Read Jesus' claims about his identity here (John 6:28-59 and Chapter 14).
God's solution to our problem of sin, as revealed to all the Prophets
We all have hopelessly failed to obey God, and God showed us no animal sacrifice or human effort can ever truly cover our sins.
God's love for us is so great that He chose to provide a way to true forgiveness. Many Prophets revealed God's determination to restore this broken relationship and pointed to a future time when the Messiah would come to bring this forgiveness. Centuries later, their prophecies came true when the Messiah came to earth.
Jesus claimed openly he is the Messiah promised by God. He fulfilled all the prophecies about the Messiah told by the ancient Prophets. But what does 'Messiah' mean to us?
Through the Messiah, God provided a way to restore the broken relationship between Himself and all of us. Only the way provided by God is acceptable to God, so this is the only way we can approach God, to have true forgiveness, and to spend eternity in Paradise with God.
The Only Way to the Father
Because we have all sinned and Jesus has not sinned, Jesus is the only one who can act as the mediator between God and people. He is the only way for us to have access to God.
Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus never said “I know the way.” He said, “I AM the way.” God has made it clear that without Jesus, there is no way for any sinner to be near to God.
The broken relationship with God caused by our disobedience required a special solution only God can provide. For this relationship to be restored, there had to be a mediator, someone who is capable to go between God and people to bring them together again. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, is this mediator.
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15)
The Only Way to Forgiveness
Jesus told his followers that he is the Messiah who was told about by the Prophets. He also told them that forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name.
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:44-47)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)
The Apostle Paul, a follower of the Messiah, wrote about this forgiveness. He wrote that the Law and the Prophets spoke of the relationship between God and people being made right (righteousness). Though everyone has sinned, all can be forgiven (justified) through believing in the Messiah God has sent:
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and other people. All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. (Romans 3:22-24)
This forgiveness is available only through Jesus, but is given freely for everyone who believes in him. This is the mercy and glory of God.
The Only Way to Paradise
Jesus also promised to prepare a place for his people in heaven. He promised to return to take his people to be there with him.
"I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (John 6:51)
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)
Jesus also taught that the only way to heaven is through believing in him, the Son of God and promised Messiah, that eternal life is given.
"We have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,... For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." (Hebrews 8:1-9:24)
"Through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20)
This gift of forgiveness and eternal life is freely offered by God. No human could have earned it through our own work. It is guaranteed by God in Scriptures that anyone who believes in Jesus will have the forgiveness of sins, be able to draw near to the Father, and have eternal life with God in heaven.
Your Response: Listen and Pray to God...
1. Have you experienced true forgiveness of your sins from God?
2. Jesus claimed to be the only way to God and to heaven. Do you believe his claims? What will your response be today?
3. Who will you share this message with?