"JESUS THE WAY!"
Introduction: As we begin this series of studies, ask yourself these questions …
Do you have problems?
Are you confused in things pertaining to life itself?
Do you feel lost, with a sense of despair?
• If you do, don't feel like you are alone…• About the time of Abraham, a person who was experiencing a great deal of suffering said:
Job 14:1-2 "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.”
• Job's words, spoken nearly 4,000 years ago, express the sentiments of millions today.
• Now; However, there is a way out: Jesus Christ!• As He Himself said: “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” John 14:6 .• Yes, to everything that is truly good, both in this life and the one to come, Jesus Christ is the way.
In this study, I want to introduce several areas in which Jesus is truly “The Way”. The following lessons will expand on these themes, but for now I simply wish to wet your appetite. For example, Jesus is…
I. The Way to a Better Life.
• Jesus offers an abundant life.
• On one occasion, Jesus stated His purpose in coming to this earth –
John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
• This “abundant life” Jesus offers is more than simply life in the “hereafter”.• Thought He does not promise wealth or luxury, He does assure us of; a loving Father in heaven, Who cares for His children.
Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
• More than sufficient provision for those who are willing to follow Him.
Mark 10:29-30 “So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.”
• Those who receive this life are blessed.• The happiest people in the world are those who truly commit themselves to following Jesus as “The Way” .• Even though living in the most adverse circumstances, such as: Paul, while living under house arrest, said:
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• Christians being persecuted in Asia Minor ; Peter would write to them and state:
1 Peter 1:6-8 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”
Jesus is also:
II. The Way to Forgiveness of Sins.
• Jesus is the solution to a serious problem.
• The most serious threat to our well-being that we face; SIN!• This is because everyone of us is guilty of sin.
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
• Sin is not without its consequences.• Often physical, but always spiritual:
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Unless the problem of sin is resolved, the ultimate consequence is eternity in punishment!• Through Jesus, God provides forgiveness.• Out of love, God offered Jesus as the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10 “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
• Through His blood shed on the cross, Jesus provides forgiveness for our sins.
Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
• After His sacrificial death for us, Jesus explained how those lost in sin could be saved.
Mark 16:15-16 “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
But to be truly happy, we need more than just the forgiveness of sins; we need to be restored to the close union with God which we lost by our sins. Jesus is the answer!
III. The Way to God.• Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father.• Many religions, claiming to be Christian, are almost totally silent about the new relationship Jesus provides with God, the Father.
• God sent Him for that purpose.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”
This is what Jesus claimed to be.
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
• A relationship with God is important.• One does not truly experience what it means to have “eternal life” without having an intimate relationship with the Father, as well as with the Son.• This is exactly what Jesus has to offer us!
John 17:2-3 “as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
• Yes, that eternal life Jesus offers to us includes “knowing” the Father as well as the Son!
The way to a better life, the way to forgiveness of sins, the way to God; what wonderful blessings! But there is more, Jesus is also:
IV. The Way Out of Religious Confusion.
• The dilemma many face today!
• They are confused and even repelled by the multitude of different churches and conflicting doctrines being offered by those who profess to be His church.• One does not have to be part of this confusion.• He taught the harm of division.
Matthew 12:25 “But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
• He prayed for His followers to be united.
John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
• Jesus promised to build His church.
Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
• Even today, when someone obeys the word of Jesus Christ, they are added by the Lord Himself to His church.
Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Finally, Jesus is:
V. The Way to Eternal Life.
• Death is inevitable.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
• Jesus offers eternal life.• To die in Jesus is to die in the way to life eternal.• As the Apostle John wrote:
Revelation 14:13 “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
NEXT: “THE WAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS”