“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” –Jesus, John 14:6
Jesus’ statement seems simple. Straightforward. Clear-cut. Right?
Apparently Dr. Steve McSwain doesn’t think so. In a Huffington Post blog entitled, “Six Things Christians Should Just Stop Saying,” he says that we need to quit saying “Jesus is the only way to heaven.”
“What you are really saying,” he writes, “is, ‘The way we interpret John 14:6 is that Jesus was clearly drawing a line in the sand and telling his hearers and the world: ‘If you do not believe in Me, you won’t go to the Father when you die.'”
The “Spiritual Teacher” and “Thought Leader” McSwain disagrees. “I am one of them, who do not interpret Jesus’ words the same way.” He then offers an alternative explanation that quite frankly I found puzzling, confusing and misguided. He then opines, “So, for me personally, and many other Christians, too, Jesus is no more pointing to himself as the “one-and-only-way” to God than Thomas is expressing in his question concern for Hindus, Muslims or Buddhists and whether they’ll go to heaven?”
Of course, if you believe “that Christians should stop saying the Bible is the Word of God,” which McSwain does, then I guess it’s not too big a leap to say Jesus is not the only way to the Father! (https://thepreachersword.com/2013/03/06/should-christians-quit-saying-the-bible-is-the-word-of-god-2/
If you believe the Bible, there are plenty of other statements that verify this verse.
Jesus is the Way to God
In the prologue to His book John affirms “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then he concludes, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father…” (John 1:1,14). Jesus was and is Deity. He came to in flesh to show us God and to lead us to the Father.
When the apostle Peter preached Jesus, he proclaimed ”for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Jesus is the Way.
Jesus is the Truth
“I am the Truth” seems pretty easy to understand. Jesus said he was the embodiment of truth. The essence of truth. The incarnation of truth. John wrote, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” and that He was “full of grace and truth” (v. 17,14).
At his trial, Jesus told Pilate that he came into the world to “bear witness to the truth.” And then boldly stated, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (Jn 18:37)
To the Jews Jesus announced, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn 8:32). He continued by affirming that he was the one that could make the free! (V. 34).
Jesus is the Truth.
Jesus is the Life
Speaking of Jesus, the Incarnate Word, John wrote, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (Jn 1:4-5)
In a metaphorical way Jesus himself acknowledged that He was the giver and sustainer of spiritual life. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (Jn 6:51)
In Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer He acknowledges his purpose and mission was to give eternal life to those who believed.
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (Jn 17:1-3).
This age of political correctness has influenced churches, preachers and spiritual leaders. I know it’s not popular to preach Jesus. It may offend Jews. Muslims. Hindus. Buddists. Atheists.
However, I take heart in Peter’s words, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Jesus is The Way. The Truth. The Life.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
AMEN, Bro. Ken, sounds like that Dr. Steve McSwain guy is a bit…NO a LOT confused! Thanks for today’s excellent blog, as always! 🙂 love in Him, Julie
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Thanks Julie! I think he and many others today have become so inclusive and PC in their thinking, that they are afraid to exclude or offend anyone
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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My take is that Christians should just stick to what Christ actually told us, and no more. When Billy Graham was asked if good Hindus, Muslims or Buddhists, etc. are going to Heaven, he responded “I don’t know what will happen to them”. The problem is that some Christians apply “human logic” that if you are not saved you thus must be going to Hell. Christ told us the 100% sure bet way to get to Heaven — why don’t we just stick to saying this with no further “human logic” comments?
This topic however brings up a question that I’ve never quite understood. We are told that EVERYBODY will be judged on their actions here on Earth. Why do Christians have to be judged, since we have been forgiven and our name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Doesn’t St. Paul talk about some purification process that us saved must go through before entering Heaven? Can you provide some input?
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Steve, I agree that we should just stick to what Christ said. And I agree that I am not the judge. What happens to “other folks” is in the hands of God. However, when I preach strictly what Jesus said, without even mentioning anyone else, people do get “offended.” Of course, that should not surprise us, because that occured in the books of Acts when the apostled preached Christ. You’ve asked a really good question about all of us being judged “acccording to the deeds done in the body” 2 Cor 5:10. The New Testament letters make it very clear that Christians don’t have their ticket punched to heaven! From Romans to Revelation we are called upon to be be faithful (Rev. 2:10), stedfast (1 Cor 15:58), not to fall away (Heb. 6:6), not to neglect our salvation (Heb. 2:1-3) and not to forsake the Lord and receive punishment as a result (Heb. 10:25-27). In fact, we can have our name taken out of the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 22:19) All of these verses and many, many more speak to the possibilty of a Christian falling from grace. In fact, Paul plainly says some did in Galatia (Gal. 5:4). Jesus warned us not to just give lip service to him, but to actually do what he commands (Matt 7:21). So, Christians ought not to be self-righteous, unkind, or ugly to others. We have plenty to do to remain faithful while “speaking the truth in love” and encouraging others to accept Jesus as the Christ…the way, the truth, the life. I hope these few words on such a great and vast topic provide not only an answer to your question, but food for future thought and devotion. Thanks for reading. And for taking the time to comment.
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Thanks for the great Bible lesson on my question. I think its probably the greatest falacy being taught today that “emotional salvation” (e.g., the initial salvation like at a Billy Graham crusade) will guarantee that your ticket is punched for eternity. What we do on this Earth really does matter. As a possible follow-up, could you give us a daily lesson on what having “a heart like David” means from God’s Word to insure our salvation — since we all sin in some way? Paul talked about the human heart, how he wanted to sin (it is short term gratification on something in our lives).
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If Jesus is not the only way to the Father, and consequently eternal life, then He lied, for He said “no man comes to the Father but by me.” This sounds pretty straightforward and exclusive of any OTHER means of access to God the Father. Christianity is exclusive of any other means of salvation except through Christ, the Lamb of God. Christianity is also inclusive in that anyone can come to God through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The real question becomes one of belief. Do I believe God and His word, or do I prefer to impress my own preferences and ideas over those of God (scripture)? True Christianity requires humility and surrender to God and His will. The one who insists on his own “interpretation” or personal belief system over God’s revealed word is in rebellion against God despite any protestations to the contrary.
Dr. McSwain is typical of many liberal religious “thinkers” who are so impressed with their own interpretation, morality and belief system on whatever theology they are examining that they cannot accept plain and simple truth. They shape Christianity, or any religion, into a belief system that meets their particular desires and expectations. In essence, they are saying that “man is God” and we form our religion and concept of God to suit ourselves.
In my many discussions over the years with such “thinkers” I have come to the conclusion that nothing one can say and no biblical evidence one can present will sway their thinking because “professing themselves to be wise, they have become fools.” –Richard Williams
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Good article. Good discussions. Hallelujah! Amen! Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Thanks for continuing to lift up His Name.
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No!God is the only way to heaven Amen! thank you Jesus
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