Appointed To Bear Fruit: A 90 Day JourneySample

Jesus Is the Only Solution

God created us to live eternally with Him in deep fellowship so that we might know Him and His will. But sin ruined all of that. It separated us from God, threw us into confusion, and brought death. On this evening, the disciples were facing a similar situation. They were about to be separated from Christ. Their hearts were distressed because they wanted to be with Him. This was a great problem for them. In fact, it is the problem. We have tried in various ways to overcome this problem, but nothing works. Sin has alienated us from God. Because of sin, we no longer know Him and what His will is. Instead, death reigns over us. 

Jesus, however, provides us the way out of this dilemma. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” What an astounding statement! Jesus tells His disciples that our alienation with God is solved because He is the Way to God. We can know God because Jesus is the Truth incarnate. Death has been defeated, because Jesus is the Life for all who believe. Only Jesus can solve our greatest problem. No person or philosophy can ever solve even part of the problem. Jesus completely solved it when He paid the debt for our sin. As we reflect on this, we should grow in certainty that the gospel must be proclaimed to all since only Jesus is the answer to the problem.

Some people might react negatively to Jesus,’ claim saying that He is arrogant. Other religions also claim to offer a way to God. We can confuse respect for other religions with whether or not their teaching is true. Any religion that doesn’t solve our biggest problem is not worthy of being followed. In the end, everyone will be confronted by Jesus’ claim and must wrestle with the question: Is He the only way to the Father? Other religions have their opinions of Jesus. Many respect Him. Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet. Hindus view Jesus as a wise and holy teacher. Even Atheists, who deny that God exists, say they still admire Jesus’ ethical teachings. But, Jesus is different from all other religious leaders. 

Other religious leaders offer us a set of rules, a mystical experience, or special knowledge that is supposed to change our lives. Jesus did not give us new things to do. He gave us Himself. Knowledge and rules are not the way to God. Only through Christ’s death and resurrection is the door to heaven open to us. Jesus solved our problem. Do you believe that? Sin was defeated, because of what Jesus did for us. We have been set free from the crushing debt that has enslaved us. Now we can enjoy our fellowship with God again, because God did what no one else could do—He paid our debt.

In light of this reality, we should give ourselves fully to the work of the gospel. There is no other hope for our family, friends, and acquaintances. They can only find eternal life through Christ. The saddest reality is that the door of heaven is open, but people have yet to hear about God’s redemption for them. That’s why God is sending us into the broken and dying world with this message. 

Application:  Who do you need to share the gospel with today?