Is Jesus the ONLY Way?

Why do you believe what you believe?

This series of messages, we are talking about our some beliefs that get questioned quite a bit in our culture today. From mainstream media to friends at the lunch table, they are asking us questions about what we believe as Christians.

What I am wanting to lead you to do is to be a critical thinker not gullible followers. I want you to have the answers and feel equip when you are being pressed about your faith. I want you to know why you believe what you believe.

But with a caveat, it is okay at some point to say, “I don’t know, lets look in this together.” It invites people into a conversation about the bible. It also shows humility that we may not have all the answers right now, because the fact of the matter is we do not have all the answers.

So tonight I am:

“Asking for a friend: Is Jesus the ONLY way to heaven?”

Pray

The person asking the question is really asking “is there really only one true religion?” Religion is, defined by Tim Keller:

A set of beliefs that explain: what life is all about, who we are, and the most important things that human beings should spend their time doing.

In other words:

Why am I here?

Who am I?

What difference do I make?

There is a popular movement of people who say this: “all religions lead to God.” At the surface of some religions, a lot of them would seem similar. People want a society that lives in peace, has no suffering, and shows love to others.

But at their core doctrines, they all differ from each other. Steve Turner a poet and writer who wrote this piece called “the Creed”. Its a satire poem about what people with pluralistic views believe. Heres a little excerpt that states.

We believe that all religions are basically the same-

at least the one that we read was.

They all believe in love and goodness.

They only differ on matters of creation,

sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.

Everyone wants peace, love, and rock and roll. But at the very core they all differ and the important beliefs like sin, salvation, and God. They also differ in their overall approach to finding spiritual truth.

Muslims believe that if I do something, then I will get a spiritual meaning or truth.

Buddhists believe if I learn something. then I will get a spiritual meaning or truth.

Other New Age religions say if I experience something then I will find spiritual meaning and truth.

But Christianity comes at a different approach. A grace based religion. Because instead of doing, or learning or even experience, Christians have Jesus who did the work, who was the embodiment of wisdom, and emptied himself and experienced all the pain of the cross so we can have a relationship with Him.

But the question still rises.

How do we know Jesus is the only way?

I have this pile of cash. I need someone to come up and point out which one is fake and which one is real.

They are all fake. I’ll pass this out to you to look. They look so real but according to the handy pamphlet that the US Currency Education Program put together, you can identify whats fake and whats real.

Now how does the FBI figure how to identify a counterfeit to the real thing? They study the real bill. They don’t study all the fake ones.

Studying the truth of Gods Word will help you know whats false.

Last week we talked about how we can trust the word of God as truth. And what does it say about Jesus?

John 14:6 ESV

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

Jesus says that He is the only way to God.

He’s not just a way but the way. He doesn’t have some good truths, but He is the truth. He doesn’t offer some freedom in life, but is the life. Jesus even says that Matt. 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 NLT

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

To say that all paths lead to God is just not true. It is more of a maze. There is only one way to the finish line.

Jesus claims to be the Son of God.

John 10:30–33 NLT

30 The Father and I are one.” 31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?” 33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Those who say “Jesus was a good teacher or prophet”, are wrong because He is more than that. He didn’t claim to be a good prophet but He claimed to be the Son of God.

And more he claims that He and the Father are ONE!

John 10:37–38 NLT

37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

No other religion leader claimed what Jesus claimed.

The good news that there is nothing that we can do to obtain a right standing with God. Because Jesus already did the work. Jesus died for all people to come to know God.

Jesus is the exclusive way to the Father.

Let me tell you that this truth is not a popular one with people. And thats okay because it is for all people.

Understood plainly, this was one of the more controversial things Jesus said and the Gospel writers recorded. Many people don’t mind saying that Jesus is one legitimate way to God, but other religions and even individuals have their own legitimate ways to God. Many think it isn’t fair for God to make only one way.

-David Guzik

The Bible consistently presents One True God. Exodus 20:2-3

Exodus 20:2–3 ESV

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

God is exclusive in the matter of not serving any other gods. He is not exclusive in the matter of who can come to Him for salvation.

Jesus is the exclusive way to the Father, and anyone can come to the Father through Him.

John 3:16–18 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Admit that you are sinner in need of a saviour.

Believe in your heart that He died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead.

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord of your life.

And we know this because: knowing the true path of salvation will help you know what is false.

1 John 4:1–3 NLT

1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

Jesus is the only way to heaven and anyone can come to Him for salvation.

And if he is the only way, then we should share Him with everyone!