Christ: The Way to God
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
The Way to God
The Way to God
(Insert Jesus is the way to the Father picture)
We started this series with touching on many subjects, topics that all point to Jesus is the “way” and today the focus will be on the way to God.
Jesus claimed He is the way, the only way (Jn14:6)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.
The way, the truth and the life, no one enters except through Him
Jesus is the way for Jew and Gentile (Eph2:17-18)
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
All have access to Him by One Spirit to the Father
Paul says we are all the same in Christ (Gal3:28)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
We need to understand the means, the gospel of grace (Act20:24)
24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
Gospel of grace, the good news, the goodwill, lovingkindness, unmerited favor, power to perform that is found the in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus who is the way of God, Jesus is the gospel of God’s grace to save sinful man.
(transition) - The gospel of grace is the center of Christianity for without it we would not be Christians. The gospel must the in the forefront of everything we do, to some salvation, to others sanctification, some to be born again, others to be matured. This morning we are going to be looking at:
The need for Gods grace through Christ
The provision of God’s grace through Christ
The reception of God’s grace through Christ.
The call to God’s grace through Christ.
The need
The need
God demonstrated grace by sending Jesus even when we were yet sinners (Rom5:8-10), why? Because we needed it and the Father loves us and provides what was needed.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
The who needs God’s grace through Jesus
We all need it (Rom3:23)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
all fall short and need it. All means all! (expand)
Other God’s before God?
Idols, taking Lord’s name in vain?
Rest in the Lord daily (Sabbath)? How about honoring your parents? Ever hated anyone? Had lustful thoughts, stole or even thought of stealing? What about gossip? And finally wanting what someone else has?
Can you see the need? FOr then we need to know:
Reason, even one sin condemns (Jm2:10)
Even if you keep the whole law, but break one, you are guilty of all.
Even good men need saving (Act10:1-2)
1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.
(Expand) even religious people need saving. God loving, God fearing, devote with a good heart a charitable heart still need saving.
(below not on screen; but have them fill out their blank)
Saved by grace not works (Eph2:8-9)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Trans so we know the who, and more, but now the reason)
We are all sinners who face consequences of sin death (Rom6:23)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wages, what we earn. we earn because we sin, the wages, the payment is death. But the free gift, God’s grace through God’s way Jesus Christ is eternal life in Christ Jesus for those who are willing to accept His grace. For with sin there is separation from God.
Sin spiritual separation from God (Isa59:2)
2 There’s nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you. Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God. Your sins got between you so that he doesn’t hear.
Your sins, You and Your God, hides face from You! - not others, your own, for we all fall short, all have the wages of death coming, separation from God.
Without grace we are left in eternal separation from God (Rev21:8)
8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Question for your sheet: Who is eternally separated (in lake that burns with fire and brimstone)(Rev21:8)?
The cowardly, unbelieving, Abominable, murderers, immoral persons, Sorcerers, idolaters and all liars.
(Expand on the need) God knew the need and had a plan, God’s grand plan . . . That plan was purposed in Jesus, the way to the Father. -God knows our needs today, as sinners saved by grace or sinners in need of salvation by grace through faith. God know the way, God provided the Way, and Jesus went by the way (the cross) for us to have eternal life with the Father.
The provision
The provision
Provision the action of providing or supplying something for use. In our case Someone for specific purpose.
God’s provision through Jesus because of His love (Jn3:15-16)
15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God’s provision an acceptable sacrifice (1Jn4:9-10)
9 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.
God’s provision needed and provided because God is just
An acceptable sacrificial lamb (Jn1:29)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus as the redemption of our sins (Rom3:24-26)
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(insert Gods provision picture here)
God did what was needed, made provision for us to be redeemed, to have our sins forgiven while still being just. He is both just and the justifier. God provided all mankind what was needed to be reconciled to Holy God because of His great love for us. But grace is available but not unconditional, you must accept the conditions.
The reception of Grace
The reception of Grace
Everything comes with instructions doesn’t it? The receipt of God’s free gift of grace has instructions too and though many may know them, it is good to expound on them and be reminded of them.
The reception comes from the author by obedience (Heb12:1-2; Heb5:9)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
and I have to add to that one
9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
He is author, perfecter and source of eternal salvation!
There are consequences for those who do not obey (1Pt4:17; 2The1:7-9)
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
So how about the outcome?
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
Disobedience and you pay the penalty of eternal destruction.
To obey the gospel, we must respond to God’s grace by:
Believing in Jesus as the Christ (Jn8:24; Jn20:30-31)
24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
But hey the book of john tells us that all the things were written so we could believe and have eternal life in Jesus name.
Confessing your faith in Lord Jesus (Rom10:9-10; Mt10:32-33)
9 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.
Add to that the words of Jesus
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Repenting of our sins (Lk24:46-47)
46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Baptism for remission of sins (Mk16:15-16; Act2:38, 8:35-38)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Then there is the words of Peter on Pentecost
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
and
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
But wait there is more, we have a few minutes let me give you some stuff not on your outline but here on the screen.
Baptism encompasses Gods mercy and Grace (Tit3:4-7)
(Scriptures below are not scriptures but are paraphrase or a summary of the scriptures. you are encouraged to write them down in your notes)
God’s kindness and love for man, given according to His mercy saves us through the washing and regeneration of the Spirit, whom was poured out abundantly through Jesus Christ and we are justified by grace.
Baptism unites us with Christ in His death (Rom6:3-8)
Those who are baptized are baptized into Jesus death, buried with Him and as Christ was raised up those who are baptized are raised up.This is the place we are united with Christ. Where the old man of sin, body of sin, is done away with and we are set free from sin!
Baptism is God’s work working in you (Col2:11-13)
Gods hand of circumcision, cutting away your sin, the body of the sins of the flesh and through faith in God are raising you up! Having our sins nailed to the cross!
Baptism is an appeal for a good conscience (1Pt3:21)
Baptism saves, it is an appeal to God for a good conscience.
Baptism is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal3:27)
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
One more thing and we will close, ok maybe two quick ones
(Insert Live out the gospel picture here)
Live it out in your love for others
Live it out in your forgiveness of others
Live it out in your sharing with others
Live it out in adding to your grace and knowledge of the truth
Be faithful until the end and receive the crown of life.
Do as Jesus says:
(Insert Live Obediently picture here)
invitation (Song) (Prayer) (Exit)