Jesus The True Way to Life

Fundamentals of the Christian Faith Series

� 2000 William R. Cunningham
October 8, 2000

We have been discussing Jesus Christ over the past few weeks. We learned who Jesus Christ is, the person of Jesus Christ, and the fact that Jesus is personal to us and not a distant deity. Now I would like to shift our attention on the Way. The Way is how we approach God, which we will discuss in more detail later. Understanding what Jesus taught and how he is the Way will help us to overcome the bondage that is placed on us by the religious organization called church. Let me say right now that I am not talking about the body of Christ when I refer to church here. I am referring to the religious organizations with all of its rules and regulations that are imposed on its subjects, namely you.

Jesus Christ taught us many things in the Bible. Foremost we learn that Jesus is the image of God and that Jesus taught us what he saw of the Father. Therefore, we only need to consider the example of Jesus Christ and the teachings of Christ to govern our own lives. We don't need other restrictions placed on us by anyone in order to be accepted by the Father. In many instances I have come across people that were damaged by the church (I am one of those people). What saved me was simply the pursuit of the truth, which is Jesus Christ. The church organization is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ in many areas, which we will see shortly.

This study therefore concerns itself with the distinction between the way of the church organization and the way of Christ. The church in many, if not most instances operate according to the world system or the world system has in one way or another perpetuated the church. Therefore, what we see in church is not Christ but the world system disguised as godliness. It is all deception from the evil one to keep us from the truth. However, thanks be to God that he freely reveals himself to all those who seek him.

I am careful here because I said that I was damaged goods too. I have overcome the ill feelings and the pain associated with my experiences in church. I do thank God that not all of my experiences in church were bad. As a child I had many good experiences in church that helped me to develop into the person that I am today. However, I aroused the wrath of the religious institution as I got older because I began to operate according to the things I learned in the Bible and I spoke of those things that I learned from the Bible. As I said previously, the church is in opposition to the way of Christ, which is true Christianity.

So Jesus is "fighting" the church because Jesus is "fighting" the world system. The way of Christ is at odds with the way of the world. With that said, let's get on with this study. I do hope that this study will help you to become free from the bondage that may have been placed on you by religion as you discover the way to true life in Christ.

First let's establish the fact that Jesus Christ is the Way. Consider the following scriptures.

John 14:6 through John 14:7 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

Let's discuss this scripture in some detail because it is key to understanding the liberty that we can have in Christ Jesus.

The word "way" in the above scripture means a road and by implication it means "a progress" (the route, act or distance). Figuratively it means a mode or means. Consider the following reference scriptures regarding Jesus being the way.

Jesus is the door or the entry point to the Body of Christ, which implies those who are saved. We again see here that Jesus is the Way to salvation, which is reconciliation to God. Another way of looking at this verse is that of access to the sheepfold (See John 10:1-2). The identity of the thieves appears to be the Pharisees.

Jesus' authority (name) is the only way to salvation. Jesus Christ provided salvation by his death and resurrection and there is no other means by which we can be saved.

Again we see that Jesus is our way to the Father. We can access the Father because we are saved by the redemptive act of Jesus Christ.

The word "truth" means that which is true (the way it really is), verity. Religiously it means that which is true in things pertaining to God and the duty of man. Jesus then is the one whom the truth is summed up and impersonated. We might say that Jesus is the personification of truth. Consider the following scriptures regarding Christ as the truth.

The Greek logos (word) meant something said (including the thought behind it). It referred to a topic or subject of discourse. The phrase "Word of God" expresses the total being of Jesus Christ (a divine expression). It also referred to the divine agent in creation (Psalm 33:6). The Word of God is the means by which God makes himself known, declares his will, and establishes his purpose. The Greek logos was also used by philosophers to mean "reason," the force which structured the universe (caused creation). Therefore, Jesus Christ is seen as the embodiment of the wisdom of God. This incarnation of God dwelt with us on Earth. The Word, which was Jesus Christ, was full of grace and truth.

Again we see that truth comes through Jesus Christ since he was the truth (of God).

Note that there were Jews that believed the claims of Jesus Christ pertaining to his relationship with the Father. They believed him as he told them about that relationship (see John 8:30). To abide in the word of Jesus means to live according to what he said. His teachings are a standard that we use to govern our own lives. If we do abide in his word then we are his disciples. A disciple is a follower or learner to a degree that the thing the disciple learns is actually practiced. Disciples know the truth because they are abiding in the word of Christ, which is the word of God.

This is very important so pay attention to this next statement! Knowing the truth will free you from the bondage placed on you by others, even your church or religious institutions. To Know the truth and actively live according to that truth means that you can reject anything that doesn't come out of that truth. You don't have to concern yourself with the rituals and expectations of your church because you know who your Lord is, namely Jesus Christ.

The word "life" in John 14:6 refers to the vital existence or animation of a being. It can be viewed as the breath or spirit. Jesus is true life (as opposed to mere existence such as plants, which are living organisms). The life here can also refer to eternal life that only comes from God through Christ. Consider the following scriptures that show us more of the life in Christ.

John 14:19 (NKJV) A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

Jesus Christ is our only way to the Father. This means that God has revealed himself to us through Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we know Jesus then we know the Father. Remember that Jesus is the mode or means to God, the truth pertaining to the Father and our relationship to him, and the holder and giver of eternal life, which comes from the Father.

The important thing to see in this one verse (John 14:6) is that your church or other religious organizations cannot save you nor can they get you to the Father. Paul dealt with a situation with the Church at Galatia where there was false teaching being spread by the Judaizers who were teaching the observance of the law and other rituals. The people were being deceived to believe another "gospel." The people knew the truth but turned away because of deception. Consider the following scripture.

So don't turn away from the truth that you know in order to embrace another way. Jesus is the Way, the truth, and the Life and the only way to the Father is through Him.

Dedicate yourself to the way of Christ. Determine right now that you will govern your life according to the word of God and not according to your favorite television evangelist, pastor, church officials, or anyone. You are responsible for governing your life according to the Way of God. You therefore have the responsibility to know the truth, which means that you have to pursue the truth. Join yourself with Christ and abide by His word and you will know the truth and be free. Consider the following verse.

Jesus knows the Father and the Father knows Jesus. Where should we go to get to the Father and therefore true life? We should go to Jesus. So all of you who are working so hard and tired, and carrying a big load should go to Jesus because he will give you rest.

Taking Jesus' yoke upon you simply means to join yourself with him. Bind yourself with him as a wooden yoke would bind two oxen to plow a field. Take that yoke and learn from Jesus (witness how He operates and governs himself). Why? Jesus is gentle (meek) and lowly in heart (humble in spirit). We can understand this to mean that the way of truth is not burdensome as trying to keep the law and the religious codes are. The yoke of Jesus will enable us to live according to God's way (which is personified in Christ) because he helps us carry the load.

Consider the following scripture as I wrap up this discussion.

The word Lord means to be supreme in authority, the controller. Jesus is therefore supreme over all things (especially since all things were created through Him-the Word). Jesus healed (not just physical) all those that were in bondage by the devil. The word "heal" means to restore, cure, or make whole.

What we don't realize is that many times the religious organizations that we look to for life actually binds and oppresses us. The religious organization for the most part operates according to the way of the World (not that all churches operate that way-there are many truly godly churches). How are you in bondage? Consider the following rules that bind you to your religion or church.

1. You must attend church every Sunday

2. You must support your pastor

3. You must give 10% of your income to your local church

4. You must attend Bible study at your church

5. You must or must not wear certain clothes

6. You must or must not listen to certain music

7. You must or must not watch certain movies or television shows

These are only some of the ways that church enslaves people. Why do you give 10% of your income to your local church? It is because you want to be blessed and you were told that you must do it in order to be blessed of God. Besides, not tithing is equivalent to robbing God-so they teach. Going to church is a requirement for Christians because true Christians attend church regularly.

You live your life by following the rules and regulations set down for you by your church. You don't learn to get close to God because you are too busy following the rules and doing the "good works." You are a slave and a very good one yet you still don't know Christ. The problem is that you are made to believe that following the rules means that you do know Christ and that the more you follow the rules of your church (the rules of a man or woman) the more you are accepted by God.

Jesus is the Way not your church! If you want to be accepted by God then simply do what God says over and above what your church says. Mind you that you will be persecuted for your acts of liberty coming from your knowledge of the truth. The religious organization doesn't want you to know the truth because you cannot be bound if you know the truth. You may also infect others with your revelation of the truth if you don't go unchecked by your church or religious organization.

Know that Jesus is the Way-the only Way to the Father and to life. Jesus is our example for governing our lives and interacting with the Father (and each other). Cling to Christ and therefore to God. Be liberated from the bondage of your church or other religious organization or from anyone or thing for that matter. Be free to obey God because you can't obey God if you are trying to please someone or something (your church) else. Jesus is indeed the way to liberty in a life filled with the knowledge that you are really living according to God's word if you don't let your religious institution deceive you and therefore bind you for its own purposes. Amen.