I’ve been noticing in these trying times that there is a lot of “God talk” with regards to inspirational sayings, quotes, etc. and obviously a lot of Facebook pages about God. My question is, can people be saved by “bypassing Jesus” when directly praying to God? Does God recognize their sincerity of wanting to be saved but without accepting Jesus as their Savior?
In my opinion, when Jesus said no one can come to the father but through Him (John 14:6) He meant exactly what He said. This is because His death is the only remedy God has provided for our sin, and it’s our sin that separates us from God.
There is also the Lord’s statement what whoever accepts Him accepts the one who sent Him (John 13:20). I believe it implies that rejection of Jesus equals rejection of the Father because in John 5:23 He said, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”
In short there doesn’t seem to be any way to bypass Jesus in going to the Father for salvation. If there is another way then God didn’t have to sacrifice His only Son, and He wouldn’t have had to remain silent when Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet, not as I will but as you will” (Matt. 26:39). The Father’s silence was the answer to the Son’s prayer. There is no other way.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).