The Way of: Salvation
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Do you know what the first Christians were called before we got our name: Christians?
2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem.
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus.
23 About that time a major disturbance occurred in regard to the Way.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
14 But I confess this to you, that in accordance with 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 is written in the Prophets;
Our first name was “Followers of The Way”.
We were called this because all that we did and all that we believed about life itself was in accordance with the Way of Jesus.
The early Church did not simply believe that the message of Jesus was A way, but that it was THE way - the ONLY way.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.
Over the next few weeks we will look at The Way.
The way of holiness, the way of peace, the way of strength, the way of faith, the way of warfare...
Many people try to go through life their own way, but God tells us:
12 There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.
The way of Death is broad and wide, but the way of life is narrow.
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 narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
To begin this both basic AND enritching series I can think of no better starting place than to make sure each and everyone of you know the only and only true:
Way of Salvation
Way of Salvation
I will begin by asking a few questions and giving you the answers:
Are you hungry?
Not physically hungry, but do you have a hunger for something more in life? Is there something deep inside of you that never seems to be satisfied?
If so, Jesus is the way!
Jesus said
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
Are you confused?
Can you never seem to find a path or purpose in life?
Does it seem like someone has turned out the lights and you cannot find the switch?
If so, Jesus is the way of salvation!
Jesus proclaimed
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
Do you ever feel like you are locked out of life?
Have you tried so many doors, only to find that what is behind them is empty and meaningless?
Are you looking for an entrance into a fulfilling life?
If so, Jesus is the way of salvation!
Jesus declared
9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Do other people always let you down?
Have your relationships been shallow and empty?
Does it seem like everyone is trying to take advantage of you?
If so, Jesus is the way!
Jesus said:
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Do you wonder what happens after this life?
Are you tired of living your life for things that only rot or rust?
Do you sometimes doubt whether life has any meaning?
Do you want to live after you die?
If so, Jesus is the way of salvation!
Jesus declared:
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one 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?”
What is the way?
What is the truth?
What is the life?
Jesus answered:
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY
The hunger that you feel is a spiritual hunger, and can only be filled by Jesus.
Jesus is the only one who can lift the darkness.
Jesus is the door to a satisfying life.
Jesus is the friend and shepherd that you have been looking for.
Jesus is the life—in this world and the next.
Jesus is the way of salvation!
THE REASON
THE REASON
The reason you feel hungry, the reason you seem to be lost in darkness, the reason you cannot find meaning in life, is that you are separated from God.
The Bible tells us that we have all sinned, and are therefore separated from God.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The void you feel in your heart is God missing from your life.
We were created to have a relationship with God.
Because of our sin, we are separated from that relationship.
Even worse, our sin will cause us to be separated from God for all of eternity, in this life and the next.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
How can this problem be solved?
Jesus is the way of salvation!
Jesus took our sin upon Himself.
Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death.
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
THE MOTIVATION
THE MOTIVATION
Why did He do it?
Jesus answered that question Himself:
13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus died so that we could live.
YOUR RESPONSE
YOUR RESPONSE
If we place our faith in Jesus, trusting His death as the payment for our sins, all of our sins are forgiven and washed away.
We will then have our spiritual hunger satisfied.
The lights will be turned on.
We will have access to a fulfilling life.
We will know our true best friend and good shepherd.
We will know that we will have life after we die—a resurrected life in heaven for eternity with Jesus!
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
I am not going to make any assumptions today.
I am not going to assume that just because you are in church you must be saved.
I am not going to assume that just because you filled in a mebership form you are saved.
I am not even going to assume that just because you have been going to church for years, you are saved.
I am not going to assume that because you have a degree in theology you are saved.
I am not going to assume that because you know scripture you are saved.
Do you know why I am not going to make these assumptions:
Because none of these things can get you saved.
ONLY JESUS. ONLY HIS BLOOD. ONLY BY HIS SPIRIT. ONLY BY HIS WORD. ONLY BY HIS GREAT LOVE.