The Small Group Sue and I belong to has just completed a study based on Tim Keller’s book “The Reason for God.” It’s an excellent study for your small group if you want to know how to address some of the objections society has against Christianity. One of the sessions addressed the question “How can you say there is only one way to God? What about other world religions?” In the course of discussion our group leader, Art Paschal took us to John 14:6 where Jesus states “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” And that is my text for this Sunday. Jesus is Exclusively and Entirely the only way to come to the Father.
In response to the question, “how can Christianity say there is only one way to God?” it needs to be acknowledged that all religions are exclusive in the claims they make. All religions believe they are right and other religions are wrong. The question people need to decide is which one will I believe – where will I place my faith for my eternal soul?
Christianity is different from other world religions in that the way to God is not through the religion itself, or by obeying a set of rules, or by our own good works, or by some act of fate. Christianity says the way to God is Exclusively and Entirely through Jesus! That is the claim Jesus makes in John 14 and it is the foundation upon which the church is built. Some people think you just need to add a little Jesus to your already good life, but that is not the claim of Christianity. The true gospel is more than just a little Jesus, it’s Exclusively and Entirely Jesus!