The Way, The Truth, The Life

Recently, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life issued a report showing some very disturbing trends. The report, which can be found in its entirety here, showed (among other things) that

• 57% of evangelical church attendees believe many religions can lead to eternal life


• 70% of Americans with religious affiliations believe in more than one way to heaven


• 68% believe there is no single “true” interpretation of their own religion

This is a truly disturbing trend that demonstrates that "Christians" today apparently don't believe Jesus' own words. When Jesus said (in John 14:6) that he was the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one could come to the Father except through him, he meant what he said. If we are to believe Jesus Christ, then we must believe everything he said. This self-proclaimation was either truth... or it was a lie. I believe it is truth. Here are three reasons why Jesus is the ONLY way....



1. Jesus’ Life satisfied the Requirements of God’s Law
Rom 8:1-4 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

No other religion claims to be able to make you righteous in God’s eyes… rather, they claim you don’t need to be righteous… you just need to be “good enough”. This is a lie. We must stand before God completely blameless. Only Jesus has lived that blameless life and, when we place our faith in him, his righteousness is imputed to us. That is what happens when we are justified by our faith.

2. Jesus’ Death satisfied the Retribution of God’s Wrath
Rom 5:6-9 - You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

No other religion can say that they fully satisfy the wrath of God. They may claim that they can placate God’s wrath, but God’s wrath cannot be placated – it must be fully satisfied. Some will even claim that God will not punish us. That, too is a lie. “The wages of sin is death” and that price must be paid – It was paid… by Jesus.

3. Jesus’ Resurrection demonstrated the Reality of God’s Promise
1 Cor 15:20-22 - But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

No other religion can show proof that their promises of eternal life or glory can be met. Only Jesus has resurrected from the dead. Only Jesus has defeated death completely.


But he's not just the way... he's also the truth and the life...



To hear more about the Way, the Truth, and the Life, click on the link below to listen to this week's sermon.

"I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life"
http://www.box.net/shared/49mdkc31f7