The Way of Christ, part 1

In previous weeks, we looked at the Message of Christ in two parts. The first part looked at the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the standard Christ announced for entry into Heaven.

We can meet his standard of sinless perfection only by way of salvation through Christ.

The second part of our look at his Message considered questions about salvation.

We looked at Christ’s words for answers.

Today we will begin looking at the Method of Christ.

This first part looks at the Way of Christ from an individual believer’s focus.

Part 1 looks at our walk of faith from an individual viewpoint

(Part 2 will look at our walk from a church perspective)

What we cover in Part 1:

the path we have chosen (choice and cost)

help along the way (the ministry of the Holy Spirit)

we’re on offense (we’re not just ‘having a ramble’)

Our role is to multiply disciples.

The Way of Christ—Three Meanings

…as a direction of motion (choice/path)

Matthew 7:13–14 KJV 1900

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Narrow gate, difficult path

Psalm 1:1–2 KJV 1900

Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Two Ways/Paths...

...the way of the wicked and the way of the godly

...becoming more and more lost (walking past, standing, taking a seat)

Isaiah 30:21 KJV 1900

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, When ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Deuteronomy 5:33 KJV 1900

Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Luke 1:79 KJV 1900

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.

(Prophecy concerning the path Jesus would show us, from Zacharias—father of JTB)

Christ came to show us the way...

…as a manner of living (lifestyle/sect)

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The life that Jesus modeled for us:

…obedience to the will of the Father

…servanthood, humility

…sacrificial love

…heart for the lost

2 John 6 KJV 1900

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Walk according to Christ’s commandments

This lifestyle got noticed immediately—in Jesus’ time—and came to be called ‘the Way’.

Saul was on a mission to round them up.

Acts 9:2 KJV 1900

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Acts 24:14 KJV 1900

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

…as a method of achieving the purpose of Christ in the world

His purpose

Luke 4:18–19 KJV 1900

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 19:10 KJV 1900

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Is there a purpose in your Christian walk?

…or are you just “out for a stroll”?

People want to know their life has meaning.

Consider: A man died a gruesome death, voluntarily, in our place, 2000 years ago.

So, yes, our lives have meaning. Peter says we were bought (redeemed) at a high price:

1 Peter 1:18–19 KJV 1900

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

His method

John 17:9, 17-21

John 17:17–21 KJV 1900

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Method of Jesus: Prepare/Equip others to do the work of ministry

…Prepare disciples who would multiply disciples

Christ came to ‘show us the way’

…to set the captives free

We are meant to be on offense, not on the sidelines

…to defeat our enemy/accuser

Rely on the Word of God (defend ourselves with Scripture)

…He modeled His method

Jesus “poured His life into a few” (disciples)

Our help along the Way...

the Comforter/Paraclete/Intercessor

The Holy Spirit

John 14:26 KJV 1900

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Galatians 5:25 KJV 1900

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

That’s not fair! (Illustration)

Satan came before God and accused Job. We know that story.

Now suppose Satan (the Accuser) comes before God and accuses us.

Consider how unfair Satan will think the system is:

God himself justifies us.

Christ is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us (imputes his righteousness to us)

And the Holy Spirit prays for us in the will of God.

We have complete victory.

Satan will say ‘It’s rigged!’

Romans 8:33–34 KJV 1900

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Romans 8:26–27 KJV 1900

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:37 KJV 1900

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Our focus while on our Way...

GC, and current/end times

Disciple-Making Disciples: A Practical Theology of the Church Chapter Fourteen: End Times and the Disciple-Making Disciple (Daniel 9; Matthew 24)

END TIMES AND THE DISCIPLE-MAKING DISCIPLE

Disciple-Making Disciples: A Practical Theology of the Church Chapter Fourteen: End Times and the Disciple-Making Disciple (Daniel 9; Matthew 24)

This is our focus: preaching the gospel message to the nations of the world while using the method of personal disciple-making to train them to serve Jesus as His Kingdom ambassadors to the next generation. We continue duplicating this process, passing the torch of the gospel message and the disciple-making method of Jesus’ true Church to subsequent generations.

Disciple-Making Disciples: A Practical Theology of the Church Chapter Fourteen: End Times and the Disciple-Making Disciple (Daniel 9; Matthew 24)

We are ready for Jesus’ return while we are preparing for the next mission trip. We should be prepared to meet Him in the air and just as prepared to meet with our Disciple Group on Tuesday night.

Disciple-Making Disciples: A Practical Theology of the Church Chapter Fourteen: End Times and the Disciple-Making Disciple (Daniel 9; Matthew 24)

In our age, we can expect many to speak falsely in the name of Christ while attempting to mislead even the church. Clerical collars of high esteem will no longer call sin “sin,” and the worship of other gods will be celebrated as diversity, saying, “Are we not all God’s children?” As the serpent in the Garden of Eden began by questioning God’s Word, so, too, will the direct teaching of God’s Word be challenged more and more as the second coming of Jesus draws near. Apostasy and lawlessness will increase at an ever-accelerating pace (Cf. Matthew. 24:12; 2 Thessalonians. 2:3). As the crescendo increases in amplitude, the perverse thinking of our culture and the waywardness of modern churches will face the sovereignty of God. Our answer and message must continue to be the hope of the gospel spread through disciple-making: the message and the method of Christ. The time is short, and good news that comes too late is not good news.

Application

Heirs with Christ, IF...

Romans 8:17 KJV 1900

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

…IF we don’t shy away from what He calls us to do.

Rather…trust, pray, and step out in faith.

The “Saintly Scale” from 1 to 10 (and how to make progress)

We don’t really know something (discipleship) until we engage in teaching it to others.

Conclusion/Prayer

Disciple-Making Disciples: A Practical Theology of the Church Chapter Fourteen: End Times and the Disciple-Making Disciple (Daniel 9; Matthew 24)

Be spurred on by the imminent coming of our Lord to share the message of the gospel more frequently and put into practice the method of personal disciple-making more faithfully.

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