Hey, podcast listeners! Thanks for streaming today's podcast, From Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. Our mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of God's word through the most effective media available, like this podcast. To support Pathway to Victory, go to ptv.org slash donate or follow the link in our show notes. Now, here's today's podcast, From Pathway to Victory. We share God's Word with you every day on this Bible teaching program. On today's edition of Pathway to Victory, I know I have been over this before, but I'm going to continue to go over it.
Because quite frankly, your eternal destiny depends on a proper understanding of what it means to believe in Jesus. Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress. In our inclusive world, believers and non-believers alike are arguing that multiple religions can lead to God. But tolerating other beliefs is not going to help anybody get into heaven.
In fact, it will only mislead them. Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress addresses what he believes is one of the most important issues facing the church today. Now, here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message.
Dr. Jeffress? Thank you, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. Today we're addressing the most important subject in the church today. Our sinful nature tempts man to fashion a God after his own liking. And sadly, many people have painted a false picture of Jesus as some wimpy little rabbi who roamed the countryside saying nice things to people. Well, during today's program, I'm going to pop that imaginary bubble by pointing to the real biblical Jesus.
He was anything but meek and mild. He shocked the Jews when he declared, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. This is the statement that led me to write a bestselling book a few years ago called Not All Roads Lead to Heaven. Well, today I'm pleased to offer a brand new 100-day devotional that's based on my bestselling book. In my new devotional Not All Roads Lead to Heaven, we will delve into what both the Old and New Testaments say about our exclusive salvation through Christ alone. It will equip you and your family with the wisdom you need to share your faith with boldness and love. So, request a copy of my brand new devotional Not All Roads Lead to Heaven by giving a generous gift to Pathway to Victory. When you do that today, I'll also include a helpful brochure that distinguishes biblical Christianity from 16 other major world religions. It's called Christianity, Cults, and Religions.
We will repeat this information later in today's program, but right now it's time to get started with today's study. I've titled it The Intolerant Christ. Today we're going to look at what Jesus said about four very specific subjects. And when we synthesize his teaching about these four very specific topics, we will come to the conclusion that Jesus firmly believed that not all roads lead to heaven. If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn, first of all, to John chapter eight.
John chapter eight. First of all, today I want us to consider what Jesus taught about his uniqueness. What is it that made Jesus unique? Many things Jesus claimed about himself, but today I want us to consider two things Jesus said about his uniqueness. First of all, Jesus claimed to be God. I am Yahweh, the most holy God, the only God. The Pharisees understood what Jesus was saying when he said, before Abraham was, I am, because look at verse 59.
Therefore, they picked up stones to throw at him. They understood what Jesus was saying with two little words. Jesus was saying, I am God. Isn't it interesting that none of the founders of any of the major religions ever claimed to be God? Buddha never claimed to be God. Confucius never claimed to be God.
The prophet Muhammad never claimed to be God. Jesus claimed to be God. He not only made that claim, but he proved the claim was true by what he did. Jesus claimed that he could heal the sick, and he did. He claimed that he could turn the water into wine, and he did. He claimed that he could rise again from the dead, and guess what?
He did. Jesus claimed to be God. That's what made him unique. Not only that, but secondly, Jesus claimed that belief in him led to eternal life. This is what made Jesus unique above other religious leaders. No other religious leader ever tied eternal life to what you believed about that leader, but Jesus did. Jesus doesn't say, whoever follows the God of his or her own choosing has eternal life.
No, he says very clearly, only those who believe in me have eternal life. Secondly, beyond what Jesus taught about his uniqueness, let's look at what Jesus taught about his death. Jesus taught, first of all, that his death was central to his mission. For example, in Matthew 16, verse 21, Jesus said, from that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. He told his apostles this was the plan.
Or look at John 12, verses 32 to 33, and I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. But he was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which he was to die. Secondly, and I want you to write this down, Jesus' death was the payment for our sins and the ransom for our freedom. His death was the payment for our sins and the ransom for our freedom. The Bible uses two metaphors to describe what Christ's death accomplished for us. First of all, it was a payment for our sin debt. When Jesus hung on the cross, remember some of his final words. John 19, 30 were, it is finished.
Teitelestai, paid in full. Jesus is the one who has paid our sin debt for us. But secondly, it is a ransom for our freedom.
That's another image used in the Bible. In Matthew 20, verse 28, Jesus said, just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. The only way Jesus could pay our sin debt, the only way he could secure our freedom was by his own death. And that's why he said in John 14, verse 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me. If there is any other way to have paid our debt, if there is any other way to have secured our freedom, then the death of Jesus was totally unnecessary.
But there was no other way. That's the reason he came. You know, the way to understand John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life, is to put it into context. Turn over to John 14, and let's see how this verse fits in to what Jesus is saying about the exclusivity of salvation. Remember, Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death, his resurrection, and his ascension back into heaven. And in verse 2, Jesus said, in my Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
And you know the way where I am going. Now, Thomas was pretty smart, one of the apostles. He realized Jesus was giving them some pretty important information, so they better get it right. So Thomas asked the question, he said, Lord, we don't even know where you're going. Apparently, he hadn't listened that closely to what Jesus said. Jesus had told him, I'm going to the Father's house to build a place for you. But he said, Jesus, we don't know where you're going, and furthermore, we don't know the way. Well, Jesus would later explain more about where he was going before he ascended into heaven.
But he took the opportunity right then to say to Thomas, you want to know the way to this new place I'm going to and that I'm going to take you? I am the way. I am the truth.
I am the life. No man comes to the Father, to heaven, to all of the things we are preparing for you. No one comes except through me. That's what Jesus taught about his uniqueness, what he taught about his death. Thirdly, what Jesus taught about eternity. Well, what about those who fail to follow Jesus through the valley of the shadow of death? What about those who find another path to God?
Will they make it to heaven as well? Notice what Jesus had to say about eternity. First of all, Jesus taught that two eternal destinations exist. Two eternal destinations exist, not one, but two. You know, Jesus could have driven a stake through the universalist claim right here if all roads lead to the same place, if everyone's going to heaven regardless of what he or she believes or doesn't believe.
But notice what Jesus said instead in Matthew 25, verse 46. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but they're righteous into eternal life. There are two destinations, eternal punishment and eternal life. Secondly, Jesus taught that hell is a reality.
He taught that hell is a reality. For example, Jesus believed that hell's an actual location, not a state of mind, Matthew 25, 46. Jesus taught in Matthew 22, 13 that hell is a place of physical suffering. And most devastatingly, Jesus said that hell is an irrevocable destination.
Once there, no one leaves. Remember in Luke 16, 26, his story about Abraham, the rich man, and Lazarus? The rich man finding himself in hell begged Abraham to provide relief at a way out of hell. But Abraham answered and said, and besides all of this, between us in heaven and you, there is a great chasm fixed in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able and that none may cross over from there to us. Thirdly, Jesus taught that the majority of humanity will occupy hell. The majority of humanity will occupy hell. You know, the single greatest...
