“I Am The Way…”

Driving home: God has very graciously, along the way, distilled the whole heart of the message of the Bible in very short statements or texts of Scripture.

The Bible is likened to a 'large, massive, unmistakable signpost to heaven,' containing all necessary information about God, man, sin, and Christ to guide people safely to their eternal destination.

If it were possible, I would like, beginning at the very front row, to sit down next to each one of you individually, from the youngest to the oldest, including each of the young who would understand my question and be able, at least with some degree of comprehension, to respond to it, and ask a very basic and a very simple question. And the question is this. Amidst all of the manifold stories that are found within the pages of this book that we call the Bible, the account of the flood, the account of the mighty conquest of the armies of Joshua, the sad account of the fall of David into sin, N...

0:00 - 1:22 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin systematically unpacks Jesus's three claims: 'I am the way' (the path to the Father's house), 'I am the truth' (the accurate statement of reality concerning God and…

Martin uses the common scenario of parents trying to discern the truth between two squabbling children to illustrate what 'truth' means: an accurate reflection of facts, especially concerning the great issues of heaven and knowing God.

But then secondly, he says, I am the truth. And here he uses no figure of speech. Truth is an accurate statement of reality. Truth is that thing which at times we parents get very frustrated in trying to find out with our kids.

12:07 - 12:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin systematically unpacks Jesus's three claims: 'I am the way' (the path to the Father's house), 'I am the truth' (the accurate statement of reality concerning God and…

The arrival of EMS at a severe freeway accident, checking for 'signs of life' (mere conscious existence), is contrasted with the biblical meaning of 'life' as realized communion with God, to clarify Jesus's claim 'I am the life'.

Now, life in scripture is not mere existence in a conscious state. That's the way we use it at times. There's a severe and frightening accident on the freeway. And when the EMS group arrives, the first thing they're concerned to see is whether or not within those twisted maps, there's a way to get to heaven.

14:48 - 15:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin systematically unpacks Jesus's three claims: 'I am the way' (the path to the Father's house), 'I am the truth' (the accurate statement of reality concerning God and…

The parable of the prodigal son is used to beautifully illustrate the biblical meaning of spiritual 'life' and 'death,' showing that the son was 'dead' to his father in terms of communion, even while physically alive.

That's what life is. Jesus himself defined it that way in John 17 in verse 3, where he said, And this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. And it's beautifully illustrated in the parable of the prodigal. You remember?

15:45 - 16:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Drawing from Jesus's claims, Martin asserts the unavoidable implications for humanity: we are not 'the way' by nature (lost in sin), we are not 'the truth' by nature (spiritually…

Martin sarcastically contrasts academic degrees (BA, MA, PhD) with spiritual ignorance, emphasizing that worldly education does not negate humanity's natural spiritual blindness and alienation from God's life.

I have got a BA from a prestigious university. Well, then you just are a BA, ignorance. I have an MA, a PhD. Ah, but listen to the scriptures. Ephesians 4, 17 and 18. Paul says, don't walk as the Gentiles walk in a state in which their understanding is darkened, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them. Who being past feeling have given themselves over to hardness of heart. That's not very flattering language, is it? I can't imagine the man who holds forth with his plastic grin in his crystal palace telling his congregation next Sunday, you are natively shrouded in ...

30:44 - 31:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: There is nothing but Christ between us and hell. And thank God we need nothing else, but nothing less will do.

Martin quotes the Scottish theologian 'Rabbi Duncan' (George Duncan) who said, 'There is nothing but Christ between us and hell. And thank God we need nothing else, but nothing less will do,' to underscore the absolute necessity and sufficiency of Christ for salvation.

Here is the sobering conclusion drawn. From the claims of Christ, by Christ Himself. There was an old Scottish theologian, they called him Rabbi Duncan, not because he was Jewish, but he was so knowledgeable in Semitic languages and so steeped in Hebrew thought that they nicknamed him Rabbi Duncan. George Duncan was his proper name.

44:40 - 45:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Is Jesus Christ right now your way, your truth, and your life?

Martin uses the hypothetical image of an angel descending with a neon sign declaring someone's election to illustrate that God does not reveal election personally in such a way, but rather through the indiscriminate proclamation of the Gospel.

If not, then I think of you young people who have heard the gospel, some of you, from the dawning of your consciousness. But the real issue is you have not personally appropriated Christ to yourself. And what are you waiting for? Do you expect that God will somehow, in the middle of the night, send an angel down from heaven with a big neon sign with your name on it saying, John?

52:37 - 53:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Embrace that Christ who says, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Martin quotes Bishop Ryle's wisdom on how to be a healthy, growing Christian: 'To use Christ daily as the way. To believe Christ daily as the truth. To live on Christ daily as the life,' emphasizing continuous reliance on Christ.

Useful Christian? Ah, listen to Bishop Ryle, the old Anglican bishop, had great wisdom on many things. Listen to this. Let us grasp and hold fast these truths.

54:40 - 54:53 Read in full sermon