Finding Jesus, The Way

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                            "JESUS, THE WAY"

                         Finding Jesus, The Way

INTRODUCTION

1. In this series, I have attempted to present Jesus as The Way to many
   blessings; indeed, He is the source of every spiritual blessing that
   God has to offer - cf. Ep 1:3

2. But how can we be sure that we have found the true Jesus and are
   truly His disciples...?
   a. Jesus made it clear that simply believing in Him does not
      constitute true discipleship - Jn 8:31
   b. How can we be sure that we are not actually following some
      caricature
      1) A misrepresentation of Jesus, presented to us in error by
         others?
      2) By those sincerely mistaken themselves (such as our parents,
         preachers, churches)?

3. To be sure that we have truly found Jesus, The Way, we must begin
   with the only reliable source of information about Him: The Bible!

[Surprising as it may be to some, a good place to start is with the Old
Testament...]

I. FINDING JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

   A. IT CONTAINS MANY THINGS ABOUT JESUS...
      1. Though completed hundreds of years before He came
      2. As stated by Jesus on at least two occasions - Lk 24:27,44-47
      3. It imparts wisdom that leads to salvation in Jesus - cf. 2 Ti
         3:14-15

   B. WE SEE JESUS THROUGH THE EYES OF PROPHECY...
      1. For example, from Isaiah we can learn things regarding:
         a. The birth of Jesus - Isa 7:14
         b. The suffering of Jesus - Isa 53:4-6
         c. The sovereignty of Jesus - Isa 9:6-7
      2. Many more prophecies could be taken just from Isaiah alone (one
         reason why he is commonly called "The Messianic Prophet")
      3. Other prophets have much to say about Jesus
      4. It has been estimated there are more than 300 prophecies about
         Jesus in the O.T.!

[So we should read the Old Testament in our efforts to find the true
Jesus! But as important as it is in helping us to find Jesus, it's
purpose was predictive, to prepare people for Jesus (cf. Ga 3:24-25).
Therefore, to find Jesus more fully, we must also come to the
gospels...]

II. FINDING JESUS IN THE GOSPELS

   A. FOUR RECORDS WITH A SIMILAR GOAL...
      1. Four accounts of His life...
         a. Matthew emphasizes the "teachings" of Jesus (especially in
            regards to the kingdom)
         b. Mark features the "miracles" of Jesus, showing His power
         c. Luke underscores the "humanity" of Jesus (without detracting
            from His divinity)
         d. John stresses the "divinity" of Jesus (without detracting
            from His humanity)
      2. The goal as expressed by John:  to create faith - Jn 20:30-31
         a. To see Jesus through the eyes of fulfillment
         b. As they carefully document how He fulfilled prophecy

   B. REVEALING WHAT HE ACTUALLY TAUGHT...
      1. No one can know Jesus without reading these gospels carefully
      2. We may often be surprised to find out how different the real
         Jesus is and what He actually taught, from the one imagined by
         many!
      3. For example, many feel that they are going to heaven when they
         die
         a. Jesus taught that most will not - cf. Mt 7:13-14
         b. Many will be surprised at the Judgment Day - cf. Mt 7:21-23
      4. Contrary to the "simple believism" many think is what is
         involved in following Jesus...
         a. The real Jesus taught self-denial - Lk 9:23-25
         b. The real Jesus expected disciples to "observe all things"
            - cf. Mt 28:18-20
         c. Does this sound like the "Jesus" proclaimed by many today?

[By reading the gospels, then, we come much closer to finding Jesus.
But Jesus did not reveal the complete truth while on earth (cf. Jn
16:12-14)!  He left it up to the Holy Spirit to complete the work of
guiding the apostles  into all the truth.  Therefore, to truly find
Jesus and what His Will is for us today, we must also turn to the rest
of the books of the New Testament...]

III. FINDING JESUS IN THE ACTS AND THE EPISTLES

   A. IN THE BOOK OF ACTS...
      1. We see the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy
         Spirit Who would guide them into all the truth - Ac 2:4
      2. We see the Holy Spirit:
         a. Guiding the apostles and early church in its formative stage
            - Ac 13:2,4
         b. Guiding them into all the truth - e.g., Ac 15:28
         b. Revealing things taught during Jesus' ministry not recorded
            in any of the four gospels - cf. Ac 20:35

   B. IN THE EPISTLES...
      1. The words of the apostles (i.e., the epistles) were to be
         received as if from Jesus Himself!
         a. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth - 1Co 14:37
         b. And to the church at Thessalonica - 1Th 2:13
         c. As Jesus said it should be - cf. Jn 13:20
      2. The Holy Spirit did in fact guide the apostles into all the
         truth - cf. Jn 16:13
         a. I.e., with the gospels, the book of Acts and the epistles
            (including Revelation) we find the teachings of Jesus and
            about Jesus completely, fully, and finally revealed!
         b. I.e., no more revelation is needed
            1) We have all that is needed to live godly lives - cf. 2 Pe
               1:2-3
            2) We have all that is needed to be complete - cf. 2Ti 3:
               16-17
            3) Not even an angel from heaven appeared with new doctrines
               - Ga 1:8-9
         c. Our task is to simply remain true to what has been revealed
            once and for all - Jude 3

[With the writings of the New Testament, we are able to see Jesus
through the eyes of completeness! All we need to know to follow Jesus as
The Way is there, for us to learn it, and live it! No other revelations
are needed. Having said this, let me finally emphasize that we only find
Jesus when we truly obey Him...]

IV. FINDING JESUS IN OBEDIENCE

   A. AS EMPHASIZED BY JESUS...
      1. We must abide in His word to be His disciples - Jn 8:31,32
      2. Jesus abides with us as we keep His commandments - Jn 14:21,23
      3. This is how we truly know Him - cf. 1Jn 2:3-5

   B. AS ILLUSTRATED IN BAPTISM...
      1. This is especially true when we come to Jesus in faith and
         repentance, and submit to His command to be baptized - cf. Ga
         3:27
      2. Having received (or "put on") Christ in baptism, we are now in
         Christ, where all things are "new" - 2Co 5:17

CONCLUSION

1. Yes, all things are "new", for in finding Jesus by keeping His
   commands we find...
   a. A better life
   b. Forgiveness for our sins
   c. Reconciliation with God our Father
   d. The privilege of being in the Lord's church (and not some
      denomination begun by men)
   e. The assurance of eternal life

2. Have you found Jesus, or are you following some cheap imitation of
   the real thing...?
   a. Which at best is a misconception fostered by honestly mistaken
      people
   b. Or at worst a slick promotion marketed by those seeking numbers
      rather than disciples?

3. You have truly found Jesus if you are heeding the implications of His
   "Great Commission"...
   a. Accepting the authority (power) He has in heaven and on earth - Mt
      28:18
   b. Have been baptized (upon faith and repentance) as He commanded
      - Mt 28:19
   c. Careful to observe all things that He commanded - Mt 28:20

Such are the only ones who have the assurance: "I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world." They are ones who have "found" Jesus!

Let Jesus be your way to everything that is truly good!  Trust and obey
Him today!
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