Islington Baptist Church May 6, 2001
Series: Why Jesus? Why follow Jesus and not any other religion, system, philosophy, or way?
Key texts for this week: Acts 16:30, Matthew 11:28-30, Galatians 1
Follow Jesus because he offers a better way of salvation
A number of weeks ago we began a series addressing this question “Why follow Jesus?: Why follow Jesus and not any other religion, system, philosophy, or way?”
It’s a question the Bible calls us to be prepared to answer at any time; for as I Peter 1:15 says “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”
So far in our series we have considered 2 very important reasons for why a person must follow Jesus and not any other religion, system, philosophy, or way.
1. Follow Jesus because He is the only way to the Father.
In spite of the many voices who assert that there are many ways to God, the fact remains that “There is no other name given to men by which they must be saved”. As Jesus himself said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me” (That was our key verse: John 14:6)
In considering this exclusive way to the God the Father, we examined Jesus’ statement “I am the truth”, noting that truth is not a relative thing but rather it is concrete and unchanging and exclusive. The multiple and contradictory “ways to God” that are proclaimed fail the truth test. The nature of truth, and logic itself, dictates that their can only be one way to God.
2. Follow Jesus because His sinless and perfect life qualifies him to declare the way to the Father.
Our key verse last week came from John 8:46 where Jesus issued this challenge “Can any of you prove me of sin?”
Unlike the founders and gods of other religions, Jesus suffers from no moral credibility or sin issues. Jesus is the only person who has ever been sinless. The fact of his sinless and perfect life qualifies Jesus to definitively teach the way to God. Since his character, purity, morality, and credibility are beyond reproach, we can be supremely confident in the way of salvation that he teaches.
Today, as we consider the “Why follow Jesus?” question, we are going to ponder this answer: Follow Jesus because He offers a better way of salvation.
Please turn with me to Acts 16:16-34 (READ)
Context:
According to the command of Christ, Paul and Silas are making their way from Gentile city to Gentile city, preaching repentance from ones sins and Jesus Christ as Lord and only Savior.
Along the way, 1000’s had become followers of Jesus. However, another group had also arose: those hostile to Jesus and the gospel message.
In v.16-18 we learn that while Paul and Silas were in Philippi that they were being harassed by a demon possessed girl. Wherever they went, this slave girl, who made great sums of money for her owners by telling peoples fortunes, would continually shout out at the top of her lungs “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they are telling you the way to be saved”
Now I trust the irony of this is not lost on you. Here are Paul and Silas, preaching repentance from ones sins and presenting Jesus Christ as the only one whom one can go to for the forgiveness of their sins; and here’s this demon possessed girl affirming their message.—for the reality is that the demons know who Jesus is and they tremble at his name. Another irony is this: Satan and his helpers know exactly who Jesus is and they are fully aware of his divine status and their doom. There goal is to blind people to the truth they know so well.
Any ways, after many days this girl and her continual shouting starts to grate on Paul and so in the name of Jesus Christ he commands that the evil spirit come out of her. This ticks off the slave girls owners because now their meal ticket has been wrecked. Hence Paul and Silas are thrown into jail.
A severe beating didn’t stop Paul and Silas from preaching Christ. Jail didn’t stop Paul and Silas from calling people to repentance. Jail didn’t stop Paul and Silas from preaching Jesus as Savior and only Lord. Jail didn’t stop Paul and Silas from praising God.
Because of God’s favor upon Paul and Silas and because God still had work for Paul and Silas to do, God rocked the jail with an earthquake so that every door flew open and every prison chain was loosed. This freaked the jailer out and thinking that the prisoners had escaped he began a suicide attempt (for he surely would have been executed in a most cruel way for allowing the prisoners to escape). While in the process, Paul shouted out to him “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”; for not a single person had tried to take advantage of the situation and escape.
Overwhelmed by obvious hand of Paul and Silas’ God in the whole matter, the jailer came running and trembling to Paul and Silas, blurting out these famous words “What must I do to be saved?”
I. Now before we dig into Paul and Silas’ response I want you to play a game of pretend with me. In answering the jailers question I would like you to pretend that Paul and Silas were first of all: Muslims, then Buddhists, then Hindus. Please note: I’m not trying to funny at all, my goal is to accurately represent how they would answer this question.
1. Firstly, I would like you to pretend that Paul and Silas were Muslims
If Paul and Silas were Muslims they would have tentatively said (for no Muslim knows for sure if they are a good enough Muslim to get to Heaven) to the Philippian jailer…. “If you want to get to Heaven……….
1. You must in faith profess “There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah”—key: must say this, believing it of course, as often as possible
2. You must give a portion of your income to charity
3. You must fast during the daytime for 1 month straight every year. Month of Ramadan
4. You must strive to make a pilgrimage to Mecca
5. You must pray, facing towards Mecca, at least 5 times a day.
If Paul and Silas were Muslims, this is how they would have answered the Philippian jailer.
2. I would now like you to pretend that Paul and Silas were Buddhists
If Paul and Silas were Buddhists, this is how they were would have responded to the Philippian jailer in this way …….
We are going to teach you the way of enlightenment and perfect wisdom. Your primary concern ought to be “How can I enter into the state of Nirvana?” Nirvana is the true reality. All that you see is not reality—these walls, these chains, it’s all a vast puppet show of make believe fiction. Nirvana is your goal. The reason you must get to Nirvana is because it is the place of the true permanent reality. You must strive to escape the never ending cycle of anguish that you are in (birth, suffering, pain, sorrow, sickness, old age, death, etc)
To get to Nirvana there is an 8 fold path that you must follow. Another way of speaking of this 8 fold path is to speak of it as the path of escape. Start to read the works of Buddha, he will show you the way.
Also note this Mr. Jailer, and this is important; it is only by ones own efforts that Perfect wisdom can be realized. Each individual is responsible for his own emancipation from anguish and suffering.
3. I would like you to pretend that Paul and Silas were Hindus
If Paul and Silas were Hindus they would first of all asked the jailer “What is your current religion?” Upon finding the answer they would say “The path you are on will lead you to God, you must be completely and purely devoted to the one you now serve” Your ultimate goal is to come to a state of realization, realization of who you really are. The realization that you must come to is that it is but an illusion that you and God are separate. There is no distinction between God and you. Your coming to this realization may take many more lifetimes, it all depends on how you live. Also note this, Mr. Jailer. There are countless ways to the Divine/God, but the practice of Yoga provides the easiest and quickest way.
II. As you know, Paul and Silas were not Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists. Paul and Silas were followers of Jesus Christ. When the Philippian jailer came trembling and in fear to them and asked the question “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas proclaimed with great confidence “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved”
You see, the jailer knew exactly why Paul and Silas were in prison. They had been preaching that people turn from their sins—and no doubt about it: his sins would have been on his mind as he came running to Paul and Silas. The jailer also knew that Paul and Silas had been preaching that Jesus alone is the one that people can turn to for the forgiveness of their sins. They had been preaching Jesus Christ as the only true God and Savior. In addition to this, their message and teachings had been affirmed, and just now again, by powerful acts of God.
It was on this basis that the jailer hastened to Paul and Silas, seeking to be right the Most High God, whom they served.
To his question Paul and Silas proclaimed: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” In other words; turn in faith and repentance to Jesus Christ; believing that he is Lord and that he rose from the dead, just as we have been proclaiming.
NOTE: Perhaps you are here today and you haven’t yet turned to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and peace with God. Don’t delay…… Do what the jailer did.
III. When we started out this morning I declared that a person ought to follow Jesus because He offers a better way of salvation. By way of pretending we considered how some of the other religions would have answered the jailer’s question regarding salvation. Here now are 3 reasons for why the way of salvation that Jesus declared is better than all others.
1. The way of salvation that Jesus offers, addresses and provides remedy for man’s true problem: His sinfulness
Our basic problem as human beings is sin. It’s a core problem—and there is lots of evidence for this. The irony is this: countless deny to be their problem.
Sin separates people from God. It’s because of sin that are suffering abounds in our world. Because of sin, people are under the judgment of God and on their way to Hell.
The reason Jesus came was that we might be reconciled back to God and that our sin might be done away with. Jesus’ sinlessness qualified him to act as our Savior and to be the once for all sacrifice for sins upon the cross.
The way of salvation that Jesus offers, addresses and provides remedy for our sinfulness.
The forgiveness of sins can be had……….
2. Complete assurance of ones salvation can be had.
Our friends who belong to other religions have no iron clad assurances that they will ever get to the stated goals of their religions. They have no true confidence and according to the teachings of their religions, no basis for confidence either.
When a person comes to Jesus as the only Savior and Lord, the Bible “bends over backwards” communicating to them that their sins have been totally forgiven and that eternal life is truly theirs. For example, consider I John 5:13 where John says “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
3. The salvation and forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers is not conditioned upon ones efforts and work.
Consider this invitation of Jesus’ from Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The requirements that other religions make, weigh people down and trap them in their sins. In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees had loaded people down with all sorts of extra laws regarding how to follow God. When it comes to other religions there is also all sorts of burdensome requirements that are put onto the shoulders of their adherents. Jesus offers rest and release. Jesus offers a better way, and not just a better way: the only way.
Jesus offers rest and release from trying to make for ones own salvation.*****
The Christian religion is not based on DO, rather is based on the concept of DONE-- Jesus being the one who has done everything to secure our salvation—all that is needed is a turning in faith, repentance, and commitment to him alone.
The salvation that Jesus offers is not based upon works but upon grace.
Because of a persons sinfulness, all of their self efforts, righteousness, and works, are never considered good enough by God to merit his favor. In and of our own strength, our sinfullness stains and spoils our every act. (all our righteousness is as filthy rags).
One can never get to God by their own effort and strength. Salvation rests upon the grace of God—unmerited, freely given gift from the heart of a loving God.
Consider what Ephesians 2:8-9 says in this matter “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
CONCLUSION
Why ought one to follow Jesus? Because he offers a better way of salvation. It’s better because….
1. The salvation Jesus offers addresses man’s basic problem; his sinfulness.
2. All those who come in faith, repentance, and commitment to Jesus Christ are to have a complete assurance of their salvation and place in Heaven.
3. The salvation that Jesus offers is not based upon works, but upon grace. Salvation cannot be had by self effort. It’s a gift. Jesus offers rest and release from trying to make for your own salvation.
4. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, turn to him now. Confess your sins. Call upon the name of Jesus for salvation.
5. If you are a Christian, remember the later part of Matthew 11:28-30 which says “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Following Jesus means obedience to Him. In the Christian life there are requirements of us, requirements that do not determine our salvation, but rather ones which prove our salvation. We must be fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, surrendering every area of our lives to Him.
Think for a moment about your walk with God. Is their some area where you are refusing to surrender to him. Surely you know. We cannot call others to repentance all the while ignoring our own sins. Let us all make sure that we are right with God today.
We also must remember that following Jesus is not about do and do and do and rule this and rule that. One follows Jesus because they love him. One follows Jesus because they are in relationship with him, an undeserved relationship that sees all their sins forgiven and eternal life as their possession. One follows and obeys Jesus because their hearts are filled with gratitude—gratitude that God, according to his pleasure and infinite riches, chose and brought us to Himself.
