“We confess that only believers are saved. Our Lord says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In Matthew he says: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt. 7:13–14 ESV).
Jesus is the door to the sheepfold (John 10:1). According to Jesus, there is no other way to God than through Jesus. The clearly intended inference is that all the other ways that others posit are false. There is only one Savior, Jesus. There is only one Mediator, Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).
The good news is that those “who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13 ESV). The Christian faith is both exclusive and saving.
Salvation from the wrath to come does exist, and it is through faith. This is why Hebrews 4:2–3 says, “For the gospel has come to us just as to them, but the word of hearing did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For those who believed entered that rest.” True faith is the only instrument by which we embrace Christ and His benefits, and it is only those with true faith who are saved.
Faith in Jesus is a gift from God (Eph 2:8–10). Our Lord says, “It is not possible for one to come to me to me except the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44).
Jesus calls His people out of darkness and into light. He gives new life and with it true faith, and through faith He gives free justification with God, union and communion with Christ, salvation, adoption, and eternal life.”
–R. Scott Clark, The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological & Pastoral Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic, 2025), 136-137.
Leave a Reply