I heard a well-respected and professing Christian man say, “Nothing is more arrogant than a God that makes you pray to him!” He then continued to say, “You can say Jesus saved you, but don’t you dare say I have to adapt to your way of thinking and accept Jesus to go to Heaven.” Our way of thinking? It would be the easiest thing in the world to drop “our” beliefs and say all we need is faith in anything and we are just fine.

But what are our beliefs based on?

Let’s go back to this man, Jesus. He was born in a stable and lived through a time when all male babies were to be killed. In just 33 years of living he made claims that are still being debated today. It was Jesus who claimed to be the Son of God. Jesus said, “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 15:10)

A servant expecting to receive from his master would do the work the master required. A business man will do the work of the business. Why? The money is not ours, the works is not ours, so we do what is required in order to obtain the reward! Why do I believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Simply, because he said he is and that he is the way! It’s not my blood, it’s his blood. It’s not my inheritance, it’s his inheritance! I am a debtor to him for what he has done. Now, I am dead, and it’s Christ that lives through me. I obey his word because I want his reward!

Therefore, the issue is not with our claims, but with his. Jesus is not open to being a “great teacher” as many have implied. Through his teachings and firm stance he has made himself either Lord or Liar. So, how can I expect to be saved by his blood and yet deny that very blood? It would be impossible for me to deny the life of my mother even if I never remember seeing her. She is responsible for my life! So if we deny the Life-Giver, we deny our very life and existence.

What about this popular faith movement? The world is coming together; we hear it again and again. We are beginning to “understand” one another. We change what we believe or hide it so that we can accommodate other faiths. This mindset can lead us in only one direction. Everything that is not truth is a lie. No matter how well packaged it remains the same. Just where could this movement lead?

Paul told Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim 4:1)

John defined this movement even more accurately when he said, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (I John 2:22)

I believe we are moving towards a world that will not only accept the antichrist as a one-world leader, but will be looking for such a leader!

Will good people accept the antichrist? Will people of faith fail to recognize him? The book of Revelation states, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:8)

That’s why Jesus is controversial. Because from the very beginning of His ministry He articulated, “I am the way.” Outside of Him we have no other way.