Jesus: The Only Way to the Father

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is the Only Way to the Father

Jesus declared Himself as the exclusive path to God, making it clear that no one can come to the Father except through Him. This truth is foundational for Christian faith, emphasizing that salvation is not found in good works, religious rituals, or any other means but only through trusting in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament saints looked forward in faith to the promise, while we look back to the fulfillment in Christ. This certainty gives assurance and clarity in a world of many spiritual claims, reminding us that our hope and access to God rest solely in Jesus. [04:39]

John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Reflection: Is there any area of your life where you are tempted to trust in something or someone other than Jesus for your sense of security or hope? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?

Day 2: The Afterlife Before Christ—Paradise and the Place of Torment

Before Jesus’ resurrection, those who died in faith went to a place called paradise or Abraham’s bosom, while those who died in unbelief went to a place of torment, separated by a great gulf. This teaching, illustrated by Jesus in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, shows that faith in God’s promises was always the key, even before Christ’s sacrifice was fully revealed. The reality of these two destinies underscores the seriousness of our choices and the hope that awaited those who trusted God, even when they did not fully understand His plan. [10:19]

Luke 16:22-26 (ESV)
“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the hope of Christ today? How can you share the reality of eternity with them in a loving and compassionate way?

Day 3: Christ’s Descent and the Fulfillment of Redemption

After His death, Jesus descended to the realm of the dead—not as a captive, but as a conqueror—to proclaim victory and deliver the faithful who had awaited Him. He fulfilled what the sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed toward, making a once-for-all atonement and leading the captives in paradise into the presence of God. This act demonstrates the completeness of Christ’s work and the certainty that He alone holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave, offering freedom and life to all who trust in Him. [24:20]

Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV)
“Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.’ (In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus has conquered death and the grave change the way you face your own fears or uncertainties about the future?

Day 4: The Resurrection—Our Hope and Victory

The resurrection of Jesus is the turning point of history, guaranteeing that all who are in Christ will also be raised to new life. Just as Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection, so too will those who belong to Him be raised in victory, with death and the grave ultimately defeated. This hope is not just for the future but transforms how we live now, giving us confidence that our lives and our loved ones who have died in faith are secure in Him, awaiting the final resurrection and the transformation of our bodies. [35:25]

1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 51-55 (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. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ… Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’”

Reflection: When you think about the resurrection, what fears or anxieties about death or the future do you need to bring to Jesus, trusting Him for victory and hope?

Day 5: Living Without Fear—The Grave is No Longer a Prison

Because of Jesus’ victory, believers no longer need to fear death; the grave is now only a passageway, not a prison. The peace that Christ gives in the face of mortality is real and sustaining, even in the most difficult moments. We are called to live in the confidence of His resurrection, knowing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, empowering us to live in victory and hope every day. [50:35]

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV)
“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Reflection: In what ways can you live more boldly and joyfully today, knowing that death has lost its sting and your future is secure in Christ?

Sermon Summary

Tonight, we explored the profound truth that Jesus is the only way to the Father, a truth that not only shapes our understanding of salvation but also clarifies the destiny of those who lived before Christ. We began by considering the question: where did Old Testament believers go when they died, since Christ had not yet come? Scripture uses terms like Sheol, the grave, and even hell to describe the afterlife, but these words encompass more than just a place of torment. In the Old Testament, those who died in faith went to a place called Paradise or Abraham’s bosom, while those who died in unbelief went to a place of torment, separated by a great gulf.

Jesus Himself illustrated this in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, showing that the faithful were comforted in Abraham’s bosom, while the unfaithful suffered. When Jesus died, He descended into this realm—not as a captive, but as a conqueror. He proclaimed Himself to those who had died in faith, revealing that He was the fulfillment of all the promises they had trusted. The sacrifices of the Old Testament—lambs, bulls, and doves—were all pointing to Him, but could only cover sin, not remove it. Only Christ’s sacrifice could truly purge sin and open the way to the Father.

After His resurrection, Jesus led those Old Testament saints out of Paradise and into heaven, demonstrating that He alone is the way to God. The resurrection is the pivotal event that divides the old from the new, and it is the reason we have hope beyond the grave. Now, when believers die, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The grave is no longer a prison, but a passage. For those who die in unbelief, the place of torment remains, awaiting the final judgment.

We also touched on the mystery of God’s sovereignty and human will, affirming that while God knows all, He gives us the freedom to respond to His invitation. The assurance for every believer is that Christ has conquered death, and the same Spirit that raised Him now dwells in us. Therefore, we need not fear death, but can live in the victory Christ has won.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is the exclusive way to the Father, both for those who lived before and after His earthly ministry. The Old Testament saints were saved by faith in God’s promises, which were ultimately fulfilled in Christ, and no one—past, present, or future—comes to the Father except through Him. [04:39]
2. The afterlife before Christ’s resurrection was divided: Paradise (Abraham’s bosom) for the faithful, and a place of torment for the unbelieving, separated by a great gulf. Jesus’ descent into this realm was not to suffer, but to proclaim victory and deliver those who had trusted in God’s promises. [15:27]
3. The sacrifices of the Old Testament could only cover sin temporarily; they pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice of Christ. When Jesus offered Himself, He completed the work of redemption, sat down at the right hand of God, and rendered all other sacrifices obsolete. [20:15]
4. The resurrection of Jesus is the turning point of history. It is the guarantee that all who trust in Him will be raised to eternal life, and it is the reason we can face death without fear. The grave is now a passage, not a prison, for those in Christ. [35:25]
5. God’s sovereignty and human will work together in salvation. While God knows who will respond, He does not force anyone; the invitation is open to all. Our assurance is not in our own understanding, but in the finished work of Christ and the indwelling Spirit who gives us peace, even in the face of death. [42:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:05] - Jesus Is the Only Way
[05:15] - Where Did Old Testament Believers Go?
[07:19] - Sheol, Paradise, and the Lake of Fire
[09:29] - The Rich Man and Lazarus: Jesus’ Illustration
[12:05] - Abraham’s Bosom and the Great Gulf
[14:39] - The Thief on the Cross and Paradise
[16:30] - Faith of Old Testament Saints
[18:14] - Jesus’ Descent: Conqueror, Not Captive
[20:15] - Christ’s Sacrifice Completes Redemption
[23:01] - Jesus Preaches to the Spirits in Prison
[24:20] - Jesus Delivers the Faithful from Paradise
[28:16] - No Second Chances After Death
[29:52] - The Resurrection and the Firstfruits
[35:25] - The Order of Resurrection
[36:17] - Hell Enlarged and the Fate of the Lost
[38:37] - To Be Present with the Lord
[42:30] - God’s Sovereignty and Human Will
[50:35] - Systematic Theology and Assurance
[55:26] - Closing Prayer Requests

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 14:6 (ESV) — > Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

2. Luke 16:19–26 (ESV)
> “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”

3. Hebrews 10:11–14 (ESV)
> And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Observation Questions

According to John 14:6, what does Jesus say about the way to the Father? How does this statement set the foundation for the rest of the discussion?
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16), what are the two different places described after death, and who goes where?
What does Hebrews 10 say about the Old Testament sacrifices compared to the sacrifice of Jesus?
In the sermon, what happened to the Old Testament believers after Jesus’ resurrection?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through me”? How does this apply to people who lived before Jesus came to earth?
The sermon describes a “great gulf” between Paradise (Abraham’s bosom) and the place of torment. What does this separation teach us about the finality of our choices in this life?
The Old Testament sacrifices could only “cover” sin, not remove it. Why is the difference between “covering” and “removing” sin so important for our understanding of salvation?
The resurrection of Jesus is called the “turning point of history” in the sermon. How does Jesus’ resurrection change the way believers view death and the afterlife?

Application Questions

The sermon says, “We don’t need to fear death because the grave is no longer a prison, it’s just a passage.” How does this truth affect the way you think about your own mortality or the loss of loved ones?
Jesus is described as the only way to the Father, both for people before and after His earthly ministry. How does this shape the way you talk to others about faith, especially those who believe there are “many ways” to God?
The story of the rich man and Lazarus shows that our choices in this life have eternal consequences. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to trust Him more fully? What’s holding you back?
The Old Testament saints trusted in God’s promises, even though they didn’t see the full picture. Are there promises of God you struggle to trust right now? How can you take a step of faith this week?
The sermon mentions that God’s invitation is open to all, but He doesn’t force anyone. How do you respond to God’s invitation in your daily life? Are there areas where you need to say “yes” to Him?
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in believers. What difference does this make in your daily struggles, fears, or temptations? Can you think of a specific situation where you need to remember this truth?
The resurrection gives us hope beyond the grave. How can you encourage someone this week who is facing fear, grief, or uncertainty with the hope you have in Christ?

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