John Chapter 5:18-24

The Bible clearly teaches that there's only one way to heaven, one verse I don't run a whole bunch of her coursers. I am the way the truth and the life. No one knows the father but through me in the verse we just saw you two out of the file you have to honor the son again. I'm just grateful there is that one way whoever believes that it believes and that also whoever hears and believes that's real complicated when he repeated whoever hears and believe Jesus and his love for us set up to be so simple and so straightforward and yet we been pretty busy the last 2000 years, health center is not that guy do more than just hear and believe what Jesus said, welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today. One of the McGee's associate pastors Pastor Dave Brown is with us.

As David teaches in John chapter 5. It is all about Jesus and Bob.

The Bible teaches us is only one way to heaven. But do you have heard people say there's lots of different ways to heaven as long as you are sincere Bob, we can say all kinds of things. What is the word of God say today will find out, let's jump in. As David McGee begins his teaching is all about Jesus last week were talking about the man that was healed at the pool of Bethesda and chapter files and what was going on in his life and we see that the religious establishment got very upset with Jesus about healing this man on the Sabbath. We talked about how they had reduced the Sabbath to a legalistic form of bondage and before we go casting stones at the Jewish people. We need to understand that we have done exactly the same thing in this day and age we have turned what should be a celebration in the healing and being set free in some forms into bondage so let's jump on in here. Verse 18. Therefore the Jews saw all the more to kill them because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his father, making himself equal with God you notice that in the verse 18 making himself equal with God. If you are equal with God doesn't make you that makes you God. Now the Jewish leaders believe that Jesus was claiming to be God. They understood he was saying he was equal with God is right here in the Scriptures, and any misconception that the church deified Jesus hundreds of years after he was here.

It's either it's either woefully ignorant or intentionally dishonest his ear in the Bible we see not just once our disappointment over and over and over again.

Jesus, stating that he was God now either one. He is misleading. People never to he really was and is God and I believe that but that is his claim understand that is his claim he was put to death. He was put on trial because he claimed to be God, and he never said LISTEN you know your bonus whole thing out of proportion. You know I you call me God and worshiping me in and really I'm not in never says that obviously he would have if it would've been true in verse 19. Then Jesus answered and said to them, most assuredly, I say to you, the son can do nothing of himself to what he sees the father did whatever he does, the son also does.

In like manner, Jesus is saying I do the things that bothered does and again Jesus can do the things that the father does what is that make that makes him he has the attributes of deity. He has the descriptions of deity. This passage this morning really hammers. This homes are really talking about whether you believe that or not is up to you now. Hope you believe it certainly is a person that believes in the Bible you need to believe every part of as a Christian you should believe that Jesus is in fact God is if you don't believe that than the foundations of Christianity or are messed up the theological work messed up. You have a decision to make Jesus claim to be God. What you do with that decision. Each one.

Every one of us has the deal with and I believe it. I believe him.

And if you choose not to believe in you need understand there are certain things that you can choose not to believe that does not change it at all. You can choose not to believe in gravity. Let me promise you if you go up to the roof of this building and you jump off of that corner, you're going to experience the laws of gravity, unmannerly believe in him or not you're still going to have at the end of that little experience you have some pain because you chose not to believe in the laws of gravity will you choose not to believe that Jesus is God, there's can be some pain at the in your believe does not make it so ever there was a Christian bumper sticker that I really had a problem with it. If you have it on your car in your cars in the lot is primary been removed from your car sticker said God said it, I believe it, that settles it, that bumper sticker you know why you believe it or not has no bearing at all.senate. That said, that settles it.

Whether someone believes it doesn't believe in the truth is still there. The sun was imitating the father if you will.

Jesus wasn't saying he can't do anything. He was making the choice he was making the choice is a good sign might say why can't do that my father would not be pleased with that site limiting the deity of Jesus and Jesus is a model is wonderful the way we should be behaving receipt Jesus loving people should love people. We see Jesus serving we should be serving. We see Jesus giving we should be giving wish see Jesus praying we should be praying and there shouldn't be in the kingdom of God. There shouldn't be any of this body will do my own thing when you've been ball with the price of you know Jesus as your Savior and there's not a lot of room for doing your own thing that God will lay on your heart what you should have should be doing and NLB much much better than anything you could come up with.

Following his will in verse 20 for the father loves the son and shows him all things that he himself does. And he will show him greater works than these that you may marvel knowing a lot about Jesus. You know he's in the situation. Okay, he's healed the guy they know you feel the guy yielding on the Sabbath Jesus had not broken Levitical law. He had broken rabbinical. Here's the difference a little difficult ball was, according to the law of the Levites, or the word of God is nothing in the Lord God said you could heal somebody on the Sabbath. The rabbis had developed more and more rules and regulations, and laws and some of them were really really silly as some of the stuff that we talked about before that you could wear dentures on the Sabbath, because you would be carrying your teeth and that technically was work before you go wow that's really silly. Wait a minute now we come up with some equally silly stuff. If you have a town here, praise God. Again, I'm glad you have atonement you know and I don't think that you have to have a town in order to approach God.

Amen.

I believe that that's another barrier that we've placed in front of people that okay in order to come, God, you look like this. Got dressed like this to go talk like this and you can walk like this. Now it's here it's an issue, but you understand that people are trying to do this and like places like Haiti, places where they have dirt floors, no electricity, no running water, and they're asking these people that they say it you got have assumed a town in order to come to church so before we go on through rocks at the Jewish leadership. Remember, this stuff is ongoing and I love the fact that Jesus didn't play it safe with it and play safe will set a lot of things he could've said oh you know guys are kind of on the same team just figure out how we can all work together and love one another.

Got a good thing going on. I just got a join up with you guys will just continue this nice not at all what he said now it was more like passengers. You may have noticed he fasten your seatbelt line has been lit and Windsor some turbulent service to be some bumpy ride up ahead, so he does this stuff prepared him and he begins to really really speak the truth in love and got as believers atrociously new and somehow Escamilla scared for some of you better be good for somehow we water Jesus now we water running down into somebody that was very politically correct and sensitive. If you don't believe this just pick up the editorial pages in the newspapers and you'll see Jesus what and never told somebody they were incensed Jesus what it never said somebody's not going to heaven. Jesus would've never told somebody that they were wrong. Wait a minute, where do they get, not from this book from this problem Jesus in this book loves us and loves others enough to tell him when something is wrong when something's not right will.

Here's a radical idea.

I think we ought to look into the Bible and see who Jesus really was then trying to turn Jesus in the something he wasn't trying to say. Well, it was all you know I've heard people say what you are Christian, it's all about get along is all about getting along pretty find that the book you Jesus and Jesus didn't come to bring peace.

I came to bring the vision with the sword.

There was a semisolid Christmas card is probably better but that's what he said because he came to speak the truth in love to our lives because we needed the truth we have to look around and say you know what is you look at churches in the United States. Take a good long look at his is this what he had in mind is what he intended. You know I walk away.

For the most part going. I don't think I don't think so. I think the we need to really see from Scripture who Jesus wasn't and take off our religious glasses and an in stock is to be radical with stop buying into what the religious establishment said Jesus was and let's look at the book and see what the book said Jesus was because you know what here's what happens. They re-create Jesus and then they say okay this is what Jesus really was and some people go to think so not sure I want that Jesus but when they get a picture of who Jesus really was and who Jesus really was like a man on man.

I want a relationship with that Jesus.

We need to get back to a local Jesus and a biblical model for the church will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown and Bob were excited about God's word, going forth and want to pray for some listeners in these cities, Susanville, California.

Talmage Chucky Victorville Westwood Yankee Hill in Yreka, California God. We pray for the people listening in the cities today and the surrounding areas. We pray that they would put their trust and hope in you, that they would be encouraged and how much you love them, Lord, that they would look for other people. You place in their life to share this good news with as well and got that they would get plugged into a Bible teaching Bible believing church. In Jesus name, amen. Hey man, thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 21 is the father raises the dead and gives life to them. Even so the son gives life to me well for the father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the son son gives life to whom he will understandable go read about a few chapters but understand Jesus knew ahead of time. He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead.

Another proof of his deity. He said it, and then he did it and then the fact that the judgment has been given to the son, tragic and ironic that the Jesus people are refusing is Jesus who is going to judge people, I mean imagine if you know it. If you ran in the somebody's car one day and you needed to go to court the next day and then when you got to court you looked at the judge's bench in the man's car that you hear is behind that bit with that be a bad trailer.

What I would be a horrible feeling that's just a small picture of what people are going to experience at the end of their life if they don't accept Jesus as their Savior when they see him sit sitting on the throne, and all so you know when that is. People want to tear up tracks they want to make fun of them if they want to speak evil against to their own tragic in really went about doing those thing. Verse 23 that all should honor the son just as they honor the father he who does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him to understand that again. This verse knocks down the argument about there's many ways to heaven knocks down well because it says here that those who do not honor the son do not honor the father who sent him another words you can approach God from any other place than to honor his son because if you dishonor his son you're dishonoring him and can you imagine can you imagine if you gave your son to die for someone and then was either arrogance or ignorance. They come up negative. You know I appreciate you know your son died for me and stuff but is there another way, I really don't want that way. I like a different way. Can you imagine what it would feel like that's what we do with the Lord who is given us his son to die for our sins and and sometimes some people go. I don't care about the sacrifices you make. I don't care about you done for me. I want to see if there's another way of we go through bitter manometer this way or that way when I am just thankful that there is a way to argue with God that there's only one way or say that laminated narrowminded.

I'm just happy there's a way because I couldn't find a way before I tried my own behavior that would my own goodness see you tell people you know you'll recognize me in heaven because I'll be the one jumping and dancing got made it here.

I would be grateful that there was a way we should be under God the father and honor God the son.

Verse 24 most assuredly, I say to you to he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come in the judgment, but is passed from death into life again. The way it is laid out to pass from death to life. The way is laid out to get in heaven. The way is laid out to have access to the father. Life lesson is the Bible clearly teaches that there's only one way to heaven clearly teaches there's only one way to heaven, one verse at a whole bunch of verses coursers. I am the way the truth and the life. No one goes a father but through me in the verse we just saw you into a lot of the file you have to honor the son again.

I'm just grateful.

There is not one way, not in arrogance or ignorance or say well-wishers another way, there's another way that I would go that way to do that whoever believes believes and that also whoever hears and believes that's real complicated will be repeated. Whoever hears and believe Jesus and his love for us that it to be so simple and so straightforward and yet we been pretty busy the last 2000 years trying to complicated subject is not that you do more than just hear and believe what Jesus said that we can be passed from death to life. If we do this, and again look at the power that is being ascribed to Jesus. Jesus is there's a passage in Isaiah chapter 9 verse six and it's interesting because this one's on that they edited out when they do Christmas cards were interestingly enough, they take one part of it out. Isaiah chapter 9 verse six is for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace.

We recognize that the wonderful counselor in the sun being given is Jesus. What about the mighty God part. Evidently it's talking about Jesus as well, but I love this here back to your belief. How simple can it get so grateful for this and I'm so grateful that you know when I decided to be a Christian. So I didn't okay well this is section a part one section a and if you look down to. Here's a list of the do's and don'ts, and if you can do all those for long enough, then we might let yet but looking at you, probably not. You know I'm so grateful that it was here and believe what happens is Christians when they're supposed to be spreading the good news are spreading thought mouse, that's not the and paint all these rules and these regulations need to do this and you gotta do that if you do this that the other you do that, long enough and urine tragic. That's a good news is good news to me.

The good news is, even though you and I are sinners.

Even though we fall far short of the glory of God. Even though we don't deserve heaven if we will hear and we will believe we passed from death to life. Thank you Lord. I mean, how awesome is that now, how are people supposed to hear. Says here how this verse to hear. Romans 1014 says but how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him and how can they believe in him if they've never heard about him and how can they hear about him unless someone tells them they may be going well. We live in the South most people of hurt you but what have they heard what have they hurt and they heard the gospel and they heard the good news they heard that it will quit. You know smoking and chewing. What is it, don't smoke, don't you don't go, the girls would do whatever you quit doing all those things then you can put an application and I will review it maybe will let you know the exclusive club of Christianity. That's what most people here and proof of this is doing an obscene exit polls, not in this state of people come in our church and I go, hey you think you're going to have a new venture why you think you're going to have because I'm basically a good person is not the gospel. The gospel says they are basically bad person. I mean, it starts with the bad news there is none righteous, no not one for we have fallen all fall short of the glory of God. Romans 310, 323 600 goodness, I'm going to heaven because of his goodness because of his goodness and the fact that I've asked him to forgive me of my sins. Not that I am worthy. Not that deserve.

He loves me so much of what you guys this is so people would hear and that's what we gotta be about. We gotta be telling people that's why the that's why were involved with the radio as well were involved with all the teachings up on the Internet so that people could hear.

I was amazed when I read a statistic that said 47% of the people that listen to Christian radio. Are unbelievers and I remember being an unbeliever flick around the doll specially real related like a playground all got Bridget was list so when I heard that statistically is no Romans 1014 notice something, but how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him, how can they believe in him. If they have not heard about him and how can they hear about him unless someone tells him. Now what is the main object of this verse way that say it out loud about.

I am actually guys are awake or not there is espresso in the coffin Catholic. It's about Jesus in life is all about Jesus. One of the ways to really cut to the quick.

When you're trying to talk to someone about the Lord is. It's just simply say what you think about Jesus, who do you say Jesus is and you can cut to the chase, because as I was a good man about believe he was God or whatever there notion is but it's all about Jesus. That's what were all about here in God so love the world, every person everyone of us. God so loved the world, not just us just if you're here this morning. Love the world talk about include everybody.

Nobody is excluded from estate God so loved the world, it's available.

Everybody Jesus Jesus all hope when he talked to people for everybody.

He saw hope for the tax collectors for the Jews for the Samaritans blew the money, ask for the woman at the well, none of these were outside his ability to say Peter's betraying denial was not beyond his ability to handle forgive the thief on the cross to present a difficulty be on his ability to forget that amazing all these people in the eyes of Jesus were not without hope, and hope they had hope.

Jesus never saw anybody that was beyond his ability to save friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness.

Those who were sick, not the righteous to congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of David McGee. That sounds good Pastor day and again.

It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our life for 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on a lifestream link. There you will experience a live service from David's home church.

The bridge North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of John