Jesus, The Way
JESUS, THE WAY
TEXT: John 14:6
INTRODUCTION:
A. Ask yourself these questions...
1. Do you have problems?
2. Are you confused in things pertaining to life itself?
3. Do you feel lost, with a sense of despair?
4. If you do, don't feel like you are alone...
5. About the time of Abraham, a person who was experiencing a great deal of suffering said: "Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue." - Job 14:1-2
6. Job's words, spoken nearly four thousands years ago, express the sentiments of millions today
B. Now, however, there is a way out: Jesus Christ...!
1. As He Himself said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life..."
2. Yes, to everything thats truly good, both in this life and the one to come, Jesus Christ is the way!
I. THE WAY TO A BETTER LIFE
A. JESUS OFFERS AN ABUNDANT LIFE...
1. On one occasion, Jesus stated His purpose in coming to this earth - "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." - John 10:10
2. This "abundant life" Jesus offers is more than simply life in the "hereafter"
3. Though He does not promise wealth or luxury, He does assure us of...
a) A loving Father in Heaven, Who cares for His children
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
b) More than sufficient provision for those who are willing to follow Him –
Mark 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
B. THOSE WHO RECEIVE THIS LIFE ARE BLESSED...
1. The happiest people in the world are those who truly commit themselves to following Jesus as "The Way"
2. Even though living in the most adverse circumstances, such as:
a) Paul, while living under house arrest - Philippians 4:11-13
b) Christians being persecuted in Asia Minor (Turkey) - 1 Peter 1:6-8
II. THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS
A. JESUS IS THE SOLUTION TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM...
1. He is the only solution to a very serious problem
a) The most serious threat to our well-being that we face: Sin!
b) This is because everyone of us is guilty of sin –
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
2. Sin is not without its consequences
a) Often physical, but always spiritual!
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
b) Unless the problem of sin is resolved, the ultimate consequence is eternity in hell!
B. THROUGH JESUS, GOD PROVIDES FORGIVENESS...
1. Out of love, God offered Jesus as the propitiation for our sins
1 John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
2. Through His blood shed on the cross, Jesus provides forgiveness for our sins
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
3. After His sacrificial death for us, Jesus explained how those lost in sin could be saved
a) It involves repentance
Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
III. THE WAY TO GOD
A. JESUS CAME TO RECONCILE US TO THE FATHER...
1. Many religions, claiming to be Christian, are almost totally silent about the new relationship Jesus provides with God, the Father
a) About all they seem to talk about is "Jesus" or "Holy Spirit"
b) Could this indicate a lack of real understanding of Jesus' purpose?
2. Jesus came to this world to reconcile man back to God the Father
a) God sent Him for that purpose –
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation
b) This is what Jesus claimed to be John 14:6
B. A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS IMPORTANT...
1. One does not truly experience what it means to have "eternal life" without having an intimate relationship with the Father, as well as with the Son
2. Which is exactly what Jesus has to offer us! - John 17:2-3
3. Yes, that eternal life Jesus offers to us includes "knowing" the Father as well as the Son!
IV. THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE
A. DEATH IS INEVITABLE...
1. It is appointed for men to die once
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die
2. After death, then comes the judgment
Hebrews 9:27 but after this the judgment:
3. Death becomes the door, either to eternal life or to eternal condemnation
Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
B. JESUS OFFERS ETERNAL LIFE...
a) To die in Jesus is to die in the way to life eternal!
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
b) As the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
CONCLUSION
