I Am The Way (1996 Conf. in CA.)

Driving home: God has given us the Bible to be one large, massive, unmistakable signpost to heaven.

Martin likens the entire Bible to one large, massive, unmistakable signpost to heaven, guiding people to everything they need to know about God, man, sin, and salvation.

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 - 1:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin continues by explaining 'I am the truth' as an accurate statement of reality concerning God, man, and salvation, and 'I am the life' as realized communion and fellowship…

He 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, which Jesus embodies concerning spiritual realities.

Truth is that thing which at times we parents get very frustrated in trying to find out with our kids. You kids know about that. Two of them come into the kitchen. They've been squabbling and mom or dad says, Now wait a minute, wait a minute.

12:20 - 12:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin continues by explaining 'I am the truth' as an accurate statement of reality concerning God, man, and salvation, and 'I am the life' as realized communion and fellowship…

Martin uses the example of EMS workers checking for 'signs of life' after a severe accident to contrast the common understanding of life (mere conscious existence) with the biblical meaning of life (realized communion with God).

He not only claims to be the way, the truth, but now he claims to be the life. 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.

14:37 - 14:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin continues by explaining 'I am the truth' as an accurate statement of reality concerning God, man, and salvation, and 'I am the life' as realized communion and fellowship…

He illustrates the biblical meaning of 'life' and 'death' through the parable of the prodigal son, where the father declares his son 'dead' when he was away from communion, and 'alive' upon his return, signifying restored fellowship.

But when our Lord says, I am the life, He is not speaking of mere conscious existence, but rather life in the Bible is realized communion and fellowship with God. 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.

15:28 - 16:08 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 Scottish theologian Rabbi Duncan, who said, 'There is nothing but Christ between us and hell, and thank God we need nothing else, but nothing less will do,' emphasizing the absolute necessity and sufficiency of Christ.

love life of supposed that mere earnestness will take a man to heaven though he know nothing of Christ the idea is a deadly and ruinous error sincerity will never wipe away our sins it is not true that every man will be saved by his own religion no matter what he believes provided he is diligent and sincere we must not pretend to be wiser than God Christ has said and Christ will stand to his word no man comes to the Father but by me 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 ...

44:03 - 45:30 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have not personally appropriated Christ, do not wait for a special sign, but embrace the freely offered Savior now.

He uses the metaphor of an angel with a neon sign declaring one's election to illustrate that God does not reveal election personally in such a way, but rather through the indiscriminate proclamation of the gospel.

You expected 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, Mary, Harry, Susie, you are elect. You will be saved. No. If you saw such an angel, tell him to go back where he came from.

52:55 - 53:18 Read in full sermon

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

Martin quotes Bishop J.C. Ryle, who advises believers to 'use Christ daily as the way, to believe Christ daily as the truth, to live on Christ daily as the life,' as the key to being a well-informed, thoroughly furnished, and established Christian.

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

54:41 - 54:53 Read in full sermon