Why is Jesus the Only Path to God?

Introduction:

When I first came to McDermott Road

- John Williams taught a world religions class

- He not only taught about Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism

- He invited Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus to come and share what they believe

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that…

- But it was a great way to get to know this community

We live in a pluralistic community

- Various religions

- Spiritual, but not religious

- We all have friends (and family) who are not Christians

- Maybe you are not a follower of Jesus

which is why today’s question is relevant…

Why is Jesus the only path to God?

This question is hard to answer as it is stated, because I want to ask…

What do you mean by, “God”?

What do you mean by, “path to God”?

What do you mean by, “Jesus”?

What are we really asking …

“People of every religion are doing their best to live good, moral lives that please God, so they can go to heaven when they die. Is there really only one way to do that?”

Isn’t that what we’re asking?

There is NOT one way to do that.

There is NO WAY to do that!

There is no way to live a life good enough…

here is the truth, but this may surprise you

No matter how well we live, God doesn’t owe us another life.

He doesn’t owe us…

another life

an after life

eternal life

immortality

Humans are

mortal beings

NOT inherently immortal

NOT able to earn immortality through good behavior

If we are going to pursue a relationship with God

if we are going to seek eternal life

here is what we need to understand

1 Timothy 6:15–16 NIV

15 …God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

God is sovereign

only Ruler

King of kings

Lord of lords

Which means…

He is in charge.

He calls the shots.

We don’t get to dictate to God.

God alone is immortal

immortality belongs to God

immortality does not inherently belong to us

we are MORTAL

God does not owe anyone immortality

God lives in unapproachable light

what makes any of us think we can approach him on our own terms?

expect immortality?

why?

because we did some good things?

because we didn’t do some bad things?

so, what hope do any of us have?

1 John 5:11–12 ESV

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

God…gave…us…

God - sovereign, immortal, unapproachable light

Gave - gift, his prerogative

Us - followers of Jesus

The life is IN HIS SON

in

through

His Son

Because he died to give it to us

Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life

life is God’s to give

it’s NOT ours to demand

it does NOT belong to us by MERIT or by NATURE, but by GRACE

Illustration:

- imagine if I said to you,

“There is an apple tree…

if you eat its fruit

you’ll never die

you will have the best life possible.”

- the question wouldn’t be, “Does it taste better than other apples?

- “Do you know there are other apple trees in the world, Wes?”

- the ONLY question would be, is it true?

- no comparison

that’s why Jesus can say this…

John 14:1–2 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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?

my Father’s house

when Jesus used this phrase in the past

he meant the temple

in this case, he means the heavenly temple

my Father’s

Not Muhammed

Not Moses

Not David

Not Confucius

Many Rooms / Prepare a place

we can read this exclusively

or inclusively

a prince says, “There’s room for you in the palace.”

are you really going to say, “I don’t need you to stay at the palace.”

John 14:3 ESV

3 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.

This isn’t about where you go when you die

I will come again

take you to myself

you may be also

Jesus wants…

to share that same proximity with the Father

NOW

and Forever

John 14:4–5 ESV

4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Thomas

Maybe confused?

Maybe taking Jesus too literally?

You know the way

They are already on their way to the Father’s house

They are already on the path

Because they are following 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 is claiming…

to BE the way, truth, and life

not just teach the way

because he is about to die for them

That’s why, “No one comes to the Father except through…”

Jesus is the only one who dies for us

Jesus is the only one who takes away our sins

Jesus is the only one with the authority to say, “Now, you’re fit for my Father’s my house.”

there are two ways of reading this…

We can be frustrated there’s only one way to God or grateful there is a way.

If I had a terminal disease

and I was guaranteed to die

and someone came to me and said, “We found a cure”

it is GUARANTEED to save your life

Would I really complain that there was only one cure and not multiple cures?

You do have a terminal disease

you are mortal

and without being restored to God

you will die

There is a CURE…there is a WAY…

…His name is Jesus.

The way to God is not through

knowing enough

doing enough

being spiritual enough

You cannot earn your way back to him

But God gives eternal life

as a gift

by grace

to everyone who follows Jesus in repentant faith

Invitation:

Baptism

Restoration

Prayers