Today I’ve entitled our message “Jesus is the Only Way.” What does that mean, Jesus is the only way? It means that Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God. It means that Jesu is the only way to have your sins forgiven. It means that Jesus is the only way to spend eternity in heaven.
John 14:6 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus makes it clear that he is the way, not one of many ways. Jesus teaches is that He alone embodies the truth. Jesus tells us that He is eternal life with no other option. If that was not enough, Jesus says that no one comes to God, the Father except through Him. Jesus clearly teaches us that He is the only way. Peter preaches about Jesus in …
Acts 4:12 (ESV) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter leaves no doubt that salvation comes only through the name of Jesus. The problem we face in America today is that 69% of adults believe they are Christians. Yet, the vast majority (64%) of those who claim to be Christians believe that all religions are of equal value.
What do they mean when they think all religions are of equal value? It is that there are many ways to God and Jesus is just one of those ways. That is not what Jesus or the Bible clearly teaches. Only 6% of Americans possess a basic biblical worldview, which believes that Jesu is the only way. That 6% is a shockingly low percentage of people who are truly Christians.
You might, well Pastor Dan, aren’t you being too strict? A person doesn’t need to know everything in order to be saved, do they? No a person doesn’t need to know everything in the Bible to be saved. They do need to know the basics truths of what they are professing to believe in. That means an accurate knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done to provide salvation. That is the essence of the Gospel, and you must understand the Gospel to be saved.
Some would say, well that seems so exclusive, so intolerant of other religions. You’re absolutely right. Christianity teaches that Jesus is the only way. Other religions are considered doctrines of demons. They lead people away from Jesus and salvation, rather than toward Him. So, let’s explore in greater detail today what Jesus had to say about being the only way.