It has been a long time since I last posted an entry to this blog. I have had some life and health issues that occupied my attention. However, it is time to resume posting.

Events of the past years, and especially events of the past few days deserve some comment. I am specifically referring to the murder of nine people by one hate-filled individual. These were not criminals. These were people created in God's image. They were in a Bible study. They were not prepared for someone to come in and start murdering them, not for anything they had done, but simply because they had a different skin color. In this terrorist's mind, this made them less than human.

The Bible teaches that we are all of "one blood" (Acts 17:26). We are all human regardless of skin color, hair color, eye color, eye shape, nose shape, or any of the other various traits by which we divide the human race into "races." There is only one race. The genetic distinctions are minor. The Kingdom of God is not limited to those of pale skin. God does not forbid those of different characteristics from entering His kingdom. God's salvation is for anyone who will repent and believe the gospel. The gathered saints around God's throne will be people who have been redeemed "from every nation and tribe and people and language" (Revelation 7:9).

The hatred that motivated the killer is a poison which not only affects the victims, but those who harbor the hatred in their hearts. It blinds them to the truth. While there may have been individuals who have committed crimes such as rape and murder, these people who were killed were neither rapists nor murderers. He is blind to the fact that his actions are worse, for he shed innocent blood.

It is high time for men and women of honor to repudiate the attitudes and symbols of hatred and oppression.

Conclusion and Response

Conclusion

Jesus followed up on His statement. His disciples did not fully comprehend what He was saying. In their midst was the One who is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the risen one in whom we can find life. We can trust His word for His word is truth. He comforted His disciples, who were anxious about what He was telling them. He told them that He is the way we can not only know God, but through whom we may have access to God. Paul tells us, “Therefore, brothers, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies having been washed with clean water” (Heb 10:19-22 [EMTV]). The exclusive claim of Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life means that there is no way apart from Him by which one may be saved, nothing true contradicts Him, and that only through Him may eternal life be found.

Response

In light of the claim of Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, what will you do? Each of us must decide whether we will humble ourselves and accept what God has said to us in His Word. We can choose in our pride to reject Christ. In doing so, we would reject the only way we have of approaching a holy God. We can humble ourselves and accept that Christ is the truth, or we can persist in thinking that we in our human weakness can become the arbiters of truth. But by doing so, we wander about with no way to tell what is true and what is false. We can look to Christ, the first-fruits of the dead in the hope of being raised or we can go on in a way that will lead to death. Each of us has a choice. Will we, like Frank Sinatra, insist on doing it our own way, or will we repent of our rebellious pride, humble ourselves, and submit to the One who is the way, the truth, and the life? Consider carefully your response. Your eternal destiny depends on how you respond to Christ. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30 [EMTV]). Come to Him. Place your hope and trust in what Christ has done. 

Jesus is the Life

The third part of this “I Am” statement is Jesus saying, “I am the life” (John 14:6 [EMTV]). Just as there is no way apart from Jesus and no ultimate truth apart from Him, there is no life apart from Christ. Jesus said, “For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear His voice and shall come forth–those who have done good, to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to a resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:26-29 [EMTV]). Jesus would lay down His life at Calvary. He would rise again on the first day of the week. Paul wrote, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit indwelling in you” (Rom 8:11 [EMTV]). We find our hope for life, not in the latest medical treatment or so-called miraculous nutritional supplement, but in Christ, the first-fruits of the dead.

Application: When we look at Jesus, we see the very definition of life. We do not need to continually try to describe it. We do not need to look for the latest guru to reveal some profound new teaching to us. What we do know is that in Christ we have redemption. Baptism serves as a sign of our uniting with Christ in His death and resurrection. As He has life, so He will grant to us to live. We may die now, but we have a hope that just as Christ was raised from the dead, so too will we be raised from the dead.

Jesus is the Truth

Jesus is the Truth. Jesus does not merely convey truth to us. He does not just communicate partial truth to us. He does not communicate the opinions of men. He claims to be much more. Hendricksen points out that Jesus is “the very embodiment of the Truth.”¹ John told us that Jesus is the Logos, the Word of God incarnate when he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 [EMTV]). He also said, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 [EMTV]). Hendricksen reminds us, “Jesus is the truth because he is the dependable source of redemptive revelation”² When Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38 [EMTV]), he did not see that the Logos, the Word incarnate was standing right before him.

Application: We can look for truth, but if what we find does not lead us to the Truth, then what we have found is something other than the truth. We can find no ultimate truth apart from Jesus Christ. The Islamic works or the Buddhist middle way are not valid, authentic ways to reach God. Jesus Christ has not only revealed the Father to us, but is the only way in which we can reach God. Any other claim to truth leads into a false path that will lead to destruction.

1Hendricksen, John., p. 268.

2Ibid.

Jesus: The Way

Jesus is the way. He is not “a way” or “telling us about the way,” or pointing us to someone else who can show us the way. No, Jesus claims to be the way. There is a uniqueness to Christ. This is nothing new. In chapter 10, Christ referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd. He also characterized Himself as the door to the sheepfold. He did not say that there were many doors. We can see from the beginning of the Old Testament things which show us that God is not a pluralist.

There was one entrance to the garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve had been expelled, an angel with a flaming sword was stationed at the entrance to guard the way so that they might not be able to get to the tree of life. No matter how hard Adam may have searched, there was no way He and Eve could get back into the garden and have access to the tree of life.

There was one entrance into the Ark. God told Noah to build the Ark and to have a door in it. It is through that door that Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives entered. It was through that door that the animals who were to be preserved entered. It is that door that stood open for anyone who wished to enter the Ark. The Scripture teaches us that God waited patiently to execute His judgment while the Ark was being built.¹ However, those who did not heed the warnings of Noah to enter the Ark, who chose to stay outside, perished. There were not hundreds of little boats going along in the wake of the Ark, nor were there other arks prepared by other people directed by other gods. There was but one Ark, and one entrance into it. The one way in which anyone then could have been saved was to enter into the Ark via the door.

 

There was one entrance into the Tabernacle, and later, into the Temple to get to the most holy place. There were not multiple entrances. by which people could get in. There are many other examples which could be used, but this should illustrate that Jesus did not teach the ideas we have of pluralism and inclusivism, that there are many ways to “get to God.”

Hendricksen says, “This is another of the seven great I AM's of John's Gospel . . . . In the predicate of each of the words way, truth, and life is preceded by the definite article.”² He goes on to say, “Jesus does not merely show the way; he is himself the way. It is true that he teaches the way (Mark 12:14; Luke 20:21), guides us in the way (Luke 1:79), and has dedicated for us a new and living way (Heb. 10:20); but all this is possible only because he is himself the way.”³ Hendricksen also makes a valid point about us being saved by the person of Christ, not some nebulous principle or undefined force. He uses this illustration: “In the school the pupil is educated not primarily by blackboards, books, and maps, but by the teacher who makes use of all these means.”⁴ Jesus did not come to merely teach us about God, but to reveal God to us and to make a way for us to God through Himself. He is our way to God.

We cannot hold on to the thought that there are other, equally valid ways of approaching God. There are many examples that God is not pleased when we try to do things our way. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram give evidence of that. They rebelled against the appointment of the Aaronic priesthood, and they perished. Scripture tells us that “the ground under them split apart. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them” (Num 16:32-33 [ESV]). Jesus is the way, and there is no other.

1See 1 Peter 3:20

2William Hendricksen, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to John, Vol. 2 (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1953), p. 267.

3Ibid.

4Hendricksen, John, p. 267.

An open letter to the Iranian mullahs: Your god is too small.

The situation regarding Pastor Youcef Nadarkhan demonstrates conclusively the bankruptcy of the Muslim religion. If their god has to rely on the power of the state to enforce belief, if their god cannot draw people to himself on the basis of ideas, but people have to be compelled on pain of execution by the "religious" authorities, then their god is too small. If they have to issue fatwas against "infidels" and cajole their followers into pursuing and killing anyone who dares question their authority then their god is too small. If, because of this post, they should now say that I deserve to be killed, then their god is too small. If they do not allow any freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, then their god is too small.


If the Muslims believe that their god is truly the God who is everything they claim with the many names ascribed to Him, then they would acknowledge that God can and will defend His honor. He does not need people to commit murder in His name. He does not need men and women to strap on bombs and blow themselves up in crowds, murdering people indiscriminately. They would not believe that they should teach the hatred of others, teaching, for example, that some descendants of Abraham are "pigs" and "apes" while ignoring that they also claim to be descendants of Abraham (What does that make them one might ask.). They deny that we are all descendants of Adam and Eve through Noah"s family. We were all, in Adam, created in the image and likeness of God. Because we were in Adam, we also bear that image Therefore, none of those descendants can possibly be a "descendant of pigs and apes" because we are all related.


They claim to be submissive to God but they serve a god that bears only superficial resemblance to the God of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the prophets. They claim to believe that Jesus, whom they call Isa is a prophet, but they refuse to believe His words. They have accepted the words of a false prophet instead. How do I know this? Because Paul said that even if an angel from heaven came and preached any other gospel than that which was revealed through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, then let him be accursed. Is the message of Mohammad the same message given through Jesus and the apostles? Judge for yourselves. Read both the Bible and the Koran. Compare them in detail. Tell me that the message of Mohammad is that same gospel spoken of by Paul. You can't because it isn't. Mohammad is a false prophet, and is therefore accursed.

My God is big enough to have taken on the sin of the world, nailing it to the cross in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He conquered death when He arose the third day. He ascended to Heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to be with His church. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. At His name, not the name of the false gods every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father. This will not be optional. They will not be bowing at the name of Mohammad. They will not be bowing down toward a stone. They will bow before the living God. There is only one name by which people must be saved. That name is Jesus.

Instead of murdering yet another follower of God who happens to not accept your form of religion, why not begin a dialogue? Instead of continuing the hatred and the pursuit of violent imposition of your religion, why not finally undertake your own reformation? Instead of continuing to provoke violence, why not seek peace? Why not truly submit to the True God, the one who said that He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one could come to the Father except through Him. That one was not Mohammad, but Jesus. One with a sword can compel conformity to a certain outward standard, but the gospel of Jesus Christ can change the heart. 


This will not be received well by the radical Islamist who might read it. It might generate thoughts of hatred and murder. Some cleric might issue a fatwa against me. If so, then my point will have been proved. Their god is too small. My God is big enough to let me say that I pray that they will give up their hatred and turn to the One True God, that they will find forgiveness for their sins, not in a bomb, but in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. May God grant them ears to hear and eyes to see.

Hungering for the Word?

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:1-3 [World English Bible]).

We have enough babies that have been born in our church recently that we could ask the new parents to give an account of how much their newborn babies crave milk. They are insistent that they be fed. They do not exhibit any sort of patience when it comes to this desire. Their very life depends upon them being fed regularly with milk.

“Growth in any area of human existence is progressive, incremental. This growth, it goes without saying, is dependent on food as nourishment. Having noted the enduring character of the word of God, Peter depicts this 'word' as being the means by which nourishment comes to the Christian.” Expositor's Bible Commentary: Hebrews-Revelation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) p. 313.

“. . . the main point of the imagery—illustrated by the verb 'crave'—is to stress the idea of hunger and focused pursuit. Peter wishes foremost to convey motivation for growth, not to suggest immaturity on the part of the readers (thus Grudem, 94).” Expositor's Bible Commentary: Hebrews-Revelation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) p. 313.

Contrast this with what Paul says in Corinthians: “I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?” (1 Cor 3:2-3 [WEB]). and what the author of Hebrews says: For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby” (Heb 5:12-13 [WEB]).

The craving described by Peter is not the immaturity described by Paul. Peter reminds us that we need God's Word for our survival. Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’” (Matt 4:4 [WEB]).

"if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious"

Peter here challenges his readers and us to not take for granted our salvation. Are we exhibiting evidence that we have indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious? Are we striving to put away all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking? Are we craving the Word of God even as a newborn craves milk? Or are we just content with thinking we have our “get out of hell free” ticket so we can now live the way we want?

Have we tasted that the Lord is gracious or are we avoiding dealing with our sins, excusing them as “not so bad” when in the sight of our Holy God, they are an affront? Have we placed our trust in the blood of Jesus Christ to save us from the wrath to come or are we thinking that because we are not as bad as some people that God will somehow just excuse the sins we practice?

James challenges us saying, “faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26b [WEB]), and Paul tells us, “However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness” (2 Tim 2:19 [WEB]). The Bible does not give us the luxury of taking God for granted. Let us indeed examine ourselves, asking ourselves whether indeed we have “tasted that the Lord is gracious.”