THEOLOGY & APOLOGETICS

Jesus

The Only Way

"I am the way and the truth and the life." Not another founder of faith has ever made such a claim — but Jesus did. The founders of many of the world's now-active religions have claimed to know the way and have the truth, but not ever to be the way and be the truth — but Jesus did. No other man who walked on this planet died and raised Himself — but Jesus did. No other prophet or guru or guide or seer or holy man taught that He created the very ground He walked upon — But Jesus did.

The misconception that Jesus started a religion has mislead more men into misery than not. Christ stated beautifully that it was faith in Himself that was the way to God Almighty, and His words — the wisdom from above — the way to life. Nothing more was necessary. That was the catalyst for a total and complete change inside to out. Those against Christianity cannot say one solitary word about what Jesus did wrong nor do they see Him as a "mis-leader." In reality, Islam does not go around denouncing Jesus; He and Mary are both written throughout the Quran and favorably so. Jesus is recognized in Hinduism, Baha'i, Buddhism, the New Age Movement, and Judaism. Given that Jesus is a common denominator of the major religions of the world, it might be worth considering the man whom everyone feels the need to have some form of reverence for in greater detail. It's interesting to note even those religions pre-existing Jesus have come to include Jesus in their description of today's reality. All the world's major religions feel compelled to account for Jesus in one way or another. Ask yourself in a quiet place: Why would that ever be so?

Consider this as we move forward; where Jesus was born, how He was born, the lineage He was born of, that no bone would be broken upon His death, the time of His coming, His character, His suffering, His resurrection, His betrayal, His humility and exaltation, the piercing of His hands and feet, the lots cast over His garments, His title Messiah, and that He would be hated without cause were all fulfilled prophesies going back as far as the book of Genesis written 1,400 years prior to His birth. In all — and really think about this — 353 prophesies were fulfilled to the tittle by His birth, life and death. If you are a skeptic, consider this: the mathematical probability that Jesus would fulfill just the first eight of these prophesies: (1 times 2.8 x 105 x 103 x 102 x 103 x 103 x 105 x 103 x 104) gives us 2.8 x 10^28, or for simplicity sake 1 x 10^28 or 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. What are the chances? What are the odds that this is some matrix of conspiracies and plots and plans of man alone? I will state this again: 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. That is oddly the exact number of tons of TNT scientists have calculated that would be necessary to create the Big Bang that started the very life He created.

Now with that concluded, what are the chances He would fulfill all of these prophesies about him?

One in...One in... 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000...

That is One followed by 3,534 zeros. There is not even a name for that. Well, now there is.

JESUS

He is not math, nor a mystery. He is love and grace, and meant for everyone and anyone willing to believe in the transformative nature of what faith in Him alone can do. It's just that beautiful and simple and complete. He did not teach a religion nor build a church. He spoke of Love and Light and truth and justice. But know this — He also said there is no other way. Are you willing to take a risk that the math is wrong and you are right? Will the same pride that led to Satan's rebellion lead to your own loss of redemption? Will you let the skeptics win, and live however you want to? Will you deceive yourself into believing that if God is love it does not matter as long as you are a good person? God is so loving, that He has made it this clear exactly what and how and most importantly, Who that way is. Jesus. You do not have to go to a church and pray. You do not have to read the entire Bible before you act. All you have to do is consider the chance that He is the way and the truth and the life that we so desperately have been seeking. Consider that you have sinned and fallen short and need a savior. Consider that there is more to life than chance. Consider that you might even be reading this for a reason. Jesus did not come to build 4,000 denominations and then make you take a guess at which one was right. He wants you to consider that His word is truth. And if that be so, God is real and so is life eternal.

I will end this with a most familiar Scripture. Prayerfully considered what it would mean if it became your own truth: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

For more, see "Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?"

Image Credit: Andrew Neel; untitled; Creative Commons

Tags: Biblical-Salvation | Biblical-Truth | Jesus-Christ | Witnessing-Evangelism

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Published 2-28-17