LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Rev. Jerry Falwell has issued a statement saying he still believes that all people, including Jews, "must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to enter heaven."

Falwell's comment came in response to a Jerusalem Post report that said Falwell now believes Jews have a separate covenant and don't need to go through Jesus or believe in his sacrifice on the cross.

Falwell said he doesn't follow this "dual covenant" theology:

"The traditional evangelical belief that salvation is available only through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is often portrayed as closed-minded and bigoted. But if one is to believe in Jesus Christ, he must believe in His words: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by Me."'

The Baptist pastor said, however, that "I am a strong supporter of the state of Israel and dearly love the Jewish people and believe them to be the chosen people of God." He called himself "a Zionist in terms of Israel's entitlement to its homeland."