John 14:6 (NET) - Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Believers understand that these words of Jesus are essential to Christianity.
Those that do not believe have an assortment of problems with these words.
One group says that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.
Another group says that this point of view is too narrow.
Another says that they cannot believe in God because He provided only one way for salvation.
Let’s examine each of these in turn.
First - Sincerity...
We live in an age where a doctrine of sincerity has become acceptable.
Some will argue that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere in your beliefs.
On the surface, this appears harmless enough.
It is far from harmless.
One can be sincere.
One can also be sincerely wrong at the same time.
At one time, people sincerely believed that the world was flat.
They were sincere in their belief.
They were also sincerely wrong.
Second - Narrowness of view...
There are some who claim that believing that Jesus is the only way is too narrow a view.
Yet Jesus makes Himself available to everyone.
For those who claim this view is too narrow, I have a question.
How can a way available to everyone possibly be considered narrow?
Third - God’s provision of a single path to salvation..
Take a good look at human history...
When I look at the evils and atrocities mankind has committed...
When I think of the cruelties of which man is capable...
...I am extremely thankful that he loved us enough to provide us with one way at all.
Furthermore, He provided for that single way from the very beginning.
Ephesians 1:4 (NET) - For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in His sight and love.
God knew we would not be able to save ourselves.
He planned for our salvation from the beginning.
He did so in the only way possible, namely, Jesus.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
Believers understand that these words of Jesus are essential to Christianity.
Those that do not believe have an assortment of problems with these words.
One group says that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.
Another group says that this point of view is too narrow.
Another says that they cannot believe in God because He provided only one way for salvation.
Let’s examine each of these in turn.
First - Sincerity...
We live in an age where a doctrine of sincerity has become acceptable.
Some will argue that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere in your beliefs.
On the surface, this appears harmless enough.
It is far from harmless.
One can be sincere.
One can also be sincerely wrong at the same time.
At one time, people sincerely believed that the world was flat.
They were sincere in their belief.
They were also sincerely wrong.
Second - Narrowness of view...
There are some who claim that believing that Jesus is the only way is too narrow a view.
Yet Jesus makes Himself available to everyone.
For those who claim this view is too narrow, I have a question.
How can a way available to everyone possibly be considered narrow?
Third - God’s provision of a single path to salvation..
Take a good look at human history...
When I look at the evils and atrocities mankind has committed...
When I think of the cruelties of which man is capable...
...I am extremely thankful that he loved us enough to provide us with one way at all.
Furthermore, He provided for that single way from the very beginning.
Ephesians 1:4 (NET) - For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in His sight and love.
God knew we would not be able to save ourselves.
He planned for our salvation from the beginning.
He did so in the only way possible, namely, Jesus.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
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