Ep 468 | I Am The Way, The Truth, The Life - Frank Brancato 8/14/22

What a wonderful opportunity that we have to worship God and

we appreciate that. So very much and we have some

visitors among us and we would hope that you would feel as you

are and that is an honored guest This series that I began a while

back. I've really enjoyed very much

presenting it on the seven. I am statements.

That Jesus made as recorded in the Gospel of John.

This is number six. We've already noticed.

The following Jesus says, I am the bread of life.

He said, I am the light of the world.

He said, I am the door. He said, I am the Good Shepherd.

He said, I am the resurrection and the life, and now he says, I

am the way. The truth and the life.

Just a little bit about this text, a little background here.

This was on the eve of the crucifixion of Our Lord.

And he met one more time, behind those locked doors with those

disciples. He was eating the Passover feast

with them. It was, then that he instituted

the memorial that we still participate in today and that is

the communion, the Lord's Supper.

He instituted it on this particular occasion, with those

disciples. It was also the night that he

would be betrayed Judas would sell our lord for thirty pieces,

of silver, the price of a Slave. But on this night, as you've

heard me say, I don't know, a hundred times Jesus was no man's

victim. There was nothing that Jesus

didn't know, and Jesus was not surprised at all.

When they came to arrest him, he knew it all.

He also wasn't surprised when Judas would betray him, he knew

that in fact, on this night, with those disciples behind

those locked doors. He said, one of you will betray

me. And then he said, I will be

delivered into the hands of man and he would lose his life on

that occasion. You know, it's beautiful about

this though in the midst of all of this.

Jesus gives comforting words to his disciples that they're going

to need to get through their life, especially in the days,

following the Lord's crucifixion, he always thinks of

his He would do this again to by the way, in the Garden of

Gethsemane. After he prayed to his father

three times, I won't spend a lot of time on this.

After he prayed to his father. If it be possible, let this cup

pass from me. But not my will.

But yours be done with the determined resolve.

He looked out into the distance there and here they come.

The Roman cohort, 600 soldiers, a band of man led by the

horrible betrayer. Judas Iscariot Jesus sees them

coming and he goes out to meet them.

And he says this, he says, who you looking for?

And they said, Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus said, I am

he, they all fell down. They all got back up.

He asked again, who you looking for?

They said, Jesus of Nazareth. He said I already told you that.

I am. He therefore, let these go.

He protected his own. In the darkest most difficult

times in his life. But in this particular occasion,

these words of comfort, he speaks concerning the place

where he's going. In John chapter 14 and verses

John 14 · chapter mention

two and three. and where I go you know, Jesus said and the way

you know, Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where

you're going and how can we know the way Jesus said to him?

I am the way, the truth and the life.

No one comes to the father, except through me.

First of all, what is the word Mansions mean?

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 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 Thomas said, we don't know

where you're going and how can we know the way?

And Jesus says, in my father's house are many mansions, the

word mentioned, by the way, in this passage means a staying

place and Abiding. Place a dwelling place and a

boat. Okay, he tells them, I'm going

to prepare a place. Now, in your mind, it kind of

sounds like Jesus is saying this, I've kind of thought this

too. But my conclusion doesn't really

make sense. It sounds as though.

Jesus is saying I got to go away, so I can go build a place

for you. I can go and create a place for

you in heaven, but, you know, that's not really what he's

saying, because the mansions that are there have always been

there, the heaven that is going to be prepared for God's.

People is already prepared for God's people.

So what does it mean when he says, I'm going to prepare a

place for you. It literally means this, I'm

going to make a reservation for you.

I'm going to reserve a spot for You, you know, it's kind of like

this Tina is my travel agent. And anytime over the all the

years we've been married that I was going to go somewhere.

She makes a reservation for me at a hotel.

She doesn't create the hotel door exist.

She makes a reservation for me so that when I get there, it's

ready for me. That's what Jesus was saying.

He's telling those disciples. I'm going to go make a

reservation for you in heaven because in my father's house are

many mansions. If it were not.

So I would have told you that's what he meant when he said I'm

going to prepare a place for you.

I'm going to make reservations for you and you know, Not just

those disciples but guess what? The faithful Christian lives

today. And has lived all the years

beginning in Acts chapter 2, all those that are saved.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

All those that are the redeemed, he tells them at this place is

prepared for them. And Thomas says this Thomas

says, Lord, we do not know where you're going and how can we know

the way. And Jesus said these beautiful

words, by the way, these are the most encouraging thoughts.

Is the Lord's response. Thomas said we don't know where

you're going, how we can get there?

Where is it? Jesus says, I am the way.

The truth and the life. This is the sixth.

I am statement of Jesus, and you remember this to the, I am

statements of Jesus indicate who Jesus was and is and they also

tell us a great deal about God himself.

In fact, in John chapter 1 and verse 18.

John 1 · chapter mention

The Bible says, no one has seen God at any time.

Okay. These are exclusive words here.

By the way, no one has seen God at any time.

The only begotten son, that's Jesus.

Who is in the bosom of the father, he has declared Are

these are exclusive in nature. These statements just God and

Jesus. So what are we saying?

Jesus says three things. I'm the way I am the truth.

And I am the life. What did he mean?

First of all first and foremost, he said, I am the way.

And Deuteronomy chapter 30, we learned something very sobering.

Deuteronomy 30 · chapter mention

This is back in the Old Testament and these were words

that were given a long time ago and they describe the following,

they described there's only two ways.

Just too. Only to in Deuteronomy chapter

Deuteronomy 30:15–20

30 verses 15 through 20. The two ways, our life and good

and death and evil. Now we're talking about death

here, everybody's going to die physically unless the Lord comes

back. Sooner before they're dead.

Everybody's going to pass the chilly Waters of death, everyone

that's just part of life. So the debt that we're talking

about here is not physical death.

It's talking about spiritual death, in other words before us

going all the way back to Deuteronomy, chapter 30.

Deuteronomy 30 · chapter mention

Life has a choice. We choose good and there's life,

we choose evil and then there's death, spiritual life and

spiritual death going all the way back to the Old Testament.

All right. What about the New Testament?

What kind of choices are we going to make in Matthew?

Chapter 6, and verse 24, Jesus says, no one can serve two

masters for either. He will hate the one and love

the other or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the

other. And then he says, you cannot

serve God. And Mammon, what does all that

mean? Well, first of all, the Slave,

master relationship was well-known.

In fact, at the time in this country, in that country, many

people had slaves. There's many people that were

slaves, they the slave relationship.

But everybody understood. And they would have known the

concept if you're trying to make a point and making an

illustration to the slave master relationship.

They would have got it, you know why?

Because it was very common, they all knew that you had a master

and the master had slaves. Everybody also would have

understood the concept that the slave Would never divide his

devotion between his master. And somebody else wouldn't do

it. Not only would he not do it?

He wouldn't want to. I mean, after all why would a

slave that is enslaved to a Master create devotion of that

Master and then Devotion to another Master, he wouldn't do

that. Number two.

If he didn't do that, he would be subjected to the punishment

of his own master. So, when Jesus starts speaking

these words, they would have totally understood what he

meant. You can't serve two masters, you

can't be devoted to two masters, but then Jesus adds a little

something, his own self. He adds a little idea here.

He said, you can't serve God and Mammon, what is that?

Mammon is, what is trusted, it is a treasure It is riches.

Please don't misunderstand here. Jesus was not saying you can't

have riches. He wasn't saying you can't have

things in life that you enjoy that are not sinful in wrong and

it said either he didn't say you can't have any money.

Nowhere in the scriptures does it say you can't have any money?

What he's saying is don't divide your attention or your devotion

between God and anything else. Anyone else?

Here's the simple Point, folks. God must be number one in your

devotion. That's it.

And you can have things in life. Surely you, can they're not

sinful. And by the way, every good and

perfect gift is from above. So every good thing in the world

is because of God and anybody in the world.

That's blessed with something good.

That comes from God. That's a fact.

Everybody enjoys that blessing from God in life.

The point is, don't ever let it be that God competes with your

devotion for your devotion with anything else.

Well, let's talk about what Jesus said about two gates.

And two ways in a very familiar, passage in the great Sermon on

the Mount. In Matthew Chapter 7, Enter by

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

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, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that

leads to life. And there are few that find it

in the King James version. It says the word straight stra

it, that's the Straight Gate and it means narrow.

And I like the way the new King James renders it because it says

the word that it actually means. It is the narrow way.

It's Looked, I want to make a point about this, though being a

Christian. Please get this.

And stay with me. Please do this point so you

don't misunderstand. I'm really trying hard for you

to get Living the Christian life is difficult.

And it's a struggle. It's difficult.

And it's a struggle. In Jude 3.

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you

concerning our common salvation. I found it necessary to write to

you exhorting, you to what contend earnestly for the faith.

That once was delivered for the Saints, the word contend there.

By the way, it's a strengthened word in its Origins and it

actually means to agonize, so the word contend means to

agonize mr. Thayer said it this way, he

said, the whole idea is A matter of Christians facing the foe

wherever he is, wherever the opposition is.

Yes, Christianity is a struggle and contention means to be

agonizing in it. By the way, when I get done with

this is going to be encouraging. But let's be realistic.

We got to be realistic. And I'm gonna tell you why just

a moment. You know why?

First this passage in Ephesians 6 and 12.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.

But against principalities against Powers against the

rulers of Darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of

wickedness in the Heavenly places.

Alright, here's some more reality, it's not easy.

It's not I think people need to be realistic.

You know, what happens to people when they have unrealistic

expectations. When they're about to Embark

upon an Endeavor and they have unrealistic expectations of

easy, you know, what happens when it's hard, they get

discouraged and quit. You know why?

Because their expectations were, it's going to be easy.

My mother will remember this years ago, my whole family's Old

World Book, Back when actually had Book Sales and all the

educational products and every year, there was a great big

convention somewhere in the United States, everybody got all

excited about making it to the convention you wanted to sell

enough so that conventions paid for it all that.

You know why? Because you got there and you

want to talk about getting pumped up then get all the cream

of the crop that we're in the company.

All the best salesman. You know they do they get up and

give their testimony they say look this is what I did.

And people get the idea, man. This is so easy.

I'm going to go home and do all this.

They get so high in the air, they got to look down and see

the clouds. You know what happens?

You go home and you start working it.

Oh, it's hard. Wait a minute, I think it's

gonna be hard. He made it sound real easy.

You know, what happens to those, especially the newcomers.

They quit and they do something else.

Unrealistic expectations. I don't want you to have an

unrealistic expectation expectation about being a

Christian, I just want you to understand what it is and it's

worth it. It's worth it.

Yeah, it's going to be a struggle sometimes, folks.

It really is. That's what the Bible says.

Paul In this passage Likens, the Christian Warfare to a wrestling

contest, very common in those days, by the way and you know,

I'm not a wrestler. I never was a wrestler but I

think. Yep, if you pin a guy for two

seconds or so you win the match. But back then, wrestling contest

were quite different. What they did in a wrestling

context contest. Not only, did you have to pin

the opponent but you have the take your hand on the neck of

the opponent and hold his neck down his head, down until that

opponent or that other person that you're beating.

acknowledges, his defeat Yet hold them down until they say.

I'm tapping out. That's what Paul is talking

about. It's that kind of, it's that

kind of a contest. The idea is the antagonist or

the opponent must be held down and let me ask you something.

Who is our opponent? Who is it?

Who is our greatest antagonist? It's the devil.

In James 4:7. Therefore submit to God.

James 4:7

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

In your life, you're going to have to wrestle with the devil.

Why? Because all the Temptations.

And by the way, the devil doesn't come at you with all the

ugly mean, terrible, bad stuff. Because if he did, he would run

from it, we all would be easy. The Devil comes and temps us

with things that we like Temps us with things that we enjoy

appeals to our flesh appeals to our fun side.

And if things are fun and they're okay, it's not from the

devil. But if there are things that are

fun and it's not, okay, those things are from the devil.

So we're in a wrestling contest with the devil, and we need to

rise up against him. How do you do it submit to God?

What else? You got to do?

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

And I promise you this, if you have temptations from the devil

and you're struggling, go to God In Prayer, right?

Then and there submit yourself to God and pray to God, you know

what the devil will leave you. We're time but he always comes

back, but you can have the power to keep him on the run.

All right? Jesse James 4 and verse 7.

Very practical passage of scripture.

Yes, being a Christian requires effort and sacrifice.

In Luke chapter 9 and verse 23. And he said to them all if

Luke 9 · chapter mention

anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up

his cross and follow me. All right, what does it mean to

deny yourself? It means to disown ones.

Earthly interest. And again, what are we talking

about? We're just saying this.

Nothing's going to be more important than God, that's all.

And by the way, when Jesus says that if a person has to do this

and has to do that, and hate this one and love the other at

all, he's not saying that you have to have horrible feelings

about Look your loved ones. You just means you got love God

more. That's it.

God put God first. So you may not have to give up

your Earthly riches to be a Christian.

You may not have to I think we live comfortable lives.

The question, is this, you have to be willing to disown your

Earthly interest. If need be to serve God, that's

what it means. What else?

It's a life of sacrifice. He says, take up your cross.

This was a figurative phrase based on the practice of a

doomed man carrying his cross to the place of crucifixion.

And that's exactly what Jesus did.

So in our life, we don't literally take up a wooden

cross. We literally in our life in a

figurative sense, I mean, in a figurative way We carry our

cross. Meaning we are willing to

sacrifice for Jesus in our life. What are you gonna do?

Put God first and realize it's a life of sacrifice.

So this way is what this way is the way of Christians.

What else acts 16 and 17 This girl, followed Paul and said,

and cried out saying, these men are the Servants of the most

high God, who proclaimed to us the way of Salvation.

It's also the way of God and Acts chapter and Acts chapter 18

Acts 18 · chapter mention

and verse 26. So he began to speak boldly in

the synagogue when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took

him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

So, what is the way? It's a great way.

It's the way of Christians is the way of Salvation is the way

of God. And here's why it's so worth it,

it's the way to have it. It's the way to hit me.

Ask you a question. You want to go to heaven?

Think about that. I would imagine there's no one

here in this audience that would say, nope not me.

I want to go to hell. You want to go ahead?

There's a way to have it. Jesus says, you got choices to

make to Matthew 7:14 because narrow is the gate and difficult

Matthew 7:14

is the way that leads to what leads to life.

And there are few that find it. Also folks listen to this it's

sometimes the lonely path. Sometimes you feel like you're

all by yourself, it's the lonely path.

I did tell you there's some good stuff coming.

I'm presenting the realistic side.

Sometimes it's going to be difficult and I do that like I

said before, so when things are difficult and lonely, you don't

quit, you just understand what it is.

This is often times the lonely path, but this is the path that

our savior. Our Good Shepherd is leading us

with love in the 23rd. Psalm he restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness.

For his name sake and those that walk on this road and stay on.

This road will receive eternal life.

So very important in Romans chapter 2, We got to have some

Romans 2 · chapter mention

staying power. Eternal life to those by.

What? Who?

By patient continuous continuance in doing good seek

for glory, honor and immortality What does this mean?

Beat says it this way. One scholar it.

Signifies the grave holding up under burdens, which would cost

castus down a pressing forward in the face of foes who would

drive us back and that patients manifest itself in Good Works.

Tell him stay in power. Revelation 2 and 10 won't spend

very much time on this but I got we got four with look at this

passage In the seven churches of Asia.

One of the letters from Jesus Through.

John was the church at Smyrna. That was the persecuted Church.

And this is what was said to them.

They were under tremendous persecution, do not fear any of

those things which you are about to suffer.

Indeed the devil is about to throw some of you into prison

that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days,

be faithful unto death and I will give you a Crown of Life.

This phrase be faithful unto death.

Okay. It sounds on the surface like

he's just saying this. Be faithful, all of your life or

until your death and it includes that but contextually that's not

what he's saying. What he's saying is this be

faithful? Even if it takes your life.

Even if you lose your life be faithful, even if it cost you

and you die, don't worry about that.

He said, I'll give you a crown of life.

Now, there's a lot said about this phrase, here, 10 days.

What's 10 days? I've read commentators that

said, 10 days, a day represents a year.

So 10 days is 10 years and some say a lifetime, some say short

lifetime. It really doesn't matter.

This is what it means. Ten days refers to a full and

complete period. It may be long or short, but it

will come to an end, it means to have a willingness to die,

rather than quit, and that's what it means. 10 days. you

know, sometimes people Whether it's those that preach the idea

of a period of tribulation. And they say comes after Jesus

comes back. And there is a period of

tribulation know, the tribulation is right now.

It began all the way back in Acts.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Chapter 2 and the church was established.

It began all the way back there. It will exist until time shall

be no more. That is the period of

tribulation. So when Jesus comes back it's

over with it's good for the same.

No tribulation and those that are lost are cast into the Lake

of Fire. That's what it says.

May have some difficult stuff going on your life, but you can

make it. What else, not only is he the

way, there's no other way to get to God, except through Jesus

Christ. But secondly, Jesus says, I am

the truth, Jesus is the word of God.

And what's that mean? In John chapter 1, And beginning

John 1 · chapter mention

in verse 1 there, he says, in the beginning was the word and

the Word was with God. And the Word was God, the

phrase, the word, it was with God.

Now that word in the Greek is from logos, It was a word used

to express, reason and speech, and thought and expression.

Now obviously, the word here is referring to Jesus Christ before

Jesus was born in the flesh. He was known as the word and the

Word was with God, but there's more, then it says, and the Word

was God and this is where people get confused.

I'm going to try not to be confusing here.

The Word was God, first of all, in these two Clauses, the first

clause in the beginning was the word shows the Lord's Eternal

existence number one, the second clause.

Is the Lord's distinct personality.

He was God, okay. Here's the deal.

Here's the attributes of his deity.

He is God. Let me try to explain this as

simply as I can. There are three separate persons

in the godhead. They are God.

They are Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

There are three separate persons in the godhead.

Not one person, three persons in the godhead and those three

persons in the godhead. They are one in purpose.

They agree with each other. They are working together as one

All in the godhead working together.

So what does it mean? When it says the Word was God,

and what does it mean? When it says Jesus Is God, it's

very simple. Is what sir said.

I want to put this on the screen.

This really explains it. Very simply for me.

How do you sort out? What?

Wait a minute. They're all God.

How can be three persons? Here it is.

The Word was God that phrase is set on the basis that God is the

family name of deity. Hence, any member of that family

would rightfully take that name. Just as any member of the Smith

family would take on the name. Smith, are they all the same

person? No, there's a bunch of Smith's.

The family name. Well, that God.

It's the family name of deity and God the father has it.

The sun has it and the Holy Spirit has it.

They bear the name of deity three separate persons though

working together. And by the way, that's why Jesus

is called God in Isaiah 9:6 For unto us.

Isaiah 9:6

A child is born, unto us a son is given and the government will

be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called

wonderful. Still talking about.

Jesus counselor, still talking about Jesus.

God still talking about Jesus Everlasting father, Prince of

Peace. He Bears, the family name of

deity and that is God. It also explains this to why the

phrase Church of Christ and Church of God are often used

interchangeably in the New Testament acts 20:28.

Acts 20:28

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock

among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to Shepherd

the Church of God, which he purchased with his own blood who

died on the cross, who shed his blood?

It was Jesus. Here, he's called It's called

The Church of God, because Church of God, and church of

Christ are the same. Are the same.

Alright. Then, what happened to this

word? Well, he became flesh.

And dwelt among us and we beheld, his glory, the glory, as

of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth,

the word of God. Please get.

This is truth in John 17 and 17. Sanctify them by your truth.

Your word is truth in Psalm 119 and verse 16 T, the entirety of

your word is truth and every one of your righteous judgement

indoors forever. Here's another passage first

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Thessalonians 2:13 for this reason.

We also thank god without ceasing because when you receive

the word of God, which You heard from us, you're welcomed it, not

as the word of men. Hold it right there.

I have to make a point. Because we're talking about

truth. And the Apostle Paul makes a

distinction between the word of men and the word of Truth.

Why do I make that point? Because sometimes people today

believe in this concept, that every man or every person

determines what truth is for their life and there's no such

thing as absolute truth. Not according to Paul, Paul

makes a distinction, you didn't receive it.

Because it came from, man, you received it as it came from God,

the Of Truth, let me take it a step further.

If I as a man, come up with a philosophy, that is against

God's word. It's the way of man is not the

way of God, if I preach the truth from the word of God, even

though it's coming out of the mouth of a man, it is the word

of God. And that's how those of vessel

and Aika received the word, which Paul's talking about when

it was preached to them. Came from God, What else is this

truth going to do for us John 8:32.

John 8:32

And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Romans chapter 8, and verse 24, the law of the spirit of life in

Romans 8 · chapter mention

Christ, Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death,

okay? Truth brings us to heaven.

And those who live in truth or by the truth, have their names

written in the book of life. Now, Do me a favor.

Would you as we're progressing now, I want you to wrap your

mind around the concept. Of being in the Book of Life.

Because I'll tell you want to be in that.

We all want to be in there. Everybody wants to be in that

book of life, okay? The truth of the word of God

leads us to be found in the book of life.

It leads us to be put in the Book of Life we will all want

that, Philippians chapter 4, and verse 3.

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

And I urge you also True Companion.

Help those women who labored with me in the gospel with

Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers.

Notice whose names are in the Book of Life.

The phrase book of life comes from an Old Testament passage

where it describes God's covenant people.

It goes all the way back to Exodus, 32 and beginning there

in verse 32 yet, now if you will forgive their sin, but if not, I

pray, blot me out of your book, which you have written, and the

Lord said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me.

I will blot him out of my book. Those who overcome folks.

Will be found written in the Book of Life.

John the Revelator said in Revelation chapter 3 and verse

Revelation 3 · chapter mention

5, He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I

will not blot out his name from The Book of Life.

But I will confess his name before my father and before his

angels. You know, the phrase he who

overcomes. It's the same idea as be

faithful unto death. Sir says this that phrase has a

universal practice for institutions that consists of

individual membership, to keep a record of its names in a book.

That fact, is the basis for the figurative idea of Book of Life,

in which the Lord keeps a list of his people.

The point is that all whose names are in there may be

considered in good standing with the Lord.

I want to be in the book of life and I want to In there, because

if I do that, I'm in good standing with the Lord.

And by the way, the only relationship that matters, the

absolute most in your life, we have a lot of relationships.

The only one that matters the greatest second to none.

Is our relationship with the Lord.

That's all that matters. And you know why?

Because if we don't get that right, nothing else matters,

nothing number. Glad I was born used to say if

there is no God, Then, nothing matters. but if there is a God,

nothing else matters. That's the most important

relationship that you will ever have.

I want to be in good standing with the Lord.

I want to be in that book of life.

All right in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1, The Who some sobering

words we got to use this to its time about those that reject the

truth. They're not going to be found in

the book of life but look at this very sobering passage Paul

wrote this. Second Thessalonians 1.

And to give you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord

Jesus is revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in

flaming fire taking Vengeance. On those who do not know God,

And on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord, Jesus

Christ. These shall be punished with

Everlasting, destruction from the presence of the Lord, and

from the glory of his power. When he comes in that day to be

glorified in his Saints and be admired among all those who

believe because our testimony among you was believed I want to

ask you the question again. Are you in the Book of Life?

Are you in there? Revelation 20:15.

Revelation 20:15

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into

the Lake of Fire. What did Jesus say that?

He said I'm the way there's no other way.

He said I'm the truth. There's nothing else that will

guide you and Lead You. And then, he says this finally,

Jesus is the life. He said, I am the life without

Jesus. There is no life.

We learn in John chapter 1, and verse 3, he is Creator.

John 1 · chapter mention

He was there in the very beginning with God.

When the Bible says, let us make man in our image, after our

likeness, It included, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit In

The Creation in Jesus only there is life without him.

There is no life. In fact, John 1:4 tells us that

John 1:4

very thing in him was life. Number three, what else does he

do? Has life it, upholds all things

by the word of his power. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3 in

Hebrews 1 · chapter mention

him, all things consist Colossians chapter 1 and verse

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

17. All right, now In Romans chapter

Romans 6 · chapter mention

6, there's a contrast there. For the wages of sin is death.

And again we're talking about spiritual death, okay?

Spiritual death, Bible says all have sinned and come short of

the glory of God, except the precious little kids.

They haven't sinned, and if they lost their life, their Precious

Little Lives. They go straight.

That they be saved. They go straight to him.

They'd make it right to write to him.

But everybody else that gets old enough to be able to know

better, especially from a moral choice, and commits, a sin,

which is everyone of us at some point, our life.

It's it begins. We become accountable for our

sins. Well, what Paul says is this

what you got coming for sin is spiritual death, separation from

God, here's the great news though, it doesn't have to

happen, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus

Christ, Our Lord The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus

Christ. Our Lord, I want to talk about

the kind of life that it is, by the way.

In John 10:10. I have come that they may have

John 10:10

life and that they may have it more abundantly.

Okay. Remember when I said that

sometimes being Christian is a struggle.

Sometimes it's hard work, sometimes it's discouraging.

Sometimes, it's lonely. All that's true.

But guess what, the life that we're talking about here, what,

what Jesus says, I came that they may have life and have it

more abundantly. That weren't abundantly means

overflowing rich. Fulness That is the life of a

Christian overflowing rich fulness.

Burton Kaufman wrote this, I love this.

How grotesque and unreal are the ideas of those who think the

Christian leads a life of boring inhibition.

Sitting out his years in the chili, Twilight of a monastic,

Gloom forbidden to do, anything that anyone else wants to do and

always cowering in the fear before an Angry God on the

contrary the Christian Life is the happy life free.

Abundant overflowing adventurous, exciting be Any

other kind of existence, why can't men believe their creator

to the effect that the way of Christ is the way of joy and

fulfillment? It's the best life.

It is the greatest life and you know why?

That's what make it practical. That's why, when a faithful

child of God passes away, we're saddened because they're not in

our presence anymore. Oh, but we Rejoice because, you

know, why is saying it? there's a better life after this

one, a Christian has an abundant life and lives his life with the

Abundant riches, understanding all that he gets all that she

gets by being a Christian. In conclusion this morning.

Jesus says, I am the way I am the truth and the life, but

Here's the rest of the story. He says no one comes to the

father. Except through me.

This is the way of God today. In this idea.

This is specific. All and only.

So, if we would look at this passage like this, all those

that would come through Jesus Christ, can go to the father It

also means only those that go through Jesus Christ.

Can go to the father, there's no other way except through Jesus

Christ. So let me ask you this.

Remember when I asked you the question are you in the Book of

Life? Are you following Jesus?

According to the truth. That we talked about today.

If not that I ask you this question.

Are you ready to follow Jesus? Are you ready?

Here are the steps to follow Jesus here.

They are very simple to put every one of them on the screen.

You got to hear the word of God, Romans, 10:17.

So, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

We've done that today. But after you hear the word of

God, you got a choice to make. Jesus said you got to make this

Choice, what's the choice? You got to believe, with all

your heart, Hebrews 11 and 6, but without faith, it's

impossible to please him for. He who comes to God, must

believe that he is, and that he is, a rewarder of those that

diligently seek Him. Do You Believe In Jesus with all

your heart? Today, surely you do?

Then we got to make a change. All that means is I got to

repent, I've been going in this direction.

I don't want to go that direction anymore.

I want to follow Jesus. It's called repentance but

changed my life. Yeah.

Repent of those sins acts 17:30 truly these times of ignorance,

Acts 17:30

God, overlooked. But now commands, all men

everywhere to repent. What else?

I got to make the confession. I believe that Jesus Christ is

the Son of God. The greatest words you will ever

say. When Philip was preaching to the

Ethiopian eunuch, they came to a body of water in the man said,

well here's water, what's keeping me from being baptized

Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may and he

answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of

God, but it is. Now the point of Salvation when

you're baptized for the remission of your sins, Mark

Mark 16:16

16:16. He who believes and is baptized,

will be saved. But he, who does not believe

will be condemned. If you'll do all of that, your

sins will be washed away. You become a child of God.

And you know what's gonna happen?

Your name's gonna be in that book of life.

If you've never taken those steps, obedience we'd love to

assist you in doing that right now.

Today during our invitation, you come forward, let your requests

be made known but maybe maybe have taken all those steps.

May your life, just isn't what it should be.

Maybe you have some changes you need to make maybe use, you've

straightened gone away, that's the case, then what a great time

to come back to Jesus today while we stand while we sing, We

thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of

Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you

would like any additional information or you would like to

receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail.

Please email us at info at True Church of Christ

Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays

at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. p.m.

please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our

honored guest