John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me. The most precious things lie in the smallest compass. Diamonds have much value in little space. Those Scriptural sayings which are fullest of meaning are many of them couched in the fewest words. I. HOW JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY AND HOW HE COMES TO BE SO. A way supposes two points — from which and to which. 1. Christ is the Way — (1) From the guilt of sin. The great difficulty was — How is sin to be put away? Some have hoped for pardon from future good conduct, but the payment of a future debt can by no means discharge a past debt. Some hope much from the mercy of God, but the law knows nothing of clearing the sinner of guilt by a sovereign act of mercy. Here is the way for the sinner to approach the Father. His sin is laid upon Christ, who became his substitute. (2) The text is true concerning the wrath of God on account of sin. The way to escape from wrath is to escape from the sin which causes the wrath. Now, when the sin of God's people was moved from them to Christ, the wrath of God went where the sin went. (3) There comes upon us, in consequence of sin, a deep and terrible depression of spirit. Christ is the way out of the sense of the wrath of God. (4) But more, Christ is the way to escape from the power of sin. A man may break off some of his sins by his own unaided efforts. Still, sin dwells in fallen creatures. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? But there is power which can deliver from the power of sin and make holy; it is found in Christ Jesus. The saints in glory overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and there is no other way of overcoming. The precious blood of atonement wherever sprinkled kills sin. 2. Christ is the Way — (1) To the Father. We hear talk of getting to God the Father by nature, but it is a ladder too short to reach the Infinite. It is only by Christ that we realize the Fatherhood of God. We are God's children when we are created anew in Christ Jesus. (2) To conscious acceptance with the Father. "Made nigh by the blood of Christ."(3) To communion with the Father. You do talk with God when you draw near in Jesus Christ. "Truly, our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."(4) To resemble the Father. You imitate Christ, and so become like the Father. II. WHAT SORT OF WAY IS CHRIST AND FOR WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE? 1. What sort of way. He is — (1) The King's highway, the Divinely-appointed way from sin to the Father. (2) An open way. If I am treading the king's highway I cannot be a trespasser there. (3) A perfect way. It would not be complete unless it came down where you are. Where are you? Defiled by evil living? There is a road from where you are right up to the immaculate perfection of the blessed at God's right hand, and that road is Christ. You think you have some preparations to make, some feelings to pass through, something or other to perform; but all you can do to make yourself fit for Christ is to make yourself unfit; all your preparations are but foul lumber — put them all away. Thou must come as thou art. (4) A free way. There is not a toll bar all along the road. Whosoever wills to have Christ may have Him for the taking. He that will pay for Christ cannot have Him at all. If faith be in one respect a condition, it is in another respect a gift of God, and though we are commanded to repent, yet Jesus is exalted on high to give repentance. (5) A permanent way. Not a way for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, only, but for you; not for the apostles, and martyrs, and early saints, only, but for you. It is a way that never has been broken up, and never will be. (6) A joyful way. (7) The only way. 2. For what sort of people. For all sorts — (1) For wanderers. (2) For backsliders. (3) For captives. (4) For the poorest of the poor. III. HOW WE MAKE CHRIST OUR WAY. 1. How do we make Christ our way? As we make any other way our way: by getting into it. 2. In order to keep the way your own, all you do is to continue in it. "The just shall live by faith," not by any other means. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. |
    |