The Exclusive Claims of Jesus
What is the witness of the NT concerning Jesus as the only way to God?
Introduction
In my lesson on the origin and reliability of the Bible, I argued that the four Gospels of the NT were historically reliable
I presented evidence of their age and diversity
I presented evidence concerning their authors
Based on the materials we considered, we determined that the NT was more historically reliable than some of the materials covering Roman history
Of course, if we agree with this conclusion, then that means that we have to deal with the claims of these texts
Today, I want to present to you the idea that these texts proclaim Jesus as the one and only way to know God
Let’s consider the evidence
The Problem
Of course, before we even get out of the gate, someone will no doubt raise the objection: “Aren’t you being a bit intolerant to claim that Jesus is the only way to know God? Aren’t you being a bit arrogant?”
Can’t the skeptic say, “What’s so special about Jesus? Why is he the only way?”
They can say that, but the problem is that WE didn’t come up with that idea
The First Point
The first point we must acknowledge is that the claim for Jesus’ exclusivity did not originate with us, it originated with Jesus
Jesus’ earliest disciples tell us that he claimed to be the one and only path to God.
He said, “If you don’t follow me, you will not be in the kingdom of God” that is, you will not belong to God (Matthew 7:21, 26-27, 29).
Jesus also said, “If you reject me, you will not be with me. If you receive me, you are received by the Father” (Matthew 10:32-33, 37-40; Luke 12:8; cf. Rev. 3:5).
More Evidence
We have only cited references from Matthew’s Gospel, but the references could be multiplied across all four of these historically reliable books
In fact, the Gospel that discusses the exclusivity of Jesus most clearly is John’s Gospel
John records Jesus’ own claims of exclusivity in several places
In Jesus’ Own Words
John 14:6-9
This is the clearest statement of Jesus’ exclusivity
Jesus declares himself to be the way to come to the Father
He declares himself to be the truth about the Father—if you know Jesus, you know God
John 5:19-24
The relationship of the Father to the Son—the Son does what he sees the Father doing
Both Father and Son are able to raise the dead
The Father gives judgment to the Son
To honor Jesus is to honor the Father—they are one
In Jesus’ Own Words, Part 2
John 8:12, 31-59
Jesus’ conflict with the Pharisees
8:12—Jesus is the Light (cf. John 1)
A question of truth and lineage
Those who know Jesus know truth
What does it mean to have Abraham for a father?
Jesus vs. Abraham
Jesus claims to be God
John 10:27-30—Jesus and the Father are one
So, Jesus makes it clear that he considers himself to be one with God the Father
John’s Witness
John 1:1-3
The eternal Word
God and Creator
John 1:9-13
The true Light who gives authority to those who receive him
He makes them children of God
John 1:14, 18
The Word made flesh
Jesus, the only one of his kind
Jesus interprets God
Jesus’ life reveals God’s character—he is God
John 3:13-19
Jesus as the Son of Man who came from heaven
Eternal life granted to those who believe in God’s unique (exclusive) Son
Judgment reserved for those who do not believe
The Witness of the Apostles
Acts 4:5-13—Peter’s preaching
In what name? Where do you get the right to preach these things Peter?
Peter—by Jesus Christ, the only one who can save
Acts 10:34-43—Peter, part 2
Jesus is the one who judges the living and the dead
Only God can do that!
Only in Jesus’ name can forgiveness of sins be received
Paul’s Preaching
Acts 13:32-39
Jesus is the means by which forgiveness of sins is given
Through Jesus freedom from sin is granted
Romans 10:8-11
Jesus is the means of salvation
Confess and believe
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Jesus is the ONLY mediator between humans and God
Need More?
We could keep inundating you with more and more references, but it may help to consider a few points about Jesus’ exclusive statements that span a large chunk of the NT
Of all the people who have lived and ever will live, it is our contention that Jesus alone qualifies, in his person and work, as the only one capable of bringing humans into a proper relationship with God.
Let’s consider some reasons why we may be justified to think of Jesus as the only way to know God properly
Bruce Ware offers five pieces of evidence to show that Jesus alone qualifies as the exclusive Savior
1. The Virgin Birth
Jesus Christ alone was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38).
Why does this matter?
The one who will bring humans to a proper relationship with God must be divine and human. Such a person alone can make God known (cf. John 1:18)
Only as the Holy Spirit takes the place of the human father in Jesus' conception can it be true that the one conceived is both fully God and fully human.
Jesus must be both God and human to deal with the issue of sin decisively, and for this to occur, he must be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a human virgin. (cf. Romans 8:2-4)
No one else in the history of the world was conceived by the Spirit and born of a virgin mother.
Therefore, Jesus is exclusive in this claim and qualifies to be Savior.
This is further shown in the claim that Jesus is God.
2. God Incarnate
Christ alone is God in the flesh (John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-3; 2:14-18; Phil 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-20; 1 Tim 2:5-6).
As Anselm argued our Savior must be fully man in order to take the place of sinful humanity, and he must be fully divine in order for the value of his sacrificial payment to satisfy the demands God’s holy justice.
But no one else in the history of the world is both fully God and fully man except Jesus. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.
This is also seen in the kind of life Jesus lived
3. Sinless Life
Christ alone lived a sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:23-28; 9:13-14; 1 Peter 2:21-24).
In the sacrificial system of Israel, animals offered as sacrifices for sin must be without blemish.
This prefigured the sacrifice of Jesus who, as sinless, was able to pay for the sins of others by his death.
No one else in the history of the world has lived a sinless life. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.
His sinless life makes him a proper means to make things right between God and humans
4. Atoned for Sin
Jesus Christ alone died a substitutionary death (Isa. 53:4-6; Rom. 3:21-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:10-14).
The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).
And because Jesus lived a sinless life, he did not deserve to die.
Rather, the cause of his death was owing to the fact that the Father put our sin on him.
The death that he died was in our place.
He paid our debt!
No one else in the history of the world has died bearing the sins of others while facing no judgment for his own sin. Jesus’ sinless life made him the proper sacrifice. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.
But he did not simply die, he also rose again!
5. Rose from the Dead
Jesus alone rose from the dead triumphant over sin (Acts 2:22-24; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-8, 16-23).
The Bible indicates that a few people other than Christ have been raised from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24; John 11:38-44), but only Jesus has been raised from the dead never to die again, triumphing over sin.
The wages of sin is death, and the greatest power of sin is death.
So, Christ's resurrection from the dead demonstrates that his death for sin accomplished both the full payment of sin's penalty and full victory over sin's greatest power. (Heb. 2:14-15)
No one else in the history of the world has been raised from the dead triumphant over sin. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.
What a Savior! What amazing love!
Surely he is unique in who he is and what he has done!
Conclusion
Jesus alone qualifies as Savior, and Jesus alone is Savior.
His own words could not be clearer: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
And Peter confirms, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
These claims are true of no one else in the history of the world. Indeed, Jesus alone is Savior.
No comments:
Post a Comment