Jesus the Only Way

Jesus the Only Way

1.0 Introduction

God created Adam and Eve made in the image of God – a relational, rational, volitional, emotional and spiritual being. Due to the fall of man, the once-obedient man became rebellious. Instead of reflecting God, Adam and Eve were like broken lenses reflecting broken light. In His mercy and grace, God set in motion a plan to rescue mankind.

In Genesis 3:15, God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. Throughout the Old Testament, God kept alive the fact that one day a Deliverer would come.

The prophet Isaiah, when looking forward and predicting the coming of the Messiah, he cried: ‘The people walking in thedarkness have seen a great light’ (Isa. 9:2). Around 2000 years ago, that ‘great light’ was seen on earth when God dwelt among us in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ.

In this lesson, we are going to learn why Jesus is our only way ….. our only solution to man’s struggle with sin?

2.0 Why Jesus is the Only Way?

Perhaps you may have heard people say “All religion is good.

There is no one way to God. All can lead you to God and life after death. However, the Bible disagrees with what most people said and proclaim that Jesus is the only way.

John 14:6 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus claimed that He is the only way to the Father. He said “I am the way, the truth and life”. Only through Him, our struggles against sin can be fully resolved and we gain passage to eternal life. The following are the reasons why Jesus claimed He is the only way:-

2.1 Because of Who He Is (His Identity)

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.

John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not condemned.

The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

This passage tells us that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, Jesus Christ. In other words, the way to possess eternal life is to possess God’s Son.

The question no is, who is the Son of God?

Luke 1:35 (NIV)

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 3:21–22 (NIV)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 4:40–41 (NIV)

40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Romans 1:4 who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Bible has mentioned clearly, that Jesus is the Son of God.

Because Luke 1:35 says, the son of God is holy.

Only the holy and sinless God can resolve our problems of unholiness.

Only he has te power to cleansed our sins away.

a. He is the Son of God

b. He is Our Creator

> The Sun, Moon, Stars are not our creators

> The cow, bull and frog are not our creator, therefore it can't be our God

- Do you know that the Egyptian/Philistine has many gods, including the fly? (Beelzebub - the Lord of the flies - have you killed fly before?)

If you can kill the fly, how do you think the fly can save you?

Only the almighty Creator can solve the problem of the creation.

Tho create the world, being need to be infinitely wise and powerful. Which is why I don't believe is Goku.

Together with the Father God and Holy Spirit, Jesus was involved in the creation of the world. Surely, our Creator can provide solutions to all the problems and struggles of His creation.

Colossians 1:16 (NIV)

16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Hebrews 1:2 (NIV)

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

b. He is God who came in human form

The thing about Jesus is that he is not just a human, he is also God as the same time.

All human is born evil. No one is born good. We are all selfish. One of the biggest project of mankind is to control human behaviour. It's hard. people use different kind of thing to control human behaviour. It's the hardest thing to do.

In fact some are so selfish, we have a label for them.

Narcissism. They only care about their looks, needs, their power and their achievement. They only care about their personal gain.

And this destroy relationships.

When you are occupy about self, it create war and no peace.

War is always never a solution to any root problem.

In any human conflict, you can almost trace back to a problem of selfishness - sin.

But Jesus comes to reconcile relationship.

Jesus can help us to solve our heart problem, and therefore reconcile our relationship between man, and most importantly with God.

But if Jesus is also self centered and failed, how can he save and even help us?

But the truth about Jesus is that he never sin.

Though he was borne as a human, and tempted in every way, he did not sin.

Only someone that have overcome sin can help someone that has problem with sin.

No great man, teacher or leader can help you to conquer sin, because they have sin themselves.

Only Jesus can provide a complete solution because He did not sin and manage to overcome sin.

2.2 BECAUSE HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE HAS CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH

The consequence of sin is death. As a result of Adam’s sin, sin came into the world and resulted in death. But Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead. He has proven that he has conquered sin and death. Through Jesus, we will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 (NIV)

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

From the Scriptures and the witnesses of people, Jesus died and rose from the dead. Here are the evidences from the Scriptures:-

1 Corinthians 15:4 (NIV)

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Acts 1:3 (NIV)

3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

3.0 Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

3.1 To fufill the penalty of sin for us

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To “sin” means to miss the mark.

The Bible declares “all have sinned and fall short of the glory (the perfect holiness) of God” (Rom. 3:23). In other words, our sin separates us from God who is perfect holiness (righteousness and justice) and God must therefore judge sinful man.

Hebrews 9:22 (NIV)

22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:28 (NIV)

28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

The curse of sin separated us with God.

In Romans 6:23, the Scripture says the penalty of sin is death. Therefore, we are supposed to die eternally because of sin in our life. However, Jesus died on our behalf and paid for the sins in our lives. He is the perfect sacrifice for our lives.

Love and justice.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through

Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21, NLT)

3.2 TO FULFILL GOD’S PLAN AND LOVE FOR US

God knew there is no way man could solve the problem of sin completely and therefore man will have to die eternally.

Because God loves his people, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to come in the human form and die on the cross for mankind.

John 3:16 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

4.0 CONCLUSION

To conclude, Jesus is the only way and solution to man’s struggles with sin. He has proven to have victory over sin and death by being raised from the dead. No other men in history had been raised from the death and conquered sin and death.

Therefore, let us wholeheartedly trust Jesus as our only Saviour.

Discussion Point

1. Can a total and complete change from our sinful nature be achieved through human efforts and self-help books and guidance? Why do you say so?

2. If you are convinced that Jesus is our only Saviour, what should we do?