This passage is one of the most abused in the Bible.

Jesus declares a sacred covenant with the people, and others declare the meaning of it.

It is Jesus’ covenant, it is for him to fulfill. Accepting that is an expression of faith.

Using it to condem others to Hell is blasphemy.

Another,

I think you get confused by the fact that when people quote scripture that states something such as John 14:6, it isn’t the person quoting the scripture that is condeming anyone but it is God’s inspired word that is.

As far as if Christ is the only way? I think yes. I also think that those who have not had the opportunity to learn who Christ is will be judged according to their conscience (the spirit of God that is in all human beings that guides all to sense right from wrong). These even at some point I believe will be risen again and given the opportunity to learn who Christ is and will be given the opportunity to accept or reject Christ because I truly believe as scripture teaches us that God is just and true to His word as disclosed in the Bible which were inspired by Him. The bible is not clear on exactly how God will go about accomplishing many of His promises, but He makes known to us who truly desire to know Him by placing the time and effort into learning who He is through study of Scripture that His plan and promises will come to past. It is through His Spirit that we develop this faith and not of our own mind.

It is stated in scripture that God’s inspired words are living words. Anyone who has genuinely with an open heart and mind placed much energy into learning and understanding what is within the Bible can attest to the fact that those words within are living words with the spiritual force of God behind them. One will also learn and come to believe that there are other spiritual forces in the world that are not of God just by your attempts to learn God’s truth disclosed in scripture.

We learn in scripture that one must reject Christ and His truth in order to NOT receive eternal life on the earth after Judgment. Some will experience only one death where they will one day rise again to life. Others will experience a second death where they will rise but be separated from God eternally where they will never experience peace happiness or well being ever again and this is called the second death (Hell). The second death (Hell) is described as a torturous misery and loneliness that we cannot even begin to wrap our brains around.

Another,

You have proven over the past few days that you lack a working understanding of christianity, faith, free will, judgement vs. discernment. You continue logical flaws here by acting as if we, a church or anybody besides God himself is condemning anybody to hell. We are not doing it, but we should point out that THIS IS THE PLAINEST, SIMPLEST, EASIEST CONCEPT IN THE BIBLE TO COME TO AGREEMENT ON. The only abuse here is yours. Read the words of Christ or God in context, and you will see that you are in trouble if you attempt to find a different way to heaven.

I think you are going way to far in your “believe what you want to” version of the gospel here. There is no religious pluralism in christianity, period. Attempts to try to shoe horn it in are laughable at best as our friend the UCC pastor Scott proved about a month ago. His attempts (as a learned theologian) were simply and easily dismissed by simple and plain readings of scripture.

I’d say that most folks don’t want to insult other faiths and that “go to hell” counts as an insult in most contexts. I’m not sure the question provides the most accurate gauge of Christian views in a Bradley-effect kind of way.

I will stand by comment, that claiming to know the mind of Jesus and God to the extent that you are certain that it excludes a host of unknown souls to hell is a place I will not stand.

I don’t have to guess on the mind of God on this. HE TOLD US. You always go to the “I won’t presume to know what God thinks” place. Well, why would he tell us His mind if He didn’t want us to know.

Yes, He made it certain to us that He is the way, We can’t have other Gods etc. Scripture is far from silent on this. I’m sorry if it offends your sense of what God is, but I won’t presume to disagree with Him and what He says is fair.

Don’t misunderstand, I am not offended.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

When I read John 4:6, I hear a promise from Jesus. I do not know how he will fulfill it. I trust that he will. It is clear, powerful, and full of grace.

We get in trouble when we add to it. The next statement is not the above statement. Some one took Jesus promise and made it mean this…

“You will go to hell unless you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.”

When I read that, I hear a threat. What is the intention? Jesus doesn’t say this.

How can the distinctions between these two statements be any more clear than when put side by side? How can one inspire the other?

I am inspired by the first, not the second.

Since when does Jesus’ word not suffice, even in the face of not understanding it?

One should feel uncomfortabe speaking to another person in that manner. Jesus never did.

Here is a another view.

Jesus’ words to Thomas in John 14:6 are what I consider an assurance. He spoke it to his followers at a moment of doubt and uncertainty. It is for all of us in the same way.

“You will go to hell unless you come to a saving knowledge of me,” does not occur for me as reassuring.

It misses the mark in so many ways. If you were looking for fighting words, you couldn’t have picked better.

Claiming righteousness around them doesn’t make it any better.

Another,

However, Jesus did give us many, many, many, many…….WARNINGS about those things that will cause us not experience eternal salvation, meaning true death (Hell).

Disclosing things to people that will threaten their eternal salvation are not threats but warnings and Jesus also gave these same kinds of warnings, as did the disciples who were inspired by God through His Spirit, The Holy Spirit.