I am the Way, Truth and Life

Q: What does the Bible say about Jesus being the way?

The Bible states that Jesus is the exclusive way to God the Father (John 14:6). According to John 14:6, Jesus declares, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.' This profound statement underscores the belief that Jesus is the sole mediator between God and man, which is a cornerstone of Christian faith. It highlights the absolute necessity of Christ for salvation, emphasizing that only through Him can we access the Father and experience eternal life. In a world filled with confusion about spiritual paths, this truth provides clarity and direction for believers.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of Christ as mediator is true?

The Bible affirms Christ as our mediator, supported by various scriptures (1 Timothy 2:5). The doctrine of Christ as the mediator between God and man is rooted in scripture, particularly in 1 Timothy 2:5, which states, 'For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.' This verse emphasizes that Jesus uniquely fulfills this role, bridging the gap created by sin. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, He provided the means for reconciliation with the Father, making it essential for believers to acknowledge Jesus as their sole intercessor in approaching God.

Q: Why is understanding Jesus as the truth important for Christians?

Understanding Jesus as the truth is crucial because it establishes the foundation for faith and life (John 17:17). Recognizing Jesus as the truth is vital for believers as it provides a solid foundation for their lives. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed, 'Thy word is truth,' affirming that God’s revelation through scripture is absolute and trustworthy. In a world replete with relativism and misinformation, this truth anchors Christians in their faith, guiding their decisions and interactions. By understanding and embracing Jesus as the truth, believers not only cultivate a deeper relationship with Him but also equip themselves to live out the gospel effectively in a turbulent world.

Q: What does Jesus mean when He says He is the life?

When Jesus says He is the life, He refers to both spiritual life in the present and eternal life (John 10:10). In declaring Himself as 'the life,' Jesus is affirming His role as the source of both spiritual and eternal life. In John 10:10, He states, 'I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.' This speaks to the transformative power of Christ, who not only redeems sinners but also revives them spiritually, enabling them to experience a fulfilled and vibrant life through Him. For believers, this truth assures them that their hope of eternal life is secured in Christ, empowering them to live boldly in faith, free from the bondage of sin and death.

Q: Why is it necessary to be born again according to the Bible?

Being born again is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). The necessity of being born again is articulated in John 3:3, where Jesus tells Nicodemus, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' This foundational doctrine underscores the spiritual transformation required for salvation. The new birth, wrought by the Holy Spirit, is pivotal for individuals to truly perceive and experience the fullness of God's kingdom. Believers are called to recognize their need for regeneration and the profound change it brings, illuminating their path to a restored relationship with God and the promise of eternal life.

May it please Almighty God to bless us together this morning as we meditate in His Holy Word. Let's turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 14, and we'll read verse 6. It's a familiar verse, a well-known verse, but a very relevant verse to every one of us.

So the Lord Jesus tells us, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. This was the answer that Jesus gave to Thomas. Thomas had asked him, in perhaps trying to be clever, Lord, we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way? And the Lord came and gave him and the disciples and of course the Church of God this very clear answer and how relevant it is for all of us today. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life.

And it's very interesting that he makes this point when he says, I am. You may remember that very many years ago in the life of Moses, Moses was concerned to know that God's presence would go with him and that it might be known that it was so. And Moses came and in the third chapter of Exodus, we can read in the 11th verse, and Moses said unto God, who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh?

And I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt. And he said, certainly I will be with thee. And this shall be a token unto thee that I have sent thee. When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I am that I am. And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you. Well that was a very wonderful encouragement to Moses and a very clear statement that God indeed was with him. And so here we have in this sixth verse, Jesus said, I am the same Jesus that was referred to to Moses all those years ago.

I am. And then he gloriously tells us. There's three wonderful ways. First of all, I am the way. Secondly, I am the truth. And thirdly, I am the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. So we see, then we have these three statements that each one of us needs to know. that God is our way. That he is the one who is directing and guiding us and teaching us in the right way. I am the way.

And then also to understand that this God is the truth. And we have the truth very clearly set before us in his word to direct us and to encourage us And then also, and the life. It's God that gives life. So this I Am, this great God, gives these three wonderful favours to believers. He leads and directs them in the way that they should go. And he gives them the truth in their heart that they can walk in the light of his countenance and believe the glorious truth that the Word of God contains with regard to the Savior especially, but of course many many other points also. And then finally he is the one that gives spiritual life. So there's three things for us to ponder this morning as to whether this great God, who as Moses heard so clearly, is the I Am. He has spoken to us and shown us the way.

You may say, well, why do we need to know the way? Well, we need to know the way because We're fallen sinners because we've disobeyed the word of God, disobeyed his commands. And we may think, of course, that's a very obvious statement. But many people do not realize that they have disobeyed God, that they have sinned.

They have come short and therefore they need to know that this God is the way, the God who leads them and directs them. And what a blessing it is if he leads you and me in the right way. You know, the epistle to the Hebrews, which is a very wonderful epistle that the Apostle Paul was instructed to write so many years ago, and he walked the experience himself and knew what it meant.

And we're told in the ninth chapter, he speaks about Jesus indeed being the way. And he says, and into the second went the high priest. This is in the tabernacle and also, of course, the temple. It was a temple really he was referring to. And he speaks about the Lord Jesus Christ being the high priest. And he speaks about him being the high priest and being the way that you and I come to God.

Sometimes people seem to forget to realize that there's a vast gulf between us as wretched sinners and a holy God. A holy God, God the Father, who cannot look upon sin. And therefore, how ever can you and I As great sinners come to our God, well, we should be so thankful today for the Lord Jesus Christ. He is indeed the mediator of sinners. And what a mercy He is and what a blessing He is. Well, in this ninth chapter, we read a little about the high priesthood of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And we won't go through it all. It's a lovely chapter to read. Just one or two points.

He says, now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God, but into the second, that's the holy of holies, when the high priest alone, once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people, the Holy Ghost, this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, one as the first tabernacle was yet standing, which was a figure for the time then present in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining unto the conscience and so he goes on we stood only in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation but Christ, 11th verse, but Christ being made an high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and cows, but by his own blood. He entered in once, into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Now, we read that very simply, don't we?

But it is a glorious statement, because without such a grand and glorious truth, you and I today would have no remedy. We could not approach under the Majesty on High our Father in Heaven, but we can come through this great and glorious Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. So just think of this again, as we read, but by his own blood, not animals, by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. What a great truth that is, isn't it?

Eternal redemption. Not something that's going to pass away, because that death of the Saviour was done forever. And so how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Well we should be very thankful for such a truth and we just go on a few more verses because it's so important and so relevant and such glorious truths and so we we read here and for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament that means he stands between us and a holy God he mediates he brings our case to his father his father who cannot look upon sin the Savior presents our case he is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions of that were under the first testament, that's the law of God, that's the first covenant, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Again, what a great blessing that is. Eternal inheritance. We can't obtain it ourselves. It's through what the Saviour has done.

And he tells us, for where a testament is, that means a will. When anybody dies, they leave a testament, a will. For where a testament is, there must also in necessity be the death of the testator. When someone dies, Before they die, a will is not that which is final, because the person might change the will. But here we have therefore the great example of the Saviour. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

For a testament is of force after men are dead, Otherwise it is of no strength at all, while the Tessacher liveth, whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. But when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Well, we could go on, but it's wonderful to know that this great and glorious Saviour died upon the cross at Calvary, shed his most precious blood in order to procure that great favour of being the high priest. And he won't have to do it again. It was done once, forever. And you and I today can enter into the holy place through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, I hope that means something to us.

And I hope we may realise that when we come to God and pray to God, that we do have a wonderful mediator, a wonderful intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes our prayers, we might say our sinful prayers, The sin mixed with all we do and come to the Saviour who takes our prayers and presents them to the Father. So what do we say? Jesus said, I am the way. The only way to God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. What does that mean then to you and me?

Does it mean that this Saviour is so precious, so important, so relevant to us today as unworthy, guilty sinners? No ability to come to God because of our sinful condition, but to realise that the Lord Jesus has died. to atone for our sins, to take away our sins. And it's through the shedding of His most precious blood.

You know, we read it, don't we? We speak about it. I wonder how we value it. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sins. What a wonderful truth, what a glorious statement that is. And as you and I stand before God, condemned as a sinner, guilty, unable to approach unto the majesty on high, to realize we have this great and glorious sinner, great and glorious Savior, who is the way. The way. Wonderful, wasn't it?

That Jesus was able to Answer, Thomas, in this very simple and very clear way. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, I am the God, the true God, the one who has redeemed our soul from all our sin, has washed our sins away in the glorious and precious blood of the Saviour. What a mercy, what a blessing.

Because with that evidence, and with that knowledge, by God's grace, sinners that we are, we're able to say, with humble confidence, I'm clean, just God. I'm clean. Not because of what I have done, but because of what my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, has done. So I hope we can indeed truly rejoice in this wonderful Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And just following on that theme for a moment in the 10th chapter, which follows this theme really, we're told, And he says this, wherefore, 15th verse and 10th chapter, wherefore the Holy Ghost, you see the Trinity, we see the Holy Ghost, you see the Father, we see the Son, whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us.

For after that he had said before, this is the covenant, or this is the Testament, that I will make with thee after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Great statement, isn't it? All our sins, what we might in our little minds think about, small sins and big sins, but my friends, sin is sin, and any sin condemns us. And so, we have in their sins and their iniquities, will I remember no more? Now where remission of these is, that means forgiveness of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Can't go without it. It's vital. by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful, that promised.

Well, you can go home and read this chapter as well. The ninth and 10th chapters in Hebrews are very wonderful and soul strengthening to realize what the Savior has done to make that way to our Father, so that by His grace today, amazing as it is, you and I can come boldly unto that throne of grace that we may find help in time of need. Well, Jesus answered Thomas. And he said, I am the way. And what a wonderful blessing it is to know that he is the way. And he is also our mediator. We mentioned about the mediator.

Just to confirm that, we can read that in Timothy, the epistle of Paul to Timothy and the first epistle and the second chapter and the fifth verse. For there is one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all. He paid the price which you and I could not pay, the ransom price. to redeem our souls. He gave himself a ransom for all his people to be testified in due time. Well, it's a word that the Apostle was writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, to confirm to him the greatness of that truth. And so today, what a blessing it is, isn't it? You think of it. You and I, utterly unworthy sinners, Condemned to die. No hope in ourselves.

But by the grace of God, to be able to look out of ourselves to this great and blessed Saviour, the one who mediates for us. He stands between, in garments dyed in blood. So it's He, instead of us, that is seen when we approach to God. Well, what a great and glorious gospel it is. And I hope this morning you and I can really rejoice in it and bless God for it. And worthy sinners, as we are, I am the way. And not only He is the way, but also He is the truth. He is the truth.

The Lord tells us Himself when He prayed to His Father in the 17th chapter, He said, is truth. Again, it's well worth pondering, it's well worth reading the glorious high priestly prayer in the 17th chapter of John. These words speak Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, and then you can read the words of Jesus praying to his father. Well, We must confess it's holy ground to be able to hear and read the words that Jesus spoke to his father and realize the truth of it.

Yes, what a wonderful truth it is. The Lord Jesus says, thy word is truth. Just ponder that. Jesus praying to his father. Jesus making this wonderful statement, thy word is truth. We live in a world today where we have very few things you and I can trust, but we do have God's word. Thy word is truth.

And we can rest our souls upon the truth of God's word. We can rest upon our souls the wonder of it and the glorious truth that it is and be so thankful that God in his amazing love has therefore given us this wonderful, wonderful blessing to be able to come and rejoice in what Christ has done. The Apostle John speaks to us and he tells us in his first epistle, he tells us some great and wonderful truths and also He speaks to us in the first chapter of John. Perhaps we ought to speak about that first in the Gospel of John, which is that very first and wonderful chapter where it commences.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. So we have this great confirmation that the Word was with God. The Lord Jesus Christ was with God. The same was in the beginning with God. No doubt about the holiness of our God.

And he comes down to the 14th verse in this first chapter in the Gospel. And he tells us, and the Word, that means the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Word, And the Word was made flesh, Jesus was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory as if he only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I speak, he that cometh after me, is preferred before me, for he was before me. Well, this fills us in, doesn't it, with the truth of the eternity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word.

What a wonderful truth, then, we have this to encourage us and to strengthen us in the day and age in which we live. Well, it's a great mercy, isn't it, to think that we have such a kind and gracious God. And so, in this 14th chapter, we have this tremendous statement.

I am the way and the truth. as a strengthening word for our souls, to realize that God's word, from Genesis to Revelation, is his truth. And you and I can rely upon it 100%. And we can thank God that you and I today have this word of God in our own language. You know, many people in the past up to really the 14th century never had the word of God and then only in dribs and drabs and yet today it's freely available and I hope we really come to God thankful that we have the Bible to read and that we do read it and not just in a mechanical way We read it because the Spirit of God moves in our heart and produces that desire where we recognize this is the truth of God. Thy word is truth and we can indeed praise God for it.

I am the way, the truth. Well, bless God then that we have this wonderful favour. And, he says, the life. The life. Well, wonderful to ponder that, to think that he is our life. I think that our life is hid with Christ. in God our spiritual life. He it is that has given us life. And again, I wonder if you and I have the evidence that God has given us spiritual life. If he's given us spiritual life, we are spiritually alive forevermore. evermore.

And we can look forward, therefore, to a great and wonderful eternity in singing God is love, in glory with the Saviour, and God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and all the saints of God, What a company that will be. No end. Eternity. Peace, happiness, joy, no sorrow, no sadness, no pain. Peace and love. That's the blessing for those who are given this life. I am. the life. So how relevant it is for you and me today to be able to consider whether we do possess this life.

That means if we are blessed with that new birth, that spiritual life, where Jesus said, didn't he, to Nicodemus, in words of great clarity, earlier in the third chapter of this same gospel, he came, and Jesus said unto him, very, very I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Unless you and I are born again spiritually, we shall never see the kingdom of God. We shall never be with Jesus in eternity. What a needful thing it is then. that we are born again. As Jesus said so clearly, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus couldn't understand it. Most people today can't understand it. But Jesus, in answer to the query, when he said, can a man be born again and enter into his mother's womb? Jesus said, very, very, I say unto thee. And it's good if that's spoken into our hearts. Accept a man be born of water. and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

How vital it is, how important it is. That's why we're told here, I am the life. He it is that gives life. You and I can't produce life ourselves. It's the gift of God. We're told the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. What a wonderful gift that is, isn't it? And what a blessing if you and I, in our little lives, can trace out that we are possessors of this great and glorious gift.

Well, it's a wonderful wonderful favour to understand that God is gracious and God is merciful and God gives us this wonderful evidence that as Jesus said to Nicodemus, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. Nothing less than that. All of us must, must be born again. We must have the evidence of the work of God's Spirit in our heart. We must have that conviction of sin, that we are guilty and helpless before a holy God. And we hear those wonderful words, come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Well, it's a tremendous statement, isn't it, and how relevant and how important it is. I want you just to refer briefly to the Book of Job. You probably think, well, it's a strange thing to turn to the Book of Job, but there's so much instruction in the Book of Job. In the 23rd chapter in the Book of Job, we probably won't have time to go through much of it, but you can go home and this 23rd chapter of the Book of Job has a lot of instruction in it. with regard to the guidance and direction from Almighty God because Job answered and said, and this is what he asked, oh that I knew where I might find him. It's good, isn't it?

If perhaps we'd come there. We have that great question. We want to find God. We want to know that he's our God. So Job says, oh that I knew where I might find him. Perhaps that's our cry today. That I might come even to his seat. And then he tells us, will he plead against me with this great power? No. But he would put strength in me, strength to continue.

He tells us, Then Job tells us the path, he says, Behold, I go forward, but he's not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive him. On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him, he hideth himself on the right hand, and I cannot see him. Backwards, forwards, left, right. But then he comes, and he says, in the 10th verse, But he knoweth the way that I take. And he does for all of us. He knoweth the way that I take. And he comes and says this, when he hath tried me.

What does that mean? That means that our faith, our belief is tested as to whether it's real or not. When he hath tried me, We stood before God. We've been tested with regard to the reality of my religion. When he has tried me, says Job, I shall come forth as gold. We don't have to give up. We press on. Testing time, the reality. of our religion. But it's best, isn't it, to be tested? It's best to have a God-given religion.

We don't want to come to the end of our journey. We come to the doors of heaven, and we're asked for our certificate, the evidence that we're born again. And as ignorance did in the pilgrim's progress, He fumbled to try and find it. He couldn't find it. Well, what a blessing for us today if we have that certificate given by God that we are indeed born again of his Holy Spirit.

And we have the evidence in our own heart that sinner as we are, yet we can claim by the grace of God The wonderful Saviour has shown us the way that He, nonetheless, has died upon that cross at Calvary to take away all our sins. Well, Thomas asked this question, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? And Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Well, may God give us all that grace and that desire to be found coming unto the Savior. Hymn writer says, I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad. We can come to Jesus just as we are. Isn't that wonderful? Unworthy sinner. Jesus receives those who come to him, blessed with God-given faith, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.

I am the Way, Truth and Life

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Jesus being the way?

How do we know the doctrine of Christ as mediator is true?

Why is understanding Jesus as the truth important for Christians?

What does Jesus mean when He says He is the life?

Why is it necessary to be born again according to the Bible?

Sermon Transcript

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I am the Way, Truth and Life

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Jesus being the way?

How do we know the doctrine of Christ as mediator is true?

Why is understanding Jesus as the truth important for Christians?

What does Jesus mean when He says He is the life?

Why is it necessary to be born again according to the Bible?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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