The Way

“According to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.” (Acts 24:14)

The Apostle Paul, A.D. 60

Every man, when he considers the beauty and greatness of creation, even his own body, mind, and spirit, knows that life came into being, not by chance, but that a creator is behind all that we see.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and divine nature, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:20-23)

The Bible is the history of man and God, and its account of that history dates back as far as the existence of man is scientifically proven. Through the Bible, we find the origin of all religions that believe in one God, who created the heavens and the earth.

Illustration of Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden
Illustration of Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden

The Bible tells us that through the first man, Adam, sin entered the world, and man was separated from relationship with God. The Bible also tells us the world was very different in those days, that a mist covered the earth, and that it did not rain. And for nearly two thousand years, the Spirit of God strived with men. However, in the end, none sought after God, and the world became full of evil. And God regretted that He created the earth and destroyed the earth with a flood, saving only one man, Noah, and his family, whom He found righteous. Noah built an ark according to God’s instructions and was saved.

And God made a covenant with Noah. And Noah’s sons were Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who became the fathers of the races of mankind we know today. And from Shem’s descendants came Abraham. And God found Abraham righteous, because of his faith.

So God made a covenant with Abraham, that through his seed all nations would be blessed. And we know Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael became the father of the Arab people, who later through the sword returned to their belief in one god. Isaac’s descendants were afflicted as slaves by the Egyptians for four hundred years, until Moses led them out. And Moses gave us the commandments of God, and for Isaac’s descendants, the Jewish people, Moses gave laws by which they were to serve God.

From the Jewish people, God raised up prophets who told of a king through the line of David, whose “kingdom would have no end.” And from the prophet Isaiah, God told of one who would be an offering for the sin of many.

Illustration of The Crucifixion of Jesus and thieves at Calvary (Golgotha)
Illustration of The Crucifixion of Jesus and thieves at Calvary (Golgotha)

“He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions . . . Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief; when You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, and He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labour of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:2-11)

The Prophet Isaiah
700 BC

The servant of whom Isaiah speaks we know to be Jesus Christ, who came to lay on Himself the sins of all mankind. Isaiah writes:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”

Not born of any man, this servant, was, as the Apostle John tells us, the Word who became flesh. He came to show “The Way” to the Father, the way of salvation for all mankind, even as He promised to Abraham, that through his seed all people would be blessed—fulfilling, not only this promise but more than three hundred other prophecies, as written in the Law and the Prophets.

“I am the Way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus Christ
A.D. 31