It is popular today, when most people believe in "tolerance" and "nonjudgmentalism", to claim that there are many roads that lead to God. In our culture there are deemed to be no absolutes and one person's opinions are just as good as another's. Many believe any person can find their own way to God without following any "established" religion. All authority is rejected.
Jesus, however, claims to be the only way. In this verse, he claims to be THE way, not ONE of the ways; THE truth, not A truth; and THE life. He goes even further - saying that no one can come to God except through him.
This leaves us with a dilemna. Our culture teaches us that a statement like this is the height of bigotry and intolerance. We can reject it on these grounds, but in doing so we are rejecting Jesus Christ himself. We really have to make a choice between two extreme ideas:
1. Jesus was a liar or a lunatic. If so, he wasn't who he claimed to be and we can't trust anything else he said, either. There may be another way to God, or many ways, but Christianity can't be one of them.
2. Jesus told the truth. He was who he claimed to be. In this case, no other religion or faith can reconcile us to God, no matter how attractive its teachings or how good its motives. They all fall short, even though many of their teachings may be good.
One choice isn't as good as another. There really is truth, and there really are absolutes. Christ is the ONLY way to God or else not a way at all.
This is what the Bible teaches and Christians have believed since the time of Christ. It is why they died rather than worship the Roman emperor along with Christ.
Jesus said: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3: 17, 18.)
Many argue that a loving God wouldn't condemn anyone to Hell. Actually, He doesn't - we condemn ourselves by rejecting Christ! God created Hell for the devil and his fallen angels, not for man. Men go there because they take Satan's side rather than God's. You can't sit the fence on this - Jesus made it clear there is no neutral ground: "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matthew 12:30.)
Which side are you on? The offer of Salvation is still open. Surrender to Christ right now.
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Created by Ted Rice Sept. 10, 1999. Last Updated Jan-02-2011