Craig Thomas

The seventeenth set of eight verses in Psalm 119 labeled “PE” (vv. 129-136). There are several wonderful thoughts in this section, but I will focus on only one. In verse 130 the psalmist writes:

“The entrance of Your words gives light;

It gives understanding to the simple.”

Again, in verse 133 he writes: “Direct my steps by Your word.” And in verses 135 and 136 he asks God to:

“ 135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.”

When one honestly and without prejudice or partiality surveys the so-called world of “Christendom” today they will see a vast array of denominations all proclaiming to be dedicated to serving God and honoring our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, the very existence of this multitude of religious organizations betrays the fact there are a wide variety of methods people believe will lead them into everlasting fellowship with God. Jesus taught something quite different! Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn. 14:6) Let us be blunt about the truth of the matter: There is only O-N-E way to eternal fellowship with God! In modern vernacular it is “Jesus’ way or the highway!”

God decided to reveal this one “way” through His word. Jesus accomplished this by sending the Holy Spirit to reveal His word to His apostles. For example, consider John 14:26; 15:26 and 16:13 tell us:

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He  
will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (Jn. 14:26)
"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (Jn. 15:26)
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you  
into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever  
He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (Jn. 16:13)

Paul gives us more important information of how inspiration worked as God revealed the one “way” (1 Cor. 2:9-13)

“ 9 But as it is written

‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who  
love Him.’

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches...”

Denominations exist for only one primary reason: they teach unique doctrines. In other words, they teach a multiplicity of “ways” to eternal fellowship with God. That is not what the Scriptures teach! As we’ve already seen, Jesus is the only “way”! He revealed His will through the Holy Spirit and His inspired apostles wrote down His one “way” so that when we read their writings, we share in that same knowledge of the one “way” (cf. Eph. 3:1-5). Paul tells us concerning this one “way” that “God has prepared [it] for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). If we genuinely love God and expect His eternal fellowship, we will abide in this one “way.” Such a mindset will automatically eliminate every denomination on earth. As Paul says (1 Cor. 1:10):

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

There is only one way to achieve that noble and essential goal: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). We must forsake every human creed, catechism, convention, council, etc. and use His Word alone as our only source of authority. To fail in this regard makes any claim on our part to love Him hollow and empty. Jesus said (Jn. 12:48-49):

“ 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”