Gospel : The Way to God
Gospel
The Way to God
By Aby Kuruvilla, Mumbai
The seeker of heaven may have been taught that the way to God must be earned out of living a good life, doing good works, and visiting holy sites. While these may seem worthy endeavors, yet the seeker is not certain of the desired end.
May we then turn our attention to the Lord Jesus Christ who declared that He is “… the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). In the pursuit of heavenly things, man is declared to be "without strength" (Rom. 5:6) and can by no means attain unto the standards of God. Therefore, we must entirely look unto the Lord to show us the way.
Divinely Originated
The way to heaven could only be paved and completed by God himself. God himself took the initiative and sent His Son into the world. Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of God, "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:7). Man was not involved in His conception, for this was told to the virgin that gave birth to the child, "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20). Thus, the way divinely originated from God.
At the outset of His earthly ministry, there came "a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). The one who will show man the way must needs be publicly declared to the world that He is the One whom God has sanctified and sent. Thus, we see the way was divinely ordained by God.
After three and a half years of serving the people, the Lord knew that the climax of His earthly ministry would lie in Him having to die. However, neither those who hated Him nor the disciple that betrayed Him could of their own will, lay their hands on him. But "Jesus... knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth..." (John 18:4). The perfect and sinless servant of God, willingly took that path of suffering and death. Thus, we see the way was divinely orchestrated.
Price Paid
They bruised him, pierced him, and thought to have killed him. But until He completed what He came into this world for, He would not die. From that cross of shame and cruel suffering, we hear a voice saying, "It is finished". He drank the bitter cup of judgment that was ours to drink; Love drank it all! The work now completed, "he bowed his head and gave up the ghost" (John 19:30).
He was buried, but on the third day, He rose up from the dead and ascended up into the very presence of God. “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Thus, the price paid, the pardon sealed and the way divinely opened, man can now come unto God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repent and Believe
Sin prevents man from approaching God. God has judged every man worthy to die and to be eternally separated from his holy presence because of their sins. No work of man can save him from that judgment. God, in the Lord Jesus Christ, has opened a perfect and acceptable way for man to be brought nigh to God.
No work of man is involved, and no work of man is required for salvation's requirement to be completed. But the seeker of heaven and of the true God must repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thus appropriate the work done on their behalf for their salvation. Will you accept the way divinely offered?
(Taken from Grace & Peace e-Periodical Issue No 195 January 2023)