Tag Archives: John 14:5-6

Which Way Is The Way??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #257

08 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True

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Which Way Is The Way???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #257

The is the question of all questions; it is the question that will determine our eternal destiny!  And yes, everyone has an eternal destiny—heaven or hell; not a popular subject and one that many if not most in our culture don’t accept or just outright object to such a statement.  A statement that we as believers in Jesus proclaim to be truth; truth based on the scriptures which we believe and accept as absolute truth.  It’s your choice of what you will believe, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

 no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:5-6

Jesus claimed to be the way, and He was, is and ever shall be the only way to the Father, because He is the sinless, Son of God—the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.  Because He was, is and ever shall be that, for He is God.  (See 1 Cor. 15:1-5)

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man

pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father,

which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able

to pluck them out of

my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

Many people say that Jesus never claimed to be God, but they miss this absolute, declarative statement that Jesus clearly makes, and the proof is in the response of the religious leaders of the day. (And note that John 14:6 Jesus says, “I AM”! God!)

“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them,

Many good works have I shewed you

from my Father;

 for which of those works

do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying,

 For a good work we stone thee not;

but for blasphemy;

and because that thou,

being a man,

 makest thyself God.”  John 10:31-33

The religious leaders who continually opposed Jesus, understood what He had just said, and they wanted to kill Him for it.  In fact they eventually did have Him put to death on the cross, but as the scripture records again and again, “His time had not yet come…” Jesus also talks about the truth of there being only one way to God, and one of the most profound is found in Matthew chapter 7, and we can almost interpret John 14:6 right out of Matthew 7.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.”  Matthew 7:13-20

I would ask you to go back over this part of Matthew 7 and compare it to John 14:6!  Can you see why we hold fast to firmly to the truth that Jesus IS the only way?  I pray that you not only see it, but if you don’t know Him, that you will fall before His cross and give your heart and soul to Jesus!   He is waiting for you to answer His convicting Holy Spirit’s knocking on the door of your heart.

“Behold,

I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

 and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Paul reiterates this thought a bit differently, but just as powerful a message.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17

The Gospel—the Good News of Jesus—is the truth that we stand on, and like Paul, I am not ashamed to say so.  As you think of the way that you are going—Jesus’ way or not—may we all heed the words that Jesus also spoke in Matthew 7.  I know I post them a lot, but they are so important for “Saying so, doesn’t make it so…”. The choice is life or destruction.

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth

these sayings of mine,

 and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth

these sayings of mine,

 and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:21-27

God is concerned with our genuine conversion unto salvation, and the forth-coming righteousness and holiness which the Holy Spirit of God works in those who have truly bowed before Jesus.  God, even as Jesus spoke above, isn’t interested in our arrogance or self-righteousness; God will simply look to see if the blood of Jesus has been applied to your life?  For you see, the question isn’t, “Will you bow?”; for all will bow.  The question is “When will you bow?”  Will you bow before Jesus Christ as Lord when you hear the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, and be saved?  Or you will bow before Jesus Christ as your judge with no opportunity of grace and salvation.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father

which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men,

him will I also deny before my Father

which is in heaven.”  Matthew 10:32-33

Jesus is calling each of us to understand that HE IS the only way to The Father!  And if we will only accept John 14:6 and Matthew 7, we will see what Jesus was talking about:

       He is The Way—enter at the “straight gate”

                               Walk down the narrow road

                               Be among the Few there be who find it—

 (often because we are obstinate, and the broad way seems to be easier—the reason why there are so “many”)

       He is The Truth—accept it or reject it, it is still Truth.

       He is The Life—The house built on His foundation—the Rock-

                                    will never fall for Jesus Is and gives

                                    Abundant, eternal life.

Will you be among the many on the broad road, or will you follow Jesus down that narrow road, and receive His gift of life.  I encourage you to read all of John chapter 3 this week.  Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus that God sent Him to give eternal life to all who would believe and receive Him in repentance and faith.  He also made it clear that those who reject Him will suffer the consequences of their choice.  Please don’t miss the right and true road—Jesus died for you to be saved.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  (Be sure and read Revelation 20:11-15 if you don’t know about the test.)

I know this is heavy, but heaven is worth the effort, and to miss hell is worthy of your consideration, for Jesus is the only way!  I choose Jesus, how about you?

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Standing In Confidence??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #250

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word

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Standing In Confidence??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #250

 

I have a few things to share with you this morning, and I pray that they will encourage your heart on this hot summer day (at least here in Oklahoma it’s scorching hot–), but no matter your location, our God is faithful in all things, and we can prevail over the evil around us!

Paul’s great chapter on the confidence that we can have in the resurrection and the return of our Lord concludes with an amazing passage of encouragement.  No matter your situation—God knows your grief, your sorrow, your fears, your uncertainty in the future, your confusion over the world situations—take heart for the Apostle John made it clear in The Revelation!

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”   Revelation 19:6

So, let’s consider Paul’s words of encouragement—We win!!!

“O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

 be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

 in the work of the Lord,

 forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:55-58

So, my friends, take heart, God has not stepped down from His throne, nor has He relinquished His omnipotent control of all things!  You can trust to His care, for He keeps His Word!  Always!  We can know truth because Jesus IS truth, and the only way to God and heaven.  So if you know Him, you can “withstand in the evil day” (See Ephesians 6:10-18); and if you don’t know Jesus you can, by simply repenting of your sin, and believing that HE is the one who paid for your sin by His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice on the cross.

“Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:5-6

Jesus loves us, and offers us life and victory by His death, burial and resurrection for sin.  Keep your eyes on the prize—JESUS!!!  He is coming again and sooner than we may think!

“In hope of eternal life,

which God,

that cannot lie,

promised before the world began;”   Titus 1:2

Amen and Amen!!!

That They Might Know??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 09

21 Sunday Oct 2018

Posted by in A Father's Love, Gospel, That They May Know

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 09   That They Might Know???

 

I’m sometimes asked why I teach inductive Bible Study, or why I write a blog, and my answer is usually the same; I teach and write because it is what God called me to do, and for the most part I love doing it. Which is not to say that I don’t get tired, weary, or sometimes discouraged just like you do, but I know that the gifts and calling that God has extended to me are a joy and delight to my soul. But there is another purpose that goes beyond my comfort or even my assurance that I am walking in personal obedience, it is the clear scriptural teaching that God wants the world to “know” Him! Jesus, His disciples and the prophets, remind us again and again that God is at work “that the world may know”!

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

Father,

the hour is come;

glorify thy Son,

that thy Son also may

glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power

over all flesh,

that he should give eternal life

to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal,

that they might know thee

the only true God,

and Jesus Christ,

whom thou hast sent.” John 17:1-3

This beautiful prayer is Jesus’ petition to The Father for Himself and the cross that lay before Him, as well as for us who are His own; as well as for those would come to “know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”! While the ‘model prayer’ that Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6 is often called “The Lord’s Prayer”, this prayer of Jesus’ in John 17 is truly “The Lord’s Prayer”, and what God wants us to “know” IS Him, and The Son whom He sent to die for our sin (See John 3!). God wants us all to know Him personally, to come into an intimate love relationship with Him both now and for all eternity!

When Solomon dedicated the Temple that he had built for God he prayed:

“Hear thou in heaven

thy dwelling place,

and do according to all

that the stranger calleth to thee for:

that all people of the earth

may know thy name,

to fear thee,

as do thy people Israel;

and that they may know

that this house,

which I have builded,

is called by thy name.” 1 Kings 8:43

While Solomon had his issues later in life, he was committed to build the Temple that God had promised his father, David, that he would be privileged to build. He also understood that “this” house was built unto God not for his own glory, and his prayer was that “all people of the earth may know” who God was and that this was “His” house. We also need to learn that our ‘work’ and ‘service’ for God The Father and Jesus The Son, is His work through the power of The Holy Spirit in us, not for our promotion, advancement or wealth! Some today are often far afield when it comes to serving God for HIS glory and not their own!

The Psalmist reminds us powerfully of our purpose, much as the Apostle Paul told us to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”!

“Help me,

O LORD

my God:

O save me

according to thy mercy:

27 That they may know

that this is thy hand;

that thou, LORD,

hast done it.” Psalm 109:26-27

Our goal ought to be to reflect the glory, work, grace and love of our Lord—not seeking to claim the credit for God’s work in us, but being more focused on our own “glory” than on God’s glory; for as Jesus reminds us:

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth

much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”   John 15:5

Isaiah is replete with references to God’s wanting people to “know” HIM—all people! Our goal ought to be that others will come to know Him as Savior (and not have to face Him as Judge when there is no recourse for salvation, for every “knee will bow”—either to the Lord and Savior in this life, or before Judge Jesus when He returns!)! Are you sharing what YOU know? Do you know HIM? Don’t keep it a secret!

“I will plant in the wilderness

the cedar,

the shittah tree,

and the myrtle,

and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert

the fir tree,

and the pine,

and the box tree together:

20 That they may see,

and know,

and consider,

and understand

together,

that the hand of the LORD

hath done this,

and the Holy One of Israel

hath created it.” Isaiah 41:19-20

Oh that we would share the burden of God—that “they may know” the wonder and beauty of the cross. The God who not only loved us so much that “He gave His only begotten son”, but who wants people to know that very love and salvation!

Isaiah had told the people that idols were futile, for they “see not, neither do they hear” yet God wanted them to see that HE IS the only true, sovereign, Almighty God of the universe.

“I am the LORD,

and there is none else,

there is no God beside me:

I girded thee,

though thou hast not known me:

6 That they may know

from the rising of the sun,

and from the west,

that there is none beside me.

I am the LORD,

and there is none else.”   Isaiah 45:5-6

No matter “who” or “what” we set up as our ‘god/idol’—God Almighty is telling Isaiah, his audience and us that “I am the LORD, and there is none else”—no matter whether that is the popular message of the day or not—it is the truth and we will never bring people to genuine, life-changing salvation apart from the Gospel of Jesus, which clearly proclaims that there is no other way.

“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:5-6

Jesus IS the only way, and when we go back to His ‘High Priestly’ prayer in John 17, we find the same message repeated again by our Lord Jesus as He faced the cross!

“Neither pray I for these alone,

but for them also which shall believe

on me

through their word;

21 That they all may be one;

as thou, Father,

art in me,

and I in thee,

that they also may be one

in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me

I have given them;

that they may be one,

even as we are one:

23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect

in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.”    John 17:20-23

When we are born again by the Spirit of God, we become a testimony to the world (good or bad!):

“that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me”!

We are HIS witnesses—witnesses with ONE message—for we have only ONE Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ The Lord! And prayerfully the world we see that we have “been with Jesus”

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone

which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become the head

of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name

under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness

of Peter and John,

and perceived that they were

unlearned

and ignorant men,

they marvelled;

and they took knowledge of them,

that they had been with Jesus.”   Acts 4:10-13

Jesus IS the only way! We have only One message and Jesus is HIS name—Jesus and His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin is the only way to God!!!

“For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ

died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

We are changed by His saving power—“the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”!!! Amen and Amen. And when we are truly born again, cleansed “from all sin”, it ought to be seen in our living.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”   Romans 12:1-2

Our call is to seek HIS face, being transformed by renewing our hearts and minds in HIS Word, being a reflection of our Lord to a lost and dying world in need of the Gospel of The Savior who loves them.

So may we take it to heart and be HIS testimony?

“That they may know

from the rising of the sun,

and from the west,

that there is none beside me.

I am the LORD,

and there is none else”!!!

Amen and Amen!!!