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Definition #3 - the Way - A course of life, action, or experience. Each person has a personal course of life, action or experience. The Lord God has one too. What about my personal "way of life"? What about God's "way of life"? You, me, and every person has a course or pattern of life we take, actions we repeat, and ways we experience as unique as we are. We also have patterns similar to others. Our way or course of life can be seen by our life patterns. We have certain foods and beverages we ingest regularly, places we frequent, and hobbies we enjoy. We have specific patterns of speech and thoughts, values and priorities. We maintain specific rituals and traditions which demonstrate our personal “way of life”. We have learned our way or course of life from our parents and family, culture and peers. Some ways we have chosen for ourselves in order to fit in or to be different. Some of these patterns seem healthy while others seem destructive, and some we don’t even think about. We may or may not be aware of where our course of life is taking us in the eternal spiritual realm. But Jesus came to make you and me aware of our eternal direction. Just like a river flows a long way, our lives also have a flow. We can flow wherever the current takes us, following along unquestioningly with popular opinion, suffering under cultural oppression, seeking pleasure endlessly or we can seek the Truth from the God Who made us and be changed by Him to be an eternally alive. God also has a way of being. God has a course of life, action and experience. People can know and live God’s course of life, action and experience if they trust God and His Word and are born again by the Blood of His Son. God tells us that His way of being, His course of life, His patterns of thought, actions, values and priorities are very different than any person’s. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
God's "Way of Life" How are God’s Ways? How can any person learn God’s Way for eternal life? The Bible says that all of God’s ways are perfect. They are healthy for each person and none of them are for our destruction. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 The Bible says that all of God’s ways, or His course of life for people, lead to eternal life. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, Proverbs 6:23 In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. Proverbs 12:28
##################### How can any person learn God’s Way for eternal life? If God is in heaven, and far away, how can any person learn God’s way of life? If God is so good and His ways are so much better than ours, how can any person ever live a life in God’s ways? ~Great questions! Here are the answers: God has personally given us three ways to know and to live His ways. 1- God sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth to demonstrate visibly and explicably God’s ways. God personally showed up to teach us on this earth. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:3 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
2- God sends His Holy Spirit to live in each believer or child of God to teach them His ways. The Holy Spirit enables and empowers all true Christians to live a life holy and under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Jeremiah 31:33-34 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:25-27 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My Name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My Name, and I will do it. "If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:12-18 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. John 16:15 Child of God = John 1:1-3; John 1:12-14; John 1:29; John 3:3-8; John 3:16-18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 3:10; 1 John 5:1; Romans 8:16-17; 1 John 5:19
3- God gave us His book, the Holy Bible to speak to us personally and show us His way. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16,17
Did God personally show up and teach us on this earth? YES. God personally came and walked this earth to show us His way. God put on flesh. The Word of God became incarnate, or material (John 1:14). Jesus, the God-man, was born around 3 BC and lived on this earth for 33 years before He gave up His spirit and died. (Matthew 27:50-54; John 19:30-37; John 10:11; John 10:14-18; John 15:13) After Jesus died, He became alive again, and then ascended into heaven. Jesus Christ gives every person who believes, trusts, and adheres to Him, or is born again, His Holy Spirit to live in him or her forever. The Holy Spirit is the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, Who guides believers in the way God wants them to go. The True Christian submits to the Holy Spirit and does not habitually grieve the Holy Spirit. A true Christian has the power of the Holy Spirit within him or her to live the ways of the holy God.
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