no one comes to the Father except through me

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.

John 14:6

The great proclamation made by Jesus. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. This is why Christians were called followers of the way in Acts 9:2.

Let's break down His emphatic statement. He said “I am the Way”, this precludes any other way. There are not multiple ways to the Father. Only through Jesus can we find the Way to our heavenly Father.

He then said “I am the Truth”, this also precludes any other “truth”. The only “truth” we need to know is Jesus. Today many say there is no absolute truth. Jesus was the embodiment of truth. When He said “I am the Truth”, that was an absolute statement, of pure truth.

He followed up that statement with,“I am the Life”. The life He speaks of is eternal life in Him, James 1:12, speaks about it as the crown we receive after this life. This precludes eternal life with the Father for those that do not accept Jesus and His teachings.

If you noticed I used the word precludes in reference to Jesus three proclamations about Himself. The word preclude means to make impossible. Which brings us to the last part of Jesus proclamation. “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” We cannot come to the Father in and of ourselves. We cannot find another way, we cannot find another truth, we cannot achieve eternal Life outside of Jesus. It is impossible. So, when Jesus says no one He means just that, no one. Not a single person can come back into a relationship with the heavenly Father without following Jesus, THE WAY. Without Jesus it is impossible.

So, the next time someone says to you what is truth, just like Pilate did in John 18:38, point them to the gospels and show them Jesus. Help them to see when they come to know Him and begin to follow Him they will have found truth.

So, today share the truth with someone. Tell them about Jesus.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

they may be won over without words

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,

1 Peter 3:1 NIV

Peter is talking about the power of a good example. Peter is talking to wives specifically here and the effect they have on their husbands. Peter knows what he is talking about. I know of many strong christian men that had been unbelievers, but were won over for Christ by their wife's example.

More often than we would like to think about, our behavior as christians speaks more to people than our words do. My wife has a saying about this; "your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks". So, good christian behavior speaks loudly without saying a word. Read 1 Peter 3:1-6 and get more input from Peter on the type of behavior he is talking about.

Peter uses these terms to describe this powerfully influential behavior; purity, reverence, gentle and quiet spirit. The christian wife is to exhibit purity in her life, living out a godly example for her husband to see. She is to show reverence to her God and His teachings as well as respect for her husband. Peter finishes up with what is the true beauty of a christian woman, "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit". A gentle and quiet spirit is the most powerful behavior a christian woman can show toward her husband.

To show this gentle, quietness is to teach in the subtlest of ways. Imparting God's truth and love in such a way as to gently show the way of the Lord. It is living for for Jesus in a non-contentious way. Letting your husband see Jesus in your actions and hear Jesus in your words.

If one is married to an unbeliever remember these qualities and strive to live them out, he may be won over by your behavior. 

(C) 2012 Leo J. Woodman