What is heaven?
How does one get to heaven?
How can one be admitted into God’s presence?
Jesus said, “I AM THE WAY”
Scripture: John 14:1-7
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
1. Jesus Is The Only Way To Heaven
Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later." Peter asked: "Lord, why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.” (Jn 13: 36-37)
Then Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: a rooster will not crow till you have denied Me three times." (Jn 13:8)
A. God's Eternal Presence
God’s eternal dwelling place: his ‘house’ (oikia) with many ‘rooms’ (monai), enough to provide a ‘place’ (topos) for all Jesus’ disciple
Jesus says, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home (monēn) with him.’ (Jn 14:23)
Focus not on the ‘rooms’ in God’s house but the abiding in God’s Eternal Presence
B. God's Redemptive Purpose
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus went through painful and shameful death for our sake.
Jesus had suffered for us, made us whole and restored us to dwell in God’s Eternal Presence.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5.21)
2. Jesus Is The Only Way To Personal Relationship With God The Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (Jn 14:5-7)
I and the Father are one (Jn 10:30)
NO ONE comes to the Father except through JESUS (Jn 14:6b)
We must know the Father INTIMATELY
Knowing Jesus = Knowing God
A. Intimate Relationship with the Father
“Abba” (Aramaic) = Father
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Rom 8:15)
Eternal life involves the experience of knowing the only true God through His Son.
“Know” (ginōskōsin): Intimacy of a sexual relationship
A person who knows God has a deep and intimate personal relationship with Him.
Everyone has an eternal existence. What state of existence will they spend eternity?
B. Deep Fellowhip With Father God
We are now reconciled to God and can enjoy a deep fellowship with Him.
“Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 Jn 1:3)
Fellowship (Greek): Koinonia, meaning Sharing, Connecting, Communicating
To grow strong in our fellowship with God, we need to set aside time to communicate with him.
