The Way of Salvation
The world is very confused about who Jesus is. Ask people on the street and you'll get answers ranging from "a myth created by man" to "just a good teacher" to "everything."
But this morning, we need to be clear at LifeSource: We are not confused about who Jesus is.
Today we're asking: Who is Jesus? And we're looking at it through the lens of His purpose. Jesus is the way of salvation.
But this morning, we need to be clear at LifeSource: We are not confused about who Jesus is.
Today we're asking: Who is Jesus? And we're looking at it through the lens of His purpose. Jesus is the way of salvation.
What's in a Name?
In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They answered with various opinions, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, a prophet. Then Jesus made it personal: "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded, "You are blessed, Simon, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."
Understanding Jesus isn't an intellectual exercise or academic pursuit. It's a spiritual revelation from God Himself.
The name Jesus is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means "Yahweh saves" or "the Lord of salvation." The very purpose for why Jesus was born is revealed in His name.
In Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph: "She shall bear a son and you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." The reason He came was revealed in the name He was given.
Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded, "You are blessed, Simon, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."
Understanding Jesus isn't an intellectual exercise or academic pursuit. It's a spiritual revelation from God Himself.
The name Jesus is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means "Yahweh saves" or "the Lord of salvation." The very purpose for why Jesus was born is revealed in His name.
In Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph: "She shall bear a son and you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." The reason He came was revealed in the name He was given.
God Determined Jesus Was Qualified
Why is Jesus the only way of salvation?
First, He's the only one identified as God's Son. At Jesus's baptism in Matthew 3:16-17, heaven opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and God's voice declared: "This is my son whom I loved. With him I am well pleased." This was God's public declaration, the first time the Trinity was revealed together.
Second, He's the only person to have lived a perfect human life. Hebrews 4:15 says He was "tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin." Jesus understands your struggles, your weakness, your loneliness, your suffering, yet He dealt with it all without any sin.
Third, He's the only sacrifice for sin. First John 2:2 says, "He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only for ours but for those of the whole world." When man fell in Genesis 3, we were separated from God. Jesus became the sacrifice that reconciled us back to a holy God.
Fourth, He's the only mediator between God and man. First Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." You don't need to go through a pastor or priest. Jesus stands between us and God, applying His blood to our sin debt so we're acceptable before the Father.
First, He's the only one identified as God's Son. At Jesus's baptism in Matthew 3:16-17, heaven opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and God's voice declared: "This is my son whom I loved. With him I am well pleased." This was God's public declaration, the first time the Trinity was revealed together.
Second, He's the only person to have lived a perfect human life. Hebrews 4:15 says He was "tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin." Jesus understands your struggles, your weakness, your loneliness, your suffering, yet He dealt with it all without any sin.
Third, He's the only sacrifice for sin. First John 2:2 says, "He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only for ours but for those of the whole world." When man fell in Genesis 3, we were separated from God. Jesus became the sacrifice that reconciled us back to a holy God.
Fourth, He's the only mediator between God and man. First Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." You don't need to go through a pastor or priest. Jesus stands between us and God, applying His blood to our sin debt so we're acceptable before the Father.
Jesus Declared Himself the Only Way
In John 14:6, when Thomas asked how to know the way to God, Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
That's controversial in today's world. How can there be only one way? The culture says all roads lead to heaven as long as they're paved with good deeds. But that's not what Jesus said.
"I am the way. Not a way." It gets very narrow. That's why there's a narrow way that leads to salvation and a wide way that leads to destruction.
Peter confirmed this in Acts 4:12: "There is salvation in no one else. For there is no name under heaven that has been given among men whereby men must be saved."
That's controversial in today's world. How can there be only one way? The culture says all roads lead to heaven as long as they're paved with good deeds. But that's not what Jesus said.
"I am the way. Not a way." It gets very narrow. That's why there's a narrow way that leads to salvation and a wide way that leads to destruction.
Peter confirmed this in Acts 4:12: "There is salvation in no one else. For there is no name under heaven that has been given among men whereby men must be saved."
Why Do We Need a Way?
First, mankind is separated from God by sin. Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." It doesn't matter how good you are, how often you attend church, or how many good deeds you do. That sin nature was inherited from Adam and Eve's fall in Genesis 3.
Second, sin has a cost we cannot pay. Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death." A wage is something you earn. We've all lived under the control of sin, so there's a wage attached; spiritual death, eternity separated from God in hell.
But here's the good news: Jesus paid the price of our sin for us. Romans 6:23 continues: "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus died on the cross to provide forgiveness you couldn't provide on your own.
It's a gift. You can't earn it. If you could earn a gift, it would be a wage. Titus 3:5 says, "He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done, but on the basis of his mercy."
Be careful demanding justice from God. Our justice is death. What Jesus did through mercy and grace was take your place. He made you acceptable when you were not acceptable.
Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you are saved through faith. This is not of yourselves. It is a gift of God. It is not from works so no one can boast." God made it so none of us can brag, we didn't do anything to earn it. He just gave it freely by grace.
Second, sin has a cost we cannot pay. Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death." A wage is something you earn. We've all lived under the control of sin, so there's a wage attached; spiritual death, eternity separated from God in hell.
But here's the good news: Jesus paid the price of our sin for us. Romans 6:23 continues: "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus died on the cross to provide forgiveness you couldn't provide on your own.
It's a gift. You can't earn it. If you could earn a gift, it would be a wage. Titus 3:5 says, "He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done, but on the basis of his mercy."
Be careful demanding justice from God. Our justice is death. What Jesus did through mercy and grace was take your place. He made you acceptable when you were not acceptable.
Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you are saved through faith. This is not of yourselves. It is a gift of God. It is not from works so no one can boast." God made it so none of us can brag, we didn't do anything to earn it. He just gave it freely by grace.
How Do We Receive It?
First, confess and repent of sin. First John 1:9: "But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness."
Confess means to agree with God, acknowledging you're lost in sin and need a Savior. Repent means to think differently, to change your mind about your sin and see it the way God sees it.
Second, believe in Jesus. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and three days later arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Third, accept Jesus's death on the cross for the forgiveness of your sin. Stop defending, rationalizing, or intellectualizing your sin. Come to honest awareness: "God, I need you. I'm a mess. The only way I'll have relationship with you is because of what Jesus did on the cross for me."
First John 5:11-13: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He who has the son has the life. He who does not have the son does not have the life."
Confess means to agree with God, acknowledging you're lost in sin and need a Savior. Repent means to think differently, to change your mind about your sin and see it the way God sees it.
Second, believe in Jesus. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and three days later arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Third, accept Jesus's death on the cross for the forgiveness of your sin. Stop defending, rationalizing, or intellectualizing your sin. Come to honest awareness: "God, I need you. I'm a mess. The only way I'll have relationship with you is because of what Jesus did on the cross for me."
First John 5:11-13: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He who has the son has the life. He who does not have the son does not have the life."
The Most Important Decision
You can be called many things, but the most important is to be identified as God's children, loved unconditionally, with God actively involved in your life.
Maybe today you're truly understanding for the first time what it means to be lost because of sin. Maybe the light bulbs are coming on and you're realizing Jesus died on the cross for you. He has a life for you. He wants better for you than what you've experienced.
Today would be a great day to start a brand new life in Jesus. It's simple. Come to God saying: "Thank you for sending your son. Thank you for dying on the cross. Thank you for providing the way of salvation. Right now today, I ask you to come into my life. Forgive me of my sin."
God loves you more than you can imagine. He demonstrated it when He sent His son to die on a cross while we were still enemies, lost in our sin.
That's why it's by mercy. That's why it's by grace. And that's why it's only by Jesus.
Maybe today you're truly understanding for the first time what it means to be lost because of sin. Maybe the light bulbs are coming on and you're realizing Jesus died on the cross for you. He has a life for you. He wants better for you than what you've experienced.
Today would be a great day to start a brand new life in Jesus. It's simple. Come to God saying: "Thank you for sending your son. Thank you for dying on the cross. Thank you for providing the way of salvation. Right now today, I ask you to come into my life. Forgive me of my sin."
God loves you more than you can imagine. He demonstrated it when He sent His son to die on a cross while we were still enemies, lost in our sin.
That's why it's by mercy. That's why it's by grace. And that's why it's only by Jesus.