By Robert Stroup
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Despite the prevalence and acceptance of interfaithism and ecumenism in our world today, the fact remains that the only way man can find God is through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is but one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. In order for any person anywhere to come into contact with the Father, he or she must go through Jesus. And to do so, one must come to know and experience Jesus, not only as the way, but also as the truth – and not only as the truth, but also as the life.
Jesus is not just one truth among many – He is the only truth. Any so-called truth outside of Him is but a sham. As they say, “the proof is in the puddin.” No other so called truth has the power to set men free. Only real truth can do that. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
We are rightly called Apostolic because we preach and teach the Apostles’ doctrine. Their doctrine is obviously truth because it was given to them by Jesus Himself. It only makes sense that Bible
Christians should preach Bible truth. So, we wholeheartedly agree with what Jesus said when He declared, “I am the truth.” There is no Plan B. To get to God we must go by means of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Jesus is His name!
But to get to the true God, we must also come to know and experience Jesus as the way. For there is no way to accomplish what God has in mind for us but Jesus’ way. Whatever you need to get done spiritually, Jesus is the only way to get it done. Do you need a prayer answered?
Jesus said, “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). Do you need healing or deliverance? “These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils … they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16: 17, 18). Do you need your sins remitted? Jesus is the way to get it done! (Acts 2:38). Do you need to be saved? “Neither is there salvation in any other. .. ” (Acts 4: 12). Yes, Jesus is the truth – but He is also the way!
Jesus stated that “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven … Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in they name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus stated that while they did some things in His name the fact remained that He never really knew them – they were never really close to one another. Apparently, it is possible to believe truth and to believe in the power of prayer and worship – and to know what it is to experience a move of the Spirit – without really unreservedly committing our lives to the Lord. (See John 2:23-25 for
an example).
To really get to know God in an intimate way, we must come to know Him, not only as the way and the truth, but also as our very lives. “I am the way, the truth, and the life … ” Jesus is not just our truth, as important as that is. He is not just the One whose Name we use in water baptism. Neither is He just our way to accomplish powerful things in the spirit realm (i.e.; “in your name we have cast out devils… “). Jesus is more than just a way to get things done that need to be done. Jesus is to literally become our lives! “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me… ” (Gal. 2:20).
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3: 17). Jesus’ Name is something more than the right baptismal formula – and it is more than a keyword we use to get our prayers answered. The One who bears this Name is the One we are to yield every area of our lives to. Paul told the saints at Colosse to do everything in Jesus’ Name. “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands,” in Jesus’ Name. “Husbands, love your wives,” in Jesus’ Name. “Children, obey your parents,” in Jesus’ Name. “Servants, obey in all things your masters,” in Jesus’ Name. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:23).
When we came to know Jesus as the truth – we learned to baptize in His Name. When we came to know Him as the way – we learned to pray in His Name. When we come to know Him as the life – we will learn to live in His Name. When we reach this point in our spiritual growth, the Lord will be able to trust us and to bless us with great revival. It is called, “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).
Everything we need can be found in Jesus. When I was in Bible college, one elderly man in the church frequently expressed how I feel today when he said, “Thank God for Jesus!”
Rev. Robert Stroup is the District Superintendent of the Indiana District, United Pentecostal Church International. and Pastor of Pentecostals of South Lake in Merrillville, Indiana.
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