Are You On The Way Or In The Way?

"The Way" is how Jesus referred to Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 ESV).

Throughout the book of Acts, people who were followers of Jesus were not called Christians but considered "a sect of the Nazarenes" and followers of The Way, or people of The Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:5,14, 22). Luke says that Aquila and Priscilla explained to Apollos "the way of God" more fully (Acts 18:26). Peter refers to Christianity as "the way of truth" (2 Peter 2:2). Hebrews says that Jesus' broken body is the "new and living way" for us to enter the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19–20).

The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, was known as Saul, whose sole mission was to arrest those who "belonged to the Way" (Acts 9:2; 22:4 ESV). In Ephesus, Paul met some in the synagogue who "became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way..." (Acts 19:9 ESV). Paul moved the disciples in Ephesus to another location when "some became stubborn and continued in unbelief" and spoke "evil about the Way," which nearly created a riot (Acts 19:8-9, 19:23-41 ESV).

During Paul's trial before Felix (governor of Judea and Samaria), he said, "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect (means - a strong personal choice), I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets" (Acts 24:14 ESV). Felix knew about the Way (v 22). The Romans considered the Way to be a sect of Judaism rather than a separate religion.

Christianity didn't begin as a religion but rather as a movement, with the Romans classifying it as a sect. Its early followers were Jews based in Jerusalem who didn't necessarily view themselves as Christians but rather as followers of a Jewish sect. The earliest recorded use of the term "Christianity" was by Ignatius of Antioch around 100 AD.

A group of followers settled in the ancient Greek city of Antioch some 10-15 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Here, the term 'Christian' (meaning follower of Christ) was first used (Acts 11:26). It wasn't a name the followers of Jesus had given themselves, but rather it was a term applied to them by the people of Antioch. Historians debate whether or not it was used as a derogatory term.

These terms are used in the Bible to describe the developing church as a movement of Jesus Christ. Even today, every Born-Again Christian is part of Jesus' movement. He is our head pastor and leader. When a person joins His movement, they become the physical expression of what God is like so that the fullness of Jesus can be seen and heard through them.

The early Christians were not just committed to a cultural practice or obligation but lived in complete devotion to the Gospel of Jesus. When a person becomes Born-Again they are committing themselves to be fully devoted followers of The Way found only in Jesus and to live out their identity of being His Church instead of merely attending a church.

Jesus called us to LIVE on The Way to fulfill the Great Commandment so that we may LEARN the way of fellowship with Him and then be sent out by Him to LEAD The Way for others to come to know Him and fulfill the Great Commission.

THE HARD AND NARROW WAY

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matt 7:13-14 ESV)

Jesus taught that the way (road) that leads to life is narrow, and few find it. The Greek word for "life" is 'zoe' and in context means the blessing and fullness of a genuinely active, vigorous devotion to Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

The "Way" is a journey. The Ethiopian eunuch went on his way, rejoicing after Philip led him to receive Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:30-39).

The "Way" is a manner of thinking, feeling, and making decisions.

"Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus." (Acts 18:24-28 ESV)