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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.
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.
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