Only ONE WAY?
Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?
Debunking the Myths of Christianity
John 14:1-14, Acts 4:12
Joke Jim Miller told about deer hunting preacher, doctor, lawyer. In one ear and out the other
1 "Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
4 And you know where I am going and how to get there." 5 "No, we don’t know, Lord," Thomas said. "We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him and have seen him!" 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus replied, "Philip, don’t you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do.
During an exclusive golf outing for top business and entertainment executives on October 9, 2006 Tiger Woods was put on the spot by an evangelical guest of Nike.
That day, 30 people gathered at the Trump golf course in Los Angeles for the 2006 “Tee It Up with Tiger Woods” event, which included a private golf session and lunch with the living legend. During the lunch, there was a question-and-answer session with Tiger. Most people asked about their swings or golf questions.
However, one guest of Nike stood up and asked two questions: “Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? And if not, prayerfully, would you?”
A source present at the lunch said later: “You could have heard a pin drop. People were mortified. But Tiger was as unflappable as he is on the golf course.”
Tiger said, “My father was a Christian—of course Christianity was part of my life. But my mother is Asian, and Buddhism was also part of my childhood. So I practice both faiths respectfully.”
We live at a time in which people think that there are many ways to God. But, there is only one way. That is what Jesus says in the Word of God today.
I The Myth - All Paths lead to God and Heaven - Jesus is a good one
A. Many Ways to Heaven and God -Pluralism
The major world religions were Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. These five were the classic “world religions.”
With so many world religions today, the question that many people wrestle with is,
“Which religion is right?”
Dr James Montgomery Boice suggests that there are three ways of dealing with this question.
A. All Religions Are More or Less Equal
The first way of dealing with this question is to suggest that all religions are more or less equal—at least if they are pursued sincerely.
But here’s the thing: under our Constitution, all religious viewpoints are equally protected. People can believe whatever they want. But some people jump to the erroneous conclusion that because different philosophies are equally protected, they must be equally valid. And that’s just not the case.
B. All Religions Have Some Value, but Some Are Better than Others
The second way of dealing with this question is to suggest that all religions have some value (at least to their adherents), but some are better than others.
This view allows everyone to think that his religion is superior to other religions. There may even be one religion that is superior to all others. Nevertheless, each religion does have some value in the eyes of those who hold this view.
C. Only Christianity Is Right, and All Other Religions Are Wrong
The third way of dealing with this question is that only Christianity is right, and all other religions are wrong.
In this view there is only one way to God, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. This is an exclusive claim.
B. Only Christianity claims to be the exclusive way-thus intolerant -
Jesus said that He is the door and if anyone attempts to get on the path by any other way, that person is a thief or a robber (John 10:1-9).
1. The truth is that all the Major World Religions claim to be the one Exclusive way to God
In this view there is only one way to God, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. This is an exclusive claim.
Interestingly, Christians are not the only ones who make this claim. Some other religions also claim that their religion is right and all others are wrong.
Muslims, for example, teach that “the true religion with God is Islam,” and therefore salvation is achieved only through submission to the teaching of Allah as described in the Qur’an.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints makes a similar claim. One pastor said, "Earlier this fall I saw an offer in magazine to receive a free copy of the Book of Mormon. I went on the internet and requested a free copy. A few weeks later I received phone call from a Mormon missionary inviting me to visit him at the new Mormon Church on Fletcher Avenue and pick up the book. I was able to meet him this past week."
"As I expected, the Mormon missionary wanted to “evangelize” me first before he gave me the Book of Mormon. So, I entered into a dialogue with him, his colleague, and a former Roman Catholic priest who had recently converted to Mormonism. It was a pleasant and respectful dialogue about Mormonism and Christianity which we hope to continue after the holidays."
At one point during their conversation, however, the pastor asked the Mormon, “So, do you believe that all Protestant churches are wrong in their teaching about God, Christ, and salvation?”
“Yes,” he said. “We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on earth today. He believes that there is only one way of salvation, and further, that only the Mormons have got it right.
As I said earlier, if you know your Bible, you know that Christ makes this exclusive claim to truth.
Now ,the majority of the people of the world have religion. They all claim to have the corner on the truth and to be able to find the way to heaven. But how can they all be true, all at the same time? If you’re done the research, every religion excludes, they cannot all be truthful. For instance, Islam rejects any faith that is not monotheistic, or the Koran in Arabic is the only sacred language. So immediately, they reject all other faiths. So how do we get to God, to heaven? Hinduism and its reincarnation teaching does not square with Islam, Judaism, so how can they al be right? Somebody must have got it all wrong somewhere? Every religion claims to be the way, wait a minute, it is not illogical to say all beliefs are valid.
“Religious pluralism doesn’t really exist at all. It’s a myth. (It is)…just as exclusivistic as a religion like Christianity. How so?
2. Only the Modern Hodgepodge , smorgasbord board approach to religion
-Where you take a little of this one and a little of that one that you like and make your own. Remember in college when you mixed your drink at the coke dispenser. A little coke, sprite, cherry coke, diet coke, power aid and you got a strange conglomeration. People like Tiger Woods use this approach. Not realizing that none them can fit together.
This is a false teaching that has come into our society because of pluralism and a form of universalism. The modern concept that is perpetuated in our society is that being religious will get you into heaven.
Sarah Michelle Gellar star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Scooby Doo movies said this about spirituality. “I consider myself a spiritual person. I believe in an idea of God, although it’s my own personal ideal. I find most religions interesting, and I’ve been to every kind of denomination: Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist. I’ve taken bits from everything and customized it.” (Quoted from Brian Mavis message Jesus is the Only Way to God True or False)
II The Truth- Jesus is the Only Way to God and Heaven
Jesus often surprised people with teachings that cut across the grain of human nature. Lose your life to save it. The first will be last. The meek will inherit the earth. Rejoice in persecution. Pray for your enemies. It’s better to give than receive. Turn the other cheek.
But, by far, the most outrageous assertion Jesus ever made — His most politically incorrect claim of all — was when He declared in JOHN 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.”
This claim rankles people like no other. It’s been called arrogant and narrow-minded and bigoted and snobbish. Some of you are seekers, and something inside of you chafes at this claim. For you, it may be a stumbling block to faith.
But I believe that Jesus was telling the truth when He said it. And I believe He said it out of great compassion, not arrogance. And I believe that when we look closer at it, this statement makes ultimate sense. In fact, I believe this single sentence is one of the most critically important bits of information on the planet — and to you personally.
So why is this claim so controversial? One reason is that it strikes at the core of three great myths about religion. And so in examining this statement by Jesus, I thought it would be a good idea to address these three common misconceptions. Maybe these are myths you’ve heard — or maybe they’re myths you believe right now. (Lee Strobel
Someone once noted that other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you how to find truth,” but Jesus says, “I am the truth.”
Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you the way to salvation,” but Jesus says, “I am the way to eternal life.”
Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you how to become enlightened,” but Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”
Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you many doors that lead to God,” but Jesus says, “I am the door.”
Then, Jesus says, “So follow Me.”
Every other religion I’ve ever seen is based on people doing something — through struggling and striving — to somehow earn the favor of God. They say people have to use a Tibetan prayer wheel or go on pilgrimages or give alms to the poor or avoid eating certain foods or pray in a specified way or go through a series of reincarnations or wherever. They are the attempts of people to reach out to God.
If we are open, The notion there is one road to heaven is not totally foreign in or culture. Some of you may be familiar with the movie the Matrix and now Matrix Reloaded. The tale is basically about a hero called “Neo” who is called “The One” the Messiah, the Savior of humanity from the world of the machines. There is the One not the Two or Three! That is there is one way to save the inhabitants of MiddleEarth in the Lord of the Rings – throw that One ring of power back into where it was forged into the fires of Mount Doom.
Dorothy was told how to find her way to Oz. “Follow the yellow brick road.” Dorothy was not given different options. “Look Dorothy if you don’t like yellow then follow the road of your choice: red, green, blue. You pick the road and it will take you where you want to go.”
All other religions are man made up ways to get to heaven, Only Christianity is a revelation from God on how to get to him. The others are similar because they are man made clones or counterfeits of the true one.
III The Evidence that Jesus is the only Way - His Words and His Works
A. His Words -He claimed to be the Exclusive Way to Heaven
B. Jesus’ own opinion
a. Extreme claim God= me. trust God, now trust in me.
b. Exclusive claim: No one can come to the Father except through me
c. Equality with God: See Jesus = seeing the Father. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”; “that I am in the Father and the Father is in me”
d. Enemy called death defeated: “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father”
1. All That He Had Said about Oneness with the Father
? Believe in God, believe in Me (14:1)
? Seen Me, you’ve seen the Father (14:9, 12:45)
? The Son is in the Father, Father in the Son (14:11; 10:38, 17:21)
? Honor the Son, you honor the Father (5:23)
? Father and Son are One (10:30)? Jesus is Son of God (10:36; 17:22)
? Father and Son together before foundation of the world (17:24)
2. All That He Had Said about Relationship with the Father
? Son speaks as the Father directs (12:49-50; 14:10)
? Son does works of the Father (14:10; 5:19-20)
? Father gives all judgment to Son (5:22)
? Father sent His Son (5:23; 3:16, 10:36, 17:21)
? Father gives sheep to His Son (10:29)
? Father gives Son glory (17:22, 24)
? Father loves Son (17:23)
“For unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).
So he can’t be just a great teacher. He is who he says he is or he is a lunatic. You can’t make the claims he did and just be a good teacher.
B. His Works
Let me draw you an analogy. I have some friends whose baby girl developed jaundice shortly after birth. Jaundice is a liver disorder that caused her skin and the whites of her eyes to turn yellow. The pediatrician told them that this is a potentially devastating disease but it’s easily treated. All they had to do was put the baby under a special light for a while and this would stimulate her liver properly and she’d be all right.
Now, the parents could have said, “That sounds too easy. How about instead if we scrubbed her with soap and dipped her in bleach? If we worked hard enough, I’m sure we could get her normal coloring back.”
But the doctor would have said, “No, there’s only one way to handle this.”
They could have replied, “Well, how about if we just sort of ignore this and pretend everything’s OK? You know — the jaundice is your truth, Doc, not our truth. And if we sincerely believe that, things will work out for the best.”
The doctor would have said, “You’d jeopardize your baby if you did that. Look, there’s only one way to cure her. You’re hesitant because it sounds too easy, but look at the credentials hanging on my wall. I’ve studied at medical school and I’ve used what I’ve learned to cure countless babies like yours. Trust me!”
Now, would anybody accuse those parents of being narrow-minded if they trusted that doctor and pursued the only course of treatment that was going to cure their little girl? That’s not narrow-minded; that’s acting rationally in accordance with the evidence.
The Call - He calls us to Believe based on the evidence.
Conclusion: Lee Strobel
Some of you need to respond today by becoming serious seekers who are sincere and systematic in your search for truth so you can eventually make a knowledgeable decision to follow Christ.
But if you’re among the 84 percent of Americans who already believe Jesus is God, then maybe it’s time you finally acted on that belief. What does that involve? Let me paint a picture through a story.
When I was 14 years old, I was home alone and painting with oil paints in the finished basement of our house in Arlington Heights. Now, if you’ve ever painted with oils then you know they take forever to dry. I was impatient, so I did something stupid — I plugged in some heat lamps to try to dry the paintings faster.
Before long, a fire broke out among the rags soaked with turpentine and the table and entire corner of the basement were immediately engulfed in flames.
I ran to the phone and called the fire department. When I returned I saw that the fire was out of control, with orange and yellow flames climbing the paneled walls and lapping the ceiling, which was directly beneath the living room. I knew that if the fire burned through, the whole house would be destroyed — and then I’d really be in trouble!
So I grabbed a bucket of water from the laundry room and dashed over to throw it on the fire, but that didn’t help very much. The basement was rapidly filling with black, sooty smoke. I started choking on the fumes and was becoming disoriented. And I couldn’t see the stairs anymore -- the lights went out and the smoke was too thick.
That’s when a horrible realization hit — I couldn’t save myself. I wouldn’t be able to find the route out of the basement before I would be overcome.
Fortunately, not long after that, a police officer arrived and opened the door to the basement. He stepped onto the stairs and began shining around a big flashlight. “Police officer!” he called out. “Anyone down there?”
Now, intellectually, I could have analyzed the situation. Things were serious in the basement; if I stayed down there much longer, I’d die from the smoke and fire. But the police officer knew the one and only escape route. He was a trained professional and fully capable of leading me to safety. What’s more, he held a big flashlight to illuminate the way for me.
But it wasn’t enough just to analyze the situation. I had to take a step of action. I had to put my faith in that police officer — a faith based on facts — by letting him reach out and rescue me. So I followed the light, and he put his arm around me and led me to safety, away from the inferno.
Many years later I faced a spiritually equivalent situation. After nearly two years of investigating the claims of Jesus, I knew He had unique credentials and credibility. And based on what He had said, I realized for the first time that I couldn’t save myself. Unless I took up Jesus on His offer to pay the penalty for my wrongdoing, I was going to remain separated from God forever.
I was hopelessly lost, but Jesus was calling to me and reaching out to rescue me. He was fully capable of leading me to safety. He knew the way to eternal life; in fact, He was the way. And He didn’t need a flashlight because, as He said, “I am the light of the world . . . he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
But it wasn’t enough just to know that. I had to act on it. I had to take a step of faith — not an irrational step, but as this entire series has demonstrated, a rational step that was firm and secure because it was based on the track record of Jesus’ trustworthiness.
And so on November 8, 1981, I allowed Jesus to drape His arm around my shoulder and lead me out of the darkness, away from danger and into a place of safety, forever.
If you’re part of the 84 percent of Americans who are convinced Jesus is the Son of God, that’s a good first step. But if you’ve never acted on that belief, then the truth is that you’re still in danger. Let Jesus put His arm around you and rescue you and lead you to safety, once and for all. Before your head hits the pillow tonight, tell Him in a prayer that that’s the desire of your heart.
When you do, and as you grow in your relationship with Him, you’ll find out what I have —
• That Jesus is the way — He’s the path to a lifetime of adventure, fulfillment, challenge, and purpose.
• That He is the truth — and He will provide you with wisdom that works for everyday life and for the turbulent times as well.
• And He is the life. He — and He alone — can give you confidence for your future, for all of eternity.
Let’s pray.
