Podcast Summary: "Is It Arrogant to Say Jesus Is the Only Way?"

Podcast: Ultimately with R.C. Sproul
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Episode Date: May 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode grappled with one of the most divisive questions in Christian apologetics: Is it arrogant to claim that Jesus is the only way to God? Through personal story and scriptural reflection, R.C. Sproul explores the tension between conviction and perceived arrogance, providing both an apologetic and pastoral approach for Christians facing such accusations. The discussion is rooted in Sproul’s own college experience and a frank, respectful exchange with an openly skeptical professor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Encounter in the Classroom

Sproul’s College Story ([00:00]–[01:35])
- As a new Christian, Sproul did not hide his faith while attending college.
- A faculty member—his English literature professor and a former war correspondent—publicly asked, “Mr. Sproul, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God?”
- Sproul describes the moment as a "very severe moral crisis,” feeling the tension between his beliefs and possible social alienation:
  - “If I answered what I believed that would be very unpopular. If I denied what I believed, I would be guilty of committing treason to Christ.” ([00:47])

Accusations of Arrogance

Public Confrontation ([01:35]–[02:30])
- After Sproul meekly answered yes, the professor responded strongly:
  - “That’s the most conceited. That’s the most arrogant statement I’ve ever heard from the mouth of a student.” ([01:55])
- Sproul recalls shrinking into his chair, offering no rebuttal as the professor called his beliefs “narrow minded, conceited and arrogant.”

Pursuit of Private Dialogue

Seeking Understanding ([02:30]–[03:40])
- After class, Sproul approaches the professor to explain—not to convert, but to be understood.
- He distinguishes between arrogant preference and reasoned belief:
  - “If the reason why I thought Jesus Christ was the only way to God was because Jesus Christ was my preference ... then of course that would be the most arrogant thing in the world.” ([02:55])
- He challenges her to see the possibility that he is genuinely convinced by the evidence and testimony of Christendom, not merely asserting a personal preference.

The Core Case: Why Christians Claim Exclusivity

Foundations of the Belief ([03:40]–[06:10])
- Sproul builds his position logically:
  - If convinced Jesus is the Son of God, and Jesus claims to be the only way, “then I have no alternative but to believe him.”
  - “If he says he is the only way to God and is not the only way to God, then I doubt very much if he’s even one way to God. Because if he was God at all and was not the only way, but yet claimed that kind of exclusiveness, then he would be the arrogant one and would not be worthy at all of my devotion.” ([04:20])
The professor concedes that, given Sproul’s premises, his position isn’t arrogant.

Scriptural Support for Exclusivity

Jesus’ Own Claims ([06:10]–[07:40])
- Sproul reminds listeners that exclusivity is not a construct of Christian preference, but the direct claim of Christ and the New Testament:
  - “It was Jesus who made statements like, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father except by me.’ (John 14:6)”
  - “‘I am the door through which men must enter. … I am the good shepherd. All those who have come before me are false hireling shepherds.’”
  - The apostles echo this theme: “There is no other name under heaven through which men may be saved except that of Christ.” ([06:40])
  - “To whom shall we go? Thou alone hast the words of eternal life.”
- The New Testament, Sproul emphasizes, is resolute and repetitive in its theme of Christ’s unique redemptive role.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Dilemma of Christian Conviction:
- “If I answered what I believed ... that would be very unpopular. If I denied what I believed, I would be guilty of committing treason to Christ.” ([00:47])
Accusation from Professor:
- “That’s the most conceited. That’s the most arrogant statement I’ve ever heard from the mouth of a student.” ([01:55])
Distinguishing Belief from Arrogance:
- “If the reason why I thought Jesus Christ was the only way to God was because ... I believed in it, then ... that would be the most arrogant thing in the world.” ([02:55])
Logical Necessity:
- “If he says he is the only way to God and is not the only way to God, then I doubt very much if he’s even one way to God.” ([04:20])
Biblical Authority:
- “It’s Jesus who said, ‘I am the door through which men must enter.’” ([06:10])
- “It’s the New Testament that says, ‘There is no other name under heaven through which men may be saved except that of Christ.’” ([06:40])

Timestamps for Key Segments

Sproul’s Classroom Story: [00:00]–[01:35]
Accusation of Arrogance: [01:35]–[02:30]
Private Dialogue with Professor: [02:30]–[03:40]
Explaining the Logic: [03:40]–[06:10]
Scriptural Claims of Exclusivity: [06:10]–[07:40]

Summary & Takeaways

Sproul’s account, rooted in personal vulnerability and biblical conviction, answers the charge of arrogance by showing the logical and scriptural reasons behind the Christian claim that Jesus is the only way to God. The episode encourages listeners to distinguish between holding beliefs out of personal superiority and holding them because of the authority of Jesus’ own words.

Key takeaway:
Believing that Jesus is the only way to God is not arrogant if that belief is rooted not in preference or superiority, but in fidelity to who Jesus claims to be and the testimony of Scripture. As Sproul asserts, if Jesus is not telling the truth about being the only way, He should not be followed at all. The real arrogance would be to claim otherwise if one believes Jesus is the Son of God.

Transcript

A (0:00)

It's Jesus who said, I am the door through which men must enter. If he says he is the only way to God and is not the only way to God, then I doubt very much if he's even one way to God. I was taking a course in English literature. I was a second semester freshman at the time, and I had become a Christian the first semester of my freshman year. And I did not keep my Christian commitment a secret on the campus. And there were some faculty members at the college where I attended that were very hostile towards Christianity. And the person who at least manifests the greatest amount of hostility of all the faculty happened to be the professor of this English literature course I was taking. The teacher was a woman. She had distinguished herself as a journalist and as a war correspondent during World War II prior to taking on the task of collegiate teaching. I think out of her background in the war effort, she was kind of a hardened person. And she had a very great ability to intimidate students. In the middle of a class. One day she called on me and she said in front of the whole class, Mr. Sproul, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God? I thought, oh, of all the questions to be asked in front of the whole class, she had to ask me that one. I went through a very severe moral crisis at that point because I knew if I answered what I believed that that would be very unpopular. If I knew also that if I denied what I believed, I would be guilty of committing treason to Christ. And so very weakly and very meekly, I said to her, yes, ma', am, I do believe that Jesus is the only way to God. Well, when I said that in that classroom, she absolutely exploded. And she started to dress me down right in front of the whole class. And she said, that's the most conceited. That's the most arrogant statement I've ever heard from the mouth of a student. And I offered no defense. I offered no rebuttal. I just sort of tried to sneak down in my chair as far as I could go while she carried on in front of the whole class about how narrow minded, conceited and arrogant that that was. So after the class was over, I went up to her privately and I said, I know that you are not enamored by the Christian faith, and I know that you were very upset by how I answered the question that you asked in class. And I'm not trying to convince you of what I believe in right now, but I would like to have the opportunity to explain to you why I believe the way I believe. And at that point she was very kind and she said, fine, you come over to my office and we'll sit down and talk about it. So I went to see her and I began to explain to her that I quite agreed that if the reason why I thought Jesus Christ was the only way to God was because Jesus Christ was my preference and that I assumed that anything that I believed in had to be the only truth simply because I believed in it, then of course that would be the most arrogant thing in the world. But I said to her, but, ma', am, I said, can you understand, I'm not asking you to believe it, but can you understand that I could in fact be convinced that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Is that conceivable to you, that I could be persuaded by the testimony of Christendom that Jesus Christ is at least one way to God? And she said, well, of course I can be convinced that you could be persuaded that he's at least one way. Could you understand that I could be convinced that he is the Son of God? Yes, I can see how you could be convinced of that. And I said, well, don't you see that if I believe that and then I see that Jesus says that he is the only way to God, then I have no alternative but to believe him. Because if he says he is the only way to God and is not the only way to God, then I doubt very much if he's even one way to God. Because if he was God at all and was not the only way, but yet claimed that kind of exclusiveness, then he would be the arrogant one and would not be worthy at all of my devotion. She says, I understand it. And so I began to show her that it was Jesus who made statements like, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father except by me. It's Jesus who said, I am the door through which men must enter. Jesus is the one who said, I am the good shepherd. All of those who have come before me are false hireling shepherds. It's the New Testament that says, there is no other name under heaven through which men may be saved except that of Christ. It's the New Testament that says, to whom shall we go? Thou alone hast the words of eternal life. It's God who says, this is mine only begotten Son. And again and again and again the New Testament reiterates, either through the lips of Christ or through the writings of the apostles, that this theme that Jesus is uniquely the redeemer of mankind. You've been listening to Ultimately with RC Sproul. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe or leave a review in your favorite podcast app. For more information, visit ultimatelypodcast.com sa.