The Way Of Christ - The Way To Life

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                          "THE WAY OF CHRIST"

                            The Way To Life

INTRODUCTION

1. The Way Of Christ is also the way to life...
   a. Jesus came that we might life more abundantly - Jn 10:10
   b. He offers life beyond this life - Jn 11:25

2. Thus He provides the way to life...
   a. For the here and now
   b. For the hereafter

[The life which Jesus offers is described as "eternal life".  As used by
Jesus and His apostles, this term describes both a present possession
and a future hope.  Consider first how Jesus is the way to...

I. ETERNAL LIFE AS A PRESENT POSSESSION

   A. WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE NOW...
      1. John writes of eternal life as a present possession
         a. "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son"
            - 1Jn 5:11
         b. "He who has the Son has life" - 1Jn 5:12
         c. "that you may know that you have eternal life" - 1Jn 5:13
      2. He refers to the quality of life we possess now in Christ
         a. Which comes from knowing God and Jesus - 1Jn 5:20; cf. Jn
            17:1-3
         b. Which emanates from the fellowship we share together with
            Them - 1Jn 1:1-3
      -- This quality of life is available to all willing to come to God
         through Jesus!

   B. THIS ETERNAL LIFE...
      1. Begins when we are born anew in baptism
         a. Born again of water and the Spirit - Jn 3:3-5
         b. Buried with Christ into His death, raised to walk in newness
            of life - Ro 6:3-4
         c. Raised with Christ, made alive together with Him - Col
            2:12-13
         d. Clothed with Christ, thus sons of God through faith in
            Christ - Ga 3:26-27
      2. Remains a blessed life as long as we walk with Jesus
         a. He offers the Spirit to those who believe in Him - Jn
            7:37-39; cf. Ga 5:22-23
         b. He offers peace to calm the troubled heart - Jn 14:27;
            16:33; cf. Php 4:6-7
         c. He offers joy to lift our depressed spirits - Jn 15:11; cf.
            1Pe 1:8
         d. He offers love to cast out fear - Jn 15:9; cf. 1Jn 4:18
         e. He offers ability to bear much fruit - Jn 15:1-8; cf. 1Pe
            4:10-11
      -- This quality of life is available to all willing to follow
         Jesus with an obedient faith!

[Eternal life available now as a present possession includes so much
more:  privilege of prayer, fellowship of saints, etc.).  Even so, it
pales in comparison to the quality of life promised by...]

II. ETERNAL LIFE AS A FUTURE HOPE

   A. WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE PROMISED...
      1. Paul writes of eternal life as a future hope
         a. "in hope of eternal life" - Tit 1:2
         b. "who will render to each one according to his deeds:
            eternal life..." - Ro 2:6-7
         c. "you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting
            life" - Ro 6:22
      2. He refers to the quality of life that follows the Judgment
         a. As Jesus did describing the reward of the righteous - Mt
            25:46
         b. As Jesus did making the promise of life to Martha - Jn 11:25
      -- This future hope is available to all willing to come to God
         through Jesus!

   B. THIS ETERNAL LIFE...
      1. Begins with the resurrection of the dead
         a. When Jesus will raise all the dead - Jn 5:28-29
         b. When the righteous dead will put on immortality - 1Co
            15:50-52
         c. When the righteous will dwell forever in the new earth and
            new heaven - 2Pe 3:13-14
      2. Remains a blessed state in which we dwell with God forever!
         a. In the New Jerusalem in the new earth and new heaven - Re
            21:1-2
         b. In which God wells with His people - Re 21:3
         c. In which God removes all sorrow and suffering - Re 21:4
         d. In which all is new, and the water of life is freely given
            - Re 21:5-6; 22:1
         e. In which the tree of life will be available to all - Re 22:2
         f. In which we shall both serve and reign forever! -  Re 22:3-5
      -- This future hope is available to all willing to follow Jesus
         with an obedient faith!

CONCLUSION

1. What a wonderful life Jesus offers...!
   a. An abundant life for now
   b. A super abundant life for eternity

2. The alternative is too grim to contemplate...
   a. To go through life without God and Jesus
   b. To spend eternity without God and Jesus

Jesus is the way to life, eternal life, and stands ready to give it to
you both as a present possession and a future hope.  Why despair of
life, when the Savior offers you His tender invitation?

   "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
   you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle
   and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My
   yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Mt 11:28-30

Take up His yoke (i.e., become His disciple), and He will lead to life
eternal...
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