The Way
By: Pastor Wade Bass
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:5, 6
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Acts 9:2
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Acts 16:17
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Acts 18:26
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. Acts 19:8,9
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. Acts 22:4
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Acts 24:14
There are two destinations for man’s eternal soul. Heaven and Hell Read: Matthew 25:31 -35, 41 , 46
Question #1 : Which place, Heaven or Hell, do we desire to spend eternity? Most obvious answer: Heaven
Question #2: How do we get there?
Every earthly destination to which we desire to travel can be reached by following the directions given in the road map. The Bible, likewise, is our road map to our eternal destination.
Question #3: What is the way the word of God instructs us we must take if we are to reach heaven?
Read: John 3:1-3. We are now beginning to see the way. We must be born again.
Question #4: What does the term “born again” really mean?
Read: John 3:4-8 To be “born again” is to be “born of water and of the Spirit.” We cannot enter in the kingdom of God without this new birth experience.
Question # 5: What does Jesus mean when he says to be “born of water?”
Two reasons we know that Jesus is not talking about natural birth.
1 . In John 3:3, Jesus uses the term “born again” signifying a definite second birth in a person’s life.
2. In John 3:5, Jesus uses the phrase “born of water” instead of “born of the water” signifying that it could be any kind of water.
When we study the scriptures that deal with New Testament salvation we understand that “born of water” means to be baptized.
Jesus placed great emphasis on baptism by stating that it was essential to a person’s salvation. Read: Mark 16:16
Question #6: Since baptism is essential in a person’s salvation process is there a correct method of baptism?
Definition of baptize: to make fully wet.
Read Matthew 3:16 “Jesus, when he was baptized. went up straightway out of the water…” Acts 8:38 “…and they went down into the water,…and he baptized him.”
We understand by the definition of the word baptize and scriptural example that the correct method of baptism is by complete immersion.
Question #7: If immersion is the correct method for baptism is there a correct formula or certain words that must be spoken over a person as they are being baptized for their baptism to be valid?
Read: Matthew 28:19
Jesus instructed his disciples to baptize in the NAME (singular). Since Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are only titles, what is the NAME- of the Father? John 5:43 of the Son? Matthew 1 :21 of the Holy Ghost? John 14:26
Read Luke 24:47 Further proof that Jesus commanded baptism in his name since remission of sins is by baptism.
Read Matthew 16:19 Jesus gives to Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Did the disciples of Jesus baptize their converts as Jesus commanded them to?
Read: Acts 2:38 Acts 8:16 Acts 10:48
How important is the name of Jesus to your salvation? Read: Acts 4:12
Question #8: What did Jesus mean by being “born of the Spirit?”
Two reasons that we know Jesus was not talking about natural birth.
1 . In John 3:3, Jesus uses the term “born again” signifying a definite second birth in a person’s life.
2. In the Bible when the Spirit of God is referred to it is always spelled with a capital “S” while man’s spirit is spelled with a lower case “s.” The reference is also to “the Spirit” signifying a birth by only one Spirit and that being the Spirit of God.
The following scriptures teach us that the birth of the Spirit is the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
Ezekial 36:26, 27 “I will put my spirit within you…”
Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist “…for he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
John 7:37-39 “…out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7 “…for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Jesus also instructed the disciples the place where the initial outpouring of the Holy Ghost would be.
Read: Luke 24:49 “…but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem…”
Acts 1:4-8 “commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise…”
Read: Acts 2:1-4 The initial outpouring of the Holy Ghost. The Apostle Peter then affirms that this is the promised gift that had been foretold by the prophets of old. Acts 2:14-18
Read: Acts 2:36-38 Because Peter is the one to whom Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven, He is the one who preaches the message of salvation on the day of Pentecost. It is now that we see salvation’s message preached with the inclusion of water baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. This is the new birth message.
Read Acts 1:8 Jesus has told the disciples that they would be a witness of these things
in Jerusalem- Acts 2
in Judea- Acts 3, 4, 5
in Samaria- Acts 8
unto the uttermost parts of the earth (the Gentiles) Act. 10
In each of the places, the message is the same; baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
Question #9: What evidence or sign did God give as proof that the Holy Ghost had come into a person’s life? Read:
Isaiah 28:11 “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.”
John 3:8 “…thou hearest the sound thereof,…so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
Acts 2:4 “…and began to speak with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 10:44-46 “For they heard them speak with tongues…”
Question #10: What did the Apostle Paul, the one who wrote the majority of the New Testament Epistles to the church, preach as the plan of salvation?
Read: Galatians 1 & 2:1, 2
1. vs. 6-7 He was thoroughly convinced that there was but one gospel.
2. vs. 8-9 He so firmly believed in the gospel that he had preached to the Galatians he declared a curse on any man who preached anything else to them but what he had preached.
3. vs. 11-12 He declares that the gospel he preached came by direct revelation of Jesus Christ.
4. vs. 17-18 After spending three years in Arabia and Damascus, he returns to Jerusalem to compare notes of his revelations with Peter, the man with the keys to heaven.
5. vs. 23 He begins to preach the faith which he once destroyed. Acts 7:54-60: 8:1 , Saul consented or gave permission for Stephen’s death. Stephen was a man full of the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:5).
6. 2:1, 2 Fourteen years later, He again returns to Jerusalem to make sure that the message of salvation he preached among the Gentiles was right.
Read: Acts 19:1-6
This is the message of salvation or the gospel that the Apostle Paul preached. These scriptures prove that the Apostle Paul preached more that just “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
1. vs. 2 The first question he asked these disciples was, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed ?”
2. vs. 3 The second question was, “Unto what then were ye baptized?”
If Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Ghost speaking with tongues was not essential to salvation then Paul would never have RE-BAPTIZED these disciples of John the Baptist and then laid hands on them to receive the Holy Ghost.
Question #11: Was the Apostle Paul baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost speaking with tongues? YES
We understand by these scriptures that-
1. Acts 9:17-18 Paul was promised not only the return of his eyesight but also the Holy Ghost.
2. Acts 22:16 Ananias commanded Paul to be baptized in the name of Jesus. The phrase “calling upon the name of the Lord,” means to invoke the name.
3. 1 Corinthians 14:18 Paul spake in tongues according to this scripture.
Question #12: Is Holy Ghost baptism for us today?
Read Acts 2:39
So we understand by all these scriptures that The Way of salvation is to repent of your sins (have a change of mind and purpose for your life, that being to cease the lifestyle of sin and begin to pursue a lifestyle of righteousness), be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking with tongues as the Spirit gives unto you the utterance.
(The material above was published by Life Tabernacle Ministries in Ocala, FL.)
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