Jesus Is The Only Way To God - True Or False Series

Jesus is the Only Way to God – True or False?

John 14:1-6

March 28, 2004

This message has been based on a series idea from Outreach marketing and the outline is based on partial material found in a message written by Brian Mavis.

Introduction

The most authentic portrayal I have ever seen – Ted Haggard

The Passion of the Christ has stirred the hearts of millions and has caused a new examination of the life and teachings of Jesus. The movie was indeed powerful and moving because of the realistic portrayal of the suffering of Jesus.

Last week we started a new series of messages, True or False: Searching for the Truth about Jesus. In last weeks message I established a basis for the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and he is exactly who He claimed to be.

One of the greatest controversies in the Christian faith is that Jesus claimed to be the only way to God. There have been many groups that have branded Christians as arrogant because we claim exclusive truth or intolerant because we refuse to accept other faiths as genuine.

This morning as we continue our study on the life of Jesus, we are going to explore and examine the realities behind this amazing claim of Jesus.

True or False – All Religions are the same

The answer to this question is somewhat tricky because of the various definitions of religion and how we determine what religion is. The fact is that religion is a system of rules and regulations that if followed allow a person into a form of an afterlife. Religion is all about what a person has to do to make themselves worthy of entering heaven. Religion is about accomplishing a list of do’s and avoiding a list of don’ts throughout a lifetime to earn the right to enter an afterlife.

If you are honest that doesn’t sound very appealing. Religion is all about what you have to do.

Anyone who claims that all religions are the same betrays not only an ignorance of all religions but also a caricatured view of even the best known ones. Every religion at its core is exclusive. Ravi Zacharias

I would argue that Christianity is unique in the faith systems of the world because it is not based on rules and regulations. In other words, Christianity is not about earning the right to go to heaven because it cannot be earned. The New Testament tells us that no one is righteous. This means that no person is good enough to get into heaven.

Christianity is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because He has already done everything to get you into heaven. Christianity is not a religion but rather it is a relationship.

There is a powerful scene in The Passion of the Christ where Satan attempts to get Jesus to give up His mission because no one person could bear the weight of every person’s sin but that is exactly what Jesus did.

Religion is based on what you have to do but Christianity is based on what Christ has already done.

True or False – There are many ways to God

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)

This is basically what our society does they pick and choose the parts of different faith systems to create their own way to believe. How can they do such a thing? This thinking flows out of the fact that our society denies the existence of absolute Truth.

Our society says that there is no such thing as absolute truth, truth that never changes. This leads us down a very dangerous road because everything becomes relative.

In other words, if there is no absolute truth, then truth becomes nothing more than a personal whim. Truth for you might be totally different than truth for me. The last time that I checked anything that was not true has to be called a lie.

So what is true? What exactly are the claims that Jesus makes?

True or False – Jesus is the Only Way to God

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.