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Vol. 11 No. 9 September 2009 |
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Vol. 11 No. 9 September 2009 |
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Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor
After reassuring His disciples that He would return to take them home to be with Him for eternity, Jesus was asked by Thomas how can we know the way to that place (cf. John 14:5). Jesus comfortingly declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). What an affirmation! “He did not say that He knew the way, the truth, and the life, nor that He taught them. He did not make Himself the exponent of a new system; He declared Himself to be the final key to all mysteries” (Tenney 215). “The Bible says there’s just ‘one way’ to God. But today, postmodernists claim that ‘no one way is the right way,’ and any way is okay. To them there is no absolute truth” (MacArthur, back cover). However, Jesus’ statement settles that argument once and for all! Jesus is THE way! Just think of some of the areas wherein this exclusive Way leads.
First, Jesus is the way to Pardon. The Lord’s very purpose for coming to earth was to pardon mankind (through obedience to the Gospel) from sin (cf. Matthew 1:21). If there had been another way to pardon mankind from sin, surely God would have enacted that way! Sin had separated man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and it was impossible to be forgiven by any other means (cf. Hebrews 10:4-10). The apostle’s statement harmonizes with this idea: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Man may attempt to introduce other ways, but the fact still remains, Jesus is the way to pardon!
Secondly, Jesus is the way to Peace.Isaiah prophesied that One would be born, and He would be called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus brings peace to all who obey Him (John 16:33; Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20). The message of Christ is surely one of real peace (cf. Acts 10:36; Ephesians 2:14-16). In fact, the absence of Jesus in anyone’s life yields everything but peace! While mankind searches diligently for peace in other areas, the fact still remains that Jesus is the only way to peace!
Thirdly, Jesus is the way to Paradise. The unforgettable words of Jesus to the thief on the cross, “…Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), surely verify this fact. Jesus granted the penitent thief an eternal resting place in the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7). Jesus continues to grant to all obedient disciples (Revelation 22:17), which obedience includes: belief in Jesus (cf. John 8:24); repentance (cf. Acts 17:30); confession of Christ (cf. Matthew 10:32); baptism for forgiveness of sins (cf. Mark 16:16) and faithful living (cf. 1 John 1:7; Revelation 2:10), this Paradise called Heaven (Revelation 22:17). One only finds his way to Paradise by following The Way!
There are not many ways leading to the same destination, spiritually! We are not all on different ways leading to the same place! There is but ONE, EXCLUSIVE, ACCEPTABLE way to Pardon, Peace and Paradise! That one WAY is found in and only in following the Master (1 Peter 2:21) and His commands (Colossians 3:17). Which way are you traveling? Follow Jesus and Him alone, for truly Jesus is The Way!
Works Cited
MacArthur, John. Why One Way? Nashville: W Publishing, 2002.
Tenney, Merrill. John The Gospel of Belief. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976.