The Way

THE WAY

JOHN 14:6

INTRO.

A. ARE THE THINGS PERTAINING TO LIFE SOMETIMES CONFUSING

B. DO YOU SOMETIME FEEL LOST, OR HAVE A SENSE OF DESPAIR

C. IF YOU DO, DON’T FEEL ALONE

D. LONG AGO THERE WAS A MAN THAT STATED THE PROBLEM QUITE WELL –

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” Job 14:1

E. THE WORDS SPOKEN BY JOB EXPRESS THE FEELINGS OF MANY, BUT THERE IS A WAY OUT: JESUS CHRIST

F. BOTH IN THIS LIFE AND IN THE ONE TO COME JESUS IS THE WAY

G. IN OUR STUDY TODAY, LET US LOOK AT SEVERAL AREAS IN WHICH JESUS IS TRULY THE WAY

II. JESUS IS THE WAY TO A BETTER LIFE –

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

A. IN THIS VERSE JESUS STATES ONE OF HIS REASONS FOR COMING INTO THIS WORLD [I AM COME THAT …]

B. THIS "ABUNDANT LIFE" THAT JESUS OFFERS IS MORE THAN JUST LIFE IN THE "HEREAFTER"

C. THOUGH HE DOES NOT PROMISE US WEALTH OR LUXURY, HE DOES ASSURE US OF SEVERAL THINGS

1. A LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN, WHO CARES FOR HIS CHILDREN –

“31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:31-33

A. IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO FIND THAT THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETELY COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO JESUS AS "THE WAY"

b. PAUL WROTE WHEN HE WAS UNDER HOUSE ARREST THAT HE WAS CONTENT, NO MATTER WHAT HIS SITUATION WAS –

“11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:11-13

c. WHEN PETER WROTE TO CHRISTIANS UNDERGOING PERSECUTION, HE COULD HONESTLY SAY

" 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" – I Peter 1:3-8

2. HE IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT PROVISION FOR ALL WHO ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW HIM AS "THE WAY"

III. JESUS IS THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS

A. HE IS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM

B. THE MOST SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR WELL-BEING IS SIN

C. EVERYONE OF US IS GUILTY OF SIN –

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

1. SIN IS NOT WITHOUT ITS CONSEQUENCES, IT IS OFTEN PHYSICAL, BUT ALWAYS SPIRITUAL

2. UNLESS THE PROBLEM OF SIN IS RESOLVED, THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE IS ETERNITY IN HELL

3. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, GOD HAS MADE PROVISION FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS

4. out of love, God offered Jesus as the "propitiation" FOR OUR SINS – I John 4:9-10

A. PROPITIATION REFERS TO GOD’S WRATH BEING SATISFIED BY THE DEATH OF CHRIST

B. IT EMPHASIZES THE REMOVAL OF SIN BY THE SACRIFICE THAT SATISFIED GOD

c. SIN INTERRUPTS NORMAL RELATIONS WITH GOD; PROPITIATION REMOVES SIN AND RESTORES THE RELATIONSHIP

D. THROUGH HIS BLOOD SHED ON THE CROSS, JESUS PROVIDES FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7