Doctrine Q. 2

The question this week in our home group doctrine study is (if you are not sure what this is than click here):

Why is Jesus the ONLY way?

First you have to establish that we have a need for a Savior because sin has separated man from God. If we don't need a Savior then we don't need Jesus. There was a fall when Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He chose to go on his own and not follow God which is when sin entered the world.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12

Because we are sinners, Mankind cannot fix the problem. It is not by anything we can do it has to be by the lovingkindness of God

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us..... Titus 3:5

So if we have established that we are sinners and that we can not do anything to be saved from that sin then how can that price be paid? It is by the death of a sinless man! You can not pay for a $50 fine with only $49 it must be paid with $50 so human sin must be paid with a sinless human, JESUS!

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 1 Corinthians 5:21

In the end, we need a Savior and where in the Word does it say that Jesus is that Savior?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

I and My Father are one. John 10:30

So to answer this question when someone asks:

1. Are you a sinner?

2. Can you save yourself?

3. How is that penalty paid?

I hope this helps you in your walk and you can now defend your faith when the hard questions are asked. There are so many more references that can be attached to this also but these were just a small protion of the ones we dove into tonight. A good reference to look up more is Blue Letter Bible.

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Next weeks question: Why does God allow "bad" things to happen to "good" people?