LOOKING ELSEWHERE 

Acts [GW] 4:12 No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person." 

  Reading God’s Word (the Bible) we see that trusting Jesus is essential to present and eternal salvation. Jesus emphasized this Himself. (Jn.14:6)

  Though this is plainly explained in Scripture, people do look elsewhere. The list is long compared to “Christ alone”. I share two contrary ones I most often see:

  Worshipping idols. Romans chapter 1 presents examples of looking elsewhere other than Sovereign Jehovah God Almighty, Creator.

  Then there’s religion without a personal trusting relationship with Lord Jesus Christ; Religion based in works. I share 2 passages explaining this false way:

Ephesians [ESV] 2:1-10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace [undeserved favor and spiritual blessing] you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Emphasis mine. Also, In the following verses, 24-27, Jesus explains the foundational will of the father.)

  Are you looking to Jesus, or elsewhere?

  As for me, I trusted Him and began looking to Jesus in the Autumn of my 28^th year when Bud Bond in God’s Holy Spirit graciously pointed me to the Word (Jn.1:1; 17:17; 1Thes.2:13; 1Pet.1:2-3).

EBB4