A special look at "the way"
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 54:26
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“The Way”
“The Way”
A biblical term used to identify the church in 1st Century. The church had several names given, but today we will focus on the way, the implication, the meaning, the application.
Scripture names of the body of believers (aka church)
Question: when you think about names of the body, what names do you think of?
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church of Christ; church of God (Rom16:16; 1Cor1:2)
The body of Christ, kingdom of Christ (Eph1:22-23, Col1:13)
Temple of God, bride of Christ (1Cor3:16; Rev19:7-8)
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Now may we back up our thoughts with God’s Word.
church of Christ; church of God (Rom16:16; 1Cor1:2)
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Then there is the church of God
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
church of Christ; church of God (Rom16:16; 1Cor1:2)
The body of Christ, kingdom of Christ (Eph1:22-23, Col1:13)
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
A very clear name there isn’t there?
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
church of Christ; church of God (Rom16:16; 1Cor1:2)
The body of Christ, kingdom of Christ (Eph1:22-23, Col1:13)
Temple of God, bride of Christ (1Cor3:16; Rev19:7-8)
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
And add one more
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
But the message today is about “the way” -
Saul persecuted those of the Way (Act9:2, 22:4)
2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
He was not alone, others spoke evil against the Way (Act19:9)
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
The way was apparent reason for riot (Act19:23)
In Ephesus because of the idol worship and the problems when people were turning to the Way from idols
23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.
Paul was impacted by the way and confessed to worship God according to the Way (Act24:14)
14 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;
(stop, expand on that for 1-2 minutes)
Paul spoke to Felix accurately about the Way (Act24:22)
22 But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”
(Transition) Now maybe today we don’t use “the Way” to identify the church as much, we are mostly known as church of Christ or the body of Christ, there are a few groups that may still use it to identify the church, but what does “the Way” mean?
So what does “the Way” mean?
So what does “the Way” mean?
We are simply Christians studying God’s Word together so we will turn to the scripture to answer the question for probable origin and possible meanings (both from inside scripture and outside for this part).
Probable origin
Jesus teaching (Mt7:13-14)
Jesus taught the way, two ways, check this out
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Question: What are the two “ways” here? - do you think this may be where “the Way” came from?
Jesus claim (Jn14:6)
Then there are the words of Jesus himself
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Question: It may seem pretty obvious, but what is the way here?
One way to the Father and that is through the Way provided by the Son (expand on this, the cross is the way provided)
Some alternative suggestions on the meaning
Simon Kistemaker, N.T. Scholar and Theologian offers this
The teaching of the gospel
The Christian’s conduct as guided by the gospel
Or the Christian community as a whole, in general
W. A. Ewell, confederate general, theologian suggests this
The way of salvation (Act16:17)
The true way of God (Act18:25-26)
We better look at the passages not just reference them.
the way of salvation:
17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”
Or maybe the true way to God
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
J. B. Polhill, Professor of New Testament Theology states
Early self-designation of the Jewish Christian community in which they saw themselves as the ‘true way’ within the larger Jewish community (see Act24:14)
(Transition) thought on that one is that this designation was pretty good for it was the way both in doctrine (teaching) and in life (deeds). Speaking of which may we step back and look at the bigger picture now and look at Jesus.
The “way” Jesus
The “way” Jesus
We know Jn14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life,” right? Maybe there is more to the way, more in the scripture regard the way that we can learn from.
Jesus is the Way (Jn14:6; Eph2:18)
I just mentioned Jn14:6, but only a part of it and we need to look at the whole.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Question: Who is Jesus speaking to here? Maybe you need to turn in your bible to see it, but hey, this is a bible study so that is a good thing. What is the promise and the warning of this verse?
Jesus is the way both to Jew and to Gentiles as the way to the Father.
18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
Jesus is the way of truth (Jn18:37, 8:32-36)
Jesus came to bear witness of and to the truth
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Truth to set the captives free from bondage of sin
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
(Transition) Free at last, free at last, because of Jesus I’m free at last. Even in a world when many think they are free without Jesus; eternal freedom is only found in Christ the bearer of truth! Man, this is so much more than just an identifier of the church, isn’t it, but we are not done, there is more.
Jesus the way to life (Jn10:10, 11:25)
Where satan wants the negative, Jesus came to the abundance.
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Satan wants to take life, Jesus wants to give life
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
The way of love (Jn13:34, Mt5:43-45)
Jesus exampled, Jesus taught, Jesus commanded love
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
He even commanded to love the difficult people (enemies) you can see that in Mt5:43-45
The way of joy (Jn15:11, 17:13)
Jesus not only the way of joy, but full joy
11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Filled with joy so that you can be joy
13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
The way of Peace (Jn14:27, 16:33)
peace offered from out of this world
27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
This is the peace that overcomes this world say noted in Jn16:33
The way of unity (Jn17:20-23; Eph2:11-17)
Jesus prayed for unity of the believers, look at a portion of Jesus prayer for the apostles, and in turn the believers.
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
Jesus died on the cross for there to be unity between Jew and Gentiles s noted in (Eph2:11-17)
The way of prayer (LK11:1-13, 18:1-14; Heb4:14-16; 1Jn2:1)
Consistent persistent and humble prayer as noted in Lk11 and Lk18.
Jesus the way of prayer serves as our High Priest who advocates for us when we pray
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
and then add in
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
The way of forgiveness (Mt6:12, 14-15, LK23:34)
forgive our debtors, forgive others trespasses or else, your Father in heaven will not forgive you.
Jesus demonstrated forgiveness on the cross
34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
The way of bearing and being fruitful (Jn15:1-8)
Bearing fruit is proof you are his disciples
Abiding in Him is the key to being a fruit bearer
4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Without abiding in Him you can bear nothing!
I know, have you got it yet, the way is way more!
Its the way of service (Mt20:25-28; Jn13:12-17; Gal5:13)
Jesus came to serve not be serve, Jesus taught serve by serving
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Blessed and loving by serving!
Way of suffering (Lk24:25-26; 1Pt2:20-23)
Jesus had to suffer to enter His glory and for us to have redemption of our sins
25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”
Peter says we are called to share in his suffering if needed to be in 2Pt2:20-23.
The way to glory! (2The1:10-12; Col3:4)
Glory hallelujah! Jesus is the way to glory, the glory that one day will be revealed to us
10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We too shall be revealed in glory in Him
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
(Transition) - Isn’t that what we have hope, faith, confident expectation of good to come, glory? To share in the glory of god in the presence of God for all eternity. For the “way” is provided through Jesus and as the “way” we have looked at how much He is too tonight.
The “way” to
God, truth, life and glory
The way to love, joy, peace and unity
The way to prayer, forgiveness and bearing fruit!
to serving and even suffering for righteousness sake.
(Encouragement slide) encouragement (Prayer slide) prayer