"THE WAY OF CHRIST"
The Way To God
INTRODUCTION
- The Way of Christ is first and foremost the way to God...
- Jesus claimed to be the only way to God - Jn 14:6
- He is the way for Jew and Gentile to have access to God - Ep 2:18
- To appreciate why this true, we must understand the gospel of
Christ...
- The good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ
- What Paul calls "the gospel of the grace of God" - Ac 20:24
[Grace is defined as goodwill, lovingkindness, unmerited favor. As we
examine the grace of God in Christ Jesus, consider first...]
- THE NEED FOR GRACE
- ALL ARE SINNERS...
- All sin and fall short of the glory of God - Ro 3:23
- Even one sin condemns - Jm 2:10
- Even good men need saving - Ac 10:1-2; 11:14
-- Do not think that our good works can save us!
- CONSEQUENCES OF SIN...
- The wages of sin is death - Ro 6:23
- Spiritual death involves separation from God - Isa 59:2
- Left in such a state, eternal separation is the result - Re
21:8
-- The consequences of sin are grave, both now and hereafter!
[The point is clear, we all need the grace of God! But praise be to
God, in Christ Jesus there is...]
- THE PROVISION OF GRACE
- BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE...
- God sent His only begotten Son - Jn 3:16
- God offered Jesus as the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for
our sins - 1Jn 4:9-10
-- God truly does love us!
- BECAUSE OF HIS JUSTICE...
- God offers Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb for our sins - Jn 1:29
- God gave Jesus as the redemption for our sins - Ro 3:24-26
-- God has done what is necessary to forgive sinners while still
being just
[Demonstrating that He is both a God of love and a God of justice, God
has provided mankind the grace we need! But that grace is not
unconditional (otherwise all would be saved), it must be received...]
- THE RECEPTION OF GRACE
- OBEYING THE GOSPEL...
- To receive grace, we must obey the gospel
- For Jesus is the author of salvation for those who obey Him
- He 5:9
- And consider the end of those who do not - 1Pe 4:17; 2Th
1:7-9
- To obey the gospel, we must respond to God's grace
- Believing in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God - Jn 8:24;
20:30-31
- Confessing one's faith in the Lord Jesus - Ro 10:9-10; Mt
10:32-33
- Repenting of our sins - Lk 24:46-47; 3:19; 17:30-31
- Being baptized for the remission of sins - Mk 16:15-16; Ac
2:38; 8:35-38; 22:16
- Such obedience does not earn or merit our salvation!
- Baptism involves the mercy and grace of God - Tit 3:4-7
- Baptism unites one with Christ in His death - Ro 6:3-8
- Baptism is God working on you - Col 2:11-13
- Baptism is an appeal for a good conscience - 1Pe 3:21
- Baptism is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ - Ga 3:27
-- By obeying the gospel of Christ, we receive the initial
benefits of God's grace: the remission of sins, the gift of
the Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life
- LIVING THE GOSPEL...
- To continue receiving grace, we must live the gospel
- The gift of eternal life is received at the end - Ro
6:22-23; Mt 25:46
- It is possible to become hardened by the deceitfulness of
sin - He 3:12-14
- We must remain faithful to receive the crown of life - Re
2:10; Jude 1:21
- To live the gospel, we must grow in grace and knowledge
- Grace is multiplied in the knowledge of God and Jesus - 2Pe
1:2-4
- Growing in knowledge involves adding Christ-like qualities
- 2Pe 1:5-11
- Otherwise we might fall from our steadfastness - 2Pe 3:17-18
-- By following the way of Christ in faith and obedience, we
continue to experience the grace of God both now and hereafter!
CONCLUSION
- The way of Christ is the only way to God because...
- God Himself sent His Son to deal with the problem of sin
- Only by sacrificing His Son does God demonstrate both His love and
His justice
- Rejecting the gospel of Christ rejects both the Father and His Son
- cf. 2Jn 1:9
- The way of Christ does not stop with obeying the gospel of grace; it
continues...
- By living the gospel, that is, doing what Jesus taught His
apostles - Mt 28:19-20
- By growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2Pe 3:18
- By remaining faithful to Jesus even to the point of death - Re
2:10
Have you responded to the gospel of the grace of God? Do not hesitate
to let us know if we can be of any assistance...