Christ: The Way to Life
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Way to life
The Way to life
Jesus is the Way, the way to God (Jn14:6) and He is the Way to life (Jn10:10) life now and life beyond this life, in the hereafter (Jn11:25) This morning we are looking at our life, present possession and our life our future hope.
Jesus the way to God (Jn14:6)
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jesus the way to life more abundantly (Jn10:10)
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.
Jesus offers life beyond this life (Jn11:25)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
He provides life for us in the hear and now (eternal life as a present possession)
He provides life for us for the hereafter as a future hope.
So this morning while be ready for lot’s of scripture only two points and a conclusion
Life: Our present possession
Life: Our future hope
Life: Our present possession
Life: Our present possession
Christ gave us life now, to be full, to be more abundantly. It is something to be joy filled when you belong to Christ. So may we look at eternal life as a present possession available to all.
Eternal life as a present possession
Life is in His Son (1Jn5:11-13)
God gave us eternal life in His Son
11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
Whoever has the Son has life
God does not want us to wonder about eternal life either
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Belief in the name of the Son gives us our assurance that we have eternal life.
Qualities of life in the Son (1Jn5:20; Jn17:1-3; 1Jn1:1-3)
Quality: We may have understanding, and know Him who is true
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Not only know Him who is true but that we are in Him, and in knowing that is eternal life!
Look at Jesus words here
1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.
3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Jesus prayer was that they (the apostles; and future believers) would know the only true God and Jesus Christ!
Quality: The knowledge, truth that brings true fellowship with the Father
1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
God offers a quality of life that is here and now, but that quality is through His way, and His way is Jesus. Remember there is no other way according to (Jn14:6) so that opens the door to what is the way to come through Jesus to have this eternal life with God?
This eternal life (here and now)
Begins when we are born again
Born of water and Spirit (Jn3:3-5)
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus says a definitive statement in (3:5) that unless one is born of water and Spirit or cannot enter.
Buried with Christ and raised up (Rom6:3-4)
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
One is baptized into Christ Jesus and baptized into His death (v.3)
Raised from dead! (expand) raised with purpose!
Made alive together with Him (Col2:12-13)
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
Buried, raised with Him through faith in the working of God (v.12)
Clothed with Christ through faith (Gal3:26-27)
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Clothed with Christ when you were baptized into Christ.
(Transition) we know the eternal life for the here and now when it begins, when we are born anew, born again of water and Spirit and that then leads to the life full, life more abundantly or a blessed life “in” Christ
A blessed life “in” Christ Jesus
Blessing: the Spirit (Jn7:37-39; Act2:38; ref Gal5:22-23)
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
The Spirit who was to be given to those whom believed.
Received when baptized into Christ for remission of sins (Act2:38)
Spirit that creates fruit in the ones who believe and are baptized (Gal5:22-23)
Blessing: Peace, calming peace (Jn14:27, Php4:6-7)
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.
Peace that is beyond all comprehension!
Blessing: Joy that is inexpressible (1Pt1:8)
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Blessing: love that casts out fear (1Jn4:18)
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
Blessing: Fruit bearing, much fruit (Jn15:1-8; 1Pt4:10-11)
that we by staying attached to Christ who is the way to life will bring glory to the Father by bearing much fruit
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Fruit bearing, bringing the fruit within to serve the body of Christ so that in all things God maybe glorified through Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ the way to life, life now a present possession with present blessings to those who believe and are willing to follow Jesus with an obedient faith.
All of this is temporal, and pale compared to the eternal life we have in the hereafter our future hope.
Life: Our Future Hope
Life: Our Future Hope
Our life here is but a vapor (Jm4:14) but eternal life, is just that eternal, never ending. Jesus Christ is the way to life eternal a future hope, our hereafter so may we look at that together.
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
We have eternal life promised.
In hope to eternal life (Tit1:2)
But to keep it in context I need to give you more.
1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,
3 but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
So, with knowledge, really foreknowledge God promised hope for eternal life (v.2) and it was proclaimed through His Word (v.3) and we believe, have a common faith in that (v.4).
Our future hope, promise does come with a warning too (Rom2:5-11)
I know this is a longer passage, but again we need to keep things in context
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,
10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
Well I have to stop here just for a minute in that passage Paul is addressing
Stubbornness and unrepentant heart that is storing up promised judgment
But to those who do good, seek good will be for the glory, honor and peace of God for with God there is no partiality.
Our future hope, fruit of holiness ending with everlasting life (Rom6:22; ref: Mt25:46)
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
Coupled with that one we can see the righteous that will enter into eternal life if you look at Mt25:45.
Our future hope to those who believe (Jn11:25-26).
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(Insert: Do you believe picture here)
Deliver the invitation here; deliver the gospel message but hold off on the invitation itself until the end for still have one more sub-point to make
Our future hope, eternal life begins with resurrection from the dead.
Future hope when all are raised (Jn5:28-29)
28 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Some raised to life; some raised to judgment.
Future hope for the righteous, put on immortality (1Cor15:50-52)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Future hope a new heaven and new earth for those who believe (2Pt3:13-14)
13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
In this new heaven and new earth, in this blessed future hope God will dwell with us, all sorrow and suffering gone, tree of life available to all, a place where we will serve and reign forever. (Rev21:1-6; Rev22:2-5)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
and then the other revelation passage
2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;
4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
(Insert do you believe picture here again)
Finish the invitation, the offer of a full, abundantly full life now with a future hope and home in heaven.
Jesus offers living water to those who believe
Jesus offers forgiveness of sins to those who believe
Jesus offers eternal life with the father to those who believe
Jesus offers life, eternal life, are you willing to come to Him today?
Come by belief
Come by confession
Come by repentance
Come in surrender to God’s work (baptism)
Come and enter into eternal life now with a future hope and home for tomorrow
(Song) (Prayer)