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Many Paths, Only One Way
Many Paths, Only One Way
In June of 2006, Warren Buffet announced that he would donate 85% of his
44 billion-dollar fortune to five charitable foundations. In response to questions about his generosity, Buffet said: "There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way." Unfortunately, Mr. Buffett is not the first to presume there are many paths to an eternal reward with our Heavenly Father. However, the Bible is quite clear that there is only one Way.
In John 14:6, while trying to comfort His disciples, Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." That final phrase "through me" is significant. Throughout John's gospel he noted the importance of "through Jesus." The little Greek preposition is sometimes translated with other English words. Still, "through Jesus" is vital because:
- Creation was through Him (1:3, 10, 14).
- Grace and truth came through Him (1:17).
- People believed through (because of) His word (4:41).
- We can believe through (because of) His works (14:11).
- Salvation comes through Him (3:17).
- We can live through (because of) Him (6:57).
- We find protection, salvation, and nutrition through (by) Him (10:1-2, 9)
John was not alone in his teaching the importance of the Way. The New Testament that peace (Acts 10:36), forgiveness (Acts 13:38), salvation (Acts 15:11), righteousness (Rom. 3:22), justification (Rom. 3:24), eternal life (Rom. 5:21), victory (I Cor. 15:57), redemption (Eph. 1:7), acceptance (I Pet. 2:5), and a host of other great blessings come only through Jesus!
There are many paths by which man will claim we can make it to eternal life. Jesus and the inspired writers of the New Testament assure us there is only one Way:" Jesus. We must go through Him. Galatians 3:36-27 and Romans 6:3-4 tell us how to get into Him. Jesus doesn't just show us the way, He is the way! So come to Him, follow Him, and go through Him today!
