Sometimes I will make the statement to someone- “That’s not a hill I want to die on.” It could be about anything really, but it is especially true when speaking of Bible teaching. I recently was reading a book by Gavin Ortlund called Finding the Right Hill to Die On. Long story short: it divides into 3 tiers the doctrines we find important. #1 is the essential where there can be no compromise. You must believe them. #2 are those which are important but allow for some differences (mode of baptism for example). #3 are those which really are of no consequence to our salvation (like your view of the 2nd Coming).
A #1 tier would be what I read today in John 14. Verse 6 says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the Father but by me.” This statement cannot be sloughed off as non-incidental. Non-essential. Look at that verse again. I am THE way; not A way. I am THE truth; not A truth; I am THE life; not A life. There is no mixing those up.
Our culture would have us believe there are many ways to God; there are many truths to believe; and life can be found in temporal things. W.R.O.N.G!!! Jesus is the only way to God because He is the truth of God (Jn.1:14) and the life of God (Jn.1:4). This verse shows the exclusiveness of Jesus. Let me repeat that: this verse shows the exclusiveness of Jesus. He is not one of many; He is the only One. And even though it may sound narrow, get this wrong and you get it wrong. All cults (JW, Mormons, Bethel included) all mess up here. He is fully God and fully man. He was God in the flesh from birth to death. There is no one like Him. No question. No hesitation. No equivocation. No fudging. No part way.
CHOOSE!
“Father, I choose Jesus. I choose to worship Him as the one and only way, truth and life. That is a hill I will die on.”
No one else but God has life eternally and abundantly. That’s enough for me!
Agreed Ed. Thanks for coming by.
Excellent Bill! Preach it! LOL. “The exclusiveness of Jesus” – I love that! Have a great day!
Thanks Diane. I can’t do anything but preach this truth.
The older (and hopefully wiser) I get, the more of my #1’s and #2’s fall down the list. I would agree with you, however, that when it comes to THE way, THE truth, and THE life, there is only one.
I am still trying to determine where the following fit on the #1, #2 or #3 list:
pews vs chairs,
the color of carpet,
lights vs no lights,
hymns vs modern,
instruments vs a cappella,
KJV vs NKJV vs NLT vs NIV vs … …
I’d say your list, if it is to be included (which I am not sure it should be), is #3 or falls completely off the chart. 🙂 None of those amount to a hill of beans in the whole scheme of the kingdom.
Amen, Bill! The only way to the Father is through Jesus. That has to be #1 in our lives.
Blessings!
#1 for sure Martha. Thanks.