A Way or The Way – Part 2

Continuing from the last post, Pastor Giglio explains that there are assumptions behind the human viewpoint that Jesus is just “a way”. Every supposition has assumptions behind it. Assumption #1: There is no such thing as absolute truth. This assuming belief is very prevalent in our culture today. Assumption #2: All ways to God are similar in nature and lead to the same place. This is a giant assumption. If you are part of one of the five great spiritual cultures on earth today (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, or Judaism), it is likely that you are not going to embrace the “everyone is going to the same place” ideology. Each of these major religions are quite distinct and contradictive to each other in their beliefs. For thinking individuals, this assumption breaks down immediately.

Hinduism is basically about Karma and Reincarnation of life. Buddhism is basically about getting to a state of heightened awareness, enlightenment, nirvana, and clarity in understanding the essence of our being. Hinduism and Buddhism are not leading people to Heaven, an eternal place to be with Creator God nor offering ways to get to Him. Islam basically says that there is a Heaven, but predicates getting there by having “good works” that outweigh you bad works at the end of the day. That is a tough sled to push through life. Judaism believes in the books of Moses and keeping of the Law, but rejects Jesus Christ as their Messiah, the Promised One, the Son of God, lord and Savior of the world. But honestly, there are all kinds of branches, colors and stripes of Christians in the world today also. All of these major religions are not the same. Two of these world religions are not even offering Heaven at the end of the journey of life. It’s hard to say that “all roads lead to the same place”. Lastly, underneath this last assumption is, really, the breakdown of spiritual life in general through Assumption #3, which is that everyone can come to their own conclusion.

The problem for people with what Jesus is saying in John 14:6 (“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”) is “exclusivity” (the debarring from participation; possessed and enjoyed to the exclusion of others). Jesus uses the word :except”. No one comes to the Father except through me. Except is an exclusive word. In our culture, exclusivity does not play well. But, what Pastor Giglio wants us to see is that exclusivity is not irrational, not close-minded, nor arrogant. Exclusivity is not a bad thing, especially if you have a great need. All sinners need a way in a bad way.

Look at the uniqueness of Jesus’ offer, because the question about is Jesus “a way” or “The Way to Heaven is clearly answered through the offer that Jesus is making to us today. The first distinctive in Jesus offer states (1) He is God incarnate (in human flesh); fully God and fully man. Jesus is God with us on planet earth in the flesh. The second distinctive in Jesus offer states (2) He is the final payment for our inequity and the cancelling of our debt of Sin. He came to exchange a guilty life for an innocent one. That is what is on the table and being offered by Jesus here. Not one of the billions of, supposed, other ways on earth to get to Heaven can hold a candle to that. That God would come down from Heaven and lay down an innocent and perfect life for a guilty one to provide a way is amazing. Ephesians 2:4-5a tells us, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” So, what is on the table today is “forgiveness”. Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is the cancelling of our sin debt with God by the only One who can make the final payment for all of our wrongs.

Let's continue this great message on Jesus - the Way by Pastor Giglio on the next post.

In Christ, Brian