Verse of the Day (December 8, 2019)

Verse of the Day (December 8, 2019) #BMSeminary – Happy Lord’s Day! [I am the way] In the OT, biblical faith was spoken of as a lifestyle path (cf. Deu 5:32-33; Deu 31:29; Psa 27:11; Isa 35:8). The title of the early church was “the Way” (cf. Act 9:2; Act 19:9; Act 19:23; Act 24:14; Act 24:22). Jesus was emphasizing that He was and is the only way to God. This is the theological essence of John’s Gospel! Lifestyle good works are an evidence of personal faith (cf. Eph 2:8-10), not a means of righteousness. [the truth] The term “truth” in Greek philosophy had the connotation of “truth” versus “falsehood” or “reality” versus “illusion.” However, these are Aramaic-speaking disciples who would have understood Jesus to be speaking in the OT sense of truth which was “faithfulness” or “loyalty” (cf. Psa 26:3; Psa 86:11; Psa 119:30). Both “truth” and “life” characterize “the way.” The term “truth” is often used in John to describe divine activity (cf. Joh 1:14; Joh 4:23-24; Joh 8:32; Joh 14:17; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:13; Joh 17:17; Joh 17:19). [the life] The “life” is zoâ, used by John to describe the life of the new age. In the OT, a believer’s lifestyle faith is spoken of as a path unto the life (cf. Psa 16:11; Pro 6:23; Pro 10:17). All three of these terms are related to lifestyle faith which is found only in personal relationship with Jesus Christ. [no one comes to the Father but through Me] What a shocking claim! It is very restrictive but also very obvious that Jesus believed that only through a personal relationship with Himself can one know God (cf. 1Jn 5:10-12). This has often been called the exclusivistic scandal of Christianity. There is no middle ground here. This statement is true or Christianity is false! In several ways this is similar to John 10. (You Can Understand the Bible by Dr. Bob Utley)