The Way

The Way

June 12, 2011

Introduction

How do you describe the Christian life? How do you describe life? How do you describe where you are going? How do you know how to get there?

We once used road maps to get where we were going. We once had service stations. When I was sixteen years old, I worked in a service station. We filled cars with gas, checked tires for air pressure, checked oil and water levels, washed windshields, and gave out road maps as well as verbal directions to places near by.

Things have changed! Our car has a light that comes on if we have a low tire. We rarely check oil and water levels, and road maps have largely been replaced with electronic devices such as a GPS, or directions we get from the internet.

But what about life? Where is the road map or the GPS? The Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” In the New Testament, the Christian life came to be known as “The Way” (Psa 119:105 NKJV)

Body

I. The Bible speaks of the way.

The first New Testament reference is to the way of the Lord.

(Mat 3:3 NKJV) For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'"

Jesus called it the way of life..

(Mat 7:13-14 NKJV) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. {14} "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

1. Jesus described Himself as the Way.

(John 14:4-6 NKJV) "And where I go you know, and the way you know." {5} Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" {6} Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

2. Jesus is the way to the place He is preparing.

(John 14:1-3 NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. {2} "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

There are those who have missed the way of peace.

(Rom 3:15-18 NKJV) "Their feet are swift to shed blood; {16} Destruction and misery are in their ways; {17} And the way of peace they have not known." {18} "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

II. What happens along the way. How do we live?

How do we begin the Way?

(Col 3:1-3 NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. {2} Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. {3} For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Where does the Way go?

(Col 3:4 NKJV) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

How do we live along the way?

(Col 3:5-9 NKJV) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. {6} Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, {7} in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. {8} But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. {9} Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

1. Paul gave overall directions as to how to live.

(Col 3:12-17 NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. {14} But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. {15} And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. {16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. {17} And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

2. Paul gave specific directions as to how to live.

a. Instructions for wives.

(Col 3:18 NKJV) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

b. The role of husbands

(Col 3:19 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

c. Instructions to children.

(Col 3:20 NKJV) Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

d. The behavior of fathers.

(Col 3:21 NKJV) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

e. The behavior of children.

(Col 3:21 NKJV) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

f. Servants.

(Col 3:22 NKJV) Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

g. Masters

(Col 4:1 NKJV) Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

III. More general advice for living the way.

(Col 4:2-6 NKJV) Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; {3} meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, {4} that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. {5} Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. {6} Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Conclusion

I. Are you on the way that leads to eternal life?

II. Have you obeyed the gospel?

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