In reply to a question put forth by Thomas, Jesus answered: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”(John 14:6). In this answer, Jesus has given three areas which he personifies: 1) “I am the way,” 2) “I am the truth,” and 3) “I am the life.” Here Jesus is using what is called a figure of speech called “personification;” where a thing is given human attributes. To help us understand this figure of speech, the following is given: “The sky weeps;” in this expression we are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a human quality. Therefore, we can say that the sky has been personified in the sentence. This is what Jesus has done with the words: 1) “the way,” 2) “the truth,” and 3) “the life.”
When Jesus concludes with: “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” he is saying that one comes unto the Father by means of “the way, the truth, and the life” which he is! The word “cometh” is in the present imperfect tense in the Greek, and means a continuous kind of action, or action in progress. In other words, it started in the past, is going on at the present, and will continue in the future. Another way of saying it, it is a state of persistence! At some point a person, if he is to come unto the Father, must start, continue, and finish the course. Here is a good time to recall the words of Paul: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). The apostle is writing about the middle and the end, but we know about his beginning; as he was asked by Ananias: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). So, Paul started, he continued, and he finished the course; and while he did so, he “kept the faith!”
Paul was baptized “into Christ” and by doing so, he also “put on Christ;” as this is what he was taught by the Holy Spirit: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Therefore, as Jesus personified the terms: “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Paul was in “the way, the truth, and the life!” Paul was one who was doing just what Jesus had said; he had started, was at any point in his life continuing to do, and at the end of his life he had finished his doing; therefore, he “cometh unto the Father,” by Jesus! We are not surprised at his words: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness!” But, Paul did not stop here, however, it is so important that we read on; for it is in Paul’s final words that we also find joy; that is, if we have started in Christ, continued in Christ, and finished the course in Christ: “a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8). It is the case that only those who “cometh unto the Father” by Jesus; who is “the way, the truth, and the life” will “love his appearing!”
John, who is known as the apostle of love, wrote these very strong words: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). Our love of God is expressed in one way, and one way only: that we keep his commandments!” The word translated “keep” is the Greek “tēreō” and means: “to attend to carefully, take care of.” This is done by keeping the eye upon the commandments, in order that they do not escape our attention!
It is sheer folly, the highest type of foolishness, to think that one can continue in Christ and “cometh unto the Father” while not keep on keeping the commandment of Christ! Being in Christ is equal to being in “the way, the truth, and the life;” which is equal to keeping the commandments of Christ! How sobering are the words: “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” and be “in Christ” requires being baptized “into Christ!”
Yet, so many folks laugh, and make fun of the idea of baptism being necessary unto salvation! Do they not understand that they are laughing at and making fun of being “in Christ?”
— Frank R. Williams