Karissa had a really good comment on the last post, which prompted my lengthy response. (Sorry, I guess it is just the teacher/preacher in me coming out) Any how, I thought it might be good to do a little practice. So here is the question I want you to consider and study.
Is Jesus the only way for someone to be saved?
You should know before you start to answer. Yes, no, or maybe is not enough. I need some real substance to your response. I'm going to act just like some of the people I have run across.
I'll use the first 8 chapters of Romans to answer this question
ReplyDeleteAnswer: To enter into God’s presence, you must fulfill the law completely. Since man cannot do that, we’re a lost race and need a savior. That savior is named Jesus. Christ is the only way for someone to be saved.
In Romans 1 Paul introduces to the reader of this epistle to himself (the Christian), the Romans (the Church), and Jesus (the Christ), at the end of the chapter we're introduced to the thing that ties these three together; the Gospel, of which Paul is not ashamed of because it's the power of God unto salvation. But before he can elaborate more on this gospel (in chapters 4-8), he must establish the need for this gospel in the world in the first place. Because let’s face it, who cares about the Gospel if there’s no need for it to begin with. Paul establishes the need for the Gospel in chapter (2-3), and the logic goes like this;
In this world, there are two types of people; the "good" and the "bad". It's the "good" people who decide/label who is "bad" & who is "good". But whatever sins the “good” people judge of the “bad” for doing, they themselves also are guilty of these very same things in secrets; thus by judging others, they condemn themselves. In God’s view, “bad” people are those who live without the law (gentiles) and the “good” are the religious Jews who live under the law that He gave them. But these “good” and “righteous” people (Jews) do the same things as the people who don’t have the law (gentiles). The only difference is they just cover it up with pious religious “good’ deeds (works) that to God are filthy rags; fasting, alms, praying, keeping Sabbaths, etc. So what does this conclude about man as a race? “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23); there is none righteous (Ecces 7:20, Romans 3:10, Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3). Thus by this logic Paul concludes that man (every single one past, present & future) cannot hope to be righteous through the law, but need a righteousness that originates not from man because all are sinful. This is where the Gospel comes in because it introduces a source of righteousness that originates from GOD HIMSELF; Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to the father (John 14:6). How do we get this righteousness?
Chapter 4: By FAITH.
What is the result of this faith?
Chapter 5: The gift of the Holy Spirit & adoption unto Son-ships, a new nature (the new man, born again) & abundance grace
Shall we abuse this grace and keep sinning so that grace would abound?
Chapter 6: God forbid
Okay, let’s go on doing good then..
Chapter 7: WRONG, even with this new nature we (by our own efforts) don’t even have the POWER to live pleasing unto God. The things we hate, that we do, things we want to do, that we don’t do. Does this sound like a familiar experience you may have had in your Christian life? Paul saw this in his Christianity and cried out; O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24); (Paul answers his own question in the next verse) “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord”
How does Jesus deliver us from this “wanting to do good but failing all the time” state?
Chapter 8: By giving us the power to so through the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit. He fulfills the law for us by living in us & fulfilling the law THROUGH US!
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)
Huyen,
Delete1) How do you even know the book you are quoting is the only book about God?
2) What makes this law supercede all others?
3) Why is Jesus the only way? Hasn't God sent other teachers like Ghandi, Muhammed, Siddartha,..... weren't they "good" men?
4) What about monks who live in remote places in an effort to know God they live ascetic lives. How is what they are doing "bad".
I think you can also say that since God is the way, truth, and life (John 14:6) He is also the only way to be saved. In the last part of that verse, Jesus says " No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." In Bible class here recently we have been discussing the proves of inspiration and the canonicity of the Bible. The Bible is inerrant because 1) God claims it be so. 2) The historical accuracy of the Bible, and 3) the scientific accuracy of the Bible. With the Old Testament and New Testament being written in two different languages, it is almost impossible to not make mistakes in the translating of the Bible, because humans are foulable. So, because sometimes words on a page don't make people convinced that it is really God saying these words, the translation processes, the indestrucibility, and the absolute truth with history and science, the Bible is unmistakably the written Word of God. Since the Bible has been perfectly translated over several milleniums, and has suffered many hardships, yet still has not been destructed, I am really amazed at how God has preserved His Word. And if it was not God's words, then this book would not be as complete, thorough, and accurate as it is, which in turn, tells me that God does not lie- Jesus is the only way to Heaven. To back up that statement, Proverbs 8:35 says," For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord." another verse 1 John 5:11 states " ...God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son." Both Old and New Testaments clearly state that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. John 1:4 " In him was life: and the life was the light of men." God truly is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the only way to heaven.
ReplyDelete( I am also wanting some understanding on 2 Peter 2:4.:)
DeleteKarissa,
DeleteI understand your book says that Jesus is the only way to God, but isn't that an arrogant statement by Jesus? That doesn't seem very righteous of him does it? That's like walking into a room full of people and telling them to sit down, be quiet and listen to what I have to say because it is clearly more important than what you have to say.
2) What makes the bible historically accurate?
3) What makes the bible scientifically accurate?
4) Aren't other Holy books accurate historically & scientifically?
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
DeleteRather than just tell you, we are going to encourage in the right direction. http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=hell&t=KJV&ss=1#s=s_primary_0_1
Copy and paste that address to look up "angels" or you can look it up in a hard copy of strong's if tou have it. Then contrast that with John 8:44.
We look forward to your discovery :)
No it's not an arrogant statement by Jesus. The Bible is historically accurate in that people have confirmed people's existence like the Hittites. The Old Testament talks of it in several examples( Exo. 33:2; Deut. 7:1; 20:17; Josh. 3:10...) and people really wondered if their even was such a group. That question was answered when Hugo Winkler of Berlin found the Hittite capital. He found clay tablets with the Hittite language on it as well. The Bible is also historically accurate because many people questioned if their was even a Belshazzar. Archeaologists have found the answer- yes.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible is scientifically accurate because
1. Science says:The stars cannot be numbered
Bible: Jer. 33:22
2. Science says:The blood sustains life
Bible: Lev. 17:11
3. Science says: The universe is getting worn
Bible: Ps. 102:25-26
and there are many more scientific notions that are actually founded by the Bible. Other Holy books are scientifically and historically accurate, but the Bible surpasses them all in this: The Bible is several milleniums old. Has there ever been a book that old that holds so much truth, prophecies that were prophicied YEARS ago and they are being fulfilled at this very moment? And it never contridicts itself - even though several books were written by several different people, spanning several years, written in several different places, and written in different languages?
Even more important to note, is that other religions have no real atonement for sin. Jews used to offer animals as a sacrifice and muslims never really had such a sacrificial system to atone for sin. What makes Jesus stand alone is His willingness to pay for the debt of man's sin. He is the only religious teacher with a logical and justifiable plan for sin. This is why He can say, It's me or nothing.
ReplyDelete