There are many things to say on this matter, but I want to finish on the wonderfulness, beauty, and freedom that comes for all Christians who know the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Knowing that He is the only Way to God sets us free from the yoke of works. It sets us free to worship Him alone. It reveals to us that nothing can increase or decrease our standing with God, and we are free to worship Christ and Christ alone! We can finally rest that Jesus is the end of all things. It is no longer "Jesus plus anything." It is by His name we are saved; there is no other name - He is the end.
This is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, let no other "addition" to Him of any kind disturb your conscience. Look upon John 14:6. Meditate on it. Worship God through its Truth. Realize its implications. It will set you free both from living for man's praise and from man's yoke-filled additions to Christ. Lose yourself in the truth that when all of this world passes away and you fall asleep into eternity, the only Way to God will be through Jesus Christ.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Exclusivity of Christ, Part 2
One cannot believe in Jesus, or exalt Him in status, apart from the good news that He brings. What is that good news? Simply that He is the only Way to God - through faith in Him there is a restored relationship and eternity spent with God. If Jesus laying down His life for us in order to restore that relationship (as in Him doing all the work; and we simply accepting God's grace - a free gift through Him) is not the only Way to God, then what Jesus brings is no longer good news. Why? 1) Because we no longer have assurance of salvation; 2) He is not really the only way and is therefore a liar- and is therefore not good (I shutter writing such a lie!) ; 3) there is more to salvation than God's grace to us, more than His free gift to us, meaning that we again take on a yoke of earning our way to perfection (God), which we cannot do. I have only mentioned a few, but there are many more reasons why if Jesus is not the only Way to God, then there is no more good news. Paul states it well in Galatians when he says, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing- if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: ' He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness' " (Galatians 3:3-6).
Therefore, let no false religions or false prophets lead you astray to any other doctrine apart from the exclusivity of Christ for eternal salvation. It is both beautiful and necessary. If there were many ways to God, or even one other way apart from Christ, then Christ is a liar, and we are all lost. Do not let any "religious system" exalt Christ in any way apart from that way which is due Him: the only way to God! If someone does not believe this truth which He said about Himself, then they call Him a liar, and therefore have no part with Him. Within that do we see the eternal implications in the exclusivity of Christ.
Therefore, let no false religions or false prophets lead you astray to any other doctrine apart from the exclusivity of Christ for eternal salvation. It is both beautiful and necessary. If there were many ways to God, or even one other way apart from Christ, then Christ is a liar, and we are all lost. Do not let any "religious system" exalt Christ in any way apart from that way which is due Him: the only way to God! If someone does not believe this truth which He said about Himself, then they call Him a liar, and therefore have no part with Him. Within that do we see the eternal implications in the exclusivity of Christ.
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Exclusivity Of Christ, Part 1
I want to speak about the wonderful exclusivity of Christ. O how wonderful it is! May the followers of Christ rest in it, and may those who do not follow Him be enlightened by the Spirit to its awesome truth.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
"He who hates me hates my Father as well" (John 15:23).
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 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...I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep"(John 10:1-9, 11).
Some like to say, "Yes, but Jesus did not really say these things." Believe what you will, but know this: Men who wrote these words that Jesus spoke walked with Him, lived under His teaching, and died because they believed with all their heart that He had said them. How will you believe something about Jesus written by men who did not walk with Him, did not live under His teachings, and who died hundreds of years after His death and resurrection? Therefore, you may not believe Jesus was who He said He was, but you must realize that He did say He was the Son of God ("...The high priest said to him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied." (Matthew 26:63b-64a) ), and He did say He was the only way to God.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
"He who hates me hates my Father as well" (John 15:23).
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 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...I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep"(John 10:1-9, 11).
Some like to say, "Yes, but Jesus did not really say these things." Believe what you will, but know this: Men who wrote these words that Jesus spoke walked with Him, lived under His teaching, and died because they believed with all their heart that He had said them. How will you believe something about Jesus written by men who did not walk with Him, did not live under His teachings, and who died hundreds of years after His death and resurrection? Therefore, you may not believe Jesus was who He said He was, but you must realize that He did say He was the Son of God ("...The high priest said to him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied." (Matthew 26:63b-64a) ), and He did say He was the only way to God.
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