Jesus -- The Only Way -- 8/13/06

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Jesus – The Only Way
John 14:6; Acts 4:12

When David and Joe spent the week with Couy, they met all kinds of people. Without even talking to them, we know that our country is full of people that are very different. We have people from all ethnic backgrounds. If the USA was called "the melting pot" long ago, how much moreso now. Even here, we rub shoulders with people who speak various languages. I can’t speak their language, but I content myself with the knowledge that I can distinguish between the one who speaks German and the one who speaks Spanish. But then there are much deeper differences. People have various philosophies and lifestyles. Two families may live next door to one another. They are citizens of the same country; they shop at the same stores; they both have three children. But while one family feels at home at a bluegrass festival, the other prefers a rock concert. While one is very patriotic, the other sees the government as one of its primary enemies. While one works hard to instill respect in the children, the other family works just as hard to cultivate skepticism and a suspicion of all authority.

David and Joe met people who went to church and others who didn’t. They met people who believed in God and others who didn’t. They met some people who were willing to talk about the eternal issues and others who were not. How do I know? Because that is the way it is in our society.

This morning I want to give us a brief reminder that no matter how different people may be, there are some things that are the same for all people. There are absolute truths that cannot and will not be changed, regardless of what values and philosophies people hold. We could name a number of such absolute truths, but this morning I want to focus on just one. That truth is stated very directly by Jesus in Jn. 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Let’s go ahead and read John 14:1-9…
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Why do we even bother mentioning this truth? Doesn’t everyone know that Jesus is the only way to God the Father? Does anyone here even question this truth? Not on the surface. There probably isn’t a person here who would stand up and say, "I don’t believe that Jesus is the only way to God the Father." But when we dig deeper, we often find that this conviction is not nearly as firm as we had thought.

Do you realize what it means to say that Jesus is the only way into the presence of the God who created us? Do you understand how offensive that is to the mind of man? Are you prepared to receive the consequences of that truth?
If Jesus is the only way into God’s presence, then the close friend who dies apart from a relationship with Jesus will spend eternity in hell. Even if one of your parents dies without Jesus, that parent will spend eternity in hell. You say, "But…" If Jesus is the only way, there are no "But’s."

You insist, "But what about those who have never heard about Jesus?" And who do you know that has never heard about Jesus? "But there are plenty of people around us who do not understand the truth about Jesus." Then there is our mission field. Did not God put us where we are to help them understand the truth about Jesus? "But what about the people in the jungles of Africa, who have never heard the gospel?" If you are concerned about the people who live in the jungles of Africa, is God sending you to give them the gospel?

If your question is genuine, it is indeed a sobering thought, for if Jesus is the only way, those who have never heard have no hope. If you believe that, the world will call you "arrogant" and "narrowminded." Nevertheless, the rest of the New Testament confirms what our Lord Jesus says. Let’s read Acts 4:8-12…
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. But couldn’t someone be saved by the work of Jesus without consciously realizing what Jesus had done for him? Couldn’t a man in the jungles of Africa understand that there is a God who created mankind and respond to that God as best he could, and thereby be saved by the blood of Jesus? Some interpret this passage that way. The problem with that understanding is the use of the word "name" in this passage. There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved. Salvation comes through calling on the name of Jesus, as we read in Rom 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." And then keep reading… (Rom. 10:14-15)
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Let me give you a scenario that I have seen repeated many times, with a number of variations. A man (let’s call him Harry) strongly affirms that Jesus is the only way into the presence of God the Father. His strong confession is that he has repented and believed. Then a good friend of his dies in a car accident. This friend was not a follower of Jesus. To the knowledge of those around him, he never called on the name of Jesus. Now the scene shifts to the funeral home, where a local pastor is conducting the service. He gives information about the man who has died and then he says something more. He tells everyone present that this man is now in heaven. Harry hears what is said. At first, he thinks, "But our friend didn’t follow Jesus." But the preacher isn’t saying, "He might be in heaven." In no uncertain terms, he is assuring everyone present that this man is now with the Lord. Harry doesn’t know exactly what to think, but now he isn’t so sure that Jesus is the only way.

Do you see? Harry thought he was absolutely sure that Jesus was the only way. But now a pastor says that his friend went to heaven because he was a good man. Couple that with Harry’s feelings for this friend, his reluctance to think that his friend might be in hell, and Harry isn’t so sure any more.

Hear me and hear me well. If you believe that Jesus is the only way and aren’t ashamed to say it, you will find yourself swimming upstream the rest of your life. If there is anything that the world hates, it is this exclusiveness of the gospel. We live in a world of extreme tolerance. The world will tolerate anyone except the one who says there is only one way. If you proclaim Jesus as being one way among many, the world will accept you. You proclaim that Jesus is the only way, and the world will hate you. The day is coming when to proclaim Jesus as the only way could threaten not only your friendships, but even your job. The world considers Jesus’ claim to be the only way as a message of hatred and condemnation.

Let’s suppose that you are teaching your son or your grandson the simple facts of addition. You come to 2 + 2 = 4. You tell him that 2 + 2 is 4. Then you demonstrate it by counting on your fingers. But the boy has a problem with that. He insists that 2 + 2 is 5. So you get out some blocks. How many blocks is this? 2. And how many blocks is this? 2. Now let’s put them together and count them… 1, 2, 3, 4. So you see that 2 and 2 is 4. But the boy says, "No, 2 + 2 is 5." Because you don’t want to offend your dear son or grandson, you say, "You know, you may be right. I believe that 2 + 2 is 4, but in all your wisdom and experience, you may know better than I. Who am I to say that my idea is better than yours? Maybe 2 + 2 is 4."

That is ridiculous. None of us would do that. If we treated him like that, we would not only make math more difficult for him, but we would be teaching him a lie. We would lead him to believe that he can be his own authority in life.

Do you see the parallel. If Jesus is indeed the only way, how can His true servants give others the impression that this truth isn’t really that important. "If they want to believe that they can get to heaven by following Buddha, that’s their business." Aren’t you glad that Jesus told us the truth? Aren’t you glad that He refused to let us think that there was some other way?

Lord willing, next week we will be looking at WHY Jesus is the only way. We will turn our attention to the one who stands between heaven and hell.