Faith in Jesus: Exclusive or Conclusive?

Most people, including Jewish people, find Jesus’ teachings admirable. But there is one big exception. In his book Biblical Critical Theory, author Christopher Watkin cites John 14:6 as an example of the controversy of exclusivity. He points out that even in the early church, the Roman authorities didn’t have a problem with Jesus saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” It was the “No one comes to the Father except through me” part that they found exclusive and, therefore, offensive. How much more so in today’s relativistic society.

How to Have a Confident Witness in a Changing World

We need to remember that our faith excludes no one from coming to God, but that sin excludes everyone. As we share the gospel, we invite people who are already excluded (just as we were) to be included. Through faith in Jesus, anyone can experience a relationship with their Maker—a relationship that will fill their hearts with assurance and ensure true human flourishing. Those who love Jewish people—or anyone else—couldn’t possibly want any less for them.

Rather than building a wall of exclusion, Yeshua’s (Jesus’) claims of being the way, the truth, and the life lead to the obvious conclusion that He is our only hope. Let’s remember what is wrapped up in those three assertions.

How Is Jesus the Way?

Today when we want to know the way to get somewhere we have Google Maps or Waze. Technology has taken a lot of the angst out of the ups and downs of our situations and circumstances figuring out directions! But when Jesus claims to be “the way,” He’s talking about much more than a spiritual roadmap. The way to God is more than a direction, it’s a disposition. It is an all-encompassing outlook or worldview that governs life, including how we handle the ups and downs of our situations and circumstances.

If we try to approach God on our own, we can end up going a long, long way in the wrong direction. The same self-righteousness and self-centeredness that alienates us from God in the first place twists our spiritual sense of direction. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

We cannot make a way to God; we can only take the one that He provides. Jesus is the best of all that is good and all that God intends for us. He is the Son of God who made it possible for us to share His access to the Father.

How Is Jesus the Truth?

In today’s postmodern world, people are suspicious of truth claims. Many will say, “There is no such thing as objective truth. You have your truth and I have my truth.” And yet, nearly everyone who claims that truth is relative does not live out that claim consistently—because deep down, everyone believes in certain objective truths.

The way to God is more than a direction, it’s a disposition.

When someone who means the world to you says, “I love you,” what kind of relationship would it be if you had no basis to believe what they say is absolutely true? The greatest human experience is to love and be loved. But if truth is unknowable or different for everyone, then all that is lost.

It’s because Jesus is the truth that we can know and experience the love of God now and forever. He proved God’s love is true by dying on the cross for us. And because He rose from the dead, we know that His suffering for our salvation was not only truly loving but also truly effective.

How Is Jesus the Life?

When it comes to exclusion, sin is the real culprit because it separates us all from God (Romans 3:23). Jesus came to reverse that exclusion; He gave up His own life to purchase abundant and eternal life for us (see also Romans 3:24–25). That life begins here and now with forgiveness and a relationship with God that is not based on our performance but upon His grace. It continues forever as we receive His “endless life” (Hebrews 7:16). How could we withhold that wonderful invitation from anyone we truly care about?

No one else has given their life like Jesus did so that we could come to God. No one else could. Thank you so much for helping us to invite others, joyfully and confidently, to the Father in the best way, the only way, and the true way through Jesus.