There is one man

 There is one man

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Paul makes it clear here that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. It is through Jesus that we are saved. It is Jesus who died for our sins. 

Jesus himself said,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

This is an incredible statement for anyone to make. Saying He is the only way to heaven.

I like what C. S. Lewis said about Jesus in Mere Christianity. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."   C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Please think about it.

The Messiah

The Messiah

Jesus said,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

In the gospel of Matthew we read,

"...The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."Matthew 26:63,64.

In the book of Acts when Peter stood before the elders and rulers Peter said,

"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.

The above verses from the New Testament show what the writers of the New Testament believed Jesus to be. These claims were controversial then and still are today.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. 

That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. 

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

So who is Jesus to you?

Please think about it.

Your way or God's way?

 Your way or Gods way?

The Psalmist states,

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4,5.

This is good advice. Advice many people do not listen to. As someone has said,

“Most people wish to serve God —

 but only in an advisory capacity.” 

                                                Author Unknown

I would say that the majority of people in the world today want to get to heaven. But sadly they want to do it there way.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to pray and study the scriptures. We need to take time to learn just what God wants for our life. And how He wants us to accomplish that goal.

We need to learn the way God works. For it is only in doing things God’s way that we will get to heaven. 

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“So, as the Holy Spirit says:" Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 

That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' 

So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.” Hebrews 3:7-11.

Where do you stand? Are you willing humble yourself before God. Study the scriptures and see how God does things or do you insist on following your own path.

When you are considering this remember what we read in Proverbs.

“There is a way that seems right ot a man, 

but its end is the way of death.”

                                                               Proverbs 14:12.

Please think about it.

What Jesus said

 What Jesus said

In John’s gospel we read,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6.

This is one of the most important statements Jesus ever made..

If it is false no one hearing those words has anything to fear.

If this is true and I believe it is. Those who don’t believe it have at the very least a lot to think about.

But it is not what I believe that is important. Each individual must decide for themselves if what Jesus is saying is true or false. You dear reader must decide if Jesus is “the way the truth and the life.” That no one comes to the Father except through Him.

Please think about it.

The reason Christ came

 The Reason Christ came

Matthew’s gospel tell us of this incident in the life of Jesus,

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.

Jesus had one reason for coming to the earth He created and that was to show each individual the way to heaven. 

God knew we could not live a life that was good enough to get us into heaven. Thus He sent Jesus to show us the way by going as far as humanly possible and dying in a most horrendous way. 

Does this seem odd? Yes it does. But as the apostle Paul pointed out

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1Corinthians 1:18.

God’s ways are not our ways. Believing in a Saviour who died for our sins takes quite an act of faith which is what God wants.

The writer of Hebrews stating,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

I think the reason God requires faith is that people who have true faith in anything will go to their graves for what they believe.

Which is what a true believer in Christ Jesus will do.

Please think about it. 

A Question from Jesus

 A Question from Jesus

In John’s gospel we read,

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.

While this question was asked to Martha it is a question we all must answer when confronted with Jesus.

Do you believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God who has come into the world to offer eternal life to all who would believe in Him. 

Do you?

But before you answer please take some time to read the New Testament and see what those who knew Jesus best believed about Him.

Please think about it.

It seems right but

 It seems right but

In Proverbs we read,

“There is a way that seems right to a man 

but in the end it leads to death.” 

                                                 Proverbs 14:12.

Many today are following the crowd. Following religious and political leaders and philosophies that seem right but is not. 

We as individuals need to assess who we are following. We need to pray and ask God for direction. Because if we are following the wrong person or philosophy it can and will have eternal consequences.

For me the right path is following Jesus. Jesus speaking of himself said,

      "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 to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

But you dear reader must decide for yourself if I am right.

Please think about it.

Jesus said

 Jesus said

In John’s Gospel we read,

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6.

This is a believe it or not statement. True Christians believe this. If we are wrong then those who do not believe as we do have nothing to fear. 

If on the other hand we are right. Those who do not believe as we do have at the very least something to think about.

Please think about it.

Simeon said it.

  Simeon said it.

In Luke’s gospel we read,

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.

This is who Jesus is. As Simeon put it,

“...a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Jesus himself said,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

The apostle Peter when standing before the religious leaders, who could have punished them for what they believed and said. Boldly spoke of Jesus this way,

"He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

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 4:11,12.

Jesus is the Son of God. Saviour of each individual who would put their trust in Him.

Would you take time to at least read the New Testament and see what the early church believed about Him?

Would you accept Jesus into your life this day?

         Please think about it.

Like the thief on the cross

 Like the thief on the cross

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

The late American evangelist Billy Graham once said,

“I'm going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: 'Lord, remember me.” Billy Graham.

Are you?

When we look at Luke’s account of the crucifixion we see to criminals. Criminals who show us the choice we have.

One insults at Jesus, not believing He was the Christ, the Messiah. He asked Jesus to prove who He was by getting them down from the cross. In other words he would only believe Jesus was the Christ if Jesus proved it by getting them out of their situation.

The other rebuked the first and by faith believed Jesus to be the Christ. As such he confessed he was being justly punished for his crimes. Asking Jesus to remember him when he came into His kingdom.

That man did what we all must do.

Believe Jesus is the Christ.

Confess our sins to Him 

And accept Christ’s forgiveness.

Have you done this? 

Will you get to heaven like the thief on the cross?

Please think about it.

By His Mercy

 By His Mercy

The apostle Paul writes,

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4,5.

Here is a Christian distinctive. Christians do not believe we can be good enough to enter Gods heaven. And God knew this was true. Therefore God reached down from heaven in the form of His one and Only Son Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

Paul also wrote,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9,10.

Question have you done this?

Please think about it.

What is truth

 What is truth

In the gospel of John we read of Jesus standing before Pilatet to be judged. After a brief interchange with Jesus. Where upon he finds him not guilty of the charges against him Pilate asks...

"What is truth?..."John 18:38a.

It is a question we, when confronted with the story of Jesus must ask. Is what Jesus is saying truth or a lie?

The crowd that day that also included the religious leaders, didn’t want to here the truth. They wanted to put Jesus to death.

John records in Chapter 19: 1-16 that Pilate tried several more times to prevent the crucifixion of Jesus. All to no avail. Thus not wanting a rebellion on his hands he turned Jesus over to his persecutors to be put to death.

In the twenty-first century no matter where we live in the world we must decide for ourselves who Jesus is.

We must decide if Jesus is lying or not when He is recorded as saying,

"I and the Father are one." John 10:30.

We must ask ourselves is what Jesus states in John 14:8-10  true or not...

“Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? 

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'?  

Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  John 14:8-10.

We must ask ourselves if what Jesus said to Thomas is true,

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 

So who do you believe Jesus is?

Please think about it.

The Key

  The Key

Jesus speaking of Himself said,

"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 to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18

Here in a nutshell is why Jesus came to earth. He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world. 

Jesus came to give each and every individual a Choice. You can either choose to follow Jesus and accept the salvation He offers or you can reject that offer of salvation. 

If Christians are wrong about this choice there is no need to be afraid. If on the other hand Christians are right about this. Then at the very least everyone has at the very least a lot to consider.

Please think about it.  

In no one else

  In no one else

The apostle Peter speaking about Jesus said,

"He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

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 4:11,12.

This is a bold statement one all true Christians. All true believers in Christ Jesus believe. 

The statement makes it clear that the apostle Peter truly believed that the only way to be saved is though belief in Christ Jesus.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

One Mediator

  One mediator

The apostle Paul writes,

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:5,6.

Jesus is reported as saying,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

These are two statements that Christians believe. If we Christians are wrong in believing we will have lost nothing. We simply will have lived a good life.

If on the other hand those two statements are true. Those who do not believe as we do have at the very least a lot to think about.

Please think about it.

The reason for Jesus

  The reason for Jesus

John’s gospel records Jesus as saying,

"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 to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.

This is the reason Jesus came into this world to save the world. It is what Christians all over the world must tell those around them.

The apostle Paul states,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13.

At first glance this statement seems simple enough. Believe in Jesus and you shall go to heaven.

Believing in someone. Having faith in someone. Especially someone you cannot see is a very difficult thing for some people. Yet the Bible calls us to have faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

Thus my question to you. Do you have faith in God? 

Do you believe Jesus when He said,

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.

Please think about it.

No other name

  No other name

The book of Acts records,

“He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

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 4:11,12.

The apostles Peter and John after being brought before the religious leaders of his day (the Sanhedrin) for healing a man in the name of Jesus makes this bold statement about Jesus,

“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.

This is what Peter and John believed. This is what all the apostles believed and this is what true Christians believe today.

To a true believer in Christ Jesus, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour is the way to heaven. There is no other way.

When Peter made this statement he could have been punished severely. Thrown in jail or potentially even stoned. The only reason he wasn’t was because the religious leaders of his day feared the public reaction. The book of acts records,

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.  

So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.  

"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.”

The result was they told Peter and John not to preach in Jesus name. As the book of acts records,

"But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  

But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.  

For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 

After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.  

For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. Acts 4:17-22.

As I said what Peter and John believed then is believed by believers in Christ Jesus today. Notably 

"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.

And just like Peter and John believers in Christ Jesus are willing to be called up before non-believing authorities for telling those around them what they believe. Like them also they are willing to face imprisonment and even death for what they believe. 

If you are a believer in Christ Jesus are you presenting this message?

If you don’t believe that Christ Jesus is the way to heaven then I would ask you to take some time to read the New Testament and see for yourself what the early church believed about Him.

Please think about it.

Reason and Warning

  Reason and Warning

In John’s gospel we read of Jesus saying,

"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 to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.

This is the reason Jesus came into this world. To point all who would believe in Him the way to heaven.

Additionally Jesus issues this warning,

“Whoever believes in him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:17.

If what is reported here by the apostle John is to believed, then what is said is to my mind the most important warning in history.

As C. S. Lewis put it,

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.

That being said. It is a personal choice. Thus all who hear about Jesus must decide for themselves.

Which dear reader you must decide for yourself; Is what the New Testament says about Jesus true or false?

Please think about it.

Ticket

                                                           Ticket

                                                      “Where am I?

                                                          What, am...

                                                        I doing here?”

                                                        “You are her.”

                                                     Says the Conductor.

                                                      “Your ticket please.”

                                                     “I bought no ticket.

                                                          I took no ride.

                                                           Where am I?”

           “Your ride is over,                  You are here.               All take the ride.

       Your ticket’s paid for,           Says the Conductor            You are here.

        Your ticket please,                 Please your ticket.              Your ticket please.

    

                                                      “I took no ride!

                                                         Where am I?

                                                      I demand to know!

                                                          I took no...

                                                             ride...

                                                            Am I...”

                                                    “You are here.

                                                     All take the ride.

                                                   The ticket paid for,

                                                    With My blood.

                                                   You were offered

                                                       The Ticket

                                                    Did you refuse?”

                                                   “Wait a minute...

                                                     I am here...

                                                    I have no ticket...

                                                    And you are...?”

                                                         “Jesus.

                                                     Your Judge?

                                                     Your Saviour?”

Jesus said, 

“....“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

You dear reader must decide whether what Jesus is recorded as saying in John 14:6 is right or wrong. For upon your decision, could rest where you will spend eternity. 

Please think about it.

Narrow is the Road

Narrow is the road
John’s gospel records Jesus as saying,
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.
I’ve heard many non-Christians say there are many ways to heaven. The question I would ask is, are there?
What if as Christians believe there is only one way to heaven, that being through Jesus?
Jesus said,
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13,14.
It to my way of thinking is logical that God would make a single road to heaven. A road that I believe is through Jesus Christ.
The way I see it is if I and other Christians like me are wrong then we have nothing to fear by following the teachings of Jesus, because in doing so we will have lived a good life.
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
I believe it is of infinite importance.
What do you think?
Please think about it.