Jesus Christ: The Only Way to God
Summary
In today's message, I emphasized the centrality of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith. There is no other way to God except through Him, despite the many philosophies and religions that claim otherwise. The Christian message is not about a set of teachings or cultural values but about the person of Jesus Christ Himself. This is a truth that the apostolic preaching consistently upheld, and it remains the cornerstone of our faith today. The Apostle Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost serves as a model for us, focusing not on the socio-political issues of the time but on the person and work of Christ.
The essence of Christianity is found in the person of Jesus, chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be our Savior. This divine plan was revealed progressively through the Old Testament, with prophecies pointing to the coming Messiah. Jesus, born of a virgin, lived a life of perfect obedience, fulfilling the law on our behalf. He faced and defeated the devil, sin, and death, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His resurrection is the divine affirmation of His identity as the Son of God and the assurance of our salvation.
Jesus is not only our Savior but also our living intercessor. He is seated at the right hand of God, continually advocating for us. This living relationship with Christ enables us to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Through Him, we have access to God in prayer, especially in times of need and distress. Believing in Jesus means standing on a foundation that will never be shaken, ensuring that we will never be confounded.
Key Takeaways:
- The exclusivity of Christ as the only way to God is a foundational truth of Christianity. Despite the popularity of pluralistic views, the apostolic preaching and the entire biblical narrative affirm that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. [22:17]
- The Christian message is centered on the person of Jesus, not merely His teachings or moral principles. It is about what God has done through Christ, His life, death, and resurrection, which is the essence of the gospel. [26:52]
- Jesus was chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be our Savior. This divine plan was revealed through the Old Testament prophecies, pointing to the coming Messiah who would deliver humanity from sin and death. [29:10]
- The resurrection of Jesus is the divine affirmation of His identity as the Son of God and the assurance of our salvation. It signifies His victory over death and the grave, providing us with hope and confidence in eternal life. [51:50]
- Jesus is our living intercessor, seated at the right hand of God, continually advocating for us. This relationship enables us to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God and assures us of His presence and help in times of need. [53:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [21:17] - The Only Way to God
- [22:32] - Centrality of Christ
- [23:34] - Misrepresentation of the Gospel
- [24:40] - Peter's Sermon on Pentecost
- [27:19] - The Chosen Cornerstone
- [29:10] - God's Eternal Plan
- [30:12] - Old Testament Prophecies
- [33:25] - The Coming Messiah
- [36:22] - The Preciousness of Christ
- [39:32] - Jesus: Son of God and Son of Man
- [41:37] - The Gospel in a Nutshell
- [44:05] - Jesus' Perfect Obedience
- [46:24] - Victory Over Sin and Death
- [49:37] - The Significance of the Cross
- [52:17] - The Hope of Resurrection
- [53:22] - Jesus, Our Living Intercessor
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 2:14-36 (Peter's Sermon on the Day of Pentecost)
2. Isaiah 28:16
3. 1 Peter 2:4-6
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Observation Questions:
1. In Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost, what central message does he convey about Jesus Christ? How does this align with the sermon's emphasis on the centrality of Christ? [24:40]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus being described as the "Chief Cornerstone" in Isaiah 28:16? [40:34]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Old Testament prophecies in revealing God's plan for Jesus as the Messiah? [30:12]
4. What does the sermon say about Jesus' role as our living intercessor, and how is this supported by 1 Peter 2:4-6? [53:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon emphasizes that the Christian message is centered on the person of Jesus, not just His teachings. Why is it important to focus on Jesus Himself rather than just His moral teachings? [26:52]
2. How does the concept of Jesus as the "Chief Cornerstone" challenge or affirm your understanding of the foundation of the Christian faith? [40:34]
3. The sermon mentions that Jesus was chosen by God before the foundation of the world. How does this idea of divine foreknowledge and planning impact your view of God's sovereignty and purpose? [29:10]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' resurrection is a divine affirmation of His identity and the assurance of our salvation? [51:50]
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Application Questions:
1. The sermon stresses the exclusivity of Christ as the only way to God. How do you navigate conversations with friends or family who hold pluralistic views about salvation? [22:17]
2. Reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. How central is He in your daily life and decisions? What steps can you take to make Him more central? [22:32]
3. The sermon highlights Jesus as our living intercessor. How can you incorporate this understanding into your prayer life, especially during times of need and distress? [53:22]
4. Consider the role of Old Testament prophecies in your faith journey. How do these prophecies strengthen your belief in Jesus as the Messiah? [30:12]
5. The sermon describes Jesus' perfect obedience and victory over sin and death. How can you draw strength from His example in overcoming personal struggles or temptations? [46:24]
6. How does the assurance of Jesus' resurrection and His victory over death influence your perspective on life and death? [51:50]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel "confounded" or uncertain. How can standing on the foundation of Christ provide clarity and assurance in that area? [54:50]
Devotional
Day 1: The Unwavering Path to God
The exclusivity of Christ as the only way to God is a foundational truth of Christianity. Despite the popularity of pluralistic views, the apostolic preaching and the entire biblical narrative affirm that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. This truth is not merely a doctrinal stance but a profound reality that shapes the Christian life. In a world filled with diverse beliefs and philosophies, the message of Christ stands unique and unchanging. The Apostle Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, emphasized this exclusivity, pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. As believers, embracing this truth means acknowledging that our hope and salvation are anchored solely in Christ. [22:17]
Acts 4:12 (ESV): "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Reflection: In what ways can you reaffirm your commitment to the exclusivity of Christ in your daily interactions and conversations with others?
Day 2: Christ at the Center
The Christian message is centered on the person of Jesus, not merely His teachings or moral principles. It is about what God has done through Christ, His life, death, and resurrection, which is the essence of the gospel. This focus on Jesus Himself rather than just His teachings distinguishes Christianity from other religions and philosophies. The life of Jesus, marked by perfect obedience and sacrificial love, is the foundation upon which the gospel is built. His resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith, providing assurance of our salvation and hope for eternal life. As believers, we are called to keep Christ at the center of our faith, allowing His life and work to shape our understanding and practice of the gospel. [26:52]
Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV): "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."
Reflection: How can you ensure that Christ remains at the center of your faith and daily life, rather than just His teachings or moral principles?
Day 3: God's Eternal Plan Revealed
Jesus was chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be our Savior. This divine plan was revealed through the Old Testament prophecies, pointing to the coming Messiah who would deliver humanity from sin and death. The narrative of the Old Testament is a tapestry of promises and prophecies that find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. From the promise to Abraham to the prophecies of Isaiah, the coming of the Messiah was anticipated and longed for. Jesus' birth, life, and sacrificial death were not random events but the culmination of God's eternal plan for redemption. As believers, understanding this divine orchestration deepens our appreciation for the salvation we have in Christ. [29:10]
1 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV): "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
Reflection: Reflect on a specific Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. How does seeing its fulfillment in Jesus deepen your understanding of God's eternal plan?
Day 4: The Assurance of Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is the divine affirmation of His identity as the Son of God and the assurance of our salvation. It signifies His victory over death and the grave, providing us with hope and confidence in eternal life. The resurrection is not just an event in history but the pivotal moment that confirms the truth of the gospel. It assures us that Jesus is who He claimed to be and that His sacrifice was sufficient for our salvation. This assurance transforms our perspective on life and death, giving us hope that transcends our present circumstances. As believers, the resurrection empowers us to live with confidence and joy, knowing that our future is secure in Christ. [51:50]
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (ESV): "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
Reflection: How does the assurance of Jesus' resurrection influence your perspective on life's challenges and your hope for the future?
Day 5: Our Advocate in Heaven
Jesus is our living intercessor, seated at the right hand of God, continually advocating for us. This relationship enables us to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God and assures us of His presence and help in times of need. The intercessory role of Christ is a profound aspect of His ongoing ministry. As our advocate, He pleads on our behalf, ensuring that we are continually in the Father's favor. This truth provides comfort and strength, especially in moments of weakness and distress. Knowing that Jesus is interceding for us encourages us to approach God with confidence, trusting in His grace and mercy. As believers, we are invited to participate in this divine relationship, offering our lives as spiritual sacrifices to God. [53:22]
Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to rely on Jesus' intercession today, and how can you actively seek His help in that area?
Quotes
There is no other way whereby even the almighty God could have prepared a people for himself and put them on this rock on which they shall never be confounded apart from this same person the Lord Jesus Christ. Very well, it comes to this if we are anxious to become one of these children of God. [00:21:00]
The message is about him the person himself. It is not primarily about his teaching. I'm tired of all this talk about Christianity which doesn't mention Christ. I'm alarmed at all this identification of this message with Western Civilization as opposed to Eastern civilization behind the Iron Curtain. [00:23:31]
What did Peter preach about? Did he preach about the conditions obtaining in the Roman Empire at the time? Not a word of it. Did he preach about the Injustice of the Jews and the land of Palestine being under the Roman domination? Doesn't mention it at all. It was true at the time. [00:25:00]
The work is to make us the people of God so that we shall never be confounded, so that when the world becomes a living hell as it may well become if they let off these idiotic bombs, you and I shall not be surprised nor disappointed nor feel we've lost everything. [00:28:00]
God In His Infinite forn knowledge before he'd ever made the world saw what was going to happen. He made it perfect. He gave men free will. Men had absolute choice at the beginning to do good or evil, absolute free will. God knew that man was going to make the wrong choice. [00:29:15]
God was able to make that promise because he'd already decided before he'd ever created the world that his son was going to do this. There's the first promise. You don't understand prophecy unless you understand that God chose his own son before the world in order to save us. [00:31:01]
He is precious because he's the son of God, the only begotten. How does God form the people through him? He does it like this. He first of all gives him a people. That is why our Lord, you see, at the end of his life offered up his great High Priestly prayer. [00:41:40]
He first of all lived a life of perfect obedience to God and His law. That's what I ask you. God has given his law, and the law is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and all thy mind and all thy strength. [00:44:05]
This precious one, this only begotten Son of God, this second person in the Blessed Holy Trinity who came down and took unto him human nature and was born as a hel his babe in Bethlehem and put into the manger, he's come to do it for me, and he did it. [00:44:47]
He met the devil in single and Mortal Combat more than once, and he defeated and routed him every time without any difficulty at all, tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin. It's a tested Stone. It's a tried Stone. He met the devil and hell with all their malignity. [00:46:24]
God has laid on him the iniquity of us all. By his stripes we are healed. Peter puts it at the end of this chapter, the very chapter we are considering, verse 24, who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness. [00:50:32]
He ever liveth to make intercession for us, and that is why he saves us to the uttermost until everything is perfect and complete. He is our great high priest. He is our Advocate. It is through him alone I can pray to God to whom coming as unto a living Stone. [00:53:22]
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