What Part of John 14:6 Don’t You Understand? :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard

Psalm 27:1, Psalm 37:39, Psalm 62:2, Isaiah 43:11, Isaiah 43:25, Isaiah 45:22, Isaiah 53, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:10-18, 1 Timothy 2:5-7, John 3:16

Summary: Jesus Christ made it clear to His disciples in the Upper Room and to everyone that He and He alone provides us access to God the Father. There is no other way to God and salvation except through Him. The issue has been settled.

Just who do we think we are to dare challenge the Sovereign Lord God Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:16-18) as to how He has solemnly decreed from all eternity the means by which He has chosen to redeem our sorry, self-centered, malevolent, cruel, rebellious, arrogant, and wicked hides? (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-6; 1Timothy 1:8-9). How dare we even think to argue, rant, demean, question, and rebel against His method and way as to how we are to approach Him?

What pitiful, self-absorbed, and narcissistic answer can we give Him when He asks us at the end of our days (Luke 12:13-21; Hebrews 9:27; James 4:13-15) why He should allow us into His heaven? We have got a lot of nerve to sit on this world for a set amount of time, adore and worship our limited intellect, and tell each other that there surely has to be more than ONE way to approach God, that is, whoever we define Him to be outside of what the Bible has declared (Judges 21:25; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 1:18-32).

In the decades I have spent teaching and preaching the Gospel and served the Lord Jesus Christ in one capacity or another, I have heard every type of explanation, excuse, diversion, argument, dismissal and rage against what He plainly told the disciples in the Upper Room the night before His mock trial, abuse, and death on a cruel cross for the redemption for our sins (a work of grace and mercy that we do not deserve, by the way). It is always the same tune and repetitive verse – “The Bible is so exclusive, so narrow-minded, so hateful to even state that God has only ONE way to Him.”

You can take your pick of objections and rebuttals from the countless tirades spewed by talk show hosts, authors, philosophers, self-appointed “intellectuals,” and even so-called “preachers” who love to have the world’s approval and dare not stand against the floodgate of sin and debauchery that has all the appeal of swimming in a sewer. I expect this type of behavior from the world system, but the unfortunate fact is that the “Christian” world” is not much better (Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

I will not hesitate to say that the average “Christian” today does not stand by what Jesus declared about Himself. Most professing “evangelicals” believe that the Bible contains errors, or that Jesus committed sin, or that the idea of absolutes and standards are irrelevant today, and that there is more than one way to God. The concept of a biblical worldview has all but disappeared from the fabric of not just America but the world overall as its hatred and disdain for the things of God grow in these final days before His promised return (2 Peter 3:1-9).

We do not want to face the fact that we are not the center of all things and the foundation of all being. We are comfortable with the outlandish and futile belief that we are the product of randomness and chance development within the means of a universe that somehow came into existence by itself billions of years ago, as if we had the tools and means by which to verify that claim (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). We take pleasure in pushing a tool of propaganda disguised as “settled” science to teach that our ancestors were ape-like creatures who somehow “evolved” from instinct and survival into who we are today, and no one dares challenge that claim lest they be branded as some kind of intellectual barbarian or worse. Give me a break.

We take pleasure and delight in spewing out blasphemy, calling it entertainment, freedom of expression, or an open declaration of rank hatred and a mental war against the idea of a Supreme Being, hoping and yet fearing that what is presented in Scripture is not true. Atheism is growing, but the entire concept is ridiculous.

Why do people rage against a Being in who they do not believe? Why are they angry and vindictive against a Being whom they claim does not exist yet spend time and effort to present this before the public? (Psalm 2:1-12, 14:1, 53:1). You don’t get angry over something that doesn’t exist. The sad fact for any unbeliever, whether rank atheist or the average pagan living in a brain fog, is that God does indeed exist and that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). To deny this is nothing more than the ultimate case of wishful thinking and that inner, disturbing, and real fear of accountability that haunts them, no matter their outward arrogance and cockiness (Romans 1:18-20).

The world will state that Jesus either did not exist (which in itself is a ridiculous denial of historical fact) or that He was merely a “good teacher,” a wise sage, a guru, or something else. We do not mind talking about Him in this mindset, but to face the fact that Jesus Christ is God Almighty as He proved not only to His disciples but others as well (1 Corinthians 15:1-18) and that He is the ONLY way to salvation and eternal life (John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12), then watch this same unregenerate bunch throw a spiritual temper tantrum as would a toddler when he does not get his way.

For those of us who have believed upon Him in faith for our redemption, do not look down on these wretched souls with contempt. For at one time, we were His enemies as well (Romans 5:6-11), and it was by His mercy and grace alone that we were rescued from both the coming judgment and the hell we so richly deserve. In these closing days of history and the promise of His return (Matthew 24:29-32; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28John 14:1-3; Acts 1:8-11; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Titus 2:11-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10), we cannot remain silent or submissive to the demands of a sinful world that we say nothing about Jesus.

There is no room in these last days for spiritual cowardice or indifference when it comes to the souls of people (Psalm 118:6; Isaiah 12:2; Ezekiel 3:17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:27; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Timothy 1:7). It is now time to decide whether we believe in Jesus, or we do not. Either we believe in the claims of Scripture, or we do not. Either we stand for Jesus and His message of salvation, or we do not. Either we proclaim that there is no other way to salvation except through Jesus, or we do not. We need to quit wavering and wobbling between the certainty of God and His Word, or instead decide to run to the modern Baals, whatever we claim them to be, find comfort in their silent arms and go to hell (1 Kings 18:21).

I will not waver in my belief nor compromise my convictions that what Jesus said about Himself is true and absolute. I stake my eternal soul on His redemptive work on the cross for our sins and that when He said, “it is finished” (John 19:30), I need not rely on anything nor anyone else to complete the transaction. I cannot save myself, nor can you outside of what Jesus Christ has accomplished on our behalf.

The day will come when I go the way of all humanity (Hebrews 9:27), or we are raptured to be with Him. At that time, I will be able to approach my LORD with confidence that when He asks by what right I have to enter His heaven, I will say that it was not by anything I have done, but only through the generous and loving act of Jesus Christ who saved my soul and gave me the blessing to be with Him and those who have trusted Him the right to enter into heaven and the new world to come (Revelation 21:1-7).

Is this the answer that you can give Him when the time comes? Do you believe that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? If so, thank Him, and if you don’t know Him, He calls you to come to Him now (2 Corinthians 6:2) for the rest, comfort, and assurance that the world can never provide (Matthew 11:28-30). He cannot make it any clearer.

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Donald was born and reared in the authentic “Cajun Country” of southern Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana College (B.A. in History Education/ Biblical Studies, 1984), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. In Christian Education, 1994), and Andersonville Baptist Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Exposition, 2000). He has been in the Gospel ministry since 1986, serving as an evangelist, interim and supply pastor, hospital and rescue mission chaplain, high school and college teacher, and pastor in churches in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

In 2018 he began to devote his time to the rich field of internet and social media evangelism and outreach. In 2021 he became a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, using his skills as a writer to contribute articles and sermons to websites such as Rapture Ready, Sermon Central, and Inspirational Christian Blogs. He also writes Bible studies and curricula for churches in southeast and central Asia and Africa, the locations of which are anonymous. He can be contacted at: [email protected] for inquires, information, and speaking/preaching engagements. A copy of his resume is also available upon request.

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