Dr. Mike Murphy
April 22, 2014
“How naive and selfish of me would it be to think Jesus is the only way to Heaven.” “What makes me think as a Christian we have all the answers?” “Jesus works for me, I am sure God uses other religions for other people.”
We have all heard these statements and heard the questions asked. But what might surprise you is how many people within the Church are now asking the same questions. In 2008, a poll was taken that showed 57% of Evangelical Christians said they believe that many religions can lead to eternal life. In the last six years that number has increased to almost 67%! Think about that. Next time you are in church, look over to the person on your right, and then glance over at the person on your left. The odds are that both do not believe that salvation can only be found in Christ. If that does not scare you enough, then realize that polls also show that 50% of church-going Christians do not believe that Jesus is always the right answer. The majority of people sitting with you in the pews on Sunday, do not believe the words they are hearing from the pulpit.
The effects this is having on the Church and society today is devastating. But what is even more concerning is the effects this is having on our younger generations. In the age demographic of 18-29 year olds, the majority do not believe there is an absolute truth. They believe that cultural beliefs are more important that religious beliefs. The do not believe the Bible plays any role in their decision making. And they do not believe that sin is a problem they ever need to worry about. This has lead to only one in three young people believing Christ is the only way to Heaven, or even see Him as a necessary part of their lives.
The details of these polls are more than just troubling. They show us a picture of not only a Church in decline, but a Church that unless it makes drastic changes, will continue to remain in decline. Our pick and choose approach to theology has led to a generation with an anything goes theology. Faith is being defined by what not to believe, instead of why we should believe. We have defined “tolerance” as an ecumenical, all encompassing, anything goes form of a faith. In the name of tolerance, we have made Christ intolerant.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6). This is not only a statement of our faith, but a statement for our faith. The whole basis of our faith can be summed up in those nineteen words. Most know these words by heart, but do we know what these words mean?
I AM. In Greek, the words used for “I am” had great meaning. They carried a heightened and more profound meaning than we tend to read in the words. The mean, “I, and only I, am”. Jesus was not making a general statement, but a specific one in which He is proclaiming that He, and He alone had the authority to make. We reads the words “I am” used seven times in the Gospel of John, and in each one Jesus makes this same proclamation. These words show us a supremacy that only God Himself could make. We see as Him proclaims these words in John 8:58, the leaders and the people knew immediately who He said He was. As we watch Christ say “I am” in John 18:5-6, we see the soldiers that came to arrest Him fall to the ground. Jesus is telling us that God, and only He as God, could make this statement.
WAY. The Greek word for “way”, means “travelled or proven way”. A travelled path was one that could guarantee you to reach your destination. Those who had travelled the path could tell you what it was like. And a travelled path did not carry the dangers that a wandering path would have. Throughout His time on this earth, Jesus had told His disciples to “follow me”. As often as they had heard this, the had questioned where He was going, and how they could follow. In these words, Christ is not only showing us where He was going, but how we could get there. He was providing for us a proven path.
The Bible tells us that our sin had separated us from God(Isaiah 59:2). Christ came so that we would no longer experience that separation, and to provide a “way” for us to be reconciled with God(Romans 5:10). Christ was that proven path, and as Peter would later proclaim(Acts 4:12), the only path that would lead us to salvation and a future with the Lord. “I am the way” was Christ’ exclusive proclamation that only He was the travelled and proven path that would lead us to an eternity with the Lord.
TRUTH. We cannot describe truth in a single word. Truth is a reality, a proven fact, something of certainty. Truth was righteousness in the eyes of the Lord. The Word tells us that God’s law is truth(Psalm 119:142), and Christ tells us that He came to fulfill that law(Matthew 5:17). Christ is telling us that He alone is the source of all truth. To explain truth, we only need to point to Christ.
So how do we know that Christ is truth? Jesus not only spoke and lived the truth, but prophecy shows us the certainty in that truth. Jesus fulfilled over three hundred prophecies in His first coming. The odds that one man could do this are 10 to the 157th power. That is far greater odds than there have been total people who have lived on this earth! I defy anyone to show me one example of history that can be proven with a greater certainty! To deny Christ is to deny the truth!
The Bible tells us that our sin had separated us from God(Isaiah 59:2). Christ came so that we would no longer experience that separation, and to provide a “way” for us to be reconciled with God(Romans 5:10). Christ was that proven path, and as Peter would later proclaim(Acts 4:12), the only path that would lead us to salvation and a future with the Lord. “I am the way” was Christ’ exclusive proclamation that only He was the travelled and proven path that would lead us to an eternity with the Lord.
TRUTH. We cannot describe truth in a single word. Truth is a reality, a proven fact, something of certainty. Truth was righteousness in the eyes of the Lord. The Word tells us that God’s law is truth(Psalm 119:142), and Christ tells us that He came to fulfill that law(Matthew 5:17). Christ is telling us that He alone is the source of all truth. To explain truth, we only need to point to Christ.
So how do we know that Christ is truth? Jesus not only spoke and lived the truth, but prophecy shows us the certainty in that truth. Jesus fulfilled over three hundred prophecies in His first coming. The odds that one man could do this are 10 to the 157th power. That is far greater odds than there have been total people who have lived on this earth! I defy anyone to show me one example of history that can be proven with a greater certainty! To deny Christ is to deny the truth!
Although truth is factual, it is far more than facts. Truth is not just something we act upon, but something that acts upon us. We are incapable of changing the truth, but the truth can and has changed each of us. We can discover the truth, but are incapable of creating truth. Truth is, well, true! The proven reality that we base all the examples and the standards of our life on.
The Bible tells us we are to walk in the truth, love the truth, and to believe the truth. Christ was the perfect example of all three. Christ did not just show and teach us the truth, He was the model of truth. To see Christ is to see truth. Christ was the witnessing testimony of God’s Truth!
The Bible tells us we are to walk in the truth, love the truth, and to believe the truth. Christ was the perfect example of all three. Christ did not just show and teach us the truth, He was the model of truth. To see Christ is to see truth. Christ was the witnessing testimony of God’s Truth!
LIFE. The dictionary describes life as “existence; the continual change preceding death”. The disciples listened as Jesus talked to them of his coming death, and at the same time He claimed to be the origin of all life. They were told that Christ would give His life for all, then claim that life back. He then told them He had the authority to lay down His life, and to take His life back again(John 10:17-18). I ask you one simple question. Who has the authority and ability to not only take life, but give or create life? Only one, God! And many witnessed Christ do just that! Countless numbers were firsthand witnesses to the Crucifixion. Jerusalem at the time of the spring feasts would have been overflowing with people who witnessed His death. And Paul tells us that over 500 people witnessed the risen Christ.(1 Corinthians 15:6). There are over 5500 written scripts about the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. This in a day and age when writing materials was pricey and scarce, and only used to record the most important of events. History proved the truth that Christ, and only Christ, fulfilled these promises.
But the promise of life that Christ was giving was far different than any had heard. Christ told His disciples in John 14:19. “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” The life that Christ was giving was an eternal one, free of the strains of sin and death. Eternal live is a gift that God gives(Romans 6:23), but only through the “life” of Christ!
This verse is the perfect example to this nation and this world, if we get Christ wrong, it really does not matter what else we get right. Everyone today, even atheist, have a theology. The question becomes whether that theology is true or false. We must begin to ask ourselves, is our theology truth-driven or is it popularity-driven?
There will always be those in the Church who will tell us that we have no right to tell others about the Truth that can only be found in Christ. But I would ask those this. As a person is crossing a road, a car is coming they do not see. Is it the right thing to do to shout, warning them of the danger, or is it the correct thing to do by waving politely as we watch the car hit them? The same can be said of God’s Truth and His Grace. We must follow the call to tell others of God’s Truth, so they may know God’s Grace. We must begin to understand, you cannot have truth without grace, and you cannot experience grace without truth.
The perfect example of this is a subject many today like to avoid or deny, Hell! A friend of mine recently said, “stop, drop and roll will not work in Hell”. Much of our nation today would consider such a statement as insensitive, nothing more than the rantings of wild-eyed, Bible- thumpers who only speak of God’s wrath. But this view overlooks the obvious statement, if the Bible is real then Hell is also. Jesus told us of Hell more than anyone else, describing it in graphic ways as a literal place. Jesus said in Matthew 8:12 that unbelievers would be “cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” So are many now claiming they know more on the issue than Christ? And if the words of Christ are true, then what does it say for us if we are willing to let those around go to such a place without first letting them know the truth? It says we are hypocrites! In the name of tolerance we allow the true grace that Christ came to offer to be withheld from society’s ears.
Many may see it as narrow-minded for us to say that Christ is the only answer, and the only way to the Father. But the truth is far from it. Our job is not to be the public relations staff for the Lord. Or job is not to try to rewrite and improve on His Word so that more will feel comfortable with what is being said. Our job is simple! We are to tell all who will listen that Christ is the true “I Am”, and Christ alone is “way, the truth, and the life”!
Hoping all will remember, the need to stop, drop, and roll tomorrow, can be prevented if you will stop, drop, and pray today!
