4.10.11 // Lie #2: Many paths lead to God's presence.

The Adoration of the Golden Calf, Nicolas Poussin (1594 - 1665)

We are on a ten week series (minus one) with 10 Lies About God by Erwin W. Lutzer.  Last week’s lie was God is whatever we want Him to be. We are living in an age of apostasy where absolute truth is considered as relics and fossils of another era, and relativity is believed to be “cutting edge” truth. I believe in God is a meaningless statement today according to Lutzer (LifeWorks, Spring 2011, Lifeway, p. 60); for what's it worth, I agree with his analysis. Nowadays, it requires some spiritual sleuthing to determine what image of God is being discussed when a person states, "I believe in God."

Please make sure to read Lutzer for each session. My lessons will follow his “lies,” but I will take a different tack under each one of his “lies about God” themes. Here are my five talking points for this week under Lie #2: Many paths lead into God’s presence (Ibid., p. 74-82).

• Declaring the only path to God’s presence is Jesus Christ (declaration)

• Living in the only path is not an easy one (persecution)

• Walking in the only path requires knowledge of the truth (interpretation)

• Standing for the only path is not an option (resolution)

• Realizing the only path to God is because of grace (humiliation) 

One thing I would like to point out here regarding these points is that the first one (declaring) represents our authority. People will hold us in contempt for proclaiming all other ways to God are false. To keep us from getting too heady with this authority the last point (realizing) comes into play; this is our humility which helps to keep authority and humility in balance. Were it not for the grace of God none of us could be saved.

Remember from a lesson sometime back we indicated that there are only two types of sinners in the world: lost sinners and saved sinners? We need to keep this truth in mind and declare to the world with authority and humility that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and but for the grace of God go I – right into the pit of eternal despair and destruction.

Declaring the only path to God’s presence is Jesus Christ (declaration)

Let’s just blow lie #2, many paths lead into God’s presence, right out of the water with some good old John 14:6 plastic explosives in what Jesus told Thomas on knowing the way when He informed them He was leaving without them.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Here it is in all of its simplicity and profundity! One of the greatest, clearest, and concise statements of theology anywhere to be found in Scripture – the path that leads to God’s presence is not many but one – through Christ based on the authority of God’s Word (2 Tim 3:16). Naturally, if biblical authority is not recognized, this statement by Jesus doesn’t amount to much right now; however, with that said, the authority of Scripture can never be negated by a counter or resistant thought, idea, opinion, philosophy, theology by an individual, organization, or government. All peoples of the earth will be ultimately accountable to the authority of Scripture. So a simple frivolous remark like “I don’t agree with that," or claiming something isn’t so doesn’t make it not so will not change the validity of the Scriptures nor neutralize its claims. The best way to combat spiritual error is a strong dosage of spiritual truth in love, of course.

Such a claim of exception by Jesus, except through Me, would either make Him out to be a lunatic, a liar, or LORD.  What made Jn 14:6 an absolute reality to Jesus’ disciples and other believers that gave them the conviction and motivation to follow Him even if it meant their death? Was it because Jesus claimed to be sinless (Jn 8:46)? Was it because He claimed to be God (Jn 10:30)? Was it because He performed miracles, wonders, and signs (Lk 7:22; Acts 2:22)? Was it because Jesus suffered, bled, and died on a Roman crucifix (Jn 19:16-18, 30)? 

Though all of these things are true concerning Jesus, everyone went into hiding with Jesus’ death for fear of persecution. Jesus’ virgin birth, deity, sinless nature, miracles, and His death on the cross are fundamental and indispensable to the Christian faith. But they are not what make Jn 14:6  a reality in the heart of a believer. It was the eyewitness testimonies of the empty tomb and the living, physical body of Christ. We can have a death and no resurrection, but we cannot have a resurrection without a death, obviously! 

The bodily resurrection is more important than all other events. It makes logical sense, which we will discuss shortly, but Paul makes theological sense of its importance in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul was reiterating the gospel message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:1-4) and expounded upon the resurrection for some were teaching there was no resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:12). Now notice those (not a complete listing) who got a physical visual on a physical Christ after the third day of His death. Emphasis is mine.

1Co 15:5  and that He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve.

1Co 15:6  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

1Co 15:7  After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

1Co 15:8  Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

How important is the bodily resurrection of Christ? Let’s look again how Paul sees it.

1Cor 15:17  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

1Cor 15:18  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

1Cor 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Christ died for us is a beautiful expression of love and personal sacrifice. But if He stays in the tomb, the tomb is nothing more than an epitaph, “Here lies Jesus who died for us.” And any one that preached that God raised Him up while He is still occupying a grave plot is a false witness (1 Cor 15:15).  A dead body means that Jesus was not Lord but a lunatic and a liar which would make us loonies and deceived.

Here is the logical sense to the physical resurrection being foremost to believers. The bodily resurrection is the crux of Christianity as we read Paul testifying above. If Jesus wants His followers to follow His steps, and those steps were suffering steps (1 Pet 2:21), to take the crosswalk to its logical conclusion in obedience to the will of God, there must be absolute proof that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life – the eyewitness accounts of His physical resurrection and physical ascension move metaphysical theory to metaphysical fact; with Christ there is life after death! If this not be so, what would be the point of Jesus hanging around after the third day for a 40 day post resurrection ministry before His ascension? Check out what Luke had to say in Acts 1:3. It fired up the troops!

To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Emphasis is mine.

It was more than simply than having been seen; Jesus was also including demonstrable evidence (tekmerion, G5039, used only here in the NT) of touch and feel (Lk 24:39-40; 1 Jn 1:1) to His resurrection, and in addition He was speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God to His disciples.

When Jesus declared, It was finished, the penalty for sin had been propitiated. In other words, through Jesus’ death He satisfied once for all the just demands of a holy and righteous God as a permanent atonement for man’s sin; Jesus paid the penalty of our sin. Though surrounded by eyewitnesses to the crucifixion, no one could see Jesus propitiating the penalty of sin but God. But we saw the proof of it with the eyewitness accounts of the bodily resurrection based on the authority of God’s Word. The conclusive evidence that Jesus' death on the cross propitiated the penalty of sin for all eternity was His bodily resurrection. Oh, my soul rejoices and leaps like the gazelle in the plains. Thank you, Jesus, thank You!

You know, folks, God telling me that He loves me doesn’t mean very much without demonstration. But God went way beyond words, taking His love to an incomprehensible level; He demonstrated it by sending His only begotten Son in my behalf (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8; 1 Jn 4:10). Can you imagine what must have been taking place in heaven as the blood of our precious Lord was ebbing away on the cross? We knew what was taking place don’t we on Golgotha; Jesus was taking care of the penalty of our sin for us.

Other religions may embrace Jesus as “a way, a truth, a life” as one of many paths to the divine, but we must emphatically reject this assumption. Due to the eyewitness accounts of the physical resurrection and physical ascension of Jesus Christ, we too, along with our ancient brothers and sisters, can confidently say before the world with no wincing or apology, Jesus is the only way to God.  

Living in the only path is not an easy one (persecution)

Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will (emphasis mine) also persecute you (Jn 15:20).

“Our pluralistic culture, according to Lutzer, rejects outright the claim that God can be approached in only one way” (LifeWork, Spring 2011, p. 75).

Should we quote this Jn 14:6 with absolute conviction to those outside the realm of Christ, we will only invite contempt for ourselves. We will be accused of being judgmental, arrogant, egotistical, bible-thumping, narrow minded, insensitive, bigoted, and throwbacks of a Dark Age mentality. At the very least we will be patronized as misguided, or the all too common response when anti-John-fourteen six-ites are backed into a corner – the TYI [pronounced tie] rebuttal emerges, “That’s Your Interpretation,” as if that finally settles the argument for them. That TYI thing is very frustrating and very sad. They are not really rejecting us but Christ, but they are too blind to see it.

Don’t believe me about being hassled? Serve up John 14:6 on a silver platter with the most sincere and caring manner to those who do not share your faith and see what happens! People will get angry and argumentative if you stand your ground. 

If you hadn’t discovered with these coexist groups advocating religious tolerance, you will very quickly; we are expected to be tolerant by compromising, but they never compromise their position!  A homosexual, for example, will want you to embrace his or her lifestyle but will dismiss your interpretation of Scripture as irrelevant, harsh, and insensitive. Even showing the love of Christ and maintaining a proper biblical posture are unacceptable to homosexuals because we are judging rather than accepting their lifestyle. Those expected to shift their positions are the ones who hold to truth based on the authority of the Bible, every time; it is always a unilateral shift which results in compromising the truth. We have already shifted to the light of the truth for salvation. Now we are called to stand upon it, not shift back to darkness for political correctness!

People are offended by this passage of Scripture who do not share our faith. It polarizes; it segregates; it divides; it judges all other religions as inferior and falsehood. John 14:6 does not promote religious tolerance, and why should it; all religions that oppose the truth of John 14:6 are false and purveyors of the lie. Tell me whoever tolerates a liar; nobody wants to hang around a liar. So why should truth tolerate a lie? The coexist movement is nothing more than religious tolerance at the expense of truth, biblical truth, the kind worth taking a stand for. When you live a lie you have nothing to lose or compromise. 

Let me quote Lutzer here because at the base of this opposition to the absolute truth of God’s Word is the pagan philosophy of relativism,

“At a state university, a sign read, ‘It is OK for you to think you are right. It is not OK for you to think someone else is wrong’” (LifeWork, Spring 2011, p. 74).

Lie #1, God is whatever we want Him to be, was subtle, but this second lie is about as malleable and shapeless. Denominational lines help to pin down theological positions but those who migrate to inter-denominational or non-denominational churches become more challenging. One thing is for sure; if any denomination, inter-denomination, or non-denomination claims and proclaims the truth of John 14:6, they will be considered Bible thumpers by the world along with all the other characterizations that come with it.

A non-label is a label when taking a stand for biblical truth….   

Lie #2 is just another way of saying all roads lead to Rome; any position on absolute truth is absurd, antiquated, and irrelevant. Religious relativism means that all religions point to some kind of heavenly state or being, to God, or to God’s presence. Simply denying the Bible as the absolute and ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice does not invalidate that authority. Die-hard Ph.D. evolutionist can emphatically and passionately declare that the notion of God in nature is absent and that His existence is merely religious and mythological, lacking any scientific evidence, but that does not negate or silence the general revelation of God because of their personal biases,

Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psa 19:2  Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.

Psa 19:3  There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.

Psa 19:4  Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.

“God is there, and He is not silent.” – Francis A. Schaeffer (Christian philosopher, from his book entitled, HE IS THERE AND HE IS NOT SILENT).

The Bible never claimed to be a book of science, but whatever it states about science related subjects it is authoritative. Should this not be so since the Creator of all true science gave us the Bible?

 

The truth of John 14:6 is actually a battleground among all the religions of the world and evolutionary science for it is a religion, too! It is here we make our stand and defend the truth at all costs because the Word of God is constantly under attack. This only path is the path to suffering. The emphasis below is mine.

Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily , and follow Me (Lk 9:23). The steps of Jesus were suffering steps. Here is a promise you may not like.

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12.  

Let’s not forget Peter’s comments in 1 Pet 2:21,

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. 

The steps of Jesus were suffering steps. Truly, this only path to God is not an easy one.

Walking in the only path requires knowledge of the truth (interpretation)

How do we know the truth? How do we know when we are reading the Bible correctly or interpreting it correctly? How do we rightly divide (handle) the word of truth?

Since we believe the Bible to be the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice, John 14:6 rightfully refutes the satanic lie that many paths lead to God. The truth of John 14:6 is derived from a proper hermeneutic (the art and science of interpretation of the Scriptures). With a proper interpretation of Scripture we arrive at a right view of Scripture resulting in a right view of God. Having a right view of God only comes through a proper understanding of God’s revelation of Himself to us through the Word of God.   

We see the self-revelation of God as Yahweh intended. Spiritualizing the text is mishandling God’s revelation of Himself by wrongly dividing the truth and dangerously presenting another image that violates the principles of Scripture. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a low view of Scripture produces a low view of God. You cannot claim to have a high view of God and at the same time have disdain for Scripture. A high view of Scripture (as absolute, ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice) produces a high view of God.

Liberals would reject what I am about to tell you because our evangelical and historical approach to Scripture is biased by our personal faith, but our faith is founded in sound and sensible interpretation which God intended. The lib’s rebuttal to our interpretation of Scripture would obviously be TYI. Before I briefly explain the process of how we arrive at truth, let’s not forget how miraculous that an infinite God could reveal Himself to finite man with the limitations of language and still bring honor and glory to Himself! It is nothing short of amazing and tribute to the wisdom of our God. Never lose sight in the study of Scripture that this book we call the Bible is the only self-revelation of God in Words. You know the other self-revelatory work of God Almighty without words, His creation; boy, does it speak volumes (Psa 19:1-6).

How we arrive at our position on the truth:

• Salvation

• Prayer

• Illumination

• Grammatical/historical approach

• Contextual approach (comparing Scripture with Scripture)

• Application

Salvation

A man or woman will never understand the truth of Scripture apart from regeneration (being born again) because they are spiritually blind. They lack spiritual capacity to understand spiritual truth which cannot be discovered by the natural senses: eyes, ears, or heart (or mind, cf. 1 Cor 2:9 and 1 Cor 2:14).

2Cor 4:3  But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing (cf. perishing with 1 Cor 1:18),

2Cor 4:4  whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

This is blindness by choice – who do not believe. Blindness is due to unbelief. Therefore, they remain in darkness – lest the light … should shine on them. Jesus told Nicodemus,

For every one practicing evil hates that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (Jn 3:20).

1Cor 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

In Jude 1:19 the word translated sensual is the same Greek word (G5591) translated natural in 1 Cor 2:14. The natural or sensual man does not possess the Holy Spirit. Read what Paul says concerning those who do not have the Holy Spirit,

If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ (indwelling him, added), he (the natural man) does not belong to Him (Rom 8:9b).

Unregenerate man (an unsaved sinner) belongs to the god of this age (Satan); he is a slave to the terrible taskmaster of sinners, Satan, the god of this world.

To unregenerate man the message of the cross is foolishness (absurd, ridiculous) to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18).

The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him (Jn 14:17a).

With all of that said, just the opposite is true for those who trust in Christ. When we trust in Christ as our Savior and Lord, we receive the Holy Spirit of God. In order to enter the kingdom of God, we must be born again (Jn 3:7).

The Spirit of truth … you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (Jn 14:17b).

When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come (Jn 16:13).

This does not mean we don’t need anyone to teach and guide us in the truths of God. God gave the spiritual gift of teaching to help in understanding biblical truth (cf. 1 Cor 12:28-29; Eph 4:11).

We are of God. He who knows God hears us, he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 Jn 4:6).

True Christianity is apostolic Christianity (The Bible Knowledge Commentary on 1 Jn 4:6). Those who know Christ accept and follow the doctrinal teaching of the apostles in the NT. Those who don’t like apostolic teaching will either add to it or subtract from it.

Prayer

I love what I heard at the prayer walk training last Saturday (4.9.11) at church about prayer. Prayer is God’s rotor tiller. Prayer should precede our study of God’s Word.

Open my eyes that I may see Wondrous things from Your law (Psa 119:18).

Would to God prayer preceded everything we did…. Does this sounds radical and impractical? Before you say, “Yes,” consider,

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), or Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psa 119:105). 

One last thing about this in this epic posting! Pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17). Prayer should be an attitude 24/7. You get the idea. With that prayerful note, it is time for

Intermission ......................................................... 

Please step away to refresh yourself while listening to some soft, instrumental music in the background; and come back with some popcorn, coke, or what have you. For the die-hard readers out there, you can thank Steve for this brief respite.  : )-

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Illumination

Illumination is not revelation. Revelation, from a theological perspective, pertains to that body of truth from Genesis to Malachi and Matthew to Revelation. No one is receiving further revelation from God for that ended with John on the isle of Patmos circa A.D. 95 or 96. Illumination has to do with understanding truth already revealed by Divine revelation. This enlightenment is from the Holy Spirit. 

Truth I give to you comes from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit or others who have been also enlightened by the Holy Spirit and by other illuminated saints. This great body of insight into the Scriptures over the centuries are from illuminaries who are those illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Let’s be enlightened about illumination; no one is illuminated by the Holy Spirit in a matter that contradicts the principles of Scripture, never ever ever. 

Contradictions do not emanate from the Holy Spirit of God, only Satan. Etch this in your memory banks, illumination never contradicts Scripture. Those who do so intentionally are nothing more than spiritual anarchist promoting the abolition of apostolic authority.

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts (contrast 2 Cor 4:4) to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6).   

1Cor 2:9  But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."  (quotation of Isa 64:4)

1Cor 2:10  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

1Cor 2:11  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

1Cor 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

1Cor 2:13  These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Jn 2:26  These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

We need the Holy Spirit in salvation and illumination. It all begins with Him. Illuminating (Psa 18:28; 1 Cor 2:10 Eph 1:18), teaching (Jn 14:26; cf. Jn 7:39; 16:7), guiding (Jn 16:13), convicting (Jn 16:8), comforting (Jn 15:26) are all the work of the person of the Holy Spirit living within our hearts, not to mention His intercessory work (Rom 8:26). Below is why the world characterizes us as “literalist,” as if it was a dirty word to them; but they blow that way out of proportion with the intentions of making us out to be strange and fanatical.

Grammatical/Historical Approach

We observe the normal usage of speech or the structure or components of language. Normal language is taken as literal, except when figurative devices like symbolism, similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and etc are employed. Often symbols, for instance, are interpreted within its own context. We see this time and again in the book of Revelation. Technically speaking, there really is no difference in the way we read the Bible than we do, say the newspaper, magazine, or any other book as far as simply reading for reading sake. 

Correctly understanding the Bible requires more effort than reading secular material, but basically both are read the same way – to be understood literally unless figurative devices are used. If we see a placard with “Yard Sale,” written on it, everybody understands someone isn’t selling their yard anymore than someone isn’t selling their garage at a garage sale. If you like shopping at flea markets when was the last time you purchased a flea? A literalist by our critic’s definition of us would say, “I want to buy your yard, garage, or fleas!” It’s simply ridiculous. When people find out we are of the Baptist faith they immediately think, “Oh you are the ones that interpret the Bible literally.” Or they chase that with “We don’t believe in a literal hell or devil,” and so forth ad nauseum. Here is why I believe they insist on calling us “literalist?” 

Because first of all, if what we are saying is true, then they are in trouble; and they know it. All men eventually die, and it’s that uncertainty after death that has them worried whether they would admit that or not to anyone. And secondly, what we interpret as literal our critics interpret as figurative to fit it into the framework of their personal theology, for example, interpreting the first eleven chapters of Genesis as allegorical. 

Aren’t we guilty of the same thing? No, because our beliefs are based on a contextual and consistent approach observing the laws of grammar and history, not some random  spiritualizing of the biblical texts where there is no accountability because the one doing the interpreting is an authority unto him or her self. 

One of the reasons people believe that there are so many different paths to God is because they don’t like what the Bible has to say about accountability to God's standards and how to get to heaven. Either that or they water it down by spiritualizing the texts so it means whatever they want it to mean – many paths lead to God’s presence, for instance.  

Since the Bible was written so long ago, it is important to understand its historical context to determine word meaning and usage. This is no different than constitutional lawyers going back to the 18th century to understand what was meant by the framers when they said this or that. The historical approach involves consideration of the social, cultural, political, economical, and geographical dynamics of the environment of that day. 

Contextual Approach

Scripture is its own interpreter and consistent with itself. In other words, the Scripture never contradicts the Scripture; it is a unifying whole of divine revelation because its author was God. Context is the sovereign of hermeneutics and keeping that in mind will keep you from wandering outside the Book into deep spiritual error. Depending upon the English translation, it would be safe to say that there are over 700,000 words in the English Bible. Each word, each phrase, each clause, each verse, each chapter, and each book must be interpreted by the context of Scripture as a whole, comparing Scripture with Scripture. Some cults will take an ambiguous phrase or clause and build a major doctrine around it, for example, being baptized for the dead (1 Cor 1529). This seems to be a common practice among cult religions. Such a practice is unwise and leads to spiritual error on top of spiritual error and should be avoided by true believers. Keeping biblical data in context helps to keep us within the body of truth.

Application

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You (Psa 119:11).

With all of that understood, application is where the rubber hits the road by asking the Holy Spirit to show us how this truth applies to our life. This is where the intellectual and experiential are merged. It is working the Word, applying God’s principles in the daily routines of life, not like the Sunday religionist.

This approach to the interpretation of the Holy Scripture has proven over the centuries to be a sensible, God-honoring approach to Scripture and serves as a safeguard against spiritualizing biblical text, ripping things out of context, and falling into spiritual error. Submitting to the authority of God is evident by those who are committed to the belief that the Bible is the absolute, ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice. We need to find out who God is, how He sees the world, how He operates, learn His principles, so we can be and act like Him in the world. All of this comes from the Word and the Holy Spirit’s ministry of illumination.

Why go through all of this hermeneutical stuff anyway concerning lie #2? A couple of reasons I will give you.

(1) This is how we arrive at truth; “the many paths lead to God’s presence” crowd aren’t following the grammatical/historical approach to Scripture.

(2) Not all Bible-toting/Bible quoting people are true believers who worship the same God as we do. The devil knows and quotes Scripture!

(3) I am also trying to clarify why we are so adamant on verses like John 14:6. Because it is our clearest declaration against lie #2: many paths lead to God’s presence. Our confession of faith is born out of this approach to Scripture. Genuine believers must rightly divide (handle) the truth (2 Tim 2:15). If you do those things above you will be able to discern between good and evil.

Standing for the only path is not an option (resolution)

It has been said that if you stand for nothing you fall for anything. Wisdom knows when to draw a line in the sand and when to flex. Let me give you a couple of examples; we take an uncompromising and unapologetic stand on the truth of John 14:6, the virgin birth of Christ, the deity of Christ, the physical resurrection of Christ, salvation by grace through faith alone, and so forth. Things eschatological (end time events) I wouldn’t split fellowship over if another believer was not a premillennial/pre-tribulational rapturist. I would, however, fellowship with him and pray for God to open his eyes to his misunderstanding! Many churches split over methodology (belief that a church should be ran a certain way) rather than for doctrinal reasons.

If I was threatened to renounce being called a Baptist or die; I would renounce. If I was given the option to renounce my faith in Christ or die, I could never renounce (God help me!). I am a Baptist by preference and a believer in Christ by conviction. A conviction is something a person would be willing to die for; a preference is something you would not give your life for. 

Those fundamentals of the faith that would cause Christianity to crumble if they were absent, like those truths mentioned above, are the things worth taking a stand for. With Holy Spirit boldness we tell the world as believers in Christ that the only way into the presence of God is by the grace of God through faith in Christ. There is no other way, not by pedigree, not by works, not by others, not by sheer will, but by grace. Were it not for God’s grace, salvation would not be available and faith would be meaningless. Grace is what makes faith meaningful. We must resolve to stand for what is right with boldness and not be ashamed of the truth. We must be resolute to stand our ground though outnumbered by the enemies of Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Rom 1:16).

2Tim 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2Tim 1:8  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

2Tim 1:9  who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

2Tim 1:10  but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

2Tim 1:11  to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 

2Tim 1:12  For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Realizing the only path to God is because of grace (humiliation)

Do you recall in our series of the grace and truth paradox that I said redundantly that Jesus never showed grace at the expense of truth, never ever ever! God wants men to come to Him, to repent of their sins and receive the grace of God, but God’s holiness will never compromise the truth of Scripture, never ever ever! Grace that unmerited favor of God is unique to Christianity of all the religions of the world. The word grace is alien to their ecclesiastical vocabulary, and grace is definitely not in the vocabulary of satanic forces. People accuse us of arrogance because we hold to the truth of the only way to heaven, but it is the grace of God that reminds us not to be heady and to be humbled and grateful for it was by God’s mercy we were saved.

Read what Paul said about grace.

Eph 2:8  For by grace (emphasis mine) you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Eph 2:9  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Let me show you how distilled grace really is when it comes to God’s election. This is seen with Paul’s discussion of the election of grace (Rom 11:5).

Rom 11:5  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Paul already referred to the election as an election of what, grace (V5). V6 reveals that grace and works are mutually exclusive and differ diametrically in this matter of election, like oil and water. Allow me to paraphrase.

If the election is by grace then it cannot be of works; otherwise the idea of grace is destroyed. But if the election is of works then it cannot be of grace or the concept of works is destroyed. 

They are incompatible. Again, Paul described the election as of grace, not of works. Had election been of works, none of us could have ever been chosen by God! The antithesis between grace and works is also seen in Rom 4:4-5; 9:30-32.

What does this say about the lie that says many paths lead to the presence of God? Every path, listen, every path other than following in the footsteps of Christ is a salvation of works. And as we just saw that the election is of grace. Folks, any other path than John 14:6 does not lead to salvation, never has, never will. And what is the opposite of salvation – destruction. Every path that claims to lead to God apart from Christ is leading to destruction. Recall what was said on the Michael-gram last Friday quoting A.W. Tozer,

"The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions."

God will judge sin and execute the penalty phase for sin for all Christ-less or unsaved sinners. How many are involved is irrelevant. We saw this with the deaths of 4 billion+ in the antediluvian civilization in Noah’s day.  

Lk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

Lk 17:27  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Lk 17:28  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

Lk 17:29  but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Emphasis is mine.

I am the way (everything else is the wrong direction).

I am the truth (everything else is a lie).

And I am the life (everything else leads to death).

No one comes to the Father  

Except through Me.

Postscript

I personally owe everything to the grace of God and so do you. Were it not for the grace of God I would not have found the path into the presence of God. All that I am; all that I hope to be; all that I am going to be is because of grace. 

Though we still retain the sin nature, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Let us keep on coming to our great high priest with confidence and reverence to the throne of grace that we may find grace to help in the nick of time (Heb 4:16). We are the elect of grace, those who are in Christ, who have access to the throne of grace 24/7. It doesn’t get any better than grace.

Wouldn’t it be a hoot to see the First JFS Church in Cleveland, Tennessee?  It stands for the First John Fourteen Six church. Whew whee! Would that stir the pot and make a public statement to the lost world and the saved world! You gotta love it; the truth of John 14:6, that is, the only path to God’s presence. 

Supplication

Father, our prayer is that we as followers of Jesus Christ declare without wincing or apology to the world by our words and walk that you are the way, the truth, and the life. There are not many paths to the throne but only one. We know that such a declaration of no one comes to the Father except through the Son will invite some manner of suffering, but you have commanded us to pick up our cross daily and follow You regardless. We know that talking and walking in the only path to God's presence will result in some form of persecution. Give us the grace, O Lord, not to succumb to the pressure of compromising the truth. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May we glorify You with the authority given to us as ambassadors of the truth and humbly show forth the grace of God as slaves of Christ. Thank You for the absolute truth of the Scriptures; thank You for revealing Yourself to man through creation and through the Scriptures; thank You that the bodily resurrection of Christ revealed to us that the just demands of a holy and righteous God concerning the payment for the penalty of sin was propitiated by death on the cross once and for all eternity for all saints: past, present, and future. Drive us out of our lethargy of religion to reach out to those who are spiritually blind to the fact that they are perishing and without hope. And may what is said here bring honor and glory to Your name. Thank you, Jesus, for it is in Your name, the way, the truth, and the life, that we pray. Amen and amen. <><