Transcript The One Way - avondalechristians.com

The One Way
Matthew 7:13, 14
The Way that Leads to Life
• In Matt. 7:13, 14 Jesus speaks of this way.
• He shows us that there are two ways we can
•
•
take, but there is only one way that leads to life.
This one way needs to be emphasized so that
there can be no doubt.
The second way may be more popular, but it
only leads to destruction.
The Way that Leads to Life
• It did not begin in the first century: i.e.
•
•
•
Christianity was not an “upstart religion”
established by someone seeking to glorify
himself.
Its roots go back farther than any other
“religion” in existence.
Some say Buddhism and Hinduism are older
than Christianity, why not follow those ways?
Consider-
The Way that Leads to Life
Rom. 1:20-23
About
God Spoke to
Moses and the
Prophets
Hinduism
15th Cent. BC
About
Buddhism
6th Cent. BC
Christ spoke,
Brought Salvation, About
Revealed all Truth
Apostasy
2nd Cent. AD
To Present
Acts 17:30; 1 Thes. 4:16
1 Pet. 1:20; Gen. 1:1
Heb. 1:1
God Spoke
to Fathers
Acts 7:37
Heb. 1:1-2
John 1:17
Acts 7:30-32
The One Way Is…
• It is the way of God; it is the way to God.
• It is the way of truth. (John 14:16)
• The broad way is easy because it does not
require commitment to truth (Matt. 7:13).
– All can do as they please.
– But the way to God is determined by God
Himself and not man (Heb. 12:25-29).
The One Way Is…
• It is the way of obedience (Matt. 7:21)
– There are many who “practice lawlessness”
(disobedience).
– But those who follow the one way do the will
of the Father in heaven.
• It is the way of salvation (Acts 16:14-17,
27-34)
The One Way Is…
• It is often spoken against (John 15:21;
Acts 24:14)
• It is often persecuted (Luke 21:12; Acts
8:1).
• But as Jesus reminds us,
– It is a difficult way because the world is
fighting against it.
– Yet it is the only way to the Father.
Those who are in the Way
• Members of the Lord’s church.
– The true church is not a human institution where people get
together to do their own thing.
– The true church is the body or assembly of people who are
walking that narrow way to eternal life.
– The Lord adds people to His church when they obey the gospel,
these are the ones who will be saved (Acts 2:47).
– They are able to take joy in the promises of God.
• Those who are not in the one way cannot have this hope.
• They have not yet come to the Lord.
– They all have one faith, no matter what part of the world they
live in (Eph. 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 1:1).
– It is a faith that is revealed by the one true God (Rom. 10:17).
Heed the Warnings
• There are many who take the broad way.
– Because it “feels” right.
– Because it “feels” good.
– Because it is what they want to do.
• But we are warned by God, “There is a
way that seems right to a man, but its end
is the way of death” (Prov. 16:25).
Heed the Warnings
• It is possible to leave the One Way.
– Walking on a path gets one to his destination only as
long as he stays on the path.
– If a person begins down the one way but later
chooses to leave it, it can no longer lead him to
eternal life.
– Therefore God warns us, “For if we sin willfully after
we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain
fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation
which will devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:26-27).
Are you in the One Way?
• It is they way of life.
• Jesus invites all men to follow Him
•
•
(Matt. 11:28).
There are many who choose not to follow.
What about you?
– Will you enter through the narrow way?
– Will you follow the plan God has been working on
since the creation?
– Will you allow God to add you to the body of people
who are being saved by obeying the gospel today?