Islington Baptist Church April 22, 2001
Sermon texts: John 14:6, Acts 4:12, I Timothy 2:5
Series: “Why Jesus :Why follow Jesus and not Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or any other religion”
Title: Why Jesus? Because he’s the only way
Have you ever wondered “Why are their so many different religions”. There is an answer. The reason so many different religions abound is because people were made to seek God. “Religiousness” is part of our design.
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 it says “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men” and then it says “yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
In the N.T book of Acts it says this “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, thought he is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27
Men’s thirst for God, which has resulted in the creation of all sorts of religions and spiritual practice, can only be quenched in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the source of living water and eternal life. All other “sources” are but dry beds. Only a relationship with Jesus can satisfy a persons desire for God.
Today we are starting together in a new series entitled “Why Jesus”. The reason for this series is because a number of people, ranging from children to adults, have asked me “Why should I follow Jesus and not Islam or Buddhism or Hinduism”.
It’s a great question and to this question there are solid answers; however one of the things I have noted is that when this question is asked that it tends to catch us “flat footed”. This should not be; in fact the scriptures tell us as much for in I Peter 3:15 it says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
What a great verse. What a great reminder. What a great verse to memorize.
Throughout this series on “Why Jesus” I would like this verse to be our theme verse, the verse that motivates us..
I. In response to the question “Why Jesus” the first answer that I would like to draw your attention today is this: Because he is the only way to Heaven.
There is no other Savior’s out there. There is no other way that one can come to be right with God. Jesus is the only way and the only Savior there is.
The assertion that Jesus is the only way to Heaven is one that rankles many people
“How intolerant” is the cry that goes up. “How arrogant and narrow minded and offensive are Christians who contend that the only path to God must go through Jesus of Nazareth.”
All over our city this message is visibly posted “Stop intolerance” “Stop racism” “Stop hatred”. Do you realize that the “Stop intolerance” message is aimed directly at us who are Christians. “Intolerance” is a big sin according to popular culture. For example… whenever you say that homosexuality that, according to our culture is a sin, or for example when you say that an unmarried couple living together, that’s also a “sin”--- that’s qualified as “intolerance”. Proclaiming that the only path to God must go through Jesus of Nazareth is also branded as “intolerance”.
In spite of what people think, Christianity is not the only religion that can be classified as “intolerant”. Christianity is not the only religion to make the claim to be the only way.
Muslims teach that their way is the only way. Hinduism is absolutely uncompromising in respect to the law of Karma (which is the law of moral cause and effect so that every birth is a rebirth that makes recompense for the previous life), the authority of the Vedas (Hindu scriptures) and reincarnation.
Note: In spite of what some folks think “all religions do not teach basically the same thing”
When it comes to the claim that Jesus is the only way there are many who “pooh pooh” this and say “all you have to do is pick a religion and follow it sincerely because every path leads to God and salvation”.
Hans Kung, who is a famous Roman Catholic theologian has said as much “non Christian faiths are the ordinary way to salvation whereas Christianity is a very special and extraordinary way to salvation”
Hinduism teaches as much as well. According to Hindu teaching, God—called “the Infinite” has manifested Himself in billions of ways to help mankind visualize him. Therefore Jesus is just one manifestation of God amongst his billions of ways. Hence when Christians follow Jesus that’s great, just as it’s equally great to follow Islam or any other religion.
The idea that God reveals himself and the path to heaven in all religions is very problematic and quite illogical.
What kind of God would God be if he really said “This is the way for you and here’s how I want you to live” “This is the way for you and here’s what I want you to believe and how I want you to live’ etc. This is totally illogical and incoherent with the end result that a ‘god’ like that cannot be trusted. Such a god would be a liar suffering from a multiple personality disorder—one day being Shiva, the next be Allah, the next being Krishna, etc.
Logic dictates that their can only be 1 way. Jesus is the only way. In I John 5:20 it says “He (being Jesus) is the true God and eternal life.
Jesus is not 1 legitimate choice amongst many. There is only 1 way to Heaven. There is only 1 path that will lead to God. There is only 1 Savior: Jesus Christ.
II. The Bible which we can trust as being the Word of God (for reasons we considered last week: unity, fulfilled prophecy, its testimony, archaeology) repeatedly teaches that Jesus is the only way to God, heaven, and peace with Him.
Consider these texts:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:30-31
“Come follow me”
Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:7-10
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time” I Timothy 2:5
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life” I John 5:12
As noted, these texts are very exclusive in their nature. The clear teachings of the scriptures is that Jesus is the only way to Heaven and peace with God. The Bible in no way supports the thought that there is any other way.
When the Philippian jailer came to Paul and Silas and cried out “What must I do to be saved?” Paul didn’t say “just keep on with the religion that you’ve got” he said “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
In Acts 4:12 when it says “There is no other name given to men by which we must be saved” its clear that calling on the name of another supposed god is in vain and is in fact sin.
In John 14:6 when Jesus says “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” its pretty clear that he is saying that there is no other way: He’s it.
III. Let’s consider for a moment Jesus’ claim to be “the truth” from John 14:6
We live in a day and age where the concept of “truth” has been messed around with. We hear people say “that might be true for you” “its relative” “two contradictory things can both be true”.
Truth is not like that at all. Such statements regarding truth are a ridiculous as saying 2 plus 3 equals 4. You might say “it’s true” but what is more than obvious is that you’re wrong.
The fact is this: Truth is a very exclusive thing. Truth implies an objective standard. Truth is not something that changes with the whims of peoples emotions or time or culture. What was true yesterday is true today.
A sad fact is this: most people today do not believe that truth and right and wrong are static things. Most people believe that truth and right and wrong are changeable and relative depending upon the situation you find yourself in. Even in Jesus’ day this view existed. Consider the trial of Jesus “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of the truth listens to me.” What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out….John 18:36-38
In spite of what people say “truth is an exclusive thing and so to is the way to Heaven. The way to Heaven is only through Jesus Christ. As mentioned earlier, it is illogical to present different ways and paths of truth that lead to God.
More regarding John 14:6
1. When Jesus says “I am the truth” he is in effect claiming to be God. He is claiming to be the same one who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush. At the burning bush God revealed Himself to Moses by the name “I AM”. Jesus uses the same name in identifying himself in many NT texts. One of his more well known times in doing so is in John when he says “Before Abraham was I AM” and then promptly the Jews tried to stone him for they understood that he was claiming to be God.
2. When Jesus says “I am the truth” he is not just claiming to be telling the truth, he is claiming to be the embodiment of all truth itself. Jesus is more than just a truth teller. Truth is something that defines Him and as such everything word and deed that comes from him is reflective of that.
When it comes to us and the truth we recognize how far short we have fallen. We tell lies all the time. We are deceptive and crafty individuals. Sometimes we tell the truth, sometimes we are forthright, yet not so with Jesus.
When it comes to Jesus’ claim to being God and the truth there is a decision to be made.
Either Jesus is telling the truth or he is lying. If he’s lying then he is not who he claimed be and the Christian faith is a waste of time. If he’s lying he cannot be trusted in the slightest of ways. Lot’s of people, wishing to ignore Jesus’ claims regarding his deity, the only way to Heaven, the creator and sustainer of all things, have tried to make Jesus out to be a great moral teacher and a perfect example of how a person is supposed to live. How can one say that Jesus is a great moral teacher if half the time they believe him to be proclaiming lies? That’s not logical. Either Jesus is who he says his is or he deserves to be outright and completely rejected. If his claims regarding his identity can’t be trusted then how can one put any trust in what other things he teaches?
If Jesus is who he claims to be then what he is here teaching “that he is the only way, the truth, and the life” means that all other ways are false. And that indeed he is the true God.
When it comes to Jesus and his claims he is backed up: His miracles, his resurrection, the testimony of God the Father, the testimony of the trustworthy scriptures.
APPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION
1. People are asking the question “Why Jesus”. We have a theme verse to memorize that encourages us to answer this question: I Peter 3:15 it says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
2. There is only 1 way to Heaven: through Jesus Christ. This is what the Bible exclusively teaches. This is a logical conclusion which I trust our examination of the nature of truth clarifies.
3. As ones who know the truth we must guard against any feelings of superiority or arrogance.
As mentioned, in I Peter 3:5 it says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
If we come across as haughty and unloving or arrogant then……
4. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus Christ, don’t delay. The Bible calls us to seek the Lord while we can and to call on him while he is near. The Bible also promises that all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ in faith and repentance will be forgiven of their sins and will have a place in God’s eternal kingdom
5. Seeing people convert to Jesus Christ is the goal
Because there is only 1 true way to God, and that way is Jesus, then conversion is the goal.
Our goal is not to help the Buddhist be a better Buddhist or the Roman Catholic be a better Catholic or the Hindu be a better Hindu. The goal towards which we must work is to lead people to Jesus Christ.
Repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ is the message we are charged to take. It is the responsibility of every breathing Christian to take Jesus to others and proclaim this message.
In Romans 10:13-15 it says “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Our job is to present Christ and urge people to put their faith in Him. The rest is God’s work.
6. Since Jesus is the only way it means that all other ways are false and of the Devil.
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says this “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Next week we are going to continue this series entitled “Why Jesus” by considering how Jesus alone was qualified to act as our Savior and offer atonement for our sins.
