It is often said that all religions are the same, or that it is insensitive to claim that only one is the true religion. Yet, Jesus says clearly, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” Jesus says this not because He wishes to exclude anyone. In fact, it is His will that all come to repentance and believe in the only one who went to the cross to save us from our sins.
The religious leaders of Christ’s day had a specific religion and He did not hesitate to tell them that it was wrong. It was a religion of self-righteousness. He said, “Ye outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” We cannot come to God relying on what think is impressive about ourselves because “a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.” It is possible to appear righteous outwardly, but “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
We need a much higher righteousness than our own. We need nothing less than God’s only-begotten Son who lived the perfect life for us all. He laid His life down on the cross and then rose again for us all to give us eternal life. He gives us true repentance and faith by His Spirit working in us through His Word. He enables us to overcome temptation, yet, not by our own strength, but by His Word and Spirit. He promises: “This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
- Pastor Wyatt Rosebrock