(Why Jesus is the Only Way - Part 1 | Part 2)
In the first part of this study we looked at some of the reasons why Jesus is the only way to eternal life. We continue by looking at more of the benefits we received by Jesus' death.
The Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:19
"God [reconciled] the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.”
1. What did God do?
To understand the full import of this statement, we need to understand how God sees us.
The Scripture: Romans 5:10
"If when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life?"
2. What does God consider us to be before we come to Christ?
Have you ever considered yourself to be God's enemy? Probably not. But the Bible says we are His enemy if we have not accepted Jesus. Christ's death, however, and our acceptance of Him didn't just stop us from being God's enemies. God had a much higher relationship for us.
The Scripture: Ephesians 1:5
"He (God) predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ."
3. What did God predestine us to be?
Think about that statement for a moment. When Jesus died for us on the cross, He purchased Sonship for us. God took us into His heart as His children.
The Scripture: Ephesians 3:12
"In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."
4. How may we approach God?
Because we are sons (children) of God, we can approach God as a child approaches his father. But aren't we all God's children, some of you may ask? The answer is no. We are all God's creation, but only those who come to Him through Jesus Christ are His children.
The Scripture: Romans 3:22
"The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe."
5. What does this verse tell us?
Jesus Gives Us the Holy Spirit
The Scripture: Acts 2:38
"Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
6. What will we receive?
Before He died, He was resurrected, and ascended into heaven. Jesus promised His followers that He would send Someone to take His place—the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be a comforter, a counselor, an advocate, someone who would stand beside us. He would lead us into all truth and remind us of everything Jesus had said. The initial giving of the Holy Spirit happened on Pentecost, but the Holy Spirit is Jesus' and the Father's gift to all Christians who will receive Him.
In order to understand how Jesus is able to do all this for us, we need to first understand who He is.
Who Jesus Is
The Scripture: John 1:1-4
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men."
7. What is Jesus called in these verses?
8. What do these verses tell us about the Word?
9. What has Jesus (the Word) done?
The Scripture: Colossians 1:15-7
"He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
10. What additional information do we learn from these verses?
Well, admittedly Jesus is pretty impressive, but why do we say that He is the only way to eternal life? We say it because Jesus and the Bible both proclaim it.
Jesus Is the Only Way
The Scripture: John 14:6
"Jesus said, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"
11. What does Jesus clearly say?
The Scripture: Matthew 10:32
"Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge Him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown Him before My Father in heaven."
12. Who will Jesus acknowledge?
13. Who will He disown?
But Jesus is not alone in claiming He is the only source of salvation. Others have, too.
The Scripture: Acts 4:12
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which they must be saved."
14. What does the Apostle Peter say?
On another occasion when Jesus asked Peter who he thought Jesus was, Peter proclaimed:
The Scripture: Luke 9:20
"But what about you?" He (Jesus) asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
15. Who did Peter say Jesus was?
If all this is true, why doesn't everyone recognize who He is? The Bible makes this clear, too.
Why Men Don't Recognize Him
The Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:4
"The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
16. Why doesn't everyone recognize who Jesus is?
The Scripture: Mark 13:22
"False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible."
17. Why else?
This brings us to today and the future. Where is Jesus today? What is going to happen in the future?
Christ's Position Today
The Scripture: Ephesians 1:20-22
"He (God) raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed Him to be head over everything in the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way."
18. Where is Jesus today?
19. What is His position?
20. What has God appointed Him?
The Scripture: Philippians 2:10, 11
"At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
21. What will eventually happen?
The Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:24
"Then the end will come, when He (Jesus) turns over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power."
22. What will happen when the end comes?
The Scripture: Hebrews 1:8
"But about the son He (God) says, 'Your throne...will last forever and ever.'"
23. How long will Jesus reign?
Don't you want to acknowledge that Jesus is the only way to God? It's simple to do so. Pray this prayer with me.
Your Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I'm sorry for all my sins. I believe you are the Son of God, and, that when You died on the cross, You died for those sins. I believe, too, that God raised you from the dead, and You are in heaven with Him today.
Thank You for saving me.
Amen
The Answers
- Reconciled the world to Himself in Christ
- His enemies
- His sons through Jesus
- In freedom and confidence
- We receive God's righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit
- The Word
- That He is God
- Made all things
- Jesus is the image of God; all things were created by Him and for Him; in Him all things hold together.
- He is the only way to the Father.
- Those who acknowledge Him
- Those who disown Him
- "Salvation is found in no one else. No other name has been given to men by which they must be saved."
- "The Christ of God."
- They are blinded by Satan.
- False Christs and prophets who perform signs and wonders will appear to deceive people.
- Seated at God's right hand in the heavenly realms
- He is above every rule, authority, power, dominion, and title.
- Head over everything in the church
- Every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
- Jesus will destroy all dominion, authority, and power and turn over the kingdom to God.
- Forever
All scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version
(unless otherwise indicated)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, New International Bible Society
Copyright © 2000 by JoAnne Sekowsky