Clean Transcript

The Path of Life

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• Two passages: John 14 and Psalm 16. John 14 and Psalm 16. I'm going to read one verse from each of these passages. The title of the message is "The Path of Life." So if you look in John 14, in verse 6, our Lord said—Jesus, answering Thomas—"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Then if you look in Psalm 16, in verse 11, the psalmist said, "Thou wilt show me the path of life."

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• "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." John 14:6 is a verse that practically every Christian can quote from memory. If you cannot quote it, you need to memorize it, that is for sure, because it is an absolute and essential truth concerning Jesus Christ and salvation. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by and through Him. This verse also teaches us the exclusiveness of Christ. There is no other way. There is no other truth. There is no other life. One must either be saved by Jesus Christ, or he's not going to be saved at all. Jesus Christ has opened the only way unto the Father and also into everlasting life. Please understand this one simple truth: to know the Father is eternal life. Our Lord said in John 17:3, "This is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." So to know the Father is to know the true God and His Son Jesus Christ. Now the interesting thing is, when you get to 1 John 5:20,

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• the Word of God says, "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." So as God the Father is referred to as the true God and eternal life, so God the Son is referred to as the true God and eternal life. We know that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh and that He is the true God, for we are taught in Colossians 2:9, "For in him," that is in Jesus Christ, "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." So Jesus Christ then is indeed God in the flesh. Since He is the way, the truth, and the life, He is the only mediator between God and man. The Bible says that in 1 Timothy 2:5, that there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Now I want you to listen very carefully, because

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• I'm going to be asking you a question a little bit later, and I want you to be able to answer it. So Jesus Christ has claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life, and He said, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Ephesians 2:18 says, "For through him," that is through Jesus Christ, "we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." So the way to the Father is through Jesus Christ in the Spirit. Now I want you to turn in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Hebrews, chapter 9, to begin with. In fact, just hold the book of Hebrews because we will be looking at several passages in that book. But look in Hebrews chapter 9, because in this passage, in verse 12, the Bible says this concerning Jesus Christ: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Now if you look at Hebrews chapter 10, beginning there at verse 19, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new

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• and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that has promised."

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• So Jesus Christ, in these passages, has entered into the holy place, the holiest of all. And therefore He has said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Now I want you to pause just for a moment and think about these statements. Jesus Christ said, "I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life." And then He said, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Now each of these statements in and of itself is a very profound statement. And in one sense, it isn't only a profound statement; it is a statement, each one, that would stagger the mind. When Jesus Christ said, "I am the way," undoubtedly He probably had in mind Isaiah 35:8, because that verse talks specifically about the way. Now I want you to listen to it. Isaiah 35:8: "And a highway shall be

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• there, and a way, it shall be called the way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." In other words, this way is the way of holiness. It's also a very plain way. Now I want you to think with me. Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Here's a quote from Matthew Henry concerning this. Listen to what he said: "Christ was His own way, for by His own blood He entered into the holy place, and He is our way, for we enter in by Him. By His doctrine and example He teaches us our duty, and by His merit and intercession He procures our happiness, and so He is the way.

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• In Him, God and man meet. We are brought together. We could not get to the tree of life in the way of innocency, but Christ is another way to it. By Christ, as the way, intercourse is settled and kept up between heaven and earth; the angels of God ascend and descend; prayers go to God and His blessings come to us by Him. This is the way that leads to rest, the good old way. The disciples followed Him, and Christ tells them that they followed the road, and while they continued following Him they would never be out of their way." Now when Jesus Christ said, "I am the way," let me take these one at a time. Jesus Christ happens to be the way as well. He is the way because of His doctrine.

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• You remember in John chapter 6, when He was teaching that He was the bread of life, and unless men ate of His flesh and drank of His blood they could not inherit eternal life. And they said, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" And so the Bible tells you many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. But then our Lord looked at His own disciples and said, "Would you go away also?" And it was Simon Peter who answered and said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."

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• And listen to what he said: "And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." So Jesus Christ is the way because of His doctrine. Jesus Christ is also the way because of His sacrifice. So if you will look back at Hebrews chapter 9 very quickly, beginning there with verse 8, look at this. Hebrews 9:8, talking now about the tabernacle in the Old Testament. The Bible says, "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." Now look what it says: "Which was a figure for the time then present." So that earthly tabernacle and that earthly temple were nothing more than figures. They were pictures. They were types. They were shadows.

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• They were not the real thing. So verse 9: "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." Or until the time that Christ came. "But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained

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• eternal redemption for us." So Jesus Christ then is the true way. Now if you will turn right over to the book of 1 Peter, you're going to find that Jesus Christ is known as the way because of His doctrine. He's not only the way because of His sacrifice; He's also the way because of His example. So in 1 Peter chapter 2, if you look at verses 21 through 23: "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."

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• "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Note, if you would, the Bible says He is our example in verse 21. So Jesus Christ is the way, not only by His doctrine, not only by His sacrifice, but also by His example. And then Jesus Christ is the truth. So I want you to listen to this. Jesus Christ is truth as opposed to error. Jesus Christ is truth as opposed to falsehood. Jesus Christ is truth as opposed to false religion. Moreover, Jesus Christ is truth as opposed to all the types and shadows. Now, in John 1:17, the Bible tells you, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Now, is that telling us there was no truth in the Old Testament? Of course not. There was truth in the Old Testament, but it was truth that was through typology, truth through shadows, truth through emblems. Jesus Christ happens to be the fulfillment of all those types and shadows.

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• And so, therefore, He is the apex of truth. He is the fulfillment of truth. So Jesus Christ is truth as opposed to all the types and shadows. And Jesus Christ is truth because of the promises of God. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." Jesus Christ the truth. And since He is truth incarnate, He is the incarnate truth. That is why in Deuteronomy 32:4 the Bible says, "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth.

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• Just and right is he." And then of course John 17:17, our Lord said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." So now Jesus has claimed to be the way. He's claimed to be the truth. He's also claimed to be the life. Certainly He is the author of life. He is the giver of life. He is the purchaser of life. He purchased it by His own death. And it is Jesus Christ who by His own doctrine shows us the way to life. You remember that passage in John chapter 11, where Lazarus had died and he'd been dead four days, and Jesus came to see Mary and Martha. When Martha heard that Jesus was there, she went out to meet Him. And the first thing she said was, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." Jesus said unto her, "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha said unto him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though

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• he were dead, yet shall he live." I love what Lester Roloff said on this passage. Lester Roloff talks about this, and he said concerning Jesus Christ, "The resurrection just walked into town." And that's the truth. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life." Now I want you to notice what He did. He went to the grave and He said, "Lazarus, come forth." And the Bible said he that was bound in grave clothes came forth. Jesus said, "Loose him, and let him go." He was indeed, and is indeed, life. Now just as Jesus spoke to Lazarus and he came to life, the Bible tells us that Jesus is going to speak again, and many are going to come to life. If you will turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 5, John chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 25. John 5, verse 25. Look at what the scripture says. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God.

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• And they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." Note, if you would, Jesus is not only the way, He's not only the truth, He is the life. Now I want to give you two comments because Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Here are two quotes, one from Albert Barnes and one from John Calvin. I want you to listen. Albert Barnes says, "No man cometh to the Father, but by me. To come to the Father is to obtain his favor, and to have access to his throne by prayer, and finally to enter into his kingdom.

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• No man can obtain any of these things except by the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. By coming by him is meant coming in his name and depending upon his merits. We are ignorant and he alone can guide us. We are sinful and it is only by his merits that we can be pardoned. We are blind and only He can enlighten us. God has appointed Him the Mediator, and has ordained that all blessings shall descend to this world through Him. Hence He has put the world under His control, has given the affairs of men into His hand, and has appointed Him to dispense whatsoever may be necessary for the peace, pardon, and salvation of His people."

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• And that is certainly true. Let me step it a step further. John Calvin said it like this: "No man cometh to the Father. This is an explanation of the former statement. For he is the way, because he leads us to the Father; and he is the truth and life, because in him we perceive the Father. As to calling on God, it may indeed be said with truth that no prayers are heard but through the intercession of Christ. But as Christ does not now speak about prayer, we ought simply to understand the meaning to be that men contrive for themselves true labyrinths, whatever, after having forsaken Christ, they attempt to come to God. For Christ proves that He is the life, because God, with whom is the fountain of life, cannot be enjoyed in any other way than in Christ.

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• Wherefore all theology, when separated from Christ, is not only vain and confused, it is also mad, deceitful, and spurious. For though the philosophers sometimes utter excellent sayings, yet they have nothing but what is short-lived and even mixed up with wicked and erroneous sentiments." And that is true.

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• Now, I've just quoted for you John 14:6 where Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." I gave you verse after verse that showed that Jesus is the way, Jesus is the truth, and Jesus is the life. Now here's my question. How could Jesus Christ say that? Don't respond, "Because it's true." Yes, I know it's true, but that's not my question. Why did He say it? Why is He the way, the truth, and the life?

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• Now, there are many answers that we could give from that, and many of them are theologically correct. We could say that, yes, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, because He's God incarnate, He's God in the flesh. We could say that He's the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man can come to the Father except by Him, because the Father has ordained and appointed Him to be the Mediator, to be the Redeemer, to be the Savior, and to be the propitiation for our sins.

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• In fact, the Bible specifically calls Jesus Christ God's elect. In Isaiah 42:1, He said, "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." So Jesus Christ was God's elect, that is, God chose Him to be the mediator, to be the redeemer. We can answer that, and yes, that is true.

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• Each one of those answers, they're theologically correct. But there's another answer. And it's a very practical answer. So I want you to go back in your Bibles to Psalm 16. Psalm 16. And look, if you would, please, at verse 11. I want to read it: "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." If you would take the time to read this psalm, you will find that this is a messianic psalm. It is a psalm concerning the Messiah. I said that one time before and someone responded, "Well, are they not all messianic psalms?" And the answer would be, generally speaking, yes, but there are some psalms that are more specifically in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Now, I want you to hold Psalm 16, and I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 2. We're coming right back to Psalm 16, but I want you to look in Acts, chapter 2.

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• And let's begin reading at verse 25. In fact, let's read verse 24 just so you can see the Lord Jesus Christ is in view. "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." Now watch verse 25. "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." Now I want you to go back to Psalm 16. I want you to look at something. Let's begin reading there with verse 8. Psalm 16:8: "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

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• For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Now, what I want you to notice is this. Psalm 16:8 is found in Acts 2:25. Psalm 16:9 is found in Acts 2:26. Psalm 16:10 is found in Acts 2:27-28. In other words, these verses particularly applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. So very clearly, obviously, Psalm 16 is indeed a messianic psalm, and it is applied directly to Jesus Christ. Now the verse that I want to call your attention to especially is verse 11 in this psalm. Look at it again: "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

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• You must consider the context of this psalm. First of all, it is a messianic psalm, and the person or the character involved is the Lord Jesus Christ.

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• Secondly, verse 11, the statement "Thou wilt show me the path of life" implies that the Messiah was dead. Moreover, if you look at verses 9 and 10, the context determines that. Verse 9: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope." Why? "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." So Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was dead. You remember that passage in Philippians 2:8? The Bible says concerning Christ, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Now in His obedient and sacrificial death, He has shown the path of life. I want you to hold Psalm 16, but look in your Bibles to Psalm 68:20. Psalm 68, look at verse 20. Look what he said. Psalm 68:20: "He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death." Unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. And that is why in Psalm 16

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• He said, "Thou wilt show me the path of life." Now here's the interesting thing. When you read through the scripture, Jesus Christ is called the firstborn from the dead, or the first begotten from the dead. He is also called the firstfruits. So let me show you. Look in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Revelation chapter 1 and verse 5. Revelation chapter 1, look if you would please at verse 5. Look what your scripture says. Revelation 1:5: "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Note, if you would, that He is called the first begotten of the dead. Now I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and let's begin reading there with verse 20. 1 Corinthians 15:20.

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• "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." Now I would ask you to understand: Jesus Christ has been called the first begotten of the dead. He's been called the firstfruits so far. Let me ask you a question. Were there other people raised from the dead before Christ was raised from the dead in the Bible? What's the answer? Yes. Yes, there were. I smile every time I think about the men who were burying the man who died.

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• And they got to Elisha's sepulcher. And they looked up and the enemy was coming. And so they just threw the dead man into the sepulcher, and he landed on Elisha's bones, and he sprang back to life and ran with them. I don't know what would make them go faster, the man being raised from the dead or the enemy coming, but he jumped up and ran with them. So yeah, there were other people who were raised from the dead before Christ. So how in the world can Jesus Christ be called the firstfruits? How can Jesus Christ be called the first begotten of the dead when obviously, clearly, there were other people in the Bible that were raised from the dead before Him? Well, let me give you a couple of quotes and then we'll show you scripture. Here's the answer. Jesus Christ is the only one that was raised from the dead—listen now—that entered into what you and I would call immortality or eternal life in the presence of God the Father. All the others before Him that were raised from the dead died again. Jesus Christ did not die again. Watch this.

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• Here's first of all a quote from John Gill: "Not the way of life and salvation for lost sinners," he's talking about the path of life, "which is Christ Himself, but the resurrection of the dead, which is a passing from death to life, and was shown to Christ, not doctrinally, or by illuminating His mind, and leading Him into the doctrine of it. For so He Himself has brought it to light by the gospel. But practically and experimentally, by raising Him from the dead, or by causing Him to pass from death to life. And He was the first to whom the path of life was shown in this sense, or that whoever trod in it, and so has led the way for others. Hence He is called the firstfruits of them that slept, the firstborn, and the first begotten from the dead.

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• For though others were raised before, yet not to an immortal life, never to die any more, as He was. Now the view, the faith and hope of this, of not being left in the grave so long as to see corruption, and of being raised from the dead to an immortal life, caused joy and gladness in Christ at the time of His sufferings and death." One more. Adam Clarke: "Thou wilt show me the path of life. I first shall find the way out of the regions of death to die no more. Thus Christ was the firstfruits of them that slept. Several had before risen from the dead, but they died again. Jesus rose from the dead and is alive forevermore. Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead was the first entrance out of the grave to eternal life, or lives, for the word is in the plural, and with great propriety, too, as this resurrection implies the life of the body and the life of the rational soul as well."

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• Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 6. I want you to see what is said particularly and specifically of Jesus Christ. Look in Romans chapter 6 and verses 9 and 10. Here is the uniqueness of Christ. Here is why He's called the firstfruits. Here is why He's called the firstborn or the first begotten of the dead. The Bible says in Romans 6:9-10, "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." So when you read in Psalm 16:11, "Thou wilt show me the path of life," Jesus Christ is saying, "I'm going to be shown practically and experientially the path of life. I'm going to be the one, the first one, that rises from the dead to an eternal, immortal life." You remember that passage in John chapter 10? In fact, I quoted it last week, where our Lord said in John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish." And then He went on to say it like this: "Neither shall any man

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• pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." So now watch this, if you would. Jesus Christ has been called the firstfruits. He's been called the first begotten or the firstborn from the dead. There's one other term. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 6. Hebrews chapter 6, and look if you would please beginning there with verse 19. Hebrews 6:19. Watch this. Hebrews 6:19: "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;" that is into the most holy place in the presence of God. Look at verse 20: "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." So now Jesus is not only called the firstfruits, the first begotten, but He's now called our forerunner. The word "forerunner" is the Greek word "prodromos," and it means one that is sent before, one that goes in advance, one that leads the way. Well, wait a minute.

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• Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." So here's my question. How or why could Jesus Christ say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by me"? And here's the answer: because God the Father raised God the Son from the dead and took Him from death straight to His throne. He not only rose from the dead, He ascended, and He's seated at the right hand of God. He knows the way because He was the first one to trod that way.

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• He is a real pathfinder, that is for sure. He's the truth because He knows the truth that is the only way, and He's the life because it is only in Him that we have life. Now here's an interesting thing. In the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is attributed to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Because the three are one. Our Lord said it like this in John 10:17: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." So the path of life for our Lord was obedience, even unto death. Listen to this: trusting His heavenly Father to lead Him from death to life. And that is exactly what He did. So Jesus Christ is our path to life. He's the only path to life. He is the truth and the life as well as the way. Now I want you to listen to Hebrews 5:9: "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."

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• And all those that follow His directions, unto all those that submit to Him and listen as He directs them in the way and the truth and the life. Now let me try to tie this together for you. I want you to go ahead and turn in your Bibles, if you would, over a few pages to 1 Peter. 1 Peter, and here's the first application I want to make. It is only in Jesus Christ that we arrive in the presence of God the Father. It was the person and work of God the Son to bring us to God the Father. In 1 Peter 3:18 we read this: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." So Jesus Christ died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us unto God. So when man sinned, the first thing he did was run from God. And when man is saved by the

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• grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the first thing he does is run back to God. So Jesus Christ died to bring us unto God the Father. Remember, if you would now, He said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." So to know the Father is to have eternal life. So it is only Jesus Christ that will bring us into the presence of God the Father. Stephen Charnock, an old Puritan, said it like this. Listen carefully. He said, "It is Christ triumphing in the consideration of his exaltation, and taking pleasure in the fruits of his sufferings. 'Thou wilt show me the path of life.' God has now opened the way to paradise, which was stopped up by a flaming sword, and made the path plain by admitting into heaven the head of the believing world. This is a part of the joy of the soul of Christ. He hath now a fullness of joy, a satisfying delight instead of an overwhelming sorrow, a fullness of joy not only for some sparks and drops, as he had now and then in his debased condition. And that in the presence of his Father, his soul is fed and nourished with a perpetual vision of

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• God, in whose face he beholds no more frowns, no more designs of treating him as a servant, but such smiles that shall give a perpetual succession of joy to him, and fill his soul with fresh and pure flames. Pleasures they are, in comparison of which the greatest joys in this life are anguish and horrors. His soul hath joys without mixture, pleasures without number, a fullness without want, a constancy without interruption, and a perpetuity without end." So that is why he said, "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." So Jesus Christ is enjoying all of that as He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. Now, I want you to listen carefully. As it was for Jesus Christ, so it will be for His people. I want you to turn to two final passages. I want you to go ahead and find Ephesians chapter 1 and hold that passage, please. Ephesians chapter 1, just hold it, and then turn back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. I want you to watch this. Romans chapter 8. As it was for Jesus Christ,

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• so it will be for His people, for He is our head and we are His body. Moreover, in Jesus Christ, we have an inheritance beyond description. So in Romans 8, look in verse 16: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Now note that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we're the children of God. Okay. Now look in verse 17: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Now, the Bible tells us that we are not only heirs of God, we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

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• So, let's just assume for a moment that I have a million Federal Reserve notes. I don't, but let's just assume that for a moment. Okay? I have four daughters. So what I could do, I could make a will and I could name my daughters and say each one gets $250,000. That would be dividing up a million. Or what I could do is I could name each one of my daughters and make them all joint heirs. So together they inherit the million dollars. In other words, it's not each one getting $250,000; each one has got everything at one time. So if they're joint heirs, each one gets everything, is what it amounts to. So when the Bible tells us then that we are heirs of God and that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ, it means we receive everything that He receives.

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• At His right hand is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. As He saw God the Father, we get to see God the Father. As He is raised to immortality, so we shall be raised to immortality.

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• Now, if you look in your Bibles, you say, "How do we know that to be true?" Now, remember in Romans 8:16, He said the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. So look at Ephesians 1, beginning there with verse, oh, let's read verse 11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." So the very fact, the very reality that we're indwelled by the Holy Spirit, that He witnesses with our spirit that we're the children of God, He has sealed us and guaranteed this inheritance.

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• Just as surely as a child of God is possessed by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit of God resides in him, just that surely he will inherit God and be a joint heir with Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus Christ could say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." He was shown the path of life. And the only way that we can be in that path is through obedience to Him, trusting in His redemption and His merits.

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• And following Him as He commands. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to the Father but by Him. And Father, even in His death, He trusted in Thee. He said, "Thou wilt show me the path of life. Thou wilt not leave my soul in corruption. Thou wilt not allow my body to corrupt." And Lord, we can be just as sure that Thou wilt not leave our body in the grave, and that we will not see corruption, because of Thy divine revelation and resurrection and Thy almighty power. Help us, Father, to trust Thee, to look to Thee, to obey Thee, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, who is our life, our way, our truth, and our path. Thank You, Father, in Christ's name. Amen.

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• so so

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T18:53:08Z