God Yes, But Why Jesus? Part 2 #1

Under its force is growing day by day force is political when it comes to the Christian faith. It's out in full strength today to witness for Christ at a time when people tolerate everything but the truth, and even deny that truth exists, the Moody Church in Chicago this morning with Dr. Sir teaching helps us make it across the finish line.

Esther loser these days people like having their own true so sharing the gospel as truth can be an uphill battle. It really can Dave but what we need to do is to help people to understand and basic logic. You know the idea that I have my own truth and you have yours. That doesn't work very well when you walk into a bank. You say to the teller now. My truth says I have $10,000 in my account does the teller say oh that's fine, but my truth says that you actually have $10.

The simple fact is we don't apply that kind of logic that you've talked about in the general living experience that all of us have so we need to proclaim Christ and help them to understand logic more of that in just a moment, but I've written a book entitled managing your emotions. God's good gifts gone wrong. You know were living in a day and age where people think that you need feelings of love, love can sometimes lead us astray. And we have to be aware of that.

These are the kinds of issues I discussed.

Now I discussed many topics can actually but all of them point toward hope and point you toward the Scriptures for a gift of any amount.

This book can be yours.

Go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and Ellis go to the pulpit of Moody church were once again we defend Christ as the only way to the father word today is tolerance what you think of that word tolerance but there's a good sense in which the word is used. We believe in legal tolerance legal tolerance means that people can believe whatever they want to, religiously or not believe it all and they have and we would stand up for that kind of tolerance but there's another kind of tolerance that is making the rounds and that is politically correct tolerance.

I read a few weeks ago that there was a university in which students were lined up freshman students and they were asked if you believe in pro-life.

If so, step across the line you disagree with the radical homosexual agenda. Step across the line and the students were basically told you have to understand that here at the University. If you have a different belief like that you keep it to yourself and I'm adding this now because there seem to be some people who find a new right in the constitution and the new right is that they should never ever have to hear anything with which they agree and so there's this politically correct tolerance.

Then there's even a kind of tolerance. Beyond that, it is called quote positive tolerance positive tolerance is that we should joyfully affirm those with whom we disagree so that even though we have our own private opinions and usually those are evangelical opinions. They are our private prejudices. Notice that word when people have back then were told that what you have to do is to affirm those who are not a part of your prejudice and joyfully affirm those who believe in the things with which you disagree and in the midst of this, we get to minister and to witness and to serve and to explain the gospel one day to be alive one day to be alive is not wonderful that God would let us wait for centuries for us to be born so that we can spread the gospel in this era and under these conditions you university students.

You are some of the most fortunate almost use the word lucky, but I I'm not into that like that but you are some of the most fortunate students just to think you're living in an era and a day in which you might get kicked out for witnessing for Christ. That is absolutely great, wonderful time to be alive were going to be turning to the Scriptures in a moment, but I need to say that the climate in which we do so is there are those who disagree with the Scriptures like you have these Jesus seminar in California were a group of scholars get together and they decide what Jesus said and what he didn't say some of you might be intimidated because let me be very clear. We have nothing to fear. Years ago there was a painting by Vernon Jones which was to be taken care of very very well and have a specific kind of solvent and I guess the memo didn't get through and they used the wrong solvent and they ruined it all and it turned out simply a can. Perhaps I told you that story and reminded you that there are people today who want to take the rich hues of the New Testament. The beautiful portrait of Jesus and they want to condense it into nothing but a dull gray at all costs.

They want to make Jesus into a mere man what you know it's not based on any manuscript evidence now knows some new archaeological find just personal hunches and a welter of contradictions based on the fact that he has to be a man and nothing more, nothing to fear from their so-called scholarship and let me tell you I'm preaching this message, it's the second actually in a series entitled God yes, but why Jesus and I hope that you are here last week to hear the first message in the series and this is the second just to messages which are really five or six but just to we could also entitle it. Jesus in the pantheon that will become clear in just a moment, let me explain why preaching. First of all because there are some of you who are holding Jesus Christ at arms length. I want to urge you to investigate him carefully this past week. A messianic Jew who was converted to Christ. About six years ago said that there were many Jewish people who use the Holocaust as an excuse to not look carefully into Jesus Christ. Why should I consider Jesus just look at the Holocaust because they believe that it was done in his name. When, of course, we strongly disagree with that and repudiate any thought of such a connection then there are those disabling. I've been hurt by the church and because I've been hurt by the church. I don't want to investigate the churches.

Jesus, I'm encouraging you today to get beyond that to investigate Jesus and other some of you will maybe already have your mind made up. You think to yourself, you know, there's no way that Jesus could be the only way to God and you're not willing to consider his claims. I'm preaching to you today. Please listen is another reason why get this message and that is I want you as believers to joyfully witness for Christ. And when you meet somebody who says well you know I think Jesus is one way among many you meet somebody who says that I hope will, oh God, how good you been to delete someone in my life who is saying this because I am ready with an answer. I want you to leave your today change for somebody to say that, hoping, praying the Lord.

Send me somebody today believes that Jesus is one way among many place because I want you to know all the truth is on our side.

And yet the mouths of many believers are tied because they think they're going to need somebody like that. They don't know what to say after today. No excuses. That's the agreement that want you to take your Bibles and turn to the 14th chapter of John's Gospel, John chapter 14, I love this passage because you remember Thomas is a little bit confused. He says in verse five of John chapter 14 Thomas is speaking to Jesus.

Jesus says I'm going to prepare a place for you. And when I go all come again and receive you and Thomas is in verse five. Lord we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way he's not sure that he knows or more accurately, he sure that he doesn't know. So I said Jesus, how can we know the way and then Jesus gives one of his famous I am.

Statement seven of which occur in John's Gospel, I am the way it's been that of a divine height of the slave and the month: some father than me. One of the few verses I memorized in German. And whenever I get to it. I like to review what I learned. Some of you thought tons of come to Moody church. I know that some of you are ready to applaud and say it's here, since it Thomas, God bless him, is interested in the question of how we get to the father. The way to the father.

Now maybe I put this earlier at my age. Sometimes I may repeat myself, but if I do it's because God knows that you didn't remember it properly the first time that I quote costs, call Pascal says there are only two saying people in the world, one who loves God with all of his heart because he has found them and the other is one who seeks God with all of his heart because as yet he has found him not want you to know today. There is no question as important as the one have, how do you get to the father. When you're in the rubble of the World Trade Center. There is only one important question and that is how do you get to the father. How do you rest assured that that's your destiny or fear in his space shuttle and it explodes. The only question for you is am I prepared to go to the father do I know the way. That's the only so Thomas is how do we know the way Jesus makes the IM statement. He says I am the way, the way Old Testament readers would've understood that because it says in the Old Testament teach me thy way all Lord you had the experience of being in a town and you ask somebody the way.

Nine times out of 10. What is it that they say I'm new here to I can't believe that there are so many new here to use in the towns where I've been, how wonderful it is to find somebody who says I live here and I know the way. Follow me. Follow me. Jesus is the beginning of the journey.

Here is an alcoholic who does not have to find his own way to God in the sense that he doesn't have to make his own way to God he doesn't have to climb some kind of a ladder and say Lord I want to get to you know the way he is already there. Jesus is the beginning of the journey. Jesus is the end of the journey because he knows the father and because of that we come to him with confidence. There was a guy in a desert and somebody said that tourists said were going to walk with you. But where is the path and the guide said I am the path. Wow, how wonderful to know that you're with somebody knows where he is going not, you're not interested in where you're going, any path will get you there.

And did you know that truth for all of its power has one limitation. There's only one way to be right, but many ways to be wrong. The Bible says that there is a way that seems right onto the a man but the end there is the ways of death. Because believe me, there are many false paths out there and I don't believe that there is been an era in history when there had been as many wrong paths as there are today in this whole business of spirituality can I throw this in an extra cost. People are into spirituality today. What they aren't into his righteousness and holiness. There just into spirituality. I want to be spiritual, but I want to be religious to want to be holy not want to be holy I want to be spiritual, so Jesus Christ said I am the way, secondly he says I am the truth I am the truth. We all know people who have taught us the truth. What we don't know many people are.

We've never met anyone who embodies the truth.

My parents said this is the truth. My parents did not say we are the truth you know when you think about somebody teaching mathematics or chemistry. Maybe their character isn't too important for teaching those disciplines. But what a what a conundrum by there's a word I haven't used for a while.

What an awful experience. It would be to have to put up with somebody who is lecturing on the benefits of purity who his himself is immoral or someone who is talking about the beauty of generosity and yet he is stingy. Jesus had consistency because he is truth that I give you three characteristics of truth. Very quickly I noticed gets a little technical but I know you're going to follow me. First of all truth has universality. It is universality 2+2 is equal before you say that's a Western idea. When you get out to the east and Eastern religions. What you discover that 2+2 isn't four, oh yes it is for you know when you meet somebody who says I have this opinion or that opinion you always take off your glasses if you're wearing glasses and you always smile. Remember always to smile and use. Tell them this, you are entitled to your own opinion but you're not entitled to your own truth. If you come across some truth it applies to me as well.

I am the way the truth and the life. If Jesus is the truth it applies in Japan and Morocco and India and all over the world. It has universality.

Secondly, it has consistency. It's not possible to believe a contradiction Mormonism and Christianity logically may both be wrong but logically they cannot both be right because they contradict one another. If all the religions of the world were equally true, they would all be equally false because they contradict each other at every important point years ago I was into Buddhist temples here in Chicago Buddhist priest told us that in Buddhism there is no God.

We said well when you come to pray who are you talking to and he said were talking to ourselves because there is no God want you to know today that the religions of the world disagree that fundamental issues, it is consistency only Alice in Wonderland could believe as many as what was it six contradictions before breakfast I would say if you can believe to be for lunch you need more help than were set up to give you. Nobody can believe a contradiction I had a professor who used to say that a contradiction is a Charlie horse between the nobody truth has universality, consistency in his objectivity. It exists outside of us. It's out there outside of ICC units to be discovered. You can't say what would we say to an astronomer who said well you know you know I believe that I have to look within to see whether there are stars without like our postmodern say oh you know truth resides with me. I have a friend who teaches in a secular school, and because he teaches comparative religions is able to dialogue with students about Christ, and he said to one student. What would you say to Jesus. If at the end of time you would be judged by him. Now listen to his answer. It is thoroughly postmodern. He said I would tell him that he has no authority over me because I didn't believe in him. Now think that through what he saying is, is that if I don't if I don't believe in you in rests with me since I didn't believe in you. You have no authority over name Jesus would say oh yeah, or something like that. Oh yeah truth has objectivity.

It doesn't matter whether you believe it doesn't matter whether or not an astronomer believes a particular*is there the issue is whether or not it is there truth has objectivity. Jesus said I am the truth. While want you to know today that Satan's whole kingdom is based on lies. Jesus is based on the truth, and then he says the life physical life gas standing at the tomb of Lazarus, he gave one of his great I am, as I am the resurrection and the life he was able to breathe a life into a dead body, but spiritual life eternal life. Undoubtedly takes prominence in this phrase I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. It's life to the max. It's life to the max. It's life with that is free of guilt is a life that is able to take care of regrets because of forgiveness. It is a life that is connected with God it is that abundant life in Jesus that I am also the life without that way there is no going without that truth there is no knowing and without that life there is no living for many people say what you were living in life you knew what you are doing and if they understood it, and if they see the long-term consequences they should know right will that actually they are living at home or living it down because the end thereof are the ways of death. I am the way, I am the truth I am the life. And then Jesus makes this astounding state. He says no man, no man would say wow this doesn't apply. When I was at the Parliament of world religions that I told you about in the last message there people are said well you know Jesus is for the West. When you get to the east it's Krishna when you get to who knows where it somebody else. No no no no no man comes to the father but by me. And there are reasons why no man can get to the father except by Christ there's nobody else out there who meets the father's qualifications. And then Jesus continues to astound us verse seven if you really knew me you would know my father as well.

From now on you know him and have seen a my what Philip says Philip says, Lord, show us the father and it's enough for us to show us the father and will be satisfied equally." Augustine O Lord, it is said that no man can see the live may I die that I might behold by phase, let me see the father and then Jesus makes a statement that should cause a shipper to go down our spines if we are aware and fully conscious, he says, have I been so long time with you Philip. Anyone who has seen me has seen the father was God who came to that Jewish peasant home. It was God who was tempted in the desert. It was God who died on the cross, even if seen, may have seen the father. Now what are you going to do with this Jesus, I say to you skeptics. What are you going to do with this Jesus.

Nobody has made claims like this.

They are beyond belief.

Look at Hitler, he made some astounding claims about the Third Reich that would last a thousand years only lasted 12 nobody predicted it would last a thousand years and yet Hitler never said I am the resurrection and the life. He who believe in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believe it in me shall never can I say it one more time, I say. Too often, but I got a Savior while, then I think of Landon Lennon said that if if Russia accepts communism will be brand on every table. But Lennon never had the nerve to say I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me shall never hunger.

He leaves in me shall never thirst.

I think for example of Buddha who claimed enlightenment, but he never said I am the light of the world.

He who fall with me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

My friend, this is Pastor lutes are, unfortunately, we often get to use to the sayings of Jesus's claim.

When we begin to back off and see them in context and think about them.

We are overwhelmed by the fact that he taught our eternal destiny was dependent on our relationship with him is it any wonder that I enjoy preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and never tire of sharing with people the way to the father is through him. I've written a book entitled managing your emotions, wish I had more time to talk about it. It includes emotions such as love, depression, rejection, fear, loneliness, anger, and so forth. It points you toward the Scriptures and helps you to understand that these emotions are really a gift of God, but obviously they can go very wrong. The book is entitled managing your emotions for a gift of any amount. It can be yours.

Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or if you prefer, call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's RTW offer.com or 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us at running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 running to win is all about helping you find God's roadmap for your race of life people except the fact of only one speed of light was only one way to God's claim of Jesus to be the exclusive path eternal life forces.

The decision, do I go with my instincts or do I go with Jesus.

Next time I'm running to win. Don't miss some final thoughts about the unique Jesus. Thanks for listening for Dr. Erwin Luzerne this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the teacher