THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Let’s get something real straight first. God is a triune being, including the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God came to this planet, manifested as a man, in the role of the ‘Son’ of God. So, when Jesus spoke those words, He was speaking as God, not as a man. You all know that no man can make such a statement, unless he is totally illusional or drunk or high. Today’s preachers will tell you that there is no other way to heaven than through God’s Son. If the Son could tell His disciples that if they had seen Him, they had seen the Father, we have to believe that God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit are all the same being. I am NOT trying to be a smart-aleck. I am stating truth that cannot be denied. So, if the Son, [a triune being] made such a statement, He was doing so in the role of God: not man.
But since the Holiness Movement petered out over a century ago, Satan has deceived mankind very subtly into believing that Salvation has nothing to do with God. It has everything to do with Jesus Christ. This has created a totally false gospel that assures us that all we have to do is ‘believe in Jesus’ to ‘be saved.’ Or to ‘have faith in Jesus’ or ‘trust in Jesus’ or to ‘accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, ‘ etc etc. Many quote Rom. 10:9 where Paul ‘told us that if we believe God raised Jesus from the dead and confess Jesus as Lord, we are saved.’ This was very obviously one of Paul’s statements that Peter warned us of in his second letter 3:16. However, if we take that statement in context with the rest of what Paul told us, we find this:
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. Rom. 10:9-11.
When we check a reliable concordance, we find that that word, ‘believe’ comes from a Greek word that actually means, to trust, have faith in, with the implication that actions/conduct/works/behavior will follow, to prove that faith or trust.
That puts a whole new meaning on the message. It has nothing to do with some mental assent to some truth. So, all those passages that we hear about believing in Jesus, to be saved, have a far wider implication than a mental assent. Paul covers that to a degree when he told us that it is ‘with the heart’ that we believe and are justified. And we must NEVER grab some isolated verse or two from the bible and create some doctrine around those few words. If we study Paul’s writings, we find that he taught us a whole lot more about salvation than, ‘believing in Jesus.’ Just read Romans six for starters. The other obvious truth is that if we ‘confess’ that Jesus is Lord, and He does not control every single word, action, thought, attitude and emotion of ours, then we are liars, and that surely will NEVER get us salvation.
Once we truly understand the above, we find that God’s life instruction manual tells us that abundant life is found in the fear of God. [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] Jesus knew this, and commanded us to be afraid of God.
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Mat. 10:28
All through God’s word He tells us that we must fear Him, for various reasons. To enjoy the life that He purposed for us: to stop sinning: to be humble and honorable. Here are some examples of this fact.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. Acts 9:31
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34-35
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 2 Cor. 5:11
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 1 Pet. 1:17
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2:12
Moses said to the people, do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of the Lord will be with you to keep you from sinning. Ex. 20:20
Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. Prov. 1:29-30
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Prov. 3:7
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Prov. 8:13
Through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided. Prov. 16:6
Humility and the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. Prov. 22:4
The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Prov. 19:23
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Prov. 15:33
Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from sin. Prov. 14:26-27
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Prov. 23:17-18
Blessed is the one who fears God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. Prov. 28:14
LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken. Ps. 15:1-5
Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Ps. 2:11
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. Ps. 19:9
You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you, I will fulfil my vows. Ps. 22:23, 25
Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land.
The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. Ps. 25:12-14
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. Ps. 31:19
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Ps. 33:18-19
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Ps. 34:7-11
I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Ps. 36:1
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Ps. 40:3
The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. Ps. 67:6-7
The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. Is. 8:13
I strongly suggest that you who mock me when I tell you that you MUST NOT focus all your attention on Jesus with regard to your salvation, understand that the whole of the bible is God’s message regarding salvation, not just the Gospels; or some isolated verses from them. And remember that Jesus is God, which many of you tell me that I refuse to accept as fact. I have had several strong rebukes from some of you suggesting I do not believe in the trinity. I strongly recommend you meditate in those verses I have given you regarding fearing God, and open your heart and mind to hear from God as you do.
God is the way, the truth, and the life, is what Jesus told you. And God’s life manual keeps assuring you of that all the way through from Genesis to Revelation.
My book ‘A Nation Broken’ explains all of this clearly. It’s available on Amazon or B & N