Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part One

We have considered how Jesus is truly The Way to many good things: He is The Way:
To a better life (by correcting misconceptions and teaching us to seek new goals)
To forgiveness of sins (by offering Himself as a propitiation, or sacrifice, for our sins)
To God (by helping us first to comprehend God, then to be able to approach Him in a close,
personal relationship)
Out of religious confusion (through His own example, and by guiding us through His apostles’
doctrine)

In this study, we shall see why we can also say Jesus is The Way To Eternal Life. Please Note: In this study we shall be considering those passages which use the expression "eternal life" as a future hope, which will be realized after this life. In the writings of John, the expression "eternal life" is often used differently, referring to that "abundant life" which stresses a new relationship with God and Jesus, and is a present possession of those who have come to "know" them - see for example Jn 17:3; 1 Jn 5:13,20

First, let’s note several reasons why Jesus is the way to eternal life. He has prepared a place for us as He told His disciples the night before His crucifixion "for I go to prepare a place for you" - Jn 14:2. He will come and receive us to Himself as He told His disciples - Jn 14:2-3 "There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together." As Paul wrote of this wonderful event - 1 Th 4:15-17 "Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever."

He will judge as to who will enter life eternal as depicted in the final judgment scene - Mt 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne.", 41 "Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!" Also described by Paul - 2 Co 5:10 "After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies."

Jesus is what makes eternal life wonderful together with God, who will dwell with men - Re 21:1-4 "I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever." They shall be the "temple" - Re 21:22 "I did not see a temple there. The Lord God All-Powerful and the Lamb were its temple." Jesus will be the "light" - Re 21:23 "And the city did not need the sun or the moon. The glory of God was shining on it, and the Lamb was its light." They shall be a source of "the water of life" - Re 22:1-5 "The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated. Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river are trees that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations. God's curse will no longer be on the people of that city. He and the Lamb will be seated there on their thrones, and its people will worship God and will see him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people. Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule forever."

Jesus makes eternal life what it is, which explains Paul’s aspirations - 2 Co 5:8 "We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord."; Ph 1:23 "It is a hard choice to make. I want to die and be with Christ, because that would be much better." When we understand all this, would there be eternal life without Jesus? Not according to the Bible! Jesus is truly The Way to eternal life! Since Jesus is the way to eternal life, in our next continuing lesson we will consider what Jesus has to say about it...?