This is from a section of my sermon “I Am the Door” preached this past Sunday at Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, NC. You can watch the video here.
All of us long to connect with God. The history of humanity combined with the countless religions stand as a testimony of our longing to connect to our maker. All religions have notable teachers that offer steps to God. But, the uniqueness of Christianity from all other religions is rooted in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
While all other religions have teachers that show the way to salvation, only Jesus claimed to actually be the way to salvation. In John 10:9-11, Jesus proclaims:
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
So, while all other religions offer people a way to connect with God. In Christianity, God comes to us. In other words, Jesus is the sole means by which people (sheep) may enter the safety of the fold or find luxurious pasture. Jesus is the only way to receive eternal life and true nourishment of the soul.
Just as sheep find all of their needs met when securely in a fold under the care of a shepherd, so the sinner will find all the nourishment his soul needs when he enters eternal life through Jesus.
Other religions claim that to connect with God you must go on a pilgrimage, achieve personal peace or tranquility, give a certain amount of alms, avoid certain foods, perform a certain number of good deeds, or pray a certain amount of times a day in a certain way. While other religions tell you ‘here is the way to God’, Jesus comes and says, I am the way to God. I am the door.
May you enter and find rest, security, and nourishment.
Matt Capps 