Finding Your Way to God

John 14:1-10

Introduction

1.      Some things in the Bible just “jump out and grab you” –e.g. “I am the way. . .no one comes to the Father except by me”

2.      Following Jesus means that you believe what he said is truth – a Christian is not free to arbitrarily decide what he will and what he will not accept as true when it comes from Jesus (or his apostles, which is the same thing)  

Discussion

1.      Where is God?

a.       Rom 1:18-20 – While He is the Creator, He is not found in His creation  

b.      Acts 17:26-27 – He is near (contrasted with the deist who believes that God is “gone”)  

c.       Nahum 1:2-3 – He is in the cloud and in the storm  

d.      Rom 2:4 – He is in the good things that happen  

e.       Gen 9:12-15 – He is in the rainbow (confirming His promise)  

f.       Coming to the Father means something more than simply finding “where” He is  

2.      God is only accessible in the way that He wants to be found

a.       Probably the most important words in Jesus prayer:  “Not as I will, but as You will.” – Matt 26:39  

b.      God is not our Servant, He is our Master – contrast this with our government which is our servant and not our master – “government of the people, by the people, for the people”  

c.       The first four (of the 10 Commandments) confirm the position of God to the Jewish people – Ex 20:1-11  

d.      Abraham had no choice when God demanded the sacrifice of Isaac – Gen 22:1-2  

3.      Jesus provides the only access to the presence of God

a.       Jesus is the designated representative of God – see Matt 3:17  

b.      Jesus is the one through whom God speaks to us – Heb 1:1-2  

c.       Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for sins – 1 John 2:1-2; Heb 10:10-14  

d.      Jesus is the only mediator – 1 Tim 2:5 (the designated high priest – Heb 4:14)  

e.       Jesus is the final judge – John 5:22; Matt 25:31-46

Conclusion

1.       Jesus made a promise to his apostles in John 14:1-4

2.      The same promise is made to Christians in 1 Thess 4:13-18

3.      To share this promise one must believe in Jesus, repent of one’s sins and be baptized in Jesus name for the forgiveness of those sins  (See Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38)