1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:06,400 God talking through the prophet Isaiah in the previous chapter 2 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:11,480 and chapter 34 of Isaiah. Course you know the children of 3 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,280 Israel were not obeying God. They weren't doing the things 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:21,560 God wanted them to do and he had kind of come down hard on them. 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:28,540 But here in the 35th chapter of Isaiah, through the prophet, the 6 00:00:28,540 --> 00:00:33,500 prophet is telling the children of Israel and Israel the good 7 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:37,380 news of things to come, the hope of things to come. 8 00:00:37,380 --> 00:00:43,700 And he says here in in Isaiah 35, the wilderness and the 9 00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:48,900 solitary place shall be glad for them. 10 00:00:48,940 --> 00:00:53,980 And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the Rose it shall 11 00:00:53,980 --> 00:00:57,300 blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with the joy. 12 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:01,420 And singing the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it the 13 00:01:01,420 --> 00:01:05,180 Excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the 14 00:01:05,180 --> 00:01:07,380 Lord and the Excellency of our God. 15 00:01:08,140 --> 00:01:12,820 Strength Ye strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the 16 00:01:12,820 --> 00:01:16,020 feeble needs. Say to them that are a full 17 00:01:16,220 --> 00:01:19,380 fearful heart. Be strong, fear not. 18 00:01:19,980 --> 00:01:23,540 Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a 19 00:01:23,540 --> 00:01:26,220 recompense He will come and save you. 20 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:29,980 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the 21 00:01:29,980 --> 00:01:34,260 deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as 22 00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:36,980 in heart, and the tongue of the lot dumb scene. 23 00:01:37,420 --> 00:01:41,180 For in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams. 24 00:01:41,180 --> 00:01:46,700 In the desert the parched ground shall become a pool, and the 25 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:50,800 thirsty land springs of water, and the habitation of Dragons, 26 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:56,440 where each lay shall be grass with reeds and rushes, And in 27 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:01,040 highway shall be there and away, and it shall be called the way 28 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,400 of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over 29 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:09,120 it, but it shall be for those the wayfaring men, though fools 30 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:14,160 shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, or any 31 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,920 ravenous beast shall go up there on. 32 00:02:18,100 --> 00:02:22,340 It shall be not not be found there, but the redeemed shall 33 00:02:22,340 --> 00:02:25,580 walk there. And the ransom the Lord shall 34 00:02:25,580 --> 00:02:28,420 return. And the and come to Zion with 35 00:02:28,420 --> 00:02:31,260 songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. 36 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:35,740 And they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow, and sign 37 00:02:35,940 --> 00:02:39,580 shall flee away. Excuse me with my reading this 38 00:02:39,580 --> 00:02:41,260 morning. I got some newer glasses, a 39 00:02:41,260 --> 00:02:43,540 little stronger. And this is the first time I've 40 00:02:43,540 --> 00:02:45,220 used them with something this far away. 41 00:02:45,220 --> 00:02:50,020 So things are a little bit difficult more this morning, So 42 00:02:50,540 --> 00:02:57,060 please pardon my stumbling, but I'd like to talk a little bit 43 00:02:57,060 --> 00:03:01,900 this morning about a way that is leading from this earth to 44 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:08,860 heaven, our heavenly home beyond this world where we Live Today. 45 00:03:09,740 --> 00:03:12,860 Talking about traveling, we've talked about a little bit of 46 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:15,460 traveling this morning with all the weather that we've been 47 00:03:15,460 --> 00:03:19,080 having. And, you know, we probably heard 48 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,440 the expression, well, you can't get there from here. 49 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,400 Well, apparently Kate can't get here from where she's at right 50 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,200 now. But there is a way to heaven, 51 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,200 and we all want to go there. We travel around. 52 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,520 And it used to be, you know, when we would take a trip. 53 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,680 And I've got a whole drawer that I need to go through, but a 54 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:43,370 whole drawer in my office area that is full of maps, antiquated 55 00:03:43,370 --> 00:03:45,210 maps, because we just don't use them. 56 00:03:45,210 --> 00:03:46,770 At least I don't use them anymore. 57 00:03:47,250 --> 00:03:50,530 But if I wanted to go someplace here in Bakersfield, I'd pull 58 00:03:50,530 --> 00:03:54,650 that map out and find the street and and be able to navigate my 59 00:03:54,650 --> 00:03:56,970 way there. If I wanted to go to certain 60 00:03:56,970 --> 00:04:00,050 place over on the coast or across this country, I'd I'd get 61 00:04:00,050 --> 00:04:04,370 that map out and and take the right roads and how to get 62 00:04:04,370 --> 00:04:05,970 there. Today all we do is we punch in 63 00:04:05,970 --> 00:04:08,610 the address and our GPS and we take off. 64 00:04:08,610 --> 00:04:12,700 It tells us where to go. But before we took that trip, 65 00:04:12,700 --> 00:04:14,180 there's certain things we'd like to know. 66 00:04:14,180 --> 00:04:17,620 And I have a series of questions here I want to ask and that need 67 00:04:17,620 --> 00:04:23,620 answering. First we would want to know, is 68 00:04:23,620 --> 00:04:28,420 there a road or a way leading from here to our destination. 69 00:04:29,860 --> 00:04:32,460 If we said yes to that, then we'd also ask, well, where is 70 00:04:32,460 --> 00:04:36,860 it? And then we'd also ask where can 71 00:04:36,860 --> 00:04:40,220 I learn about it and get all the information I need to go there? 72 00:04:41,220 --> 00:04:45,060 The 4th question is how can I get on that road and is there 73 00:04:45,060 --> 00:04:49,100 anything that would keep me or hinder me from getting there? 74 00:04:49,580 --> 00:04:52,060 And I'm already behind here not paying attention. 75 00:04:54,820 --> 00:04:57,620 With all these questions answered, we might also have a 76 00:04:57,620 --> 00:05:01,260 few more questions. How can I stay on the road and 77 00:05:01,260 --> 00:05:03,140 are there any signs along the way? 78 00:05:03,220 --> 00:05:06,660 And are there guides along the way as well? 79 00:05:07,620 --> 00:05:10,060 Well, we all want to go to heaven, don't we? 80 00:05:10,390 --> 00:05:14,030 That's really our goal. That's what we're striving for 81 00:05:14,030 --> 00:05:16,950 in this life. That's our final destination as 82 00:05:16,950 --> 00:05:20,470 we want to make it to heaven when we leave this world. 83 00:05:21,270 --> 00:05:24,470 So we need to ask the question, is there a heaven? 84 00:05:25,590 --> 00:05:31,150 Well, I think most of us here today would say that there is in 85 00:05:31,150 --> 00:05:36,590 John 14 versus 2 and three. Jesus said in my father's house 86 00:05:36,590 --> 00:05:40,110 are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have 87 00:05:40,110 --> 00:05:43,430 told you I go to prepare a place for you. 88 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:49,110 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and 89 00:05:49,110 --> 00:05:54,590 receive you to myself that where I am, there you may be also. 90 00:05:55,430 --> 00:05:59,430 So the next question is, do I want to reach heaven when this 91 00:05:59,430 --> 00:06:02,510 journey of life is over? Yes, we do. 92 00:06:02,790 --> 00:06:05,950 Absolutely. Every sensible person here would 93 00:06:05,950 --> 00:06:09,660 like to make it to heaven. Let's ask some more questions. 94 00:06:09,660 --> 00:06:14,820 Is there a way that leads from this world to heaven? 95 00:06:15,780 --> 00:06:22,220 If not, then we are wasting our time here this morning. 96 00:06:22,860 --> 00:06:24,980 We are wasting all of our service to God. 97 00:06:24,980 --> 00:06:27,940 We are wasting everything. We may as well close up the 98 00:06:27,940 --> 00:06:32,300 building and go home, because worshipping God would is for 99 00:06:32,300 --> 00:06:35,780 nothing if there's not a heaven that we look forward to. 100 00:06:38,830 --> 00:06:42,470 We'll remember what Isaiah said about this in our text and 101 00:06:42,470 --> 00:06:47,270 Isaiah 35 and verse 8. Isaiah talks about a highway 102 00:06:47,510 --> 00:06:52,790 shall be there and a road and it shall be called the highway of 103 00:06:52,790 --> 00:06:56,350 holiness. The unclean shall not pass over 104 00:06:56,350 --> 00:06:59,910 it. This is the way that God has 105 00:06:59,910 --> 00:07:03,550 provided for those that are going to heaven. 106 00:07:03,670 --> 00:07:08,330 Isaiah says the unclean won't go that way, but it is a way of 107 00:07:08,330 --> 00:07:12,010 holiness. In Christ's sermon on the mound, 108 00:07:12,010 --> 00:07:17,770 Matthew 7 verses 13 and 14, Christ said enter ye in at the 109 00:07:17,770 --> 00:07:22,570 straight gate or the King. James Version says the narrow 110 00:07:22,570 --> 00:07:29,130 gate for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to 111 00:07:29,130 --> 00:07:34,660 destruction and many there be which go in there at but 112 00:07:34,660 --> 00:07:39,500 straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leads unto 113 00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:44,140 life, and few there be that find it. 114 00:07:44,180 --> 00:07:49,220 Jesus calls the two ways that we can choose to go in this life 115 00:07:49,660 --> 00:07:54,060 the Broadway. And the narrow way one leads to 116 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:58,780 eternal life and the other way leads to eternal destruction. 117 00:07:59,780 --> 00:08:05,380 Notice back at our text Isaiah says, and Hwy. shall be there 118 00:08:05,380 --> 00:08:10,540 and away, and it shall be called the way of holiness. 119 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:14,060 The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those 120 00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:18,500 the wayfaring men, Unclean men, in other words, though fools 121 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:22,420 shall not err there in. So we have answered the first 122 00:08:22,420 --> 00:08:24,820 question, and that there is a way. 123 00:08:24,820 --> 00:08:28,140 Now we want to ask where is the road and what is it? 124 00:08:28,670 --> 00:08:30,990 Let's notice John 14 and verse 6. 125 00:08:31,070 --> 00:08:37,750 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way and the truth and the life. 126 00:08:38,070 --> 00:08:42,190 No man comes unto the Father but by me. 127 00:08:42,990 --> 00:08:46,830 No, Jesus didn't say here that I am a way. 128 00:08:46,870 --> 00:08:53,390 He didn't say that I am some way or I am one way. 129 00:08:53,790 --> 00:09:01,260 He says I am The way you know, Frank had given a lesson here 130 00:09:01,260 --> 00:09:05,260 not too long ago about about this as well. 131 00:09:06,340 --> 00:09:09,500 So not not only that, but he also said I am the truth and the 132 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:13,140 life and no man comes under the Father but by me. 133 00:09:14,420 --> 00:09:17,460 And isn't that where we want to go, where God is? 134 00:09:19,020 --> 00:09:23,060 So Jesus says you get to God by me. 135 00:09:23,980 --> 00:09:26,970 That's how we get to God. Well, there's someone that would 136 00:09:26,970 --> 00:09:30,170 say, well, we're all going to the same place. 137 00:09:31,330 --> 00:09:35,890 I'm going one way, you're going another way, but we'll all get 138 00:09:35,890 --> 00:09:41,490 to the same place. That kind of statement can't be 139 00:09:41,490 --> 00:09:47,890 true and be biblical because the Bible doesn't contradict itself. 140 00:09:48,370 --> 00:09:52,790 The Bible does not speak of any other way except one way, and 141 00:09:52,790 --> 00:09:57,070 it's impossible for us to reach our destination of heaven by any 142 00:09:57,070 --> 00:10:03,350 other way. Jesus said I am the way, There's 143 00:10:03,350 --> 00:10:07,350 only one way. No man comes to the Father but 144 00:10:07,510 --> 00:10:15,590 by me and him only. So Peter talking to Jesus, said. 145 00:10:16,150 --> 00:10:21,260 Talking to the Jesus said in Acts foreign verse 12 for there 146 00:10:21,260 --> 00:10:29,100 is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must 147 00:10:29,460 --> 00:10:34,980 be saved, so we know that Jesus Christ is the way. 148 00:10:35,020 --> 00:10:40,460 So the next question where can I learn about the way where can I 149 00:10:40,460 --> 00:10:44,140 get the information that I need to know how to get in the right 150 00:10:44,140 --> 00:10:47,620 way. John Jesus said in John 5 and 151 00:10:47,620 --> 00:10:51,330 was 39. Search the scriptures for in 152 00:10:51,330 --> 00:10:56,410 them you think you have eternal life and they are they which 153 00:10:56,410 --> 00:11:02,090 testify of me. So who is this me? 154 00:11:02,450 --> 00:11:06,490 Jesus says I'm the way, He says I'm the only way, I'm the way, 155 00:11:06,730 --> 00:11:10,010 the truth and the life. All the information needed and 156 00:11:10,010 --> 00:11:13,970 all the instruction are found within the scriptures and it 157 00:11:13,970 --> 00:11:17,410 would lead and direct us in the way or to Jesus. 158 00:11:18,090 --> 00:11:23,130 The next question is, how can I get to Jesus Christ the way? 159 00:11:23,330 --> 00:11:27,970 How can I approach or come unto the way John 4 John 6 and versus 160 00:11:27,970 --> 00:11:32,170 44 through 45. No man can come to me except the 161 00:11:32,170 --> 00:11:36,050 Father which hath sent me. Draw him and I will raise him up 162 00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:40,010 at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 163 00:11:40,610 --> 00:11:43,650 and they shall be all taught of God. 164 00:11:43,770 --> 00:11:49,500 Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the 165 00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:54,900 Father, cometh unto me again. Who is me? 166 00:11:56,180 --> 00:12:00,940 Jesus says, I am the way. Man comes unto Christ by 167 00:12:00,940 --> 00:12:07,180 hearing, and by learning, and by coming to Jesus. 168 00:12:07,620 --> 00:12:11,500 The Scriptures. The Word or the truth is what a 169 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:17,870 man learns and hears is the first step towards Jesus, the 170 00:12:17,870 --> 00:12:23,110 way that will get us to heaven as a result of learning. 171 00:12:23,710 --> 00:12:27,910 Faith is what is produced. That's a product of our learning 172 00:12:27,910 --> 00:12:32,150 and hearing the word of God. Romans 10 and verse 17. 173 00:12:32,310 --> 00:12:34,390 Excuse me, I didn't need to catch up here. 174 00:12:34,710 --> 00:12:40,030 Romans 10 and verse 17. So then faith comes by hearing 175 00:12:40,030 --> 00:12:43,510 and hearing by the word of God. When a man hears the word of God 176 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,720 and the gospel and understands what he has heard and can 177 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:55,840 logically apply it to his life, faith and acceptance is what is 178 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,440 produced. You see how this is kind of 179 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,280 progressing, how it's building on something. 180 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,240 So then faith arouses repentance. 181 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:12,000 Notice Acts 11 and verse 18. Then have God also to the 182 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,770 Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 183 00:13:19,530 --> 00:13:23,370 Well, what? What does the word unto mean? 184 00:13:24,210 --> 00:13:29,610 It simply means to or toward in the direction of. 185 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:35,770 The idea is to approach, come toward, move in the direction of 186 00:13:35,810 --> 00:13:39,920 something. One example this morning is all 187 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,960 of us came unto this building this morning. 188 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:47,880 We left our homes, we got in our cars and we drove here and we 189 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:52,160 got out of it in of our cars in the parking lot, and we came 190 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,760 unto the building. We came to these doors in the 191 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,760 front of the building, and we came unto the building, but we 192 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,320 weren't in the building yet. We had come unto the building. 193 00:14:03,220 --> 00:14:06,380 We go to someone's home and we knock on the door or we ring the 194 00:14:06,380 --> 00:14:09,660 doorbell and they open and answer the door and they say 195 00:14:10,140 --> 00:14:12,500 they don't say come onto my house. 196 00:14:12,940 --> 00:14:16,380 No, they say come into my house because you've come onto their 197 00:14:16,380 --> 00:14:19,580 house already, but you haven't come into their house yet. 198 00:14:20,260 --> 00:14:23,500 When I was younger, you know, we would in the summertime, we 199 00:14:23,500 --> 00:14:27,380 would go to the lake and and go swimming. 200 00:14:28,020 --> 00:14:32,480 Well, every step we took towards that lake was a step unto the 201 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,520 water. But it wasn't till I got into 202 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,560 the water that I was in the water. 203 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,880 Every step to the ward, the water or in the direction of the 204 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:46,880 water was a step unto the water. You know I don't have to, and I 205 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,160 and you guys don't have to be in a scholar to figure those things 206 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,920 out. We understand that faith comes 207 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:57,600 from hearing and hearing God's will, and that causes us to 208 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,960 believe and turn away from the world and repent. 209 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:03,060 That's what is known as repentance. 210 00:15:03,060 --> 00:15:07,060 All these steps bring us unto Christ, not into Christ. 211 00:15:07,060 --> 00:15:11,220 Yet notice Romans 10 and verse 10, Paul said, with the heart 212 00:15:11,220 --> 00:15:16,300 men believeth unto or in the direction of righteousness. 213 00:15:16,740 --> 00:15:22,740 And with the mouth confession is made unto or in the direction of 214 00:15:22,780 --> 00:15:25,940 salvation. We make the confession of our 215 00:15:25,940 --> 00:15:30,220 faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 216 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,240 That is still a step unto Christ. 217 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,920 We still this is still in the direction of salvation. 218 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,560 But we have not received salvation yet. 219 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:44,320 We have not been saved yet. Notice the word into never 220 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,120 follows the Word, faith or confession. 221 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:57,160 The idea of a man having faith into salvation is contrary to 222 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:02,030 what the Scriptures teach. We cannot believe ourselves into 223 00:16:02,070 --> 00:16:08,430 anything we may. We may believe it, we may have 224 00:16:08,430 --> 00:16:10,990 faith in it, but that doesn't mean we have it. 225 00:16:12,390 --> 00:16:17,710 We're not there yet. So with the heart, man believes 226 00:16:17,750 --> 00:16:22,630 unto righteousness. In Romans 10 and 10 repentance 227 00:16:22,750 --> 00:16:30,570 is unto Acts 11 and verse 18. Confession is unto Romans 10 and 228 00:16:30,570 --> 00:16:32,010 verse 10. Or with the heart. 229 00:16:32,010 --> 00:16:34,690 Men believe it unto righteousness, and with the 230 00:16:34,690 --> 00:16:39,290 mouth confession is made unto or in the direction of salvation. 231 00:16:40,010 --> 00:16:43,730 Next question Are there any hindrances or anything that will 232 00:16:43,730 --> 00:16:45,450 keep me from getting into the way? 233 00:16:46,010 --> 00:16:50,570 And how can I get into the way? Romans 6 and verses one through 234 00:16:50,570 --> 00:16:53,610 4. What shall we say then? 235 00:16:53,930 --> 00:16:57,630 Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 236 00:16:58,350 --> 00:17:01,310 God forbid. How shall we that are dead to 237 00:17:01,310 --> 00:17:07,069 sin live any longer therein? Know ye not that so many of us 238 00:17:07,190 --> 00:17:14,630 as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his 239 00:17:14,630 --> 00:17:18,510 death? Therefore we are buried with him 240 00:17:18,510 --> 00:17:22,750 by baptism into death. That, like as Christ was raised 241 00:17:22,750 --> 00:17:26,440 up from the dead by the glory of the Father, Even so we also 242 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:32,920 should walk in newness of life. Well, what does that mean? 243 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:37,600 This is what it means. Paul says we're buried. 244 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,600 We are baptized into Jesus Christ. 245 00:17:44,360 --> 00:17:50,920 That means there's a transition from outside to inside. 246 00:17:52,180 --> 00:17:55,420 When we walked into this building, now we were inside. 247 00:17:55,460 --> 00:17:58,540 Every step that we did prior to that was something that was 248 00:17:58,540 --> 00:18:01,540 coming onto the building. But when we walked into the 249 00:18:01,540 --> 00:18:03,700 building, we were inside the building. 250 00:18:04,820 --> 00:18:07,740 Every step that I took towards the lake to go swimming was a 251 00:18:07,740 --> 00:18:10,780 step unto the water. But when I stepped into the 252 00:18:10,780 --> 00:18:15,100 water, I was now in the water. We understand that it's 253 00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:19,260 impossible for you to come into this building without first 254 00:18:19,260 --> 00:18:24,510 having come onto it. The apostle Paul also said in 255 00:18:24,510 --> 00:18:28,070 Galatians the third chapter, verses 26 and 27. 256 00:18:28,630 --> 00:18:33,190 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 257 00:18:34,070 --> 00:18:36,230 Here's the reason we're saved by faith. 258 00:18:36,230 --> 00:18:41,030 We hear that term used so much. Here's why the reason verse 27. 259 00:18:41,310 --> 00:18:46,710 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on 260 00:18:46,710 --> 00:18:49,850 Christ. So when we're baptized into 261 00:18:49,850 --> 00:18:54,250 Christ, that's what puts us in Christ, that become a child of 262 00:18:54,250 --> 00:18:59,290 God and puts us into the body of Christ in the Church of Christ. 263 00:18:59,930 --> 00:19:03,530 How many are in Christ? Well, as many as I've been 264 00:19:03,530 --> 00:19:07,370 baptized into Christ anymore, no. 265 00:19:07,970 --> 00:19:12,290 Any less, no. Well, some would say, well, I 266 00:19:12,290 --> 00:19:13,930 don't understand. I really don't know how you 267 00:19:13,930 --> 00:19:18,710 could misunderstand this. Notice in First Corinthians 12 268 00:19:18,710 --> 00:19:24,670 and verse 13, for by 1 Spirit, are we all baptized into one 269 00:19:24,950 --> 00:19:27,750 body. So when a person is baptized 270 00:19:27,750 --> 00:19:32,150 into Christ, they become part of the body of Christ. 271 00:19:32,630 --> 00:19:36,590 It's one, it's the same. It's not different. 272 00:19:36,790 --> 00:19:41,670 It's not a denomination. It is the body of Christ, 273 00:19:41,780 --> 00:19:44,860 Christ. You are a child of God. 274 00:19:45,140 --> 00:19:50,540 You are in Christ. You're in Christ's church, the 275 00:19:50,540 --> 00:19:54,540 Church of Christ. What puts you in there is not 276 00:19:54,540 --> 00:20:01,700 faith alone, is not a confession alone, is not repentance alone. 277 00:20:02,460 --> 00:20:07,140 All those are steps unto But what puts you in Christ is 278 00:20:07,260 --> 00:20:16,550 baptism. So Jesus says, I am the way, and 279 00:20:16,550 --> 00:20:19,190 how do we get into Christ? The scriptures teach us that we 280 00:20:19,190 --> 00:20:22,790 are baptized into Christ Roman 6 and verse 17. 281 00:20:23,310 --> 00:20:26,990 But God be think that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have 282 00:20:26,990 --> 00:20:32,710 obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered 283 00:20:32,910 --> 00:20:36,270 you. This is the doctrine of Christ. 284 00:20:36,630 --> 00:20:39,670 This is the doctrine of the true church. 285 00:20:40,940 --> 00:20:43,340 Next question. Am I willing to accept the 286 00:20:43,340 --> 00:20:46,780 truth? Do you think that if Christ 287 00:20:46,780 --> 00:20:51,180 commands everyone to believe and to repent and to confess and be 288 00:20:51,180 --> 00:20:56,300 baptized, that these steps are not necessary for us to reach 289 00:20:56,300 --> 00:20:59,940 heaven? You know, The thing is, we get 290 00:20:59,940 --> 00:21:04,660 in the way that leads to our destination. 291 00:21:05,300 --> 00:21:09,060 Sometimes it's not certain that we'll get there, just like Kay 292 00:21:09,060 --> 00:21:12,770 did this morning. She intended to be here, but 293 00:21:12,770 --> 00:21:16,450 things happened that she wasn't able to get, you know, in our, 294 00:21:16,690 --> 00:21:24,290 in our spiritual life, and you've seen it as well. 295 00:21:25,130 --> 00:21:28,410 Some people start out really well, but they get off the way. 296 00:21:29,210 --> 00:21:32,930 They get off the road. They take the wrong road and and 297 00:21:33,210 --> 00:21:38,170 and and maybe backtrack and take the wrong turn or whatever, or 298 00:21:38,170 --> 00:21:41,220 they fall off the way. And The thing is we have to stay 299 00:21:41,700 --> 00:21:45,100 in the right way. We must stay until our journey 300 00:21:45,100 --> 00:21:49,540 is over. Polls coursed and talked about 301 00:21:49,540 --> 00:21:52,940 in second Timothy foreign versus 6 through 8. 302 00:21:53,380 --> 00:21:56,860 For I am now ready to be offered in the time of my departure is 303 00:21:56,860 --> 00:21:59,020 at hand. I fought a good fight. 304 00:21:59,580 --> 00:22:02,500 I finished my course. I kept the faith. 305 00:22:03,370 --> 00:22:06,250 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness 306 00:22:06,490 --> 00:22:09,090 which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that 307 00:22:09,090 --> 00:22:13,890 day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His 308 00:22:13,890 --> 00:22:16,490 appearing. It takes effort on our part to 309 00:22:16,490 --> 00:22:20,850 stay on the road. You know, we've maybe all been 310 00:22:21,130 --> 00:22:25,250 at some point in a car and driving in bad weather and maybe 311 00:22:25,250 --> 00:22:28,410 snow or ice or whatever, and it sometimes it gets a little 312 00:22:28,410 --> 00:22:30,970 slippery. And sometimes in our Christian 313 00:22:31,050 --> 00:22:35,830 life, things get a little bit slippery and we tend to maybe 314 00:22:35,830 --> 00:22:39,950 veer off a little bit and we get off the way we have to stay 315 00:22:39,950 --> 00:22:45,270 faithful. Notice Revelation 2 and verse 316 00:22:45,270 --> 00:22:49,110 10. Be thou faithful unto death and 317 00:22:49,110 --> 00:22:54,390 I will give the a crown of life. We have to stay and remain on 318 00:22:54,390 --> 00:22:56,350 the right road. One of these days Jesus will 319 00:22:56,350 --> 00:22:58,550 say, this is the end of your journey. 320 00:22:59,470 --> 00:23:02,910 This is done. Enter into the joy of the Lord. 321 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,360 We must always remember to take care not to stray away from the 322 00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:09,680 right path And Proverbs 14, verse 12. 323 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,200 There is a way that seemeth right on demand, but the end 324 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,960 there are of are the way of death. 325 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:24,360 The world may tell you, and other religious entities and 326 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:29,320 organizations may tell you that there's a way to get to heaven, 327 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:35,670 but it's not. It's a different way, or it's a 328 00:23:35,670 --> 00:23:40,990 way or some other way. The scriptures teach us that 329 00:23:40,990 --> 00:23:44,390 there is only one way to have and that's through Jesus Christ 330 00:23:44,910 --> 00:23:50,230 and baptism into Christ. We thank you for listening to 331 00:23:50,230 --> 00:23:55,630 our podcast put on by The Church of Christ at 2215 Plans Rd. in 332 00:23:55,630 --> 00:23:59,390 Bakersfield if you would like any additional information. 333 00:24:00,060 --> 00:24:02,900 Or you would like to receive a free Bible correspondence course 334 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:05,700 by mail? Please e-mail us at 335 00:24:05,780 --> 00:24:12,220 info@churchofchristbakersfield.com. Our service times are Sundays at 336 00:24:12,220 --> 00:24:17,660 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM and Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. 337 00:24:18,380 --> 00:24:21,900 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 338 00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:22,740 honored guest.