The Way

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The Way, The Truth, And The Life
Jn. 14:6

Introduction:

A. Part of what the New Testament does for us is tell us about the wonderful Savior that we have. We find that it gives us various descriptions of Jesus so that we might relate to Him in different ways. We find Him is described as the "Light" that came down from heaven to shine abroad in our hearts (Jn. 8:12; 9:5; 1:7-9), the "Door" through which we enter for salvation (Jn. 10:7-9), the "Bread" of life, the source of our spiritual energy (Jn. 6:31-35, 48-51) and the great "Shepherd" of the sheep who protects his sheep from danger (Jn. 10:10-17).

B. I could go on and on with terms like, High Priest, King, Lamb of God, Cornerstone and many, many more. There are many other descriptions that could be ascribed to Christ but these will suffice for now. But perhaps the best known description of Christ is found in John 14:6. This statement from the Lord impresses our minds with the following thoughts:

I. Christ Is The Way

A. Without Him there can be no going

1. If we are saved it must be by the way of the cross

2. Often sing the old song, "I must needs go home by the way of the cross, There's no other way but this".

B. Characteristics of this way

1. Good way - Jer. 6:16; Isa. 30:21

2. Open way - Matt. 11:28; Rev. 22:17

a. Is not closed to any regardless of status or color

b. The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:27-39

c. Here we find

(1). An open opportunity

(2). An open mind

(3). An open Bible

(4). An open confession

(5). An open body of water

(6). An open obedience

(7). An open rejoicing

3. Simple way - Psa. 119:130; 2 Cor. 11:3

4. Holy way - Isa. 35:8

a. Man's conversion is his condition for entering this way

b. God's word can bring about this conversion - Rom. 1:16; 10:17

5. Narrow way - Matt. 7:13,14

6. Righteous way - Psa. 1:6

7. Blameless or Perfect way - Psa. 18:30

8. Way of Peace - Lk. 1:79

9. More Excellent way - 1 Cor. 12:31

10. A New and Living way - Heb. 10:20

11. The way of Truth - 2 Pet. 2:2

12. The Right way - 2 Pet. 2:15

II. Christ Is The Truth

A. Without Him there can be no knowing

1. Mankind cannot be saved by their own knowledge - Jer. 10:23

2. The Greeks of Paul's day prided themselves with their human knowledge, but Paul declared that they were ignorant - Acts 17:16-23

a. Ignorant of what?

(1). Of the real truth

(2).Did not know the true God or His Son

b. Many today devise their own plan of salvation

(1). Will even cry to Lord, "Save me Lord"

(2). But they want to set the terms

B. Christ is the very essence of truth - Jn. 1:14

1. His word is truth - Jn. 17:17; Lk. 4:25

2. Will make us free from sin - Jn. 8:32

3. His word is final - Matt. 28; Jude 3; Psa. 119:160, 89; Isa. 40:8

4. To accept any other standard of authority is to "believe a lie" - 2 Thess. 2:10-11.

III. Christ Is The Life

A. Without Him there can be no living

B. No one can begin to live until he allows Christ to live in him

1. Jesus Christ is the Source of all life - Jn. 10:10; 6:57; Psa. 36:9; Prov. 8:32-36; Jn. 11:25; 20:30-31; Col. 3:4

a. Paul said, "You are complete in Him" - Col. 2:10

b. And again he said, "Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor that you through His poverty might become rich" - 2 Cor. 8:9

c. The abundant, rich life is in Christ, through His word - Eph. 1:3; Phil. 2:16

2. Christ is the perpetual Strength of life

a. We must continue to abide in the vine to keep on bearing fruit - Jn. 15:1-8

b. The strength of Paul's life is beautifully described in Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:13

3. Christianity is simply the Reproduction of the life of Christ in the lives of men - 1 Jn. 5:12; 2 Jn. 9

a. He gave us an example that we should follow in His steps - 1 Pet. 2:21

Conclusion:

A. Man's free moral agency is implied in this great text. Christ is the WAY, hence man may GO. Christ is the TRUTH, hence man may KNOW. Christ is the LIFE, hence many may LIVE.

B. Won't you take the TRUTH, enter the WAY and LIVE?