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Scripture Reading:  2 Corinthians 7:6-12

The Way of Man

Intro.

1.  Judah would soon face God’s wrath, be consumed & taken captive because of her sins (Jer. 10:18-20, 22, 25).

2.  The “way of escape” would not be found in man; It was the ways of men that brought Judah to sin & this moment of crisis (cf. Lev. 18: 24-28 (20:22-26).

3.  Still true that “the way of man is not in himself.”

I.  THE WAY OF LIFE IS NOT IN MAN, Prov. 3:1-2.

  A.  Physical Life is given by God, Gen. 2:7 (Acts 17:25, 28).

    1.  Even the wicked king of Israel knew this truth!  2 Kgs. 5:7

    2.  Today, man has elevated himself into the seat of God:

      a.  Abortion & euthanasia

      b.  Embryonic stem cell research

    3.  When life is not respected, the giver of life will not be revered.

  B.  Spiritual Life is given by God, Heb. 12:9 (10-11).

    1.  Salvation by grace through faith, Eph. 2:1-8.

    2.  Sons of God, Gal. 3:26-27.

  C.  Eternal Life is given by God, Jno. 3:14-16; Rom. 6:23; 1 Jno. 2:25; 5:11-13. (Jesus, Jno. 14:6)

II. THE WAY OF MORALITY IS NOT IN MAN, 1 Pet. 4:1-6.

  A.  Immorality fulfills Evil Lusts, 4:2-3; 1 Jno. 2:15-17.

      -We are to have the mind of Christ & cease sin, 4:1 (14-16).

  B.  Man Teaches Immorality (Isa. 5:20):

    1.  Situational ethics (there are no moral absolutes).

    2.  Let your conscience be your guide (not revealed truth).

    3.  “No harm, no foul” (sin harms all, Rom. 3:23; 6:23).

  C.  The Grace of God teaches Moral Purity, Titus 2:11-12.

      - Prov. 19:1-3

III. THE WAY OF TRUTH IS NOT IN MAN, Jno. 14:6.

  A.  What is Truth? (Jno. 18:37)

    1.  God is truth, 1 Jno. 1:5-6 (Deut. 32:4; Rom. 3:4).

    2.  God’s word is truth, Jno. 17:17 (Psa. 33:4).

      a.  Truth is revealed to man by God, Eph. 3:3-4 (Heb. 1:2).

      b.  Truth is taught, Eph. 4:20-21.

    3.  We are to “buy the truth” & not sell it, Prov. 23:23.

    4.  We must believe the truth or be condemned, 2 Ths. 2:12.

    5.  We must love the truth to be saved, 2 Ths. 2:10.

  B.  Jesus is Truth, Jno. 1:14 (Eph. 4:21).

    1.  His words are spirit & life, Jno. 6:63, 68.

    2.  Abide in His word: Disciple, know truth & freed, Jno. 8:31-32.

IV. THE WAY OF SOUND DOCTRINE IS NOT IN MAN.  Gal. 1:6-10

  A.  Man’s Doctrine is not the Doctrine of God, Matt. 15:7-9; Tit. 2:10.

    1.  Man’s doctrine is false, deceptive & carries one way from God, Col. 2:8; Heb. 13:9 (Eph. 4:14).

    2.  The doctrine of Christ:

      a.  Is from God & is knowable, Jno. 7:16-17.

      b.  Secures fellowship with God, 2 Jno. 9.

      c.  Is godly, 1 Tim. 6:3.

    3.  We are to teach no other doctrine!  1 Tim. 1:3-4

V. THE WAY OF SALVATION IS NOT IN MAN, Acts 4:12.

  A.  God’s Plan of Salvation, Rom. 6:17-18.

    1.  Believe, Rom. 10:9-10.

    2.  Confess faith, Rom. 10:9-10.

    3.  Repent of sins, Rom. 2:4.

    4.  Be baptized into Christ, Rom. 6:3-4.

    5.  Be faithful to Jesus, Rom. 12:1-2 (Rev. 2:10).

Conclusion

1.  Our only hope is the Lord, Jer. 17:9-10, 13.

2.  Only when we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways will be eternally blessed, Prov. 3:5-6.