11: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Is there any other foundation? Paul says there is no other. Are you building upon Him? or upon the crumbling sand of humanism ?
There is No Other Church
When we come to consider the church, most people say, “Well. I think that one church is just as good as another. After all, I think a person can he a member of the church of his own choice.” To teach that there is only one church is considered so narrow-minded and bigoted that it is not even worth consideration. Only a sneer is often the answer to such an idea. But have you considered what holy writ says? The Bible teaches that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). Language could not be plainer. Now, how many bodies does Jesus have? “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4). Here, friends, we have the unmistakable answer of inspiration. There is only one body and that one body is the church. Jesus built His church. Then as centuries advanced, men built churches. Now which is right? The one built by Jesus or those established by men? The only worthy answer we can give is that Jesus’ church is right—there is no other!
There is No Other Way of Salvation
Jesus positively declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Is there any other way? No, there is none. So, unless I believe in Him, I shall die in my sins (John 8:24). Jesus, who is the truth, said: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). And His commanding authority requires us to “believe and be baptized” and we “shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Do you mean that I must be baptized to go to heaven? Consider this for a moment: Jesus is the way, the only way. To go to heaven, I must be in the way (which is Jesus). How do I get into Jesus (the way)? Paul answers: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Hence, I get into Christ (the way) by being baptized. Baptism is essential because of this. Are you in Christ ? There is no other way!
There is No Other Time to Obey the Gospel
When should I become a Christian? The answer is, now! We cannot do so yesterday, for yesterday is past and gone forever from our grasp. Nor can I safely postpone it until tomorrow. “Boast not thyself of the morrow.” The morrow may bring death.
Go to now, ye that say. Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not which shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (Jas. 4:13-14).
Tomorrow you may lose your desire to obey. Remember Felix’s sad answer to Paul’s message: “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25).
The great word of the Bible is today. “Today if ye will hear his voice” (Heb. 3:7). “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
Yesterday is gone forever; tomorrow may never come; today is all we have. There is no other time to obey the gospel! Will you not do it today?
