Sermon Central
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There Is A Way...
Contributed by Arlen Payne on Nov 24, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Man tries many ways to find salvation, but the Bible clearly states that there is only one way.
There Is A Way
Intro. Matthew 7:13-14
In the glass house at the fair…
-People are wandering around.
-Some just keep stumbling around till they find the
way out.
-Some give up until someone leads them out.
Man has made many attempts to find his way to heaven.
I. The stylish way. Matthew 7:13
A. This is the way of man, find the popular way and
follow the crowd.
-It is wide open
-As long as you are sincere…you’ll be OK
-You can be sincerely wrong.
-The devil is sincere.
B. There are many roads that lead to heaven.
C. All religions are just different roads to the same place.
-They believe in a broad way.
-It will be a Broadway to hell.
-It’s a popular way….
-But it leads to destruction.
II. The selfish way. Proverbs 14:12
A.“I’ve got it figured out.
B. I’m right and everybody else is wrong
-Often the leaders of a cult.
-“It seems right”
-He has figured out some plan to get to heave without God.
-Someone begins to announce…”I have the answer” and everyone flocks to him.
-A sign of the times.
I Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
C. It is a way that is the result of the scheming of a man’s own mind.
-It ends in death. (Jim Jones)
Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
D. Just follow your heart
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
III. The sinner’s way. Proverbs 13:15
A.The transgressor is bent on self-destruction
-It is beyond “good understanding”
-He has no fear of God.
-He has no fear of the Law
-He has respect for no one.
-His own lust is his god.
B.We often don’t understand how someone can ruin their live without regard for their children, family, or anyone in any way.
C. They have chosen the way of the sinner…and it is a hard way.
D. Oh they think it’s the easy way…but experience itself teaches differently, because most will tell you…don’t be like me.
-Their end is also destruction…
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
IV. The strait way. Matthew 7:13
A.Jesus invites you to enter in.
B.It is a “strait” way – established.
C.God in His mercy, and grace, provided a way.
D.It’s not hard to find.
E. However it is rejected by most.
F. God has made it so clear, I don’t know how so many
miss it.
G.Jesus said it Himself. John 14:1-6
-Thomas’ admission
-“I am the way”
-“NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME!
-John 10….I am the door
H. There is no other way into heaven except through Jesus Christ.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Conclusion:
-You can try the stylish way…go with the crowd, and
you’ll follow them right to hell – it leads to
destruction.
-You can try the selfish way…think you got it all figured out…It’ll lead to destruction.
-You can try the sinners say…you’ll be miserable all you life and sill go to hell…an no you won’t party with your friends…you’ll suffer in torment. (Luke 16)
-OR you can trust the Saviors way….
-God’s will is for you is to receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son.
