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P2 - What does it mean to have a “relationship” with Jesus?
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What does it mean to have a “relationship” with Jesus?
Wood engraving from James Colbert Reid’s The Life of Christ In Woodcuts series (1930).
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
These are Jesus’ famous words in John 14v6. Here He speaks to His 12 disciples shortly before the arrest that would lead Him to the Cross. And in this verse specifically He makes quite the claim.
The claim that one can only come to God through Him.
Enter, “It’s a relationship, not a religion.”
The main claim of the phrase is that personal encounter with Jesus, not religious systems, is what leads one to God.
And… that’s correct.
Woe to the Pharisees
It was the religious elite of Jesus’ day who He reserved His harshest criticisms for (Matthew 23).
Their religious practices actually brought them farther from God instead of closer to Him.
Wood engraving from James Colbert Reid’s The Life of Christ In Woodcuts series (1930).
It makes me think of this great quote about religious practice from the writer Thomas Merton…
“To sleep on a straw mattress… is not to save your soul, it is merely to sleep on a straw mattress… To sleep on a straw mattress for the love of God is to use self-denial. The use of self-denial for God’s love helps to save your soul.” (Emphasis added.)
We here at Theophilus looove our spiritual practices.
But we also realize that they are only a means to an end.
What is that end you might ask?
Life with Jesus or, in other words, a relationship with Him.
One Way, No Exceptions
Like Merton said, any religious act in and of itself will not save you from sin. You can fast for a month, go to church every week, or memorize the whole of Scripture, and none of it, on its own, will save you.
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
And that’s what this phrase, “It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship,” reminds us of. The reminder that salvation is found in no other name but that of Christ Jesus. And it’s a salvation that comes in the form of a personal relationship with Him.
Our hope comes from no other place.
But how does one maintain that relationship?
Would it shock you if the answer was religion?
That’s what we’ll examine tomorrow as we see where our popular phrase comes up short.
For now, be blessed.
P.S (For a more detailed approach to today’s topic you can check out a teaching I gave on it here!)
Jon,
Theophilus Newsletter
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