The ways of life
The ways of life
Topic: Life - The Way It Was Meant To Be Lived
Jesus is the only way to find fullness in life
Background
Peter on the day of Pentecost all the assembled heard the Apostles speaking.
Peter proclaimed the truth that Jesus is the way to life
Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
He spoke how the house of Israel crucified Jesus and He was raised from the grave.
Conviction came upon them and then they gladly received his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The Fellowship of the Believers
Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
We need a full and meaningful life
ILL. So fearful was the ancient Chinese of their enemies on the north that they built the Great Wall of China, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. It was so high they knew no one could climb over it, & so thick that nothing could break it down. Then they settled back to enjoy their security.
But during the first 100 years of the wall’s existence, China was invaded 3 times. Not once did the enemy break down the wall or climb over its top. Each time they bribed a gatekeeper & marched right through the gates. According to the historians, the Chinese were so busy relying upon the walls of stone that they forgot to teach integrity to their children.
ILL. Brux Austin, the editor of Texas Business magazine, has written rather despairingly: "What is going on in North America?. . .We have no built-in beliefs, no ethical boundaries. `Cheat on your taxes, just don’t get caught. Cheat on your wife, just don’t get AIDS.’ Our high-tech society," he writes, "has given us everything - everything but a conscience," & integrity is a mangled casualty of our times.
"What is the source of my values? I’m getting them from someplace. Where am I getting them?" Now that is an important question, because where I get my values determines how valuable they are.
Peter is telling us the house of Israel that Jesus is Supreme in all our decisions and ways
Job 34:4 says, "You should choose to follow what is right, but first you must define what is good."
Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
The Way of life is a relationship with Christ.
The Way of life covers the way you are living, related to your walk with God
The way of life where we are led from the realm of death to that of life
The way of life is faith and experience
The way of life is Worship lifestyle
The way of life is knowing are identity in Christ
You Are Loved
You Are Chosen
You Are Forgiven
You Are Redeemed
You Are Adopted
You Are Called for a Purpose
6. The way of life is a paradox.
Some save their lives only to lose it.
Others lose their lives to save it.
7. The way of life means following the Right Path of life.
John 14:6, where Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
8. The way of life is the truth, and the life in Christ.
In the words of the esteemed theologian J.I. Packer,
"The Christian's life in all its aspects - intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, up surging in worship and outgoing in witness - is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it. So apart from Him, not only will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all."
9. The way of life is an Sole Pathway
In the Scripture, we find that Jesus Christ is consistently presented as the exclusive pathway to God.
His words in John 14:6 are not merely a claim to divinity, but a profound declaration of His unique role in the divine plan of salvation.
He is not one way among many, but the only way.
A. The first aspect of this truth that we need to consider is the nature of the way that Jesus provides. It is not a path of human effort or religious ritual, but a way of grace.
Jesus did not say, "I am the reward at the end of your striving," but "I am the way."
B. Second, we must understand that Jesus as the way means that there is no other.
Jesus did not say, "I am a way," but "I am the way."
He is not one option among many, but the only option.
C. Third, we need to grasp the implications of Jesus being the way for our daily lives.
If Jesus is the way, then our lives should be marked by a continual following of Him.
This is a lifelong process of transformation that begins the moment we trust in Him and continues until we see Him face to face.
D. Forth, we must recognize that hope found in Jesus being the way.
Jesus did not say, "I am the way, and maybe you will come to the Father," but
"No one comes to the Father except through me." This is a promise that brings comfort in the face of death, and hope in the midst of life's trials and tribulations.
10. The way of life is a Holy Life / or a whole life
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
11. The way of life is a transformed life
Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
12. The way of life is an empowered life
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Titus 2:12
Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13. The way of Life is a restored life
A. Luke 19:8
"And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’"
In this story, Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus leads to a transformation marked by restitution and generosity. It underscores the concept of restoration in the form of repentance and making amends.
B. Luke 15:22-24 – The Prodigal Son’s Restoration
"But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet...For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’"
The parable of the prodigal son is a classic story of redemption and restoration. It illustrates the joy and unconditional love of the father (God) in welcoming back a repentant sinner.
Application:
1 Timothy 4:16 “keep a close watch on all that you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you. He will use you to help other people."
As Christians, we are called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus…literally to be followers of Jesus. So that means that we need to strive to imitate the righteousness and holiness of Jesus.
That means living a life of obedience to God’s Word and being committed to honoring His teachings and commandments in how we carry out our day to day lives.
The culture and world around us will be, almost by default these days, opposed to our aiming for this in our lives…so we must be completely on guard to anything that smells of being conformed to the patterns of this world, just as Jesus taught.
