Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 2
Tuesday


IS JESUS
EXCLUSIVE?

READ:
John 14:6
_______________________________

Jesus said..., "I am
the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes
to the Father except
through Me."
__ John 14:6
________________________________

I once saw Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz on a popular news talk program. The interviewer asked, "Are you one of those who believe that Jesus is exclusively the only way to heaven?" He added, "You know how mad that makes people these days!" Without blinking she replied, "Jesus is not exclusive. He died so that anyone could come to Him for salvation."

What a great response! Christianity is not an exclusive club limited to an elite few who fit the perfect profile. Everyone is welcome regardless of color, class, or clout.

In spite of this wonderful reality, Christ's claim in John 14:6 to be the only way to God continues to offend. Yet Jesus is the only way--the only option that works. All of us are guilty before God. We are sinners and cannot help oursleves. Our sin had to be dealt with. Jesus, as God in the flesh, died to pay the penalty for our sins and then rose from the dead. No other religious leader offers what Jesus provides in His victory over sin and death.

The gospel of Christ is offensive to some, but it is the wonderful truth that God loves us enough to come and take care of our biggest problem--sin. And as long as sin is the problem, the world needs Jesus! __ Joe Stowell
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~No one could enter heaven,~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Our many sins stood in the way;~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~So God in love sent Jesus,~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~For He alone sin's debt could pay. __D. De Haan~~~~~~
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Embrace the good news:
Jesus is a non-exclusive Savior.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ John 14:1-12************

1 "Let not your heart be
troubled; you believe in
God, believe also in Me.

2 In My Father's house are
many mansions; if it were
not so I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place
for you. 3 And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive
you to Myself; that where I
am, there you may be also,

4 And where I go you know,
and the way you know."

5 Thomas said to Him,
"Lord, we do not know
where You are going, and
how can we know the
way?" 6 Jesus said to him,
"I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through
Me. 7 If you had known
Me, you would have known
My Father also; and from
now on you know Him and
have seen Him."

8 Philip said to Him,
"Lord, show us the Father,
and it is sufficient for us."

9 Jesus said to him, "Have
I been with you so long,
and yet you have not known
Me, Philip? He who has
seen Me has seen the
Father; so how, can you say,
'Show us the Father'? 10 Do
you not believe that I am in
the Father, and the Father in
Me? The words that I speak
to you I do not speak on
My own authority; but the
Father who dwells in Me
does the works. 11 Believe
Me that I am in the Father
and the Father in Me, or
else believe Me for the sake
of the works themselves.

12 "Most assuredly, I say to
you, he who believes in Me,
the works that I do he will
do also; and greater works
than these he will do,
because I go to My Father."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

John 14 contains a major portion of Jesus' teaching to His disciples
the night before Calvary. Here He clarifies His redemptive mission.
Notice that in the process of this explanation, Christ speaks directly
to two of His followers--Thomas and Philip. __ WEC