"I am the way the truth and the life"

I figured I would title this entry with the very words of Jesus, in hopes that readers would revert back to this statement as you read onward.

Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". John 14:6

Early on in my walk of faith, (about 2 years ago) having received The gospel, and accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I was given new desires. One of which was the strong desire to seek the word of God for answers. I once figured reading the bible wasn't all that necessary in my "faith". Those views changed after I was saved by grace through true genuine faith in Christ. Radically, I developed a deep reverence for God and His word. Something that was once insignificant, became foundational in my beliefs! It's been a light in dark times, and a firm foundation on which I build my life on. All glory to God.

There are so many religions, and claims that hold to the belief that all religions lead to God. This without question confuses many who are earnestly seeking the truth about God.

One of the first questions I had when I newly came to Christ was: If I myself, have found Christianity to be true, why are there so many religions and beliefs.

Romans 1:19-21 Contains the biblical explanation for why there are so many religions.

 "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened".

The truth of God is evident, and known internally by every human because God has made it so. A painting can not paint itself. A building can not build itself. Creation is proof of A Creator! Instead of accepting the truth about God and submitting to it, most people reject it and seek their own way to understand God, apart from scripture. This once led me to seek New age.

Via got questions.com “The existence of so many religions is not an argument against God’s existence or an argument that truth about God is not clear. Rather, the existence of so many religions is a demonstration of humanity’s rejection of the one true God. Mankind has replaced Him with gods that are more to their liking. This is a dangerous enterprise. The desire to recreate God in our own image comes from the sin nature within us—a nature that will eventually “reap destruction” (Galatians 6:7-8)”.

I asked my husband this question and his answer was so simple, and made so much sense. He said something along the lines of this- People seek God, and/ or answers in various ways because deep down people want to know God personally, this often leads people to turn to religion. We all at some point or another have the desire to know who created us. Many people have subscribed to a system of beliefs because they’re raised to believe in these beliefs and traditions, without genuinely seeking on their own.

"Religion is man's attempt to reach God; Jesus was God's attempt to reach man." - Carl Medearis

I will admit years ago, I discovered Eckhart Tolle, and a handful of "Christian Pastors" while watching a program: Super Soul Sunday hosted by Oprah. I too adhered to some of these concepts and found these beliefs incredibly appealing. I will share a quote, and though one may be open minded to such ideologies, this however can not be true if you call yourself a follower of Christ/ aka Christian. It's simple - we can not claim Christ and yet deny Christ in the same breath! What is the good news of the Gospel if it is contradicting?

"Free thinking Christian"

“Well I am a Christian who believes there are certainly many more paths that lead to God other than Christianity. I’m a freethinking Christian who believes in my way, but I don’t believe it’s the only way”. Oprah Winfrey

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Matthew 15:8

“Oprah’s newly-packaged positive-thinking spirituality is tailor-made for our postmodern age. She promises meaning without truth, acceptance without judgment, and fulfillment without self-denial”. R. Albert Mohler

"Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26

Let's take a look at what the bible says about distorting the message of the gospel.

There is No Other Gospel - You can find the verses below in Galatians 1:6-11

"I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse! Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ".

Just...Believe..

All my life I believed in God! I also believed God sent His son Jesus Christ to die for our sins... Those were basic concepts of the faith. You know the popular saying " just believe" ? well, even an Atheist believes! (in theory of evolution). My point is everyone believe in something! Many people believe in a manufactured “god”. Aside from Oprah, and her colleagues many "Christians" are guilty of precisely that. Sadly I can attest, as I had always 'believed', however I assumed much of my knowledge of God, and His character. I wanted God to be all-loving and not just. All-forgiving and not a God of anger, and wrath. Despite my ties to New age witchcraft: (yes it's all lumped into black magic aka sorcery) which includes; tarot, reiki, astrology, manifestations. I also believed I was a good person. I thought I was in a right standing with God, and so "spiritual"and yet, I failed to recognize how utterly lost I was because the "god" I believed in... was merely a concept of my assumptions.

Did you know it is considered idolatry to make up a God in your imagination apart from the God of the Bible - An idol: is anything that replaces the one true God. We deceive ourselves when we base our beliefs on a "freethinking faith". What's actually concerning is that these very beliefs hinder us, they blind us, dismissing our need for a Savior. There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves, and while religion says do, Christ·ianity says done.  I believe we as humans, etch God out when we play the role of god. This was the reason I would partake in tarot- to know answers and gain a sense of control. Beware of using witchcraft idols, and rituals of the pagans. There is nothing Godly about partnering with darkness.

"Our attitude toward the truth determines the outcome of our lives. If we don’t love the truth, if we resist it, we resist salvation. But if we do love the truth then we embrace salvation and we receive the reward." via activechristianity.org

It is very clear that Jesus did not proclaim that there were various ways. No, He boldly stated that He is the Only way! If you consider yourself to be a "freethinking Christian" please know that one of the foundations of the Christian belief is that Jesus is the only way to salvation. To claim Christ and then to deny Christ by saying He's not the only way, should be a clear indication that you have yet to receive the gospel, thus denying the finished work on the cross. I share this not to condemn anyone, but to encourage you in true faith! Please know, I was deceived and I share this because I genuinely care about peoples salvation!

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it". Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus is the only way for several reasons

Jesus was “chosen by God” to be The Savior

"You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor." 1 Peter 2:4

Jesus is the only person to have lived a perfect human life

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Hebrews 4:15

Because He lived a sinless life, He can not lie!

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:22

Since His words are true let no one deceive you by denying Him of the words He has spoken; that HE is the only way. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". John 14:6

Jesus is God!

"I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

"Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show Him to you?" John 14:9

He is the only Mediator between God and man/woman (Not Saints, not Mary, nor Priests)!

"For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5

There is no other way into a relationship with God except through salvation in Jesus

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Jesus is the only sacrifice for sin

"He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world". 1 John 2:2

Jesus conquered sin and death forever

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification”

Romans 4:25

Jesus is the resurrection and the life

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die". John 11:25-26

"For if we have been united with Him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." Romans 6:5-6 He gives us a new identity, a new purposes and new desires when we are new creations in Christ. 

Freedom is found in Christ alone!

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32

“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 6:18

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 6:23

Naturally we don’t want to submit to anyone or anything, and inherently, we do not desire to live obedient to God- we would rather rebel and live as we please not even recognizing this way of living leads us to destruction. This is called freewill. The Bible talks about death, and many times this is in reference to being spiritually dead! To be spiritually dead is to be separated from God. The Bible says that we are dead in our trespasses and sins - Ephesians 2:1 - New age is so incredibly deceiving because it swindles people to believe they are so spiritual and enlightened.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8

I am not ashamed of the gospel. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Such a bold statement may surprise, or even offend some people. The gospel is meant to be offensive. Why? Because it confronts our rebellion against God.

"When we start editing the gospel for fear of offense we lose everything. Without the gospel we have no message, no mission, and no church". Erik Raymond

At one point in Jesus’ ministry, majority of listeners in the crowd were turning their backs on Him, and leaving in hopes of finding another "savior". Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Peter’s reply is filled with obedient faith “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68–69). Jesus' words convicted  people and He exposed darkness. Naturally we don't want to submit/ or recognize our need, and our depraved state of being lost, and spiritually dead in our sins. Jesus flipped tables and told off the religious elites. And Yes, He sat with sinners but they changed! He didn't have to.

It is simple- If we negate the severity of sin, than we need no savior ..and just as those who scattered from the crowd, searching elsewhere for a "savior" they'll remain lost. May we all share in Peter’s faith that- eternal life resides only in Jesus Christ.

Jesus answered,

“I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6