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Is
Christianity Real and Relevant?
Faith Community Church, Pipestone, MN
September 9, 2001
John 14:6; Jesus saith unto him [Thomas], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Since the fall of man into sin and its introduction of evil into God’s world, life has presented a great riddle to its meaning and purpose. No one wants to believe that they have come into this world as a result of some accident. But if your life was not an accident, then it follows that your life must have meaning and purpose. There is some purpose for your existence. Many people will spend much of their lives seeking ‘something that will give meaning and purpose to life.’ But once they have gained that ‘something’, it does not satisfy, neither adding meaning nor purpose to life. One of man’s greatest fears is the lack of meaning to life. Only in Jesus Christ do we find the answer to one of life’s greatest questions.
Only our Lord Jesus Christ as the Creator can satisfy the individual and offer meaning and purpose to life. Men and women were created to live in a relationship with God. Without that relationship there will always be a hunger, an emptiness and a feeling that something is missing. Prince Charles of England once spoke of his belief that, for all the advances of science, ‘there remains deep in the soul (if I dare use that word), a persistent and unconscious anxiety that something is missing, some ingredient that makes life worth living.’ Only Jesus can satisfy the thirst and hunger for God in the individual’s soul. That is why Jesus said in John 4:14; But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, cf., John 7:37-39; John 6:48-51. Christianity is real and relevant because it offers you a personal relationship with your Creator. We are reminded of Augustine’s famous statement in his Confessions, ‘Oh Lord, Thou created us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.’
I. Christianity Is Real And Relevant Because It Offers Direction To A Lost World.
In our text, Jesus said, I am the Way, John 14:6. That means He gives direction to life! In a secularized, humanized society, there is no direction for modern man. The lack of direction that has plagued America for the past forty years can be attributed to four causes;
1. The denial of absolutes and responsibility for personal actions, especially moral actions.
2. The wilful ignorance of the past.
3. The leaning of man upon his own understanding, i.e., evolution vs. Creationism.
4. The embracing of a humanistic (pagan) world-view.
Therefore, modern man has lost his way. Lack of direction robs the individual of his/her dignity and worth as well as meaning and purpose to life. Modern man, lacking direction, is like a ship without a compass.
The Bible reminds us that one can have direction in this life; The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way, Psalm 37:23. And in Proverbs 3:5-6 we learn; Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. The Scripture makes it very clear that Jesus is the Way, John 14:6, and will give direction to the believer’s life. Jesus’ teaching and ethical statements give direction to the believer’s life. The observance of Jesus’ Golden Rule provides the framework for a proper relationship with others, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets, Matthew 7:12.
Through His life and ministry, Jesus also revealed the Father and offered direction to the Father. In John 1:18 we read, No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And in John 14:6 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus is the only way to God and He backed up His claim by rising from the dead. Buddha, Moses and Mohammed never made such a claim. No one else made the claims Jesus made; and no one else could back them up as Jesus did! Knowing Jesus removes the fear of meaninglessness from life. Jesus gives direction, meaning and purpose. Jesus is the Way, John 14:6!
II. Christianity Is Real And Relevant Because It Offers Truth To A Confused World.
Jesus said, I am the Truth, John 14:6. In our humanistic society our children are being taught; ‘When it comes to matters of morals and ethics, truth means different things to different people; no one can be absolutely positive that they have truth.’ The opening statement of Allan Bloom’s book, The Closing of the American Mind, states;’ There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative.’ Relativism is the belief that what is true for you may not be true for me. Social engineers teach children that everything in life is negotiable, and that nothing can be known for certain except the things that you experience.
Our Western Civilization is very much like the ancient Roman culture that crucified our Lord. Ultimately, it is not interested in The Truth, right and wrong or justice for all. When the Truth stood before Pilate in His judgment hall, Pontius Pilate asked, ‘What is truth?’ John 18:38. By crucifying Jesus, Pilate made Truth relative rather than absolute. He made both the law and justice relative to the situation.
According to the Bible, Truth is ultimately a Person; the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus said; ‘I am... the Truth,’ John 14:6. God is truth and the source of all truth. The Bible is the revelation of divine and moral truth to mankind. Jesus’ life and ministry reveals how believers can live the truth in a fallen world. Jesus has given us His Spirit to lead and guide His followers into all truth, John 16:13. The deception of the world enslaves, but the truth of Jesus Christ liberates, Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, John 8:31-32.
When a Christian says in relation to his/her faith, ÔI know Jesus is the Truth,’ it does not only mean that one knows intellectually that Jesus is the Truth, but that one has experienced Jesus as the Truth. Scripture reminds us that the world will someday be judged by the Truth (Jesus Christ) and according to the truth (the Bible), John 5:22; Acts 10:42; II Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 12:23; James 5:9.
Sometimes, a non-Christian may say to a Christian about his/her faith, ‘It’s great for you, but it is not for me.’ This is not a logical statement. If Christianity is true, then it is of vital importance to every person. If Christianity is false, then Christians have been deceived and Christianity has no value for anyone. However, if Christianity is the truth, then it is absolute truth. Absolute truth is that which is true for all people, for all times, and for all places. Absolute truth is truth that is objective, universal, and constant. C.S. Lewis puts it this way; ‘Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.’
Truth matters. It exposes deception, confusion and reveals dishonesty. Another great fear of man is that of being deceived; but a man is often willing to deceive others. Is this not why Christ was crucified’ The standard of His life (the true light) exposed the darkness and deception of evil in man’s heart. Jesus is the Truth, John 14:6, and as the Truth, He is the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8. His truth is ultimate, unchanging and must be applied to our lives.
III. Christianity Is Real And Relevant Because It Offers Life To A Dying Dark World.
Jesus said, I am the Life, John 14:6. Just before his death, Mohandas Ghandi wrote; ‘My days are numbered. I am not likely to live very long; perhaps a year or a little more. For the first time in fifty years I find myself in the slough of despond. All about is darkness; I am praying for light.’ The Apostle John wrote about Jesus, In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not, John 1:4-5. Jesus has brought both life and light to a dying, dark world. In our world, there can be no life without light.
It was man’s fall into sin which brought the consequences of darkness and death into the world. Sin caused man to lose the glory (light) of God, Romans 3:23. What Jesus did when He was crucified for us was to pay the penalty for all the sins which we have done. Jesus died to remove our guilt, to offer us forgiveness, to set us free from addiction, fear, and ultimately, from death. He died instead of us! Jesus not only died for us, but He also rose again from the dead for us. Through this act, He defeated death. Jesus came to bring us eternal life. Eternal life is a quality of life that comes from living in a relationship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ, John 17:3.
One of man’s greatest fears is death. The secular humanistic philosophy of life, taught today, offers no hope beyond the grave. It follows the adage of the Greek philosopher, Epicurus; ‘While I am, death is not; and when death is, I am not. Therefore, death is no concern to me.’ Yet Jesus comes to us with comfort, hope and life in the midst of a dark, dying world, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25-26. Jesus died our death so that we might have eternal life.
Jesus is the Life, John 14:6. An aged Christian once said, ‘If I die I will be with Jesus and if I live Jesus will be with me.’ Today, we are not in the land of the living, but in the land of the dying. Someday we shall be in the Land of the Living with the Lord! Jesus Christ is the life; that is, He is our comfort, hope and assurance in a dark, dying world.
Therefore, as you can discern, Christianity has a unique way of dealing with man’s three great fears;
The fear of meaninglessness; Jesus is the Way!
The fear of deception Ð Jesus is the Truth!
The fear of death; Jesus is the Life!
Life’s fears can be replaced through faith in Jesus Christ. That personal faith in Jesus Christ is what makes Christianity real and relevant to you!