"JESUS, THE WAY"
Introducing Jesus As The Way
INTRODUCTION
- As we begin this series of studies, ask yourself these questions...
- Do you have problems?
- Are you confused in things pertaining to life itself?
- Do you feel lost, with a sense of despair?
- If you do, don't feel like you are alone...
- 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
- Job's words, spoken nearly four thousands years ago, express the
sentiments of millions today
- Now, however, there is a way out: Jesus Christ...!
- As He Himself said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life..."
- Jn 14:6
- Yes, to everything that truly good, both in this life and the one
to come, Jesus Christ is the way!
[In this study, I want to introduce several areas in which Jesus is
truly "The Way". Succeeding lessons will expand on these themes, but
for now I simply wish to whet your appetite. For example, Jesus is...]
- THE WAY TO A BETTER LIFE
- JESUS OFFERS AN ABUNDANT LIFE...
- 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." - Jn 10:10
- This "abundant life" Jesus offers is more than simply life in
the "hereafter"
- Though He does not promise wealth or luxury, He does assure us
of...
- A loving Father in Heaven, Who cares for His children - Mt
6:31-33
- More than sufficient provision for those who are willing to
follow Him - Mk 10:29-30
- THOSE WHO RECEIVE THIS LIFE ARE BLESSED...
- The happiest people in the world are those who truly commit
themselves to following Jesus as "The Way"
- Even though living in the most adverse circumstances, such as:
- Paul, while living under house arrest - Php 4:11-13
- Christians being persecuted in Asia Minor (Turkey) - 1Pe 1:6-8
[Jesus is also...]
- THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS
- JESUS IS THE SOLUTION TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM...
- He is the only solution to a very serious problem
- The most serious threat to our well-being that we face:
Sin!
- This is because everyone of us is guilty of sin - Ro 3:23
- Sin is not without its consequences
- Often physical, but always spiritual! - Ro 6:23
- Unless the problem of sin is resolved, the ultimate
consequence is eternity in hell!
- THROUGH JESUS, GOD PROVIDES FORGIVENESS...
- Out of love, God offered Jesus as the propitiation for our sins
- 1Jn 4:9-10
- Through His blood shed on the cross, Jesus provides forgiveness
for our sins - Ep 1:7
- After His sacrificial death for us, Jesus explained how those
lost in sin could be saved
- It involves repentance - Lk 24:46-47
- It also involves faith and baptism - Mk 16:16
[But to be truly happy, we need more than just the forgiveness of sins;
we need to be restored to the close union with God which we lost by our
sins. In this also, Jesus is our answer, for He is...]
- THE WAY TO GOD
- JESUS CAME TO RECONCILE US TO THE FATHER...
- Many religions, claiming to be Christian, are almost totally
silent about the new relationship Jesus provides with God, the
Father
- About all they seem to talk about is "Jesus" or "Holy
Spirit"
- Could this indicate a lack of real understanding of Jesus'
purpose?
- Jesus came to this world to reconcile man back to God the
Father
- God sent Him for that purpose - cf. 2Co 5:17-20
- This is what Jesus claimed to be - Jn 14:6
- A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS IMPORTANT...
- 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
- Which is exactly what Jesus has to offer us! - cf. Jn 17:2-3
- Yes, that eternal life Jesus offers to us includes "knowing"
the Father as well as the Son!
[The way to a better life, the way to forgiveness of sins, the way to
God...what wonderful blessings! But there is more. Jesus is also...]
- THE WAY OUT OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION
- THE DILEMMA MANY FACE TODAY...
- Consider the plight of many who wish to follow Jesus
- They are confused and even repelled by the multitude of
different churches and conflicting doctrines being offered by
those who profess to be His church.
- ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PART OF THIS CONFUSION...
- Jesus certainly does not approve it
- He taught the harm of division - Mt 12:25
- He prayed for His followers to be united - Jn 17:20-21
- Jesus promised to build His church - Mt 16:18
- Despite the efforts of man and Satan to destroy it, or
otherwise change it, they shall not prevail!
- Even today, when someone obeys the words of Jesus Christ,
they are added by the Lord Himself to His church - Ac 2:47
- In His church, we can enjoy the unity of which Paul wrote
- Ep 4:4-6
[But finding His church and enjoying this unity is experienced only as
we follow Jesus as the way out of religious confusion. Finally, let me
point out that Jesus is...]
- THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE
- DEATH IS INEVITABLE...
- It is appointed for men to die once - He 9:27a
- After death, then comes the judgment - He 9:27b
- Death becomes the door, either to eternal life or to eternal
condemnation - cf. Mt 25:46
- JESUS OFFERS ETERNAL LIFE...
- To die in Jesus is to die in the way to life eternal! - Jn 6:27; 11:25
- As the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation - Re 14:13
CONCLUSION
- I hope that I have sparked your interest in wanting to learn more
about Jesus as "The Way"
- As mentioned at the outset of this study, the remaining lessons will
elaborate upon these great blessings provided only through Jesus
- My purpose in this series is twofold...
- For those who are Christians
- To increase their appreciation of Jesus as their Lord and
Savior
- So they will want to serve Him with greater zeal
- For those who are not Christians
- To encourage them to let Jesus be their way to everything that
is truly good
- Both in this life and in the life to come!