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Only one way ? Only one path ?

John1.12

Free gift
Jesus said in John 14.6
6¶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This and many other things Jesus said make it clear that all other religions , ways, paths , practices, ect are not the way ,the truth or the life .
Now this of course begs the question that the bible is true ect . But many seem to try make the bible or Jesus words fit other religions , beliefs and practices, as if its all just another way of coming to the same God .
Thoughts?
( Ps ,yes I am a Christian)
 

Hermit Philosopher

Selflessly here for you
Dear @Barry Johnson

If an interpretation of spiritual scripture encourages exclusion, separation, self-righteousness, intolerance, hatred, etc; one ought to assume that it is mistaken.

Christ depicts a perspective on being. He represents the concept of a life in humility and selfless service to [all] others. That - not a particular church or book - is said to be the only way to [unity in] God.

Any interpretation that promotes a way of life opposed to that ideal must be a misinterpretation.


Humbly
Hermit
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
Dear @Barry Johnson

If an interpretation of spiritual scripture encourages exclusion, separation, self-righteousness, intolerance, hatred, etc; one ought to assume that it is mistaken.

Christ depicts a perspective on being. He represents the concept of a life in humility and selfless service to [all] others. That - not a particular church or book - is said to be the only way to [unity in] God.

Any interpretation that promotes a way of life opposed to that ideal must be a misinterpretation.


Humbly
Hermit

He does represent the concept of a life in humility and selfless service to others and to His God and Father and said that He was sent by the Father and that He is the truth and the way to the Father and the life of the world.
Truth is absolute and either what He said it true or false.
I cannot see why people cannot live a life of humility and selfless service to others and to God and at the same time believe what Jesus said, the truth.
 

Hermit Philosopher

Selflessly here for you
He does represent the concept of a life in humility and selfless service to others and to His God and Father and said that He was sent by the Father and that He is the truth and the way to the Father and the life of the world.
Truth is absolute and either what He said it true or false.
I cannot see why people cannot live a life of humility and selfless service to others and to God and at the same time believe what Jesus said, the truth.


Nor can I, my friend.
I see no problem with what you say here.

Humbly
Hermit
 

nPeace

Veteran Member
Jesus said in John 14.6
6¶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This and many other things Jesus said make it clear that all other religions , ways, paths , practices, ect are not the way ,the truth or the life .
Now this of course begs the question that the bible is true ect . But many seem to try make the bible or Jesus words fit other religions , beliefs and practices, as if its all just another way of coming to the same God .
Thoughts?
( Ps ,yes I am a Christian)
Yes. Jesus showed the way to the father, and many began to follow. Not all who claim to follow are his followers though. - Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said his followers would have identifying marks - John 13:34, 35 ; John 14:15 ; John 15:8-19 ; John 8:31, 32 ; Matthew 28:18-20.

Most person claiming to follow Jesus the way, usually quote Matthew 22:37-40, as though those words release them from giving attention to specific requirements, but that is comparative to an enemy using a smoke grenade to get close to a building. The smoke does not prevent Jesus from seeing them and they are identified, as per Matthew 7:15-32,
That is because the fact is as Matthew 7:13, 14 says, there are only two roads - one is the road Jesus paved, on which his followers travel. The other road is the broad one, on which the vast majority choose to follow, and which leads to destruction.

So to your question, there is only one way, one path, one gate to life - one faith. The broad way has many travelers - many different religions, but it does not lead to God, or life.
The followers of Christ know the way.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Jesus said in John 14.6
6¶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This and many other things Jesus said make it clear that all other religions , ways, paths , practices, ect are not the way ,the truth or the life .
Now this of course begs the question that the bible is true ect . But many seem to try make the bible or Jesus words fit other religions , beliefs and practices, as if its all just another way of coming to the same God .
Thoughts?
( Ps ,yes I am a Christian)
I disagree with your interpretation of that quote.

Jesus was a Jew. Jews then and now did/do not believe that anyone must become a Jew to properly relate themselves to God. So it's extremely unlikely that he was referring to following any particular religion. What I think he was referring to, instead, was following a spiritual path that transcends religion. And is therefor available to all. That is the pathway of love, forgiveness, kindness and generosity. Which is the pathway to humanity's salvation from itself.

When reading Jesus' statements, it's important to remember that Jesus was a Jew speaking to other Jews, first, and to the rest of humanity tangentially. So when he admonished his fellow Jews to remain Jews, and to follow Judaic religious proscriptions, he was dong so as a Jew admonishing other Jews. But he would not have intended those statements to apply to the rest of us. Because as is well established, Jews are NOT evangelical. They do not seek nor see any purpose in religious conversion to Judaism.

In the statement above, he is speaking of spirituality, not religion. He is saying religion without spirituality is not the way to God. And that the only way to God is through the spirit.
 

John1.12

Free gift
Yes. Jesus showed the way to the father, and many began to follow. Not all who claim to follow are his followers though. - Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said his followers would have identifying marks - John 13:34, 35 ; John 14:15 ; John 15:8-19 ; John 8:31, 32 ; Matthew 28:18-20.

Most person claiming to follow Jesus the way, usually quote Matthew 22:37-40, as though those words release them from giving attention to specific requirements, but that is comparative to an enemy using a smoke grenade to get close to a building. The smoke does not prevent Jesus from seeing them and they are identified, as per Matthew 7:15-32,
That is because the fact is as Matthew 7:13, 14 says, there are only two roads - one is the road Jesus paved, on which his followers travel. The other road is the broad one, on which the vast majority choose to follow, and which leads to destruction.

So to your question, there is only one way, one path, one gate to life - one faith. The broad way has many travelers - many different religions, but it does not lead to God, or life.
The followers of Christ know the way.
Yes If you have recieved Jesus John 1.12 you have found the way .Many Christians are not rightly dividing scripture . They are still before the cross ,in the four Gospels and not discerning scriptures after the cross . They are still in the Old testament.
 

John1.12

Free gift
I disagree with your interpretation of that quote.

Jesus was a Jew. Jews then and now did/do not believe that anyone must become a Jew to properly relate themselves to God. So it's extremely unlikely that he was referring to following any particular religion. What I think he was referring to, instead, was following a spiritual path that transcends religion. And is therefor available to all. That is the pathway of love, forgiveness, kindness and generosity. Which is the pathway to humanity's salvation from itself.

When reading Jesus' statements, it's important to remember that Jesus was a Jew speaking to other Jews, first, and to the rest of humanity tangentially. So when he admonished his fellow Jews to remain Jews, and to follow Judaic religious proscriptions, he was dong so as a Jew admonishing other Jews. But he would not have intended those statements to apply to the rest of us. Because as is well established, Jews are NOT evangelical. They do not seek nor see any purpose in religious conversion to Judaism.

In the statement above, he is speaking of spirituality, not religion. He is saying religion without spirituality is not the way to God. And that the only way to God is through the spirit.
I thought he said the only way to the Father is through him ?
 

PureX

Veteran Member
I thought he said the only way to the Father is through him ?
It's clearly a metaphor, as no human can actually pass "through" another human. So the metaphor must be interpreted.

Jesus as 'the Christ' is the embodiment of God's spirit: love, forgiveness, kindness, and generosity, in human form. And I think it's this Divine Spirit that Jesus embodies that he is saying we must also choose to embody, to become one with God (our "Father").
 

John1.12

Free gift
It's clearly a metaphor, as no human can actually pass "through" another human. So the metaphor must be interpreted.

Jesus as 'the Christ' is the embodiment of God's spirit: love, forgiveness, kindness, and generosity, in human form. And I think it's this Divine Spirit that Jesus embodies that he is saying we must also choose to embody, to become one with God (our "Father").
Where does it say that ?
 

John1.12

Free gift
It's clearly a metaphor, as no human can actually pass "through" another human. So the metaphor must be interpreted.

Jesus as 'the Christ' is the embodiment of God's spirit: love, forgiveness, kindness, and generosity, in human form. And I think it's this Divine Spirit that Jesus embodies that he is saying we must also choose to embody, to become one with God (our "Father").
Here's how its ' through ' Jesus .
John 1
11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Where does it say that ?
In the time and place Jesus lived, people lived in patriarchal family clans. The family patriarch was the clan's absolute ruler, and all the clan's members were subject to his rule. And the patriarch's sons, especially the eldest, were considered to be living proxies for the clan patriarch's rule. Any agreements made with the patriarch's sons was considered exactly as binding as if it were agreed to by the patriarch, himself. This was a common and culturally understood fact of life for everyone living in that time and place in history. It is common among clan cultures allover the world.

So when Jesus began to refer to God as his "father", people were shocked, and some outraged, because to do so in that culture was to openly imply that he is the physical proxy of God, Himself. And as such, his words, his actions, and especially any promises he might make were as binding as if God has offered them, Himself. There are many examples of Jesus speaking and acting with this kind of 'divine proxy' authority in the NT. And ultimately, it's why the Jewish high priests wanted him killed. The whole point of 'Jesus as the Christ' is based on this assertion that he is the physical human embodiment of God's (his father's) will, intent, and spirit.
 

Thief

Rogue Theologian
Jesus said in John 14.6
6¶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This and many other things Jesus said make it clear that all other religions , ways, paths , practices, ect are not the way ,the truth or the life .
Now this of course begs the question that the bible is true ect . But many seem to try make the bible or Jesus words fit other religions , beliefs and practices, as if its all just another way of coming to the same God .
Thoughts?
( Ps ,yes I am a Christian)
and in the book of Job.....

and the sons of God gathered.......to present themselves

it does not mention of which belief them came
 

sojourner

Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
Jesus said in John 14.6
6¶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This and many other things Jesus said make it clear that all other religions , ways, paths , practices, ect are not the way ,the truth or the life .
Now this of course begs the question that the bible is true ect . But many seem to try make the bible or Jesus words fit other religions , beliefs and practices, as if its all just another way of coming to the same God .
Thoughts?
( Ps ,yes I am a Christian)
I agree with PureX. This isn’t an exclusionary statement of doctrinal belief, but an inclusive statement of the spiritual attributes Jesus embodied. The “way” to God is through selfless acts of compassion, kindness, forbearance, and love. The “way” to God is by being in right relationship.
 

John1.12

Free gift
I agree with PureX. This isn’t an exclusionary statement of doctrinal belief, but an inclusive statement of the spiritual attributes Jesus embodied. The “way” to God is through selfless acts of compassion, kindness, forbearance, and love. The “way” to God is by being in right relationship.
“I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life.” Three absolutes; no indefinite articles. Mohammed may be “a” way, and Yoga may be “a” way, and Catholicism and Judaism may be “ways” Mary wouldn’t dare say that. Mohammed wouldn’t dare say that. Buddha wouldn’t dare say that. No one in the UN would dare say that. Not even Idi Amin, Jim Jones, Pastor Russell, Joe Smith, Judge Russell, Madam Blavatsky, Adolph Hitler, or any Catholic Pope, cardinal, or archbishop would dare say that. And if any of them did, no one but a half-crazy nut would believe them.
 
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