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发帖数: 6300 | 1 Jesus Is the Only Way to Heaven Because God Is the Only Way to God
This Easter I had a wonderful experience at New Life Church near Toronto,
Ontario. Pastor Elio and Micki Marrocco allowed me to teach their Good
Friday and Easter services (in addition to training sessions with their core
leaders). I tried to encourage the members of New Life and help them grow
in their confidence related to the controversially exclusive, central claim
of Christianity: Jesus alone is God. While there may be other important,
historic religious leaders, none of them rose from the dead. Jesus is unique
. He alone is God and He alone has the power to forgive sins and grant us
eternal life. In our pluralistic, relativistic culture, an exclusive claim
such as this is likely to start an argument. But Jesus didn’t shrink from
controversy. Read the Gospel of John to see what I mean. Jesus repeatedly
made outrageous claims of Deity, and he made these claims with singular
exclusivity:
John 14:1-6
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In
My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have
told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there
you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to
Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes
to the Father but through Me.”
Some people find this claim of exclusivity offensive. In many ways, it seems
outrageous and arrogant, and it was no less controversial in Jesus’ day.
Why should anyone accept such a claim? How could Jesus even make such a
statement? It’s simple: Jesus is the only way to Heaven because God is the
only way to God.
Think about it for a minute. If you want to visit me at my house, you’ll
need to know me so I can tell you where I live. There are lots of Jim
Wallace’s in California, there may even be a few J. Warner Wallace’s. If
you want to visit my house, you’re going to need to know the right J.
Warner Wallace. I am uniquely qualified to invite you to my house for dinner
. I know where I live and I’m the one who can give you permission to join
me. If a stranger tried to invite you to my house (even a well-intended,
morally virtuous, incredibly wise stranger), I’m afraid you’re not getting
in. You’ll need to know me personally if you want an invitation.
In a similar way, well-intended, morally virtuous, incredibly wise religious
leaders may try to invite you into God’s presence. But don’t be surprised
to find their invitation insufficient. You’ll need to know God personally
if you want to sit at His table. And that’s the important difference about
Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus didn’t claim to be a prophet or religious leader.
His claim was much grander and more controversial. Jesus said He was
inviting us to His house; Jesus claimed to be God. His claims weren’t empty
or unsupported. The New Testament Gospels repeatedly describe Jesus as God
(and they provide evidence of His Deity):
Jesus Was Conceived of a Virgin:
The Virgin Conception Was Described as Evidence of Jesus’ Deity
The “virgin conception” is an essential belief of the authors of Scripture
and the early Church.
The Virgin Conception Was Not Borrowed from Prior Mythologies
There are several problems with the claim the virgin conception was borrowed
from prior pagan mythologies.
Even Mark’s Short Gospel Alludes to the Virgin Conception
The absence of a birth narrative in Mark does not demonstrate the account (
including the virgin conception) is a work of fiction.
Jesus Repeatedly Demonstrated His Deity:
The Deity of Jesus Is A Central Claim of Christianity
The Deity of Christ is a Christian essential. It has been affirmed by
believers based on the eyewitness testimony of those who saw Jesus rise from
the dead.
Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy and Spoke Prophetically
While most of us are familiar with the prophecies Jesus fulfilled, it’s
important for us to acknowledge the prophecies Jesus uttered.
Jesus Didn’t Need to Reveal Scientific Facts to Demonstrate His Deity
Why didn’t Jesus describe something beyond the knowledge of His
contemporaries (i.e. the role of DNA or the nature of the Solar System) as a
prophetic proof?
Jesus Made Statements Demonstrating His Deity:
Jesus’ Circumstantial Statements Demonstrated His Deity
Even if you’re inclined to deny Jesus ever directly said He was God, it’s
unreasonable to argue against this indirect, circumstantial case.
Jesus’ Words Gave Him Away
The prophets spoke for God, But Jesus clearly spoke as God.
Jesus Specifically Said, “I am God”
When Jesus took on God’s holy title as his own, He was stating the modern
equivalent of “I am God”.
Jesus Possessed the Authority of God:
Jesus’ Authority Was Based in His Deity
Jesus’ authority is grounded in His power; a Divine power separating Him
from other wise rabbis. Jesus’ authority was based on His Deity.
The Obvious Deity of Jesus Elicited Worship
From His first days on earth to His last, Jesus was worshiped as God.
The Earliest Writers of Scripture Affirmed Jesus’ Deity
The earliest document evidence we have related to Jesus describes Him as a
miracle worker who claimed to be God and rose from the dead.
Jesus Demonstrated His Deity At the Resurrection:
The Resurrection of Jesus is the Most Reasonable Inference
What are the possible explanations offered for Jesus’ Resurrection? Which
is most reasonable?
Jesus Really Died Before He Rose from the Grave
The experience the disciples had with Jesus was very different than the
experience the disciples had with Paul at the point of his stoning.
The Resurrection Appearances of Jesus Were Evidentially Diverse
The diversity of the Resurrection appearances ought to give us confidence in
their reliability.
The Deity of Jesus is Historically Reliable:
The Historicity and Deity of Jesus is Supported by the Evidence
A helpful brief summary of the cumulative case for the historicity and deity
of Jesus (also available as a free downloadable Bible Insert).
The Story of Jesus Wasn’t Changed Over Time
How do we know the story of Jesus wasn’t corrupted over time? What is the
New Testament “Chain of Custody”?
The Deity of Jesus is Not a Late Legend
The earliest believers, in the earliest chapters of Christian history,
proclaimed Jesus was God.
Jesus is unlike Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Baihau Lau, Joseph Smith or any
other historic religious figure. Only Jesus rose from the grave.
Resurrection Sunday was a unique event in history. It demonstrated the Deity
of Jesus, and established His singular ability to invite us into the house
of God. Jesus is God, and God Himself is inviting us home. He’s already
prepared our rooms. Jesus is the only way to Heaven because God is the only
way to God.
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2015/jesus-is-the-only-way-to-h |
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