Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part Two

Since Jesus is the way to eternal life, let’s now in this continuing lesson consider what Jesus has to say about it...? Jesus teaches that eternal is prepared for a prepared people. People are not going to stumble into it by "accident" - Mt 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it." The way to life is such that few find it. Lack of preparation is the reason! Jesus taught several parables to stress this point. The parable of "The Wedding Feast" - Mt 22:1-2,11-14. The parable of "The Ten Virgins" - Mt 25:1-13 (please read these Parables). Also in His sermon on the mount - Mt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"’ Being religious does not ensure eternal life. We must do the Father’s will!

The only alternative is Hell! Prepared for unprepared people - cf. Mt 25:41 "Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!", 46 "Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life."’ Hell is a terrible place vividly described by Jesus - cf. Re 20:10-15 "Then the devil who fooled them will be thrown into the lake of fire and burning sulfur. He will be there with the beast and the false prophet, and they will be in pain day and night forever and ever. I saw a great white throne with someone sitting on it. Earth and heaven tried to run away, but there was no place for them to go. I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done. The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom also gave up their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done. Afterwards, death and its kingdom were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Anyone whose name wasn't written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."\pard fs28 ; 21:8 "But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death." Hell is the only place that people will "stumble" into! Unfortunately it is where most people will wind up ("many" as opposed to "few") - Mt 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it." Judgment is reserved for those who "know not God" - 2 Th 1:6-9 "It is only right for God to punish everyone who is causing you trouble, but he will give you relief from your troubles. He will do the same for us, when the Lord Jesus comes from heaven with his powerful angels and with a flaming fire. Our Lord Jesus will punish anyone who doesn't know God and won't obey his message. Their punishment will be eternal destruction, and they will be kept far from the presence of our Lord and his glorious strength."
"Punished with everlasting destruction" What a terrible alternative to the eternal life Jesus offers!

God and Jesus have prepared a terrible fate for those who "know not God" and "obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ". They certainly do not want people to experience this...!
God desires all men to be saved - 1 Ti 2:4-5 "God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is, There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us." Jesus is offered as a ransom for all - 1 Ti 2:5-6 "There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us. God showed us this at the right time." In order that "eternal life", and not "everlasting destruction", might be the destiny of all men God has provided the most precious thing to Him as the Mediator between sinful man and Holy God: Jesus - His Beloved Son! God has provided Jesus as The Way to all that is good, both in this life and the one to come! But if what one does not accept Jesus as the Way? Then he or she is destined to a life with little direction here on earth! To die in their sins!
To be forever separated from God! To go through life in religious confusion! To go through eternity in eternal condemnation!

How much better to come to Jesus, and let Him be your Way... To a better life! To forgiveness of sins! To a loving and close relationship with God! Out of religious confusion! To eternal life, with all its prepared glory!

If you haven’t, obey the Lord Jesus and His gospel today! - cf. Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned."; Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 22:16 "What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."

If you would like to make this decision and need some help please contact me at jnlnewsted@nts-online.net