THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Two of the most remarkable statements by Jesus are found in one verse.
Two of the most remarkable statements by Jesus are found in one verse.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life”
“No one cometh unto the Father, but by me”
These statements were made in a discussion with His disciples...
These statements were made in a discussion with His disciples...
As He prepared them for His impending death…
1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go, ye know the way.
Which prompted questions by Thomas and Philip…
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?
In making such statements, Jesus claims to be three things:
In making such statements, Jesus claims to be three things:
“The Way, The Truth, and The Life”
Definite article…THE
Let’s take a closer look at this grand statement of Jesus, where we first observe that Jesus is...
DISCUSSION
THE WAY
THE WAY
Jesus Is The Only Way To God
Jesus Is The Only Way To God
Jesus clearly claims to the be only way to God…
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
As Peter would later proclaim, there is no salvation but through Him…
12 And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.
This may sound politically incorrect, but Jesus states it, nonetheless.
How is Jesus Is The Way To The Father
How is Jesus Is The Way To The Father
By revealing Him, as stressed in the gospel of John.
7 If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
44 And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.
Jesus is the way to the Father by opening the way to Him, as emphasized in the book of Hebrews…
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Jesus is the way to the Father by serving as our high priest, another theme in Hebrews.
17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
14 Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.
21 and having a great priest over the house of God; 22 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water,
Jesus is the way to the Father because He now intercedes for us:
As our Advocate…
1 My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God…
34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Jesus intercedes for us because He is the one (and only) Mediator between God and man…
5 For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,
Jesus ever lives to intercede for us!...
24 but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable. 25 Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Jesus is the way to the Father because He is the door.
9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.
"Door" = the way to Father and the way out of the world
By virtue of His life on earth, His death on the cross, and now His service in heaven, Jesus is truly the only way to God! He shed His blood for The Way
By virtue of His life on earth, His death on the cross, and now His service in heaven, Jesus is truly the only way to God! He shed His blood for The Way
2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
4 and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
Jesus not only is the way to God, He is also...
Jesus not only is the way to God, He is also...
THE TRUTH
THE TRUTH
What Is Truth?
What Is Truth?
The very question posed by Pontius Pilate – “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38)
Consider the meaning of the Greek words translated as “true” and “truth” (according to Vines):
True (alethes) - “unconcealed, manifest...actual, true to fact”
True (alethinos) - “denotes ‘true’ in the sense of ‘real, ideal, genuine;’”
Truth (aletheia)
“objectively, signifying ‘the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter’ (Cremer)” - ibid.
“subjectively, ‘truthfulness,’ ‘truth,’ not merely verbal, but sincerity and integrity of character”
When Jesus speaks of truth, it describes that which corresponds to reality, that which is factual and absolute - NOT a subjective truth, BUT an absolute objective truth
Truth sets free
32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Jesus brought the truth from above
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
Jesus is the truth
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
One must do the truth
21 But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
How Jesus Is The Truth
How Jesus Is The Truth
He proclaims that truth is real and knowable…
32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
His doctrine is the way to truth that frees one from sin and the bondage of sin
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. 36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
He faithfully proclaimed His Father’s Word, which is truth…
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.
By abiding in Jesus’ teachings, we can know the truth and the freedom it offers!
By abiding in Jesus’ teachings, we can know the truth and the freedom it offers!
Truth must be important to us!
Truth must be important to us!
We must fight for the THE faith - the truth
3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
We must hold on the truth and not let it go
13 Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.
Why?
10 For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,
13 This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
Freedom from the bondage of sin becomes even more meaningful when we consider how Jesus is...
Freedom from the bondage of sin becomes even more meaningful when we consider how Jesus is...
THE LIFE
THE LIFE
Jesus Offers Abundant Life
Jesus Offers Abundant Life
As He promised in His discourse as the Good Shepherd…
10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.
Jesus offers a peace the world cannot give
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
He gives us His love, which passes knowledge
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
He provides His joy, that is inexpressible
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
8 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
With such peace, love, and joy - what an abundant life Jesus offers!
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;
How Jesus Provides Abundant Life
How Jesus Provides Abundant Life
By His doctrine regarding the new birth
We must be born again…
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
We must be born again of water and the Spirit…
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
By sending the Spirit who gives the new birth and new life
The Spirit who regenerates us in baptism…
5 not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
The Spirit who becomes for us “rivers of living water”
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. 39 But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Jesus provides abundant life His through gospel, by which we are born again to a new life which the Spirit makes possible…
22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
CONCLUSION
Jesus is truly the way, the truth, and the life...
Jesus is truly the way, the truth, and the life...
The way to knowing and experience God as our Heavenly Father
The embodiment of truth that provides freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin
The source of life that is blessed now and lasts forever!
Has Jesus become your way to God, your truth, and your life?
Has Jesus become your way to God, your truth, and your life?
To a close and personal relationship with God?
To deliverance from the guilt of sin through the blood of Christ?
To an abundant life by virtue of a spiritual rebirth and the blessings that follow?
Jesus may be “the” way, truth, and life, but He is of no value unless He becomes “your” way to the true salvation that leads to eternal life with God.
Jesus may be “the” way, truth, and life, but He is of no value unless He becomes “your” way to the true salvation that leads to eternal life with God.
Have you responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.