Christ Alone

The world we live in is extremely pluralistic.

Tolerance is preached as the most important doctrine, yet is you hold a view contrary to the extremist views heralded by our world you are not tolerated.

Its with this backdrop that we approach the scripture to study this crucial pillar of the reformation.

Christ Alone means that through Jesus alone we can be made right with God.

We see this nowhere more clearly than in John 14:1-7.

V.1

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

These words from Jesus to His disciples come in a crucial period.

This is during the Passover meal with His disciples, and Christ has told these men that he would have to go away from them.

Peter rightly responds and asks where was going to go, and Christ responded that where he was going he could not come now, but later. This results with Peter being told that he would deny Jesus.

Naturally, we can see why the disciples would be discouraged, but its here that Jesus gives them the most fundamental of commands- BELIEVE

But what exactly do we need to believe, what hope is there to belief?

V.2-3

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Christ is making it clear that He is returning to the Father, and in going to the Father He is preparing a place for His followers.

Christ is preparing the destination for His disciples, which they will follow Him to later.

Not only is Jesus promising a destination, but He is also promising to bring them to Himself.

Belief in God results in getting to be with God.

But promises of a destiniation does not mean much without a path.

V. 4-5

And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus tells them that they know the way to where He is going, and Thomas voices what the rest of the disciples were likely thinking.

They did not understand that Jesus was speaking about returning to the Father, and they had not completely understood Jesus’s mission as of yet.

This leads to Christ providing a clear and definite statement.

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There are 4 things that stand out in Christ statement here that make this verse so crucial.

I AM- Jesus is using language that His audience would know and associate with Jesus claiming to be God.

Christ declares Himself to be the Way.

Earlier the disciples spoke of not knowing the way, and Christ declares that He is the Way.

Christ has come to world to “give His life as a ransom for many,” thus in Christ’s atoning work He has provided the Way for sinful man to be in the presence of God.

He has bridged the lost to their King atoning for the debt they never could.

The Truth- In Christ the fulness of God and His plan to redeem mankind has been revealed.

God’s Word from the Old Testament pointed to Jesus and now the revelation of God is complete.

When we see Christ we see God.

The Life

Christ promises new life to His people.

Its not enough to cover the debt, but there needed to be a new creation.

Those who believe in Jesus are regenerated, and granted eternal life.

This all leads to Jesus’s definitive statement that He is the only way that mankind can be right with God. No other path leads to righteousness.

Christ alone is good news, and it is the basis that the Christian can hope in this world

John, Volumes 1 & 2 Only Jesus

He presents himself to us, demanding no achievements, not waiting for our improvement, but calling us simply to receive him in trusting faith, and ready to give to us by grace all that he has and all that he is. We will never receive a better offer, and we will never have a better time to receive Jesus than now.

Discussion Questions:

Why is it good news that our standing (whether or not we’re forgiven and loved) with God doesn’t depend on us?

Why does the world hate when Christians say that Christ is the only way?

Why do you think we feel the need to justify ourselves, instead of resting in what Jesus has done for us?