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<body> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" width="90%"> <tr> <td width="33%"> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:8-11" name="Top">Psalms 16:8-11</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+2:29-31"> Acts 2:29-31</a>   </P> </td> <td width="33%"> <P align="center">  <B><font size="4">The Path of Life</font> </B> </P> </td> </center> <td width="33%"> <P align="right"> 10-10-99</P> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <P>Intro<I>. </I>Intro: When the early settlers moved west they relied on routes discovered by explorers who found passes through the great mountain ranges. Even with all their determination and all their commitment the mountains would have been an impossible barrier had they not had guides to show way. Even then, it was a challenge.</P> <P>So it is with the path that leads to life. Unless we it is made known to us it will be impossible to attain. Even when we find it, believe me, it is a challenge.</P> <P> we understand that had to find passes through the brooding mountain ranges ahead of them. </P> <blockquote> <DIR> <B><P>TWO PATHS</P> </B></DIR> </blockquote> <B><P>A. : Jesus spoke of two paths, the one that leads to destruction and the one that leads to</B> <B>life.</B> He said, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+7:13-14"> Matthew 7:13-14</a> ...<I>But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it</P> </I><P>1. Since there doesn’t seem to be a third path, we must be on one or the other. </P> <P>Paul wrote, </P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Rom+6:23">Romans 6:23</a> <I>For the wages of sin is death, ...</I> </P> <blockquote> <DIR> <B><P>THE PATH OF LIFE</P> </DIR> </blockquote> <P>A. The gift of God is eternal life. Ah, yes. The path of life.</P> </B> <P>1. King David, king of Israel wrote and Peter attributed in prophecy as applying to Jesus with these words. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:11"> Psalm 16:11</a> <I>You have made known to me the path of life; </I>... </P> <P>2. Jesus had to learn the way. He praises God for revealing this path to him <I>you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand</I>. </P> <P>3. Jesus learned also of the quality of that life, <I>eternal pleasures at your right hand</I>.</P> <B><P>B. Jesus’ Path</P><DIR> </B><P>Faithful service to God</P> <P>Suffering and death</P> <P>Resurrection</P> <blockquote> <B><P>PATH OBSCURED</P> </blockquote> <P>Mountain pass obscure at a distance</P> </B> <P>Service, Suffering Self-denial</P> <P>"Oh no, that does not sound like life to me".</P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+16:24">Matthew 16:24</a> <I>Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me,...</I> </P> <P>Jesus knows the path to life.</P> <P> Hardships and many difficulties tested the pioneers</P> <P>So it is with the path that leads to life.</P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+14:21-22">Acts 14:21-22</a> <i>... encouraging them to <B>remain true to the faith</B>. ... </P> </i><blockquote> <B><P>THE PATH IS <U>KNOWABLE </U>(<I>You have made known…V. 28)-</P> </I> </B></blockquote> <P> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Rom+16:25-26"> Romans 16:25-26</a> <I>... according to <B>my <U>gospel</B></U></B>, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the <B>revelation of the mystery</B>, ... <B>now is made manifest</B>, <B>... made known to all nations </B>for the obedience of faith: </P> </I> <P>Knowledge is the gospel message.</P> <P> But it must be "<I>made known</I>" Gospel means good news. Good news must be published. It is not intuitive.</P> <B><P>Many "gospels"</P> </B><P>Many are take-offs of scripture but based on intuition</P> <P>Experience</P> <P>Goodness of mankind</P> <P>Goodness of God</P> <P>Good in the world</P> <blockquote> <B><P>MOUNTAIN PASS IS RESURRECTION</P> </blockquote> <P>Death comes by many means. Jesus’ by crucifixion</P> </B><P>Life comes only by one means, resurrection.</P> <B><P>B. Jesus, Himself, Looked to God to be raised.</P> </B><blockquote> <P>"You will not abandon me to the grave"</P> <P>"<I>God has <U>raised</U> this Jesus to life"</I> v. 32</P> <P>Raised is resurrected.</P> <P>Life because he was dead!</P> <B><P>That GOD raised Jesus is saving knowledge.</P> </B></blockquote> <P>1. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Rom+10:9"> Romans 10:9</a> That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. </P> <P>2. Jesus resurrect himself? <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=John+10:18"> John 10:18</a><I> ... This command I received from my Father." </P> </I><blockquote> <P>"take" means to take what somegives. Rendered "receive’ O/100 times, "take" U/100 times.</P> <P>Stated plainly over 20 times</P> <P>It’s important. How do I know? Because God tells us over and over.</P></blockquote> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Act+2:24">Acts 2:24</a>  <I>But <B>God raised him from the dead</B>, ...</P> </I><P align="left"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Act+2:32">Acts 2:32</a>  <I><B>God has raised this Jesus to life</B>... </I> </P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Act+3:15">Acts 3:15</a>  <I>... <B>God raised him from the dead</B>.... </I> </P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+3:26">Acts 3:26</a>  <I>When <B>God raised up his servant</B>, ...</P> </I> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+4:10">Acts 4:10</a>  <I>... whom <B>God raised from the dea</B>d, that this man stands before you healed.</P> </I> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+10:40">Acts 10:40</a>  <I>but <B>God raised him from the dead on the third da</B>y and caused him to be seen.</P> </I> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+13:30">Acts 13:30</a>  <B><I>But God raised him from the dead,</P> </I> </B> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+13:34">Acts 13:34</a>  <I>The fact that <B>God raised him from the dead</B>, never to decay, is stated in these words:</P> </I> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+13:37">Acts 13:37</a>  <I>But the one whom <B>God raised from the dead</B> did not see decay.</P> <DIR> <DIR> </I><B><P>PATH TO PLEASURERS</P> </DIR> <P>"power of an endless life" <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:17"> Heb. 7:17</a></P> </B> <P>1. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Cor+15:43"> 1 Cor. 15:43</a>  it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;</P> <blockquote> <B><P>Usually associate "pleasure" with sin.</P> </B> <P>"eternal pleasures" in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:8"> Ps.16:8</a> "delights", "continual, perpetual"</P> </blockquote> <P>Conclusion: The path that leads to life may not always seem like the path that leads to life. As the mountain range loomed larger and larger to the approaching pioneers then may have had reason to doubt. So it is with our walk of faith. </P> <P>Doubts and trials are a normal part of faith. </P> <P>Age and finally death frighten us. But death is no longer the mortal enemy. Jesus has broken through the pale and reveals that neither will we be abandoned to the grave. It’s stone will be rolled back for those of us who believe in him and his resurrection.</P> </dir> </dir> <p><a href="#Top" target="_self">Top</a></p> <p> </p> </body>