The Pathway to God

The Pathway to God

If all roads lead to God, then Nicodemus is at the very front of the queue. He was a Pharisee—meticulous about obeying God's word. He was a distinguished teacher, possibly a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of 70 men. He was religious, devout, sincere, and known for being a good guy.

And Jesus told him none of it counted for anything.

Dave Connolly took us through John chapters 3 and 4, where we meet two people who couldn't be more different—yet Jesus meets them with the same uncomfortable truth: you need to be completely remade.

A Collision of Worlds

John's Gospel uses contrast to remind us that Jesus meets every person exactly where and how they most need to be met. In chapter 3, we meet Nicodemus—educated, powerful, religious. In chapter 4, we meet the Samaritan woman—an outcast, unlearned, socially ostracised. Together, these encounters make an important spiritual point: the gospel is for all people in all places at all times.

But let's start with Nicodemus.

Here's a man who has everything going for him: knowledge, gifts, understanding, position, integrity. Dave put it bluntly: "He's the equivalent to a Buddhist leader, to a Catholic Cardinal or even a Protestant, Billy Graham."

If the theory "all paths lead to God" holds any water, Nicodemus should breeze through. But when a good, moral, upright religious person meets Jesus, what happens? Does Jesus affirm and encourage him, or challenge and confront him?

Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Born Again

This phrase has been misunderstood over the years. Some think it refers to a certain type of Christian—"oh, they're born again Christians"—as if it's a subcategory. But Jesus applies it universally.

To be born again means we receive from God nothing less than a completely new life. A completely transformed, completely forgiven life. Even a man like Nicodemus needs this.

Dave didn't sugarcoat it: "In order for Nicodemus to be accepted by God, God must completely remake him from scratch. Nothing less than a completely new beginning can put right all that's wrong with us. Basically, we're a write off. Nothing is worth saving. There's nothing in us that hasn't been corrupted by sin."

That sounds harsh. But Dave drew out the encouragement hidden in it.

"What this means is that we're all on equal ground. Being sincere, moral and religious doesn't help. Our relationship with God is not based on sincerity, morality or religion—it can't be. We need to be completely remade from inside out. Christians can't claim the higher ground."

What Sets Christianity Apart

Here's the uncomfortable truth at the heart of the Christian message: we can't do anything about it ourselves.

Dave called this "the hardest thing to accept, and it's also what sets Christianity apart from every other religion."

Christianity is not about making ourselves better people. It's not about getting our act together. The only thing we bring to God is our need—but that's exactly what God wants from us.

We don't need a minor tweak. We don't need an upgrade. We need a complete new heart.

The Woman at the Well

Then Jesus travels through Samaria—a route most Jews would avoid. The animosity between Jews and Samaritans went back centuries. Yet Jesus had no such prejudice. He had to go through Samaria not only to get to Galilee, but because he had a divine appointment with a particular woman who needed to be forgiven.

She arrives at the well at midday—the hottest part of the day—probably to avoid the other women. Social outcast. Five marriages behind her. Currently living with a man who isn't her husband.

Jesus breaks every cultural barrier to speak with her: gender, race, religion, social standing, holiness. Any one of these would have prevented interaction. Jesus ignores them all.

He offers her living water—eternal life—claiming to be the source of it. Then he probes into her relationships. Having offered her eternal life, he explores her need for forgiveness.

But here's what's remarkable: Jesus's purpose wasn't to berate her or embarrass her or to expose her. It was to explore her need. Having done that, he graciously lets her change the topic.

A Natural Response

When the woman returns to her village, she can't stop talking about Jesus. Dave noted: "This is the normal, the natural and right response to having met Jesus. She hadn't taken a class on evangelism. She didn't feel obligated. She just had to talk about this amazing man she met at the well."

Because she believed, she told others. And many others believed too.

No One Is Beyond Reach

Dave's message was clear: "No one is beyond the reach of the love and the grace and the mercy of God."

The gospel is for each of us—not because of our sincerity, morality, or religion, but because of Jesus himself. We don't need enlightenment. We don't need improvements. We need a saviour. And Jesus Christ is that saviour.

Conversation Street

Does "all paths lead to God"?

If that were true, Nicodemus would be at the front of the queue—yet Jesus told him everything he'd achieved counted for nothing. The Christian claim is specific: Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Not "a way"—"the way." It's an uncomfortable statement, but it's what Jesus claimed.

What does "born again" actually mean?

It's not a type of Christian or a subcategory of belief. Jesus applied it universally: everyone needs to be born again to see the kingdom of God. It means receiving a completely new life from God—transformed, forgiven, remade from scratch. Not an upgrade. A fresh start.

Did Jesus actually claim to be God?

Yes. To the Samaritan woman, he said plainly: "I who speak to you am he"—the Messiah. Throughout John's Gospel, Jesus makes "I am" statements that echo God's self-revelation to Moses. He either was who he claimed to be, or he was a liar and a lunatic. A good man wouldn't make those claims unless they were true.

What's the difference between transformation and conformity?

Dave put it this way: "God wants to see transformation in our lives. Unfortunately, many of us think he's wanting us to conform. That's wrong." God doesn't want robots. He wants unique individuals who have been genuinely changed from the inside out.

Your Next Step This Week

1. Examine your foundation — Are you trusting in your own goodness, morality, or religious activity? Or have you come to Jesus with nothing but your need?

2. Consider the fresh start — "Born again" means a completely new beginning. What would it look like to stop tweaking and start over with God?

3. Be honest before God — The Samaritan woman tried to deflect, but Jesus knew everything anyway. What are you hiding that you could bring into the light?

4. Tell someone — The woman's natural response to meeting Jesus was to tell others. Who could you share your story with this week?

5. Read John 3-4 — Dave encouraged us to walk through these chapters ourselves. Take time to sit with Jesus's encounters with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman.

The Invitation

Dave closed with this: Jesus invites each of us to look to him and live.

That invitation is personal. It doesn't matter whether you're a religious leader like Nicodemus or a social outcast like the woman at the well. The pathway to God is the same for everyone: not through achievement or morality or religious effort, but through Jesus himself.

The only thing you need to bring is your need. And that's exactly what he wants.