Is Jesus the Only Way of Salvation?

There are three options recognized by theologians today. Only one of them is found in the Bible. The other two are heretical.

Exclusivism: Salvation is found only through faith in Jesus Christ. Only those who have trusted Christ are saved. They are declared to be right with God and all their sins are forgiven. No one, who does not trust in Jesus Christ has any hope of salvation, but may only expect to be judged and condemned to everlasting Hell.

This is the position of the Bible:
“I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6). “For there is no other name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved,” Acts 4:12.
“Therefore by the deeds of the Law, no flesh shall be justified. . .” Romans 3:20. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). “Then shall He say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you accursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

This has been the teaching of the church through the centuries:
It was the belief held by Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, D. L. Moody, and C. H. Spurgeon.

This is the belief held by Bible believing Christians today: This includes people such as Billy Graham, Elizabeth Eliot, John MacArthur, Beth Moore, Ergun Caner, Paige Patterson, and Jerry Falwell.

This has been the teaching of Baptists in the past:

These examples are from the London Confession adopted by Baptists in England in 1644:

V. All mankind being thus fallen, and become altogether dead in sins and trespasses, and subject to the eternal wrath of the great God by transgression; yet the elect, which God has(1) loved with an everlasting love, are(2) redeemed, quickened, and saved, not by themselves, neither by their own works, lest any man should boast himself, but wholly and only by God of(3) His free grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, that as it is written he that rejoices, let him rejoice in the Lord. 1) Jer. 31:2 2) Gen 3:15; Eph. 1:3, 7; 2:4, 9; 1 Thes. 5:9; Acts 13:38 3) 1 Cor.5:21; Jer. 9:23, 24

VI. (1) This therefore is life eternal, to know the only true God, and whom He has sent Jesus Christ. (2) And on the contrary, the Lord will render vengeance in flaming fire to them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1) John 17:3; Heb. 5:9; Jer. 23:5, 6 2) 2 Thes. 1:8; John 3:36

These examples are from the Midland Confession of Faith, adopted by English Baptists in 1655:

10th. That every man is justified by Christ -- Romans; viii.33; I Cor. vi.11; apprehended by faith; and that no man is justified in the sight of God partly by Christ and partly by works. Romans iii.20,28,30; Gal. v.4.

16th. That at the time appointed of the Lord, the dead bodies of all men, just and unjust, shall rise again out of their graves, that all may receive according to what they have done in their bodies, be it good or evil.

It is the teaching of Southern Baptists today:

These are from our Baptist Faith and Message:
IV. Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. . . .

X. Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.

There are two main heresies afoot about salvation these days.

Pluralism: All religions lead to God, at least all of the higher ones, for they are all in touch with the same spiritual realities. Each religion merely describes these realities differently. Thus, anyone who follows any of the “higher” religions may be assured that he really is in touch with God.

This is the position of many Americans today. It is the unofficial position of most television networks and programs, and is represented as the only morally sound position in many venues of public life.

Here are a couple of examples:
“We [Muslims, Jews, and Christians] all worship the same God.”
--Walter Abdur Ra’uf Declerck, quoted in The Fort Worth Star Telegram, Oct. 25, 2003, page 3F.

“The great religious traditions are to be regarded as alternative [salvational] “spaces” within which, or “ways” along which, men and women can find salvation/liberation/enlightenment/fulfillment.. . . The great world traditions have in fact all proved to be realms within which, or routes along which people are enabled to advance in the transition from self-centeredness to Reality-centeredness. . . . Accordingly, by attending to other traditions than one’s own, one may become aware of other aspects or dimensions of the Real, and of other possibilities of response to the Real. . .”
--John Hick, British Theologian

Inclusivism: Jesus is the only Savior, but He will save some who have never trusted Him. We can affirm that Salvation is only in Christ, without affirming the need to tell others about Him as they need not have faith in Him anyway.

This is the position of many Catholics, who believe that other religions are more or less able to save depending on how similar they are to Catholicism. Thus, other denominations, and religions which teach that there is one God, or those which teach a high view of ethics will lead their followers to salvation.
This is the view of many mainline denominations, and most theologians today as well.

Here is an example:
“It is. . . quite possible to suppose that there are supernatural, grace-filled elements in non-Christian religions.. . . A lawful religion. . . can be regarded on thye whole as a positive means of gaining the right relationship to God and thus for the attaining of salvation. . . The member of an extra-Christian religion. . . [is] an anonymous Christian.”
--Karl Rahner, Catholic Theologian

The biblical answer is "Yes", Jesus is the only way. The basic problem that I see in not wanting to see Jesus as the only way for salvation is too high a view of ourselves. You see, most people want a man-centered gospel as opposed to a God-centered gospel. In other words, "God loves me" period. That sounds good, but that makes us the object of salvation - man-centered. However, if we say "God loves me so that I can glorify Him" that makes God the object of our salvation. Subtle but a huge distinction.