IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD?
Follow Jesus Campaign
Matthew 16:13-20
“When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
FIVE TRUTHS ABOUT KNOWING JESUS
1. It is possible to be totally WRONG.
“They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Matthew 16:14
2. It is possible to be CLOSE but WRONG.
“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:8 (NKJV)
3. There is a RIGHT and WRONG answer.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
4. It is God the Father who gives you the UNDERSTANDING of who Jesus is.
“Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.” Matthew 16:17 (MSG)
5. Your belief can CHANGE and EMPOWER your life.
“And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.” Matthew 16:18 (MSG)
JESUS MOST CONTROVERSIAL CLAIM:
“… I am the WAY, and the TRUTH, and the LIFE; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6 (RSV)
Myth #1: All RELIGION is basically the SAME.
Reality: Christianity cannot be ________________ with any other religion.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to [men] by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Other religions are spelled DO.
Christianity is spelled DONE.
“He saved us. It was not because of any good [works] that we ourselves had done, but because of His own mercy that He saved us…” Titus 3:5 (GNT)
Myth #2: All religions have equal claims on the TRUTH.
Reality: Only Jesus backs up His claims with unique CREDENTIALS that gives Him unique CREDIBILITY.
“… Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine [mission] was clearly [shown] to you by the miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him. You yourselves know this, for it [took place] here among you.” Acts 2:22 (GNT)
1. He fulfilled all ancient prophecies written hundreds of years before his birth.
2. He validates His claim by His exceptional character.
3. He validated His claim by performing miracles.
4. The most spectacular demonstration of his deity was his resurrection from the dead.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ISOLATED PLACES?
God puts each person in the PLACE where they might reach out to Him.
“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27 (NIV)
Everyone has a MORAL STANDARD written on their hearts, and all are guilty of violating it.
“… the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness…” Romans 2:15 (NIV)
“No one… in all the world is innocent.” Romans 3:10 (TLB)
Everyone has enough information from observing CREATION to know God exists, but people REJECT God anyway.
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse… For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him…” Romans 1:20-21 (NIV)
Everyone who sincerely SEEK God will FIND Him.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
God is scrupulously FAIR AND JUST.
“Will not the Judge of the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25c (NIV)