The Way Of Salvation

INTRODUCTION

Outline:

1. The Way in Prophecy

2. The Way in Promise

3. The Way in Proclamation

Introductory Remarks.

1. Our lesson today will discuss a theme: “The Way of Salvation.” This lesson will outline the salvation spoken of by the prophets and promised by Jesus: the only way to the Father, and the proclamation of the way of salvation by the apostles and disciples in the first century. This will be one of our topical sermons. We will identify the text of emphasis and then let the writers explain their meaning. Some will immediately call me “narrow-minded,” of which I will confess: if I am such, so were the prophets, the Lord, and the apostles of Christ. I counted it as an honor to be in the company of Isaiah, the Lord, and the men sent by Jesus to proclaim “the way of salvation” into all the nations.

2. First, we will consider Isaiah’s prophecy of the way of holiness. Isaiah wrote of the “way of salvation.” He penned: “And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein,” Isaiah 35:8.

3. Second, we will discuss Jesus’ promise of the way of truth and life. Jesus spoke unto His apostles just before His death, testifying that “He was the way, the truth, and the life. And no man could come unto the Father, except through Him,” John 14:6. The Lord promised these twelve men: “That he was the only way unto the Father, and thus, to the way of salvation.” And, that no man could come unto the Father, except through Him.

4. Lastly, we will investigate Paul and Silas’s proclamation of the “way of salvation” in Philippi. During Paul and Silas’ preaching in Philippi, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met them, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the Highest God, which show unto us the way of salvation,” Acts 16:16-17. This evil spirit knew of the way of salvation and spake of it through this damsel possessed with a spirit of divination. O’ that men and women of sound mind would read and learn of the “way of salvation” as did those in the first century through the preaching of Paul and others. After this brief introduction, we will examine the lesson's first point: “The Way in Prophecy.”

BODY OF LESSON

I THE WAY IN PROPHECY

A. Isaiah wrote of the “way of salvation.” He penned: “And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein,” Isaiah 35:8. It would serve us well to investigate this prophecy regarding the “way of salvation.”

1. A highway. The word highway in Heb., is maslûl or mas-lool, which means thoroughfare (as turnpiked): —highway. It will be a way of public access and a great travel road. A super highway, a spiritual road of travel.

2. The way of holiness. The word holiness in Hebrew is qodeš or ko'-desh, which means a sacred place or thing; sanctity: —consecrated, dedicated, and hallowed things; holiness, (most) holy (day, portion, thing), saint, or sanctuary.

3. The unclean. Shall not pass over it. The word unclean in Hebrew is ?ame' or taw-may,' which means foul in a religious sense: defiled, infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean. The unclean, impure shall not pass over it.

4. The wayfaring men. But it shall be for the wayfaring men. The word “wayfaring” in Heb., is hala? or haw-lak', which means to walk: —(all) to be a travel(-ler), to walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), a (way-) faring man.

a. Though a fool. The word fool in Heb., is 'evîl or ev-eel', which means silly: —fool(-ish) (man). The ignorant and unlearned will not pass over this highway.

b. Shall not error therein. The word errs in Heb., is ta' 'â or taw-aw, which means to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray; also, causative of both: — (cause to) go astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant, seduce, (cause to) wander, be out of the way.

c. We will now consider each of these pieces of prophecy and how the prophet Isaiah spoke of them in his prophetic utterances. Observe,

B. A highway. Has been spoken of as: “A way of public access; a great road of travel. A super highway, a spiritual road of travel. Isaiah wrote: “And a highway shall be there, and a-way.” What is this highway, this way, in which one must be a traveler? Observe,