Jesus Is the Gate to Salvation: The Third “I Am”

Jesus is the gate to salvation, to eternal life in the presence of God. There is no other way in.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:7-10 (NIV).

It’s Not All Relative

Diversity is wonderful. Different preferences are to be expected. God made us all unique, which leads to an interesting and vibrant world.

But the one place where Jesus claimed that diversity is not good is in the way to eternal life. He claimed He was the only gate. Other ways of trying to obtain eternal life through works or following the rules of a particular religion won’t do. He told the religious leaders of His day that “anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1.

It’s all relative, isn’t it? I, for one, don’t believe it is. Claims that contradict each other can’t both be true. When another religion claims a way of salvation that leave Jesus out of the equation, then it contradicts the gospel. Only one can be correct. Only one is the true gate.

Jesus Is the Gate

We are all like sheep that belong in God’s sheep pen. Jesus is the gate to salvation. He is the gate to the best sheep pen.

But the sheep pen doesn’t just refer to life in heaven after we die. Jesus came that we might live an abundant life here an now. Eternal life isn’t “pie in the sky when you die.” It is living in this world filled with thieves and robbers, but being at peace because you know they can’t steal your hope in Jesus.

Life is hard. Friends and loved ones get sick and die. Ice storms cause power outages. Companies lay off workers, leaving people without their next much-needed paycheck. But even in the midst of all of these struggles, one can experience inner peace through faith in Jesus. One can experience life to the full.

Closing Prayer for Peace

Heavenly Father, I pray for all reading this article, that they may know that Jesus is the gate to salvation. For those seeking the truth and inner peace, show them the way into Your abundant sheep pen. For those struggling with the trials of this life, provide comfort and green pastures. Protect them from the thief who seeks to steal their joy. In Jesus’s name, amen.