Pastor's Pulpit

Sunday June 13, 2010

Praise the Lord for a wonderful day! We started off with Sunday school and several 1st time visitors. Then several more visitors showed up in the morning service. At least 8 visitors were with us and 3 of those were first time attending our church. God met with us Sunday, and when the invitation was given, one soul was saved, a 17 year old young man, and a dear lady joined by profession of faith! Glory! Sunday night was another good service, even though we had some bad weather just before the service, we still had 4 visitors back with us that night. Amen!
Here is the message preached yesterday morning:

" Is there really only one way to Heaven? "

John 14:1-6

Thomas asked the classic question that every human being asks. Jesus starts out telling them that they could believe in Him. Then He tells them that in His Father's house that there are many mansions. In vs. 4 - Jesus said, " You know where I am going - and you know the way. " But Thomas said in vs. 5, ..." Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? " Then Jesus emphatically tells him in vs. 6, " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. "
I read an article on pluralism recently by Dr. Paul Chappel, in the Baptist Voice, Dr. Chappel writes:
" Our culture will tolerate any philosophy, any faith, and any lifestyle, except biblical Christianity.... the world claims to be tolerate... but where is the tolerance for the name of Jesus Christ? In an article entitled, " The Tolerance Myth, " Dr. Chappel tells about Oprah Winfrey's comments on her TV show, this comes from an USA Today article entitled " Oprah's gospel," they called her " a spiritual leader for the new millenia," What does she think of a single way to God?" " There couldn't possibly be just one way. I'm a free-thinking Christian who believes in my way," Winfrey has said, " but I don't believe its' the only way, with 6 Billion people on the planet." Most Americans agree with Oprah according to a 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion, 70% believe " many religions can lead to eternal life." Is there really only one way to Heaven- one way to God? What does the Bible say? Because it really doesn't matter what you and I think, Let God be true but every man a liar.

I. Jesus said, " I am the Way."
John 14:1-3 Who are you going to believe about Heaven? Jesus said, " ye believe in God..." most people do. Some who say they don't change their minds when death draws near. Then they call out to the One they have denied most of their lives. The infidel, Thomas Paine, was a Christ rejector, who spent much of his life trying to discredit Christianity. But on his death bed, he was recorded saying, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? "
The fact is, deep down in the soul of man is a belief in God. There is a void that only God can fill. So man chooses to find God his own way. That is why men need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they can know the way.
Who are you going to believe? man or God? the devil or God? Satan came in the Garden of Eden in Gen. 3 and through the serpent, He asked, " Hath God said? " That is the same thing 21st century man asks today. They just can't believe it is one way. Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." A christian was witnessing to a man in the post office, and the man began to argue, " well I just don't see it your way. I believe going to Heaven is like going to the post office. Some folks travel down one street, some another, everyone came different ways, but they all arrived at the same destination. The Christian said, " Sir, there's only one thing wrong with that reasoning, when I die, I'm not going to the post office." God says, there is only one way. Jesus said, He was the way, not one of the ways, ..." the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Look at John 10:1-9, especially ( verses 7, 9 ) Jesus said He is the Door, " by me, he shall be saved. " Jesus is the One who gives us eternal life. ( John 10:28 ) Thank God the Lord Jesus Christ is the way to Heaven. Have you accepted Him as your personal Saviour? Have you been born again, by the Spirit of God? ( John 3:3-7 ) Jesus came to save lost sinners, and when they put their faith in Him, and accept His sacrifice on the cross, His shed blood, they can receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. They are going to Heaven! Amen! Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

II. There is no other name that can save us from hell.
( Acts 4:12 ) No other salvation in any other. The early Christians were forbidden to preach in the name of Jesus. ( Acts 4:13-20 ) They said they could not help but to proclaim the name of Jesus. He is the One that saved them. He is the One who healed the lame man. So they threatened them. ( vs 21 ) read vs 23-33. The religious leaders would not tolerate the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus has always divided men. Did you know that all across this nation today, there is a cry for tolerance. Let's just co-exist, while all other religions are tolerated, that tolerance ends with the name of Christ. This is not a surprise to anyone who knows the Word of God. The world has never been tolerant of Jesus Christ. It will embrace religion, but not the One who brings conviction, and salvation. In Acts 5, they couldn't help speak in their Saviour's name. There is no salvation in any other. His name is above every name. ( Phil. 2:9-11 ) One of these days, every person that has ever lived will bow to the Lord Jesus Christ, they will confess that He is Lord. Mohammad will bow, the Pope will bow, the President will bow, Oprah Winfrey will bow, every religious leader of all time will bow, Satan will bow! There is only one way to Heaven, and Jesus Christ is the way. There is only one message to preach, it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He alone can save a soul from hell!

III. The Bible says there is only one Mediator.
( I Tim. 2:1-6 ) vs. 5 " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; " One God, one Mediator. Websters dictionary, defines mediator as an intermediary, a " go-between. " In this vs. God emphatically declares there is no other God beside Him. Read ( Isaiah 42:8, 43:10-11, 44:6-8, 45:5, 18, 21-22 ) All of these verses in Isaiah declare that God is the Lord, there is none other. No other God but Him. He is God, He reveals Himself to us in three persons, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Trinity, they are co-equal, co-existent. Jesus is the only begotten Son, and He is the mediator, the bridge that spans the tide of sin, to bring us to the Father. How did He do that? I Tim.2:6, " Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." He gave Himself for us! Heb. 9:11-15 says He is the mediator of the New Testament. By His precious blood that He shed on Calvary, He became our Mediator. He's also called our Advocate in I John 2:1-2. When we sin, He pleads our case with the Father. Thank God for our Advocate, we are unworthy of Heaven, but Jesus imputes His righteousness to us, so we can go to Heaven one day as His children. Is there really only one way to Heaven? Let's just take God at His word.

IV. Jesus Christ is Eternal Life. ( John 17:3 )
He is the giver of Eternal Life. Eternal life results in a true knowledge of both the Son and the Father. Many want eternal life today, they follow their religion, they will even kill people in the name of their religion thinking they have a ticket to paradise. They believe through works, they will eventually get there. They all deny that Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life. What does the Bible say? ( John 5:39-40 ) To deny the Son is to deny the Father. ( I John 2:22-25 ) There is no life without Jesus. There is no salvation from sin and hell without accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour. He is God. ( John 14:9-11 ) Do you want to go to Heaven on day? Do you want to be forgiven of all your sins, do you want Eternal life? Then come to Jesus Christ now. ( I John 5:10-12 ) Do you have the Son? Believe on Him right now and you will have eternal life. ( I John 5:13 ) Come to Christ today.
Amen.

Bro. Taylor