The Way

The Way
The apostle Paul speaking about Jesus at the Areopagus in Athens said,
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:30,31.
Here the apostle Paul had just told those assembled at the Areopagus about Jesus. That the day is at hand when God calls each individual to repent. That He will one day judge the whole world.
That message may have been new to the Greeks but it was not a new message. In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
The apostle John states,
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.
The simplest definition of sin is falling short of what God wants for your life. Doing things God dose not want you to do.
All of us from the Pope, to pastors, evangelist, teachers, politicians and the average person on the street do things God does not want us to do. Thus we are called to confess our sins to directly to God.
Believers in Christ Jesus believe the apostle Paul when he states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
We cannot get to heaven by good works alone. Getting to heaven is a gift of God. We get to heaven through accepting the grace of God that comes through belief in Christ Jesus.
As Christians we quote and believe, Jesus who said,

"...I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me.”

                                                                        John 14:6.

As Christians we believe we have no right to impose our beliefs on anyone. We simple present what we believe and leave it to the individual to decide.
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.
Thus the choice is yours. Do you believe Jesus is the way to Heaven or not?
Please think about it.

The Way

The Way
The Apostle John states,
“Yet to all who received him, (Jesus)to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
 Christians believe that by accepting Jesus by faith into our lives we have the right to be called children of God.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
Christians believe Jesus is the way to heaven. 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 
Christians do not believe we can live a life holy enough to stand before a holy God.
Christians believe that is why God reached down to mankind offering us eternal life if we’d only have faith in Him, the apostle Paul writing.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Christians believe what the writer of Hebrews said,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
Christians believe the words of the apostle Paul who speaking to the Athenians said,
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17: 30,31.
We believe the words of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
Christians also realize what the apostle John wrote is true when he said,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”  1John 1:9-10.
The question is do you believe this?
Please think about it.

The Way

The Way

“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  
If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 
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.  
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
                                                John 14:5-11.
Hear Jesus makes a statement that makes it clear who he is.
Jesus said,
1/ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  
2/ “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father...”
3/ “I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me”
4/ “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
These are basic beliefs of Christianity. Christians base their faith on the fact that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. God incarnate.
We believe what the apostle Paul said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8
Jesus died for us even though we were sinners separated from Him. As C. S. Lewis puts it,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 
                                           C.S. Lewis
We believe what Simeon said as recorded in the book of Luke.
“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 2:28-32.
Jesus is God’s salvation, for all people. A light to show Gentiles (non-Jews) the way to heaven. And to glorify the People of Israel.
  We Christians believe the apostle Paul who wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                     Ephesians 2:8,9.
It is by the grace of God we get to heaven not our works. Our salvation is an act of 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
  We also believe in what Jesus said when speaking of him self he 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.
We believe God showed his love for each individual by sending His One and Only Son down to earth to save us from our sins.
In doing so he offers all people everywhere the opportunity to enter heaven by simply believing Jesus is The Saviour of man. The one and Only Son of God.
The choice however is up to the individual.
Will you pray and ask Jesus into your heart and life today. Will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
The choice is up to you. It requires nothing more than a simple prayer like this.
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe Jesus is your one and Only Son. That He came to earth to pay the price for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and ask your forgiveness in the name of Jesus.
Please Lord Jesus come into my heart and life right now. Show me your ways and direct my life from this day forward.
                           Amen.
If you truly believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of Man and have prayed that prayer, I would ask that you start praying directly to God and reading the Bible. Ask God to direct you to a good church congregation.
Even if you don’t believe in Jesus I would ask that you at least visit a church and learn more about Jesus. Talk to the pastor of the church and ask him any questions you might have.
An honest pastor will readily answer all the questions you have.
I recommend that you visit a Baptist Church as I have found them to be well balanced, knowledgeable, and firmly rooted in the basics of Christianity.
Please think about it.

The Way

The Way
“If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.”
          Thomas Aquinas
No other person, no other faith in the world has made such a claim as Jesus and His followers.
Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  
  John 14:6.
Even when faced with the wrath of an angry crowd Jesus did not back down on His claim to be God John records.
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 
                                                                                            John 10:24-32.
Jesus even after being beaten, hung on the cross and facing death never backed down. Luke’s Gospel records what happened on when Jesus hung on the cross with two criminals.
Luke tells us,
“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.
Notice Jesus did what only God could do. Promise the man he would be with Him in Paradise.
In John’s Gospel we are told this conversation between Martha and Jesus. John records,
“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.
Jesus made all these statements knowing that to claim to be God or equal to God could have had him killed. In fact it was that very Jewish law that his enemies reminded the Roman governor of and used to have Jesus put to death.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity, wrote of Jesus,
“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.
The apostle Paul Writing to the Romans said,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation”
                                          Romans 5:6-11.
Christians believe that through Jesus, God reached down to mankind and said to man I love you so much I am willing in earthly terms to show you how far I will go to offer you eternal life.
Christians do not believe man can be good enough to stand before Holy God. You cannot work your way to heaven. The Apostle Paul stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9
C. S. Lewis points out,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                        C.S. Lewis.
The fact is, Jesus died for you the reader. Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

The Way

The way

  “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” 
                                                                                                                                                     Psalm 1
Here is a truism people of faith can agree with. A man is blessed who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.
A man is blessed if he delights in the law of the Lord.
Men and women of faith who love God and follow his precepts do the right things. They demonstrate the love of God to all around them.
I firmly believe that such people will be rewarded by God.
The wicked by contrast will eventually be judged by God even if they get away with things in this life.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
   Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Jesus backs this up in this parable.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” 
                                                   Luke 16:19-31.
I know there are many out there who do not believe in God and an after life. What I would ask is, “are you really sure?”
Do you believe Jesus is all He said He was because Jesus did rise from the dead and Jesus gives you a choice. Jesus 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.
Please think about it.

Foolishness or the way to Heaven?

Foolishness or the way to Heaven?
“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.  
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
                                          1 Corinthians 1:18-27.
Christians if you think about it have a peculiar message. We first of all believe that God in the form of His Son Jesus, came into the world He created to reconcile mankind to Himself.
Not only that but he did it the opposite way we as men would think. God did not send a heavenly army into the world to force himself on man. Instead he chose Jesus to be born to parents of low status, common people.
God gave Jesus a ministry that lasted just three years and allowed him to die on a Roman cross.
The story of Jesus does not however end at the grave because Jesus rose from the grave walked on the earth for a short while then ascended up to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father and will one day judge both the living and the dead.
To many in the world today and throughout ages past this does not seem the right way to do things. But God dose not do things mans way.
God wants us to accept Him by Faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“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
Defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                               Hebrews 11:1
Jesus asked Martha a question we all must answer for ourselves,
“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
Please think about it.