Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The Only Way
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”—Hebrews 2:9
People like to assert that all religions are true and that Jesus is one of many ways that lead to God. They usually have a bumper sticker that reads, “Coexist” and includes a variety of religious symbols. That is a nice sentiment. And it is nice to say that all religions teach the same thing. But anyone who makes that statement either is lying or is a fool or is simply choosing not to take even a basic look at the religions of the world. All of the religions of the world do not teach the same thing.
In fact, it is insulting to God to even suggest this. Do you think that God would have allowed His Son to go through something as horrific as the crucifixion if all roads lead to Him? Otherwise, why would Jesus even have to die? God could have said, “It’s all good. Do whatever you want. Believe whatever you want. Everything is cool.”
But there was no other way to satisfy the righteous demands of God. That is why Jesus prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). What is “this cup”? I believe it was the cup of the wrath of God. Isaiah called it the cup of His fury (see Isaiah 51:17, 22).
Jesus tasted death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”
Jesus had to be the recipient of the wrath of God in our place so that we could be forgiven of our sin. There was no other way.
Summary sentence: Jesus received the wrath of God for you and me so that we could be forgiven. There is no other way to the Father!
Copyright © 2011 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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