WHY ARE THERE NOT MANY PATHS TO GOD?
John 14:1-6
INTRODUCTION: Our Lord Jesus often surprised and outraged people by His teachings. Jesus’ teachings were contrary to the teachings of the Pharisees and scribes. Our Lord’s teachings were contrary to human nature: Matthew 5:11-12; Matthew 6:19-20; Matthew 5:38-42; Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 20:16; Acts 20:35; John 7:45-49; Matthew 7:24-29.
I. OUR LORD’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL AND POLITICALLY INCORRECT TEACHING!
Of all of our Lord’s teachings; if you were asked which one was the most controversial and the most politically incorrect, which teaching would it be? John 14:1-6. Is there truly only one way to God the Father? Mankind is usually right when we believe there are many ways to the same end to get something done. However Jesus very clearly stated Christianity cannot be harmonized with any other world religion: John 14:6.
II. OUR LORD’S UNIQUE CLAIMS!
Our Lord Jesus made many claims about Himself that simply cannot be harmonized with any other religion: Jesus is the light! John 8:12. Jesus is the gate: John 10:1-10. Jesus said He is the truth: John 14:6. Jesus said He is eternal life: John 5:24. Every other world religion is based on you doing something in order to earn the favor of God. Jesus said nothing we could ever do would win the favor of God: John 6:35-40. All other world religions are spelled: DO! Christianity is spelled: DONE!
III. OTHER FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WORLD RELIGIONS!
Here are other fundamental differences between world religions and Christianity. Hinduism say that everything is God. Christianity says there is only one true God and we are not Him! Mark 12:28-31. Islam says Jesus is not the Son of God because God has no Son. However, Christianity clearly teaches that Jesus is God’s only begotten Son and the only means of salvation for mankind: 1 John 5:9-13. Buddhism does not believe in salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ but Christianity has always taught that salvation comes only through faith in Christ’s shed blood and resurrection: 1 Peter 1:18-21. All these world religions cannot be true as they clearly contradict each other. While other world religions have good moral teaching; wise sayings; and books they all claim are inspired by God: only Christianity has a risen Savior who is the Son of God. Only Christianity has the Word of God which is made up of one quarter prophecy. In other words God telling mankind what He is going to do and then showing the fulfillment of that prophecy in His Word! Only Christianity has a Savior who claims to be the only way to the Father and to eternal life. If there is more than one way to get to heaven, then truly Christians are very narrow minded. We as Christians are not just saying Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. We as Christians are saying that God Himself has said that Jesus is the only way to eternal life! God’s way of salvation is called imputation! God imputed our sin to Jesus Christ on the cross and He imputed Christ’s righteousness to us when we trusted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior: 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 4:12; I John 5:9-13. Do you recognize God’s truth here? John 1:10-13.