Kindled Fire

  • Home
  • About
  • Sermons
    • Old Testament
    • New Testament
  • Goodies
    • Ebooks
    • Catechism Studies
    • Gospel Tracts
    • Original Hymns
    • Ask the Pastor!
    • Worship Handbook
    • Homeschool Classes
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About
  • Sermons
    • Old Testament
    • New Testament
  • Goodies
    • Ebooks
    • Catechism Studies
    • Gospel Tracts
    • Original Hymns
    • Ask the Pastor!
    • Worship Handbook
    • Homeschool Classes
  • Contact
  • Blog

"Woe to me if I preach not the gospel."

Followers of the Way

1/23/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
In the New Testament we find that the Christians were first known as "Followers of the Way" The New Bible Dictionary supports this when it says that "The Way" is the oldest designation for the Christians.

Such a name pinpoints the essence of Christianity. Christ said that he was "the way, life and truth." Throughout the Bible you find references to the way of the righteous and God leading his people in the way. It is natural then that Christianity should be known simply as "the Way."

From these we find that this term has two meanings. First, it has to do with the way of living. The early Christians believed that God reveals the way life is to be lived in the Scriptures. For instance, the Bible tells us that there is a way (to live) that seems right unto a man, but its end is death. On the other hand, those that trust in the Lord with all their heart, relying upon his word as their guide for life and faith, walk in the "right way" or find the "way of life." In the morally lax culture of Rome, the Christians' irreproachable ethics was certainly an unmistakable trait.

Yet the second meaning may overshadow the first. Christians confess that the sole way of salvation lies in Christ. The only way to the Father is through Christ (Jn. 14:6). This exclusivity would have stood in stark contrast to the pagan culture of the day. Where multiple gods are held up as viable ways to eternal life or happiness, Christianity's exclusivity would was a notable feature. Sometimes Christians would even be called atheists because they rejected the Roman gods.

In our day, where paganism is lurching out again, Christians must remember their roots. We are still people of "the Way." Therefore we must understand the necessity of being dogmatic in belief and definitive on ethics. We must resist giving in to pressures of pluralism and stand out as a singular people.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Kindled Fire is dedicated 
    to the preaching and teaching ministry of 
    Matt Timmons.  
       Matt is blessed to be a husband, father, and pastor in Ashland, Ohio.

    Hopewell
    Church

    Picture
    Come learn more about Hopewell Church

    Picture
    Check out A-town's new place for news!

    Social Media
    Join the conversation!

    Check Out 
    Matt's Original Hymns
    Hymns

    This is Matt's book.  You should buy it.
    Picture
    A Handbook for Leading Divine Worship
     

    Categories

    All
    10 Commandments
    Adoption
    Apologetics
    Art
    Ashland
    Baptism
    Bible & Theology
    Catechism
    Church
    Civil Magistrate
    Classes
    Confession Of Sin
    Conversion Stories
    Covenant
    Creative Writing
    Creeds & Confessions
    Culture
    Devotion
    Doctrine On Fire
    Education
    Evangelism
    Family
    Fun W/ Mormons
    Homeschool
    Hopewell Church
    Hymns
    Instruction
    Land Of Ash
    Local News
    Lord's Supper
    Mansfield
    Marriage
    Matt's Life
    Money
    Newsletters
    New Study
    Outreach
    Prayer & Service
    Preaching
    Presbyterian
    Presbytery
    Prison
    Pro Life
    Providence Church
    Public Speaking
    Quotes
    Reviews
    Sex
    Slavery
    Suicide
    Tracts
    What They Say About Matt
    Wife
    Worldview
    Worship

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

 Woe to me if I preach not the gospel.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Twix, HelloImNik, Jair Alcon Photography, treehouse1977, Noel.Goodwin, S. Reachers, fontplaydotcom, DGriebeling, Chris Yarzab, karen horton, /\ \/\/ /\, Dawn Huczek, sekfeps, sundeepartist, ShelahD, ePublicist, RebeccaPollard, Andrew Morrell Photography, Nieve44/Luz, Sam Hearn, Audio-TechnicaUK, jenny downing, Swami Stream, carulmare, anikki*, Steve Snodgrass, globochem3x1minus1, motiqua, Vampire Bear, Lauren Tucker Photography, Рафаэль, jumpinjimmyjava, GlasgowAmateur, Alun Salt, mindfreeze86, Ding Yuin Shan, javcon117, thezartorialist.com, chatirygirl, Wm Jas, Son of Groucho, MSVG, Eric Kilby, eflon, superfem, James Alby, DeeAshley, Atheist Bus Canada, andrewrennie, Zachi Evenor, Dougtone, Technomancy, Unquabain, AndrásTuri, Nina Matthews Photography, 401(K) 2013, WikiThreads, Steve A Johnson, photosam88, Roger Saunders, blah blah photos...blah blah blah, Crysco Photography, mathias shoots analogue, wit, Veronique Debord, florianplag, gemsling, woodleywonderworks, huskyte77, maartmeester, Dylan Luder, Arnett Gill, Martin Cathrae, PeacockArmageddon, trix0r, stevendepolo, CarbonNYC [in SF!], DaGoaty, quinn.anya, HelloImNik, tausend und eins, fotografie, kenteegardin, supercoqui23, Son of Groucho, Aman Deshmukh, surrelmar, mockstar, Rusty Darbonne, masochismtango, Zaprittsky, effektvoll.photography, louporg, hectorir, Sh4rp_i, Egan Snow, Tim Sheerman-Chase, Andrew Kalat, david_shankbone, SteveR-, Gemma Maree, GabboT, emma.buckley, NYCgal, billaday, openDemocracy, AtomDocs, Fahmishah, bradleygee, Five Furlongs, jason.odonnell, Ben Fredericson (xjrlokix), B. Vasiliy, edenpictures, Josh Meek, Hunky Punk, Satoru Kikuchi, Alan Cleaver, phil wood photo, NCinDC
✕