The Way, The Truth, and The Life: Understanding Jesus as our one and only Saviour, Through the Words of Billy Graham

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

In Greek and Hebrew it reads:

Λέγει αὐτῷ ‹ὁ› Ἰησοῦς “Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή· οὐδεὶς ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα εἰ μὴ δι’ ἐμοῦ.

 

John 14:6

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The ONLY way. It follows, then, that salvation and the knowledge of God cannot be found in any other worldview or religion. Not Islam, not Judaism, not Roman Catholicism, not Hinduism, not Buddhism, not Confucianism, etc.

### Jesus as Lux Vita Caritas

Why then do we speak of Jesus as Lux Vita Caritas (Light Life Love)?

### Lux (Light)

The Lux, or Light, refers to Jesus being the ultimate Truth. He illuminates our understanding and restores us to God. Just as a light in the darkness shows the way, Jesus shows us the way to God and exposes the reality of our condition and need for salvation.

### Vita (Life)

The Vita, or Life, refers to the eternal life found in Jesus alone. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). In Jesus, we find life that is both abundant and everlasting, a life that overcomes the power of sin and death.

### Caritas (Love)

The Caritas, or Love, refers to the way in which Jesus is the only means to be reconciled to the Father in His love and by His love for us. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Through Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, we experience the profound love of God that redeems and restores us.

### Why Jesus Alone Can Save Us from Our Sins

Billy Graham consistently emphasized the uniqueness and sufficiency of Jesus Christ for our salvation. Let's delve deeper into why Jesus alone is able to save us from our sins:

**1. Jesus' Sinless Life:**
Billy Graham often spoke about the sinless life of Jesus as the foundation of His ability to save us. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, lived a perfect and sinless life. Hebrews 4:15 tells us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Because Jesus was without sin, He was the only one qualified to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

**2. The Atoning Sacrifice:**
Billy Graham highlighted the significance of Jesus' death on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. In 1 Peter 2:24, it says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that we deserve, satisfying the justice of God and demonstrating His profound love for us.

**3. The Power of the Resurrection:**
The resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith and was a frequent focus of Billy Graham's preaching. Romans 4:25 states, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Jesus' victory over death through His resurrection confirms His divine nature and His power to grant eternal life to all who believe in Him. The resurrection assures us that Jesus has conquered sin and death, providing us with the hope of eternal life.

**4. The Exclusivity of Christ:**
Billy Graham often emphasized the exclusive nature of salvation through Jesus Christ. In Acts 4:12, we read, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Jesus Himself declared that He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). This exclusivity is not about excluding others but about recognizing the unique role of Jesus as the Savior of the world.

**5. The Transformative Power of Faith in Jesus:**
Billy Graham witnessed countless lives transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When we place our faith in Jesus, we are made new, forgiven, and reconciled to God. This transformation is a testament to the power of Jesus to save and change lives.

Billy Graham’s message was always rooted in the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. He urged people to come to Jesus, to repent of their sins, and to receive the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers. Lux Vita Caritas – Light, Life, and Love – are found in their truest, deepest sense in Jesus Christ alone.

#luxvitacaritas