Paths - Right Way, Way of Christ, Path of Sin, and Divine Ways
Introduction:
The concept of "paths" or "ways" is frequently used in Scripture to describe the direction of one's life, choices, and relationship with God. This study will explore different types of paths presented in the Bible: the Right Way, the Way of Christ, the Path of Sin, and Divine Ways.
RIGHT WAY:
This path signifies the way of righteousness, truth, and obedience to God's commands.
• Isaiah 26:7: "The way of the righteous is level; you make level the path of the just." The life of the righteous is characterized by straightforwardness and God's guidance in making their path smooth.
◦ Discussion: What does it mean for the path of the righteous to be "level"? How does God "make level" the path of the just?
• Jeremiah 42:3: "[They said to Jeremiah,] ‘Let the Lord your God show us the way we should go and the thing we should do.’" The people sought guidance from God through the prophet to know the right way to proceed.
◦ Discussion: In what situations in your life do you seek God's guidance to know the right path? How do you discern His direction?
• Matthew 7:14: "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Jesus describes the path to eternal life as challenging but ultimately the right way.
◦ Discussion: Why is the path to life described as "narrow" and "hard"? What does it take to find and stay on this right way?
• Luke 1:79: "[To give light] to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Zechariah prophesies about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, who would guide people into the right way of peace.
◦ Discussion: How does Jesus guide our feet into the way of peace? What does this "peace" encompass?
WAY, CHRIST:
Jesus Himself declared that He is the ultimate path to God and to eternal life.
• John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’" Jesus unequivocally states that He is the sole path to the Father.
◦ Discussion: What does it mean that Jesus is "the way"? How does this exclusivity impact our understanding of salvation?
• Hebrews 10:20: "by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh." The sacrifice of Jesus' body opened a new and direct way to access God.
◦ Discussion: How did Jesus' death and resurrection create this "new and living way"? What does it mean to enter the Holy Place through Him?
PATH OF SIN:
This path represents the way of disobedience, rebellion against God, and moral corruption.
• 1. General references:
◦ Proverbs 2:15: "whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways." The path of the wicked is characterized by perversion and deceit.
◦ Proverbs 12:15: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." Fools stubbornly follow their own sinful paths, disregarding wisdom.
◦ Proverbs 13:15: "Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin." The path of treachery, a form of sin, leads to destruction.
◦ Proverbs 14:12 (cf. Proverbs 16:25): "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." Sinful paths can appear appealing but ultimately lead to spiritual death.
◦ Proverbs 15:9: "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness." God detests the path of sin.
◦ Isaiah 59:8: "The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace." The path of sin is devoid of true peace and justice.
◦ Matthew 7:13: "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many." Jesus warns about the broad and seemingly easy path that leads to destruction, the path of sin.
◦ Discussion: What are some characteristics of the "wide and easy" path of sin? Why is it so appealing to many? What are its ultimate consequences?
• 2. Walking in it: These verses describe the actions and attitudes of those who have chosen the path of sin.
◦ Deuteronomy 29:19: "[It will happen that when such a person hears the words of this sworn covenant, he will bless himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.]" Walking in stubbornness and self-will is a dangerous path of sin.
◦ Jeremiah 7:24: "But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward." Disobedience and following one's own evil desires define walking in sin.
◦ Ephesians 2:2: "in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." Before conversion, believers walked in the path of sin, influenced by the world and Satan.
◦ Philippians 3:18: "For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ." Their lifestyle and choices demonstrated their opposition to Christ.
◦ 1 Peter 4:3: "For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry." The past lives of believers were characterized by various sinful behaviors.
◦ 2 Peter 2:10: "and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones." Those on the path of sin are often marked by sensuality and rebellion against authority.
◦ 2 Peter 3:3: "knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires." In the end times, those on the path of sin will be characterized by mockery of truth and following their own lusts.
◦ Jude 18: "saying to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’" Similar to 2 Peter 3:3, Jude highlights the self-indulgent nature of those on the path of sin in the last days.
◦ Discussion: What are some contemporary examples of "walking according to the course of this world"? How can believers avoid being drawn back onto the path of sin?
DIVINE WAYS:
These refer to God's character, actions, and plans, which are perfect, just, and beyond human comprehension in their fullness.
• Psalm 18:30: "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." God's way is flawless and His Word is reliable.
◦ Discussion: What does it mean that God's way is "perfect"? How does the reliability of His Word assure us of the perfection of His ways?
• Psalm 145:17: "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works." God's actions are always just and filled with loving-kindness.
◦ Discussion: How does understanding God's righteousness and kindness in all His ways impact our trust in Him, even when His ways are mysterious?
• Isaiah 55:9: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." God's perspective and methods are far beyond human understanding.
◦ Discussion: How should this truth of God's higher ways influence our expectations and interpretations of His actions in our lives and the world?
• Daniel 4:37: "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." Even a pagan king recognized the justice and righteousness of God's ways.
◦ Discussion: What does Nebuchadnezzar's testimony teach us about the ultimate triumph of God's just ways?
• Hosea 14:9: "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." Understanding God's ways leads to righteous living, while the wicked stumble.
◦ Discussion: How can we grow in wisdom and discernment to understand and walk in God's right ways?
• Habakkuk 3:6: "He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways." God's ways are eternal and His power is demonstrated through His actions in history.
◦ Discussion: How does recognizing the everlasting nature of God's ways provide us with stability and hope in a changing world?
• Romans 11:33: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" Paul marvels at the incomprehensible depth of God's wisdom and the mysterious nature of His ways.
◦ Discussion: How should our acknowledgement of God's unsearchable ways lead to humility and trust in His sovereignty?
• Revelation 15:3: "And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!’" In heaven, God's ways are recognized as just and true by those who have been redeemed.
◦ Discussion: What does the heavenly perspective teach us about the ultimate vindication of God's ways?
- Preaching on Carnality
- Preaching on The Mighty Arm of God
- Preaching on Human Evil - Cruelty, Malice, and Oppression
Conclusion:
The concept of paths in Scripture provides a powerful framework for understanding our life choices and our relationship with God. We are called to walk in the Right Way, which is ultimately found in Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We must diligently avoid the Path of Sin, which leads to destruction. And we should humbly acknowledge and trust in the Divine Ways of God, which are perfect, just, and often beyond our full comprehension. As believers in USA may we continually seek to walk in Christ's way, guided by His Word, and trust in the wisdom and goodness of God's divine paths for our lives and our nation. What is one "path" you need to more consciously choose or avoid in your life today?
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