5/10/2020 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

He Lives To Be the Only Way To Heaven: 5th Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2020

Fundamental to all religious belief is the answer to the question, “Is there an afterlife?  How do I get there?”  Were you to survey all the religions of the world and collect their answers, you’d get an earful.  You might be surprised by some of the answers!  Condense them down, though, and categorize them — you’ll find that they all fall into two camps.  Either you get to heaven through personal human effort, or you get to heaven 100% by God.

Today the Bible teaches that we are in the later camp.  We’re going to heaven by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.  Jesus himself says so in this morning’s Gospel, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to God the Father except through me.”  Know Jesus, know peace.  No Jesus, no peace.  No amount of human effort, no big bucket of goodness or kindness will score heavenly brownie points with God.  There is only one way to heaven - through Jesus Christ alone.

The first reading from Acts details the Apostle Peter performing a healing.  He was arrested by local rulers who pressed him for answers as to how he could do such a miracle.  He quoted Psalm 118, pointed to Jesus, and then said, “Salvation is found in no one else.”  In the second reading, Peter again quotes Psalm 118 and explains that the stone the builders rejected (Jews who rejected Jesus) has become the capstone.  In other words, the only way to heaven is through your connection to Jesus, the cornerstone of our faith.

The Gospel that Jesus did it all offends our do-it-yourself world.  Yet, only Jesus died on the cross to provide payment for our sin.  God the Father has accepted no other payment than what he accepted from Christ.  No other man defeated death by powerfully taking his life back.  This victory he shares with you through faith.  He lives to be my only way to heaven. God bless your worship!

► Readings:

• Acts 4:8-12: Salvation is found in no one else.

• 1 Peter 2:4-10: The stone the builders rejected is the capstone

• John 14:1-11: Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life.

• Psalm: 118

► Sermon theme on Acts 4:8-12: "Christ is Our Cornerstone" (Service Folder) (Entire Service Video)

Catch our service live or watch recorded. Service will be live-streamed Sunday, 5/10 at 10:45am (MST-AZ) at https://www.youtube.com/user/RedeemerTucson/