Salvation Is Secure Through Jesus Alone

John 14:1-14

Our Gospel passage of study from this past week’s lectionary is one with a lot of spiritual meat for us to digest.  There are four main sections in this passage that I wish to look into with you.

The first one is contained in verses 1 - 4.  Death and the afterlife are an unknown to us, and because of that we often are worried or afraid to think of them.  As Christians, though, we don’t need to worry about this.  We have trusted God with the many areas of our life, and since we know that He loves us, we should know that we can trust Him with death and the afterlife, too.   Jesus has made the way to heaven secure.   He has prepared the way to eternal life.  We do not need to fear eternity, because Jesus has prepared our place there.  One of Jesus’ top priorities when returning to heaven is preparing our dwelling place there.  Sometimes when life gets so difficult for me I like to think about what that special place that Jesus is preparing for me will be like.  He loves each one of us individually, so I believe that each of our dwelling places will be a perfect fit for us.  Someday soon He will return and will bring us there to be with Him forever.

The second section can be found in verses 5 - 6.  These are verses that many find offensive.  They feel it is too exclusive, and way too narrow.  These people who reject these verses feel that there are many ways to God that are acceptable, and many different, equally acceptable expressions of God.  The Bible clearly says that this is not so.  The truth is very narrow, as we see also in Matthew 7:13-14.  Jesus is the Way.  The only way to heaven and the Father is through Jesus.  He is the only path to the the Father.  Many places have multiple ways to get there, but not heaven.  There is only one way to God, and that is through His Son, Jesus.  Not any path will do.  Because He is the only one who is both God and man, He is the only way, and we can trust Him to bring us to the Father.  Jesus is also the Truth.  He is the reality of all of God’s promises.  There is no falseness in Him, and all His words are true and reliable.  As believers, we should also be totally truthful in everything.  Jesus is also the Life.  Death could not keep a hold on Him.  He joins His life with ours, both now and in eternity.

Our third section is found in verses 7 - 11.  Many people, especially in this day and age, have thought of Jesus as a great philosopher and a great humanitarian, but that’s all.  An honest reading of the Bible shows that this is not so.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  He is the revelation of what is like.  To know Jesus is to know God.  People are always searching for God.  If their search is honest, and they sincerely are looking for the truth, their search for God will only end in Jesus Christ.

The final section from this passage is found in verses 12 - 14.  This passage has been misinterpreted by some Christians and some churches.  These verses, praying in Jesus’ Name, is not a magic formula.  Praying and asking God for something “in Jesus Name” is asking in accordance with God’s character and will.  He will not answer prayers that are contrary to His nature or His will.  If we are honestly following God, and wish to do His will, our prayers will be in line with what God wants.  “In Jesus Name” is not something to just tack on at the end of a prayer.  Our prayers should be for God’s purposes, and not just for our own selfish purposes or desires.  Our prayers should be on the basis of Jesus’ merits, not ours or our supposed worthiness.  Our prayers should be for His glory alone.  As born-again believers we are joint heirs with Jesus, and thus we have the authority to pray in His Name.  Our prayers, though, need to be in agreement with His will and His character.