Jesus~the One and Only
Jesus answered, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
Jesus did not say I am one of many ways, but I am the way. Friend, no matter what you have heard, or what you have read, Jesus is the only way to the Father. Any religion that preaches a different gospel is a false religion. Unfortunately, there are many that have been deceived by thinking they can get into heaven by good works, by praying, by reading their Bible or by trying to be good. We could never be good enough and could never do enough good works to get into heaven. "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). Our hearts are desperately wicked. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9). Apart from Jesus, there is nothing in us that is good. Sure, you may do good things at times and love certain people in your life, but without Christ, you are wretched and full of sin. We all have a sin nature and this began when Eve was deceived by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. "For there is no one who does not sin" (1 Kings 8:46). From that moment forward, sin was brought into the world. But God had a plan, as He always does. There was no amount of sacrifice from bulls and goats offered to God that could wash our sins away. No, we needed a perfect, spotless, sinless sacrifice. One who could take our place. At just the right time, God sent us Jesus~the Savior of the world because He loved us so much and wanted a relationship with us. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8). When we have sin in our lives, there is a barrier between us and a holy, righteous God. God cannot even look upon sin and He will not hear our prayers when we have sin in our hearts. "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18)
Jesus shed His precious blood so that you and I could be free. Free in Him to live the life He created us to live. Jesus died a horrific death. In fact, Isaiah tells us that "His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness" (52:14). Jesus had no beauty or majesty that would attract us to Him and He was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:2-3). He died this death to "bear the sin of many and make intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). Jesus made a way where otherwise there was no way. Whenever anyone turns to Him, He cleanses you from all you sin. There is no more guilt or condemnation in Christ and you are set free. "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him" (Romans 4:7-8). Read that again, and let it sink in....the Lord will never count your sin against you, once you come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Hallelujah! Praise be to God! Forever, we will reign with Him. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:22-23). I don't know about you, but I just want to shout right now. God is so good and He is good all the time! Don't base God's character on your circumstances. He never changes~He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore! You may be going through a difficult time right now. It may seem as though everything is coming against you. Focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). He will give you the peace that passes all human understanding as He carries you through. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died , and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:2-4).
You are chosen by God and precious to Him (1 Peter 2:4). In Christ, you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). What a mighty and great God we serve! My heart is overflowing with thankfulness to God for His mercy and grace.
"To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father-to Him be the glory and power for ever and ever! Amen" (Revelation 1:5-6)
Jesus did not say I am one of many ways, but I am the way. Friend, no matter what you have heard, or what you have read, Jesus is the only way to the Father. Any religion that preaches a different gospel is a false religion. Unfortunately, there are many that have been deceived by thinking they can get into heaven by good works, by praying, by reading their Bible or by trying to be good. We could never be good enough and could never do enough good works to get into heaven. "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). Our hearts are desperately wicked. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9). Apart from Jesus, there is nothing in us that is good. Sure, you may do good things at times and love certain people in your life, but without Christ, you are wretched and full of sin. We all have a sin nature and this began when Eve was deceived by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. "For there is no one who does not sin" (1 Kings 8:46). From that moment forward, sin was brought into the world. But God had a plan, as He always does. There was no amount of sacrifice from bulls and goats offered to God that could wash our sins away. No, we needed a perfect, spotless, sinless sacrifice. One who could take our place. At just the right time, God sent us Jesus~the Savior of the world because He loved us so much and wanted a relationship with us. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8). When we have sin in our lives, there is a barrier between us and a holy, righteous God. God cannot even look upon sin and He will not hear our prayers when we have sin in our hearts. "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18)
Jesus shed His precious blood so that you and I could be free. Free in Him to live the life He created us to live. Jesus died a horrific death. In fact, Isaiah tells us that "His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness" (52:14). Jesus had no beauty or majesty that would attract us to Him and He was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:2-3). He died this death to "bear the sin of many and make intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). Jesus made a way where otherwise there was no way. Whenever anyone turns to Him, He cleanses you from all you sin. There is no more guilt or condemnation in Christ and you are set free. "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him" (Romans 4:7-8). Read that again, and let it sink in....the Lord will never count your sin against you, once you come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Hallelujah! Praise be to God! Forever, we will reign with Him. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:22-23). I don't know about you, but I just want to shout right now. God is so good and He is good all the time! Don't base God's character on your circumstances. He never changes~He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore! You may be going through a difficult time right now. It may seem as though everything is coming against you. Focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). He will give you the peace that passes all human understanding as He carries you through. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died , and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:2-4).
You are chosen by God and precious to Him (1 Peter 2:4). In Christ, you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). What a mighty and great God we serve! My heart is overflowing with thankfulness to God for His mercy and grace.
"To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father-to Him be the glory and power for ever and ever! Amen" (Revelation 1:5-6)
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