A Nugget from New Life Network
Scriptures for the Day (February 23, 2018)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
Jesus said in John 14:6 that He was the way, the truth, and the life. He did not say He was one of the ways. He said He was “THE” way. That means Jesus is the “ONLY” way. There is one road, not many roads.
In John 6:44 Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day”. Did you get that? “NO” man!
We have addressed deception several times in our recent devotionals but it is so prevalent in our world today that we need to be constantly aware that major forces are at work in our very midst (even in the Christian Church) to lead people astray. Doctrines such as Inclusion, Replacement Theology, Works, and attempts to define the God of the Bible as the same God worshipped by Christians, Jews, and Muslims, are all very active in Christian circles. Did you know that?
I was recently conversing with a very good friend about a discussion I had with a Sunday school teacher from a well-known Protestant denominational church. This particular teacher believed one of those deceptive practices. My friend is a born-again Jewish believer and a Pastor who has walked with Jesus for a very long time. The following is his response:
“I don’t think we define who God is. In man’s attempt to understand God we tend to put Him in a box. We don’t get to define Him in our box and then declare that we serve the true God. Having said that I know that there is a hunger in people to find ways to build bridges and that is the motivation behind labels like “Judeo-Christian God” or any other bridge type labeling. God however defined Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus. Ultimately the only one who can define God is God Himself. This is why God Himself defined Jesus as His one and only Son. Jesus in turn defined Himself as the visible expression of God. He said, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30). Any religion, Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, who denies Jesus as the Son of God and the way to salvation, cannot be worshipping the same God”.
My point and my friend’s point is this. Do you know Jesus and does He know you? Do you have a relationship with Him? Have you been born-again? Most of the deceptive doctrines out there are man-made doctrines that try to define God without knowing Jesus. They offer alternative ways to Heaven such as works or martyrdom.
Probably the most profound question Jesus ever asked His disciples was this. Who do people say that I am? There answer was that some say you are John the Baptist, some say Elijah, some say Jeremiah, and some say one of the old prophets. Jesus then asked them who they thought He was. Peter spoke up and said you are the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16).
I really don’t care what political party or religion you belong to. Do you know who Jesus is and does He know you? That is the bottom-line. God looks at your heart and not at your outward appearance or your church membership. You are responsible for you and you alone!!
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Matthew 7:22-24)
