3.16 - THE WAY

THE WAY Allow me to read to you from Isaiah 53:1-12, one of the most beautiful chapters in all the Bible.

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as all hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And all highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, not any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

If there is any beauty attached to what is stated, tonight it shall be embodied in its simplicity. It has ever been my chief ambition to present the matter of salvation, the principle by which men and women are to-be saved, in such a simple way that everyone who hears may understand clearly what the will of the Lord is.

I want to present to you the story, under the likeness of a way leading from earth to glory—from this to the pilgrim’s home beyond.

I know that this is all age of travel, more so than any period the world has ever known. We have largely forsaken the railroads. No longer do we consult the railroad maps, time tables, or schedules, but we now write the A.A. Association and get a map of the roads and highways over our land. We study them, and are directed accordingly.

Let us fancy that we wanted to make a journey to the city of Memphis. There are certain things we would desire to know. First, I would want to ask, is there a road or a way leading from Nashville to Memphis? If that were answered in the affirmative, then I would ask a second question: where is it? That being answered, I would ask a third: where can I learn all about it, and get complete information respecting it? The fourth query is, how can I reach that road? Next, I would inquire, are there any hindrances to my entering into it? With these answered satisfactorily, I would have one more question, how can I keep in it? Are there any signs put up? Are there guides along the way? With all this information before me, I would know positively that if I ever got into the road or way, and then would keep on going, never letting up, I would be just as certain to reach Memphis as I proceeded in my onward journey.

Now that is quite simple. All of us have had experiences like that. Now, I want to ask this: is there a New Jerusalem, a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God?

I am constrained to believe that there is. Next question: do I want to reach that destination when life’s journey shall have passed, and its dream ended? Of course, every sober, sane, sensible man would like to share the bliss of that wonderful land. So I become wonderfully interested in it, and want to ask some things regarding it.

Friends, is there a way that leads from this to that destination? If not, then we might close out all of our religious services, and write "Finis" over every church building’s door, and stop our activities in every way. We might haul down the blood-stained banner of Christ Jesus our Lord and erect the blackest flag that a blatant infidel could possibly fancy or picture. Is there a way? Standing upon the hilltops of Israel in the long ago, Isaiah had somewhat to say along this line. In Isaiah 35:8, "All highway shall be there and a way." Now, I submit to you that Isaiah pictures two ways. How are they designated? One of them is called a highway, and the other is simply styled a way.

I do not think there can be any doubt about there being two different ways. Isaiah plainly pictures the coming of the Christ and the evidence by which he shall be known. He says, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as all hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing."

I turn to the New Testament about 800 years after and find that Jesus Christ did come. I look round about for these evidences of his appearance, and the illustrations are abundant’ and examples are a plenty, where the eyes of the blind were opened, the ears of the deaf were unstopped, and other evidences thus pictured. In that memorable sermon on the mount, Christ said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Isaiah said there would be two ways to challenge the attention of mortal man. Christ presented them. Isaiah distinguished them as the highway and the a way. Christ calls them the broad way and the narrow way. Hence the high way of Isaiah is the broad way of Christ. The a way of the prophet is the narrow way of the Lord Jesus Christ. But look at it again. "All highway shall be there, and a way, and it"—not the highway, but the a way—shall be called the way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein."

Friends, I am thoroughly convinced that there is a way. I need no further argument along that line, and I am glad, therefore, to repeat that which is in Holy Writ, viz: there is a way from this world to the eternal shore.

Now the next question: where is that road? What is it? Allow me to read to you, from the first part of John 14:1-31, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way you know. But Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Christ never said, "I am a way," "I am some way,’’ "I am one way," but He said, "I am the way." And to give emphasis, He added, "I am not only the way, but I am the truth and the life; and no man can come unto the Father but by me."

I have a great many friends who tell me after this fashion, viz: "Brother Hardeman, all of us are seeking the same objective. I am going one way, you are going another, but we will land at the same general union depot after all." That could not be true. The Bible knows nothing about any except one way, and it is positively stated that it is impossible for a man to reach that destiny by any other way whatsoever.

Friends, that thing is settled. "I am the way," and beside Him there is none other.

Well, the next question. Having learned that there is a way, and that it is Jesus the Christ, then I ask, where may I learn about it? Where may I get information regarding it? In John 5:39, Christ said, "Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify for me." But who is the "me"?

"I am the way." Therefore, all information, every chart, all manner of instruction necessary is found in the sacred oracles. Hence, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright God’s word." It will direct you, and lead you into the way of truth and of light. With these points thus far answered clearly, the next one naturally comes. How can I get to Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life? In what manner may I approach, or come unto Him who is the way? In John 6:44, there are these words: "No man can come unto me"—and remember, "I am the way"—"except the Father which has sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day."

I know good and well that teaches that a man must be drawn unto Jesus Christ, who is the way.

Just at that point much theology and speculation have been brought in. None of us rejects the statement or denies that a man must be drawn. If we allow ourselves to fancy how it may be done, without a further study of the Bible, we reach varied and scattered conclusions.

I cannot imagine tonight how any man can be drawn, even by God, aside from God’s power. The only way possible for me to draw men my way would be by my power, and if a man must be drawn unto God, or unto Christ, it is done by the matchless power of Jehovah. But you ask: what is that power by which men are drawn? The answer is found in Romans 1:16, wherein Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth." Therefore, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." God’s drawing power must be exerted. But John 6:45, says the same thing, and now I bid you hear John 6:44-45 together: "No man can come unto me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." Who is "me"? "I am the way." Man comes unto Christ by hearing, learning, coming.

Friends, the Christianity of this book is all intelligent affair. The religion of the Bible is a thing that man learns: and learning is the first step toward Jesus Christ, the way that leads from this to the other shore. No wonder, then, it is declared, "They shall be all taught of God." No wonder that the Christ said, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations." And again, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." For it has pleased God, by that which the world calls the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe.

Therefore, friends, a man comes to Christ, is drawn unto him by hearing, by learning. But as a result of hearing men receive faith. "Faith comes by hearing God’s word," and when a man is led to believe a thing, the very next step, naturally and logically, is that he turn toward its acceptance. Hence, the items in the plan of salvation—faith and repentance are those things that draw a man unto Jesus Christ. But what does unto mean? A very small, little word, I grant you, but words are the signs of ideas. They are the wrappers in which God’s thoughts are conveyed to mortal man. That word simply signifies, "to, toward, in the direction of." It never means transferred from without to within, but it carries the idea of approach, coming toward, moving in that direction. Every step that you took, tonight, from the time you left your home until you were yonder at the front door, was a step of unto. That brought you up to the margin of the tabernacle. There you fulfilled all the significance of the word unto.

Then what? It was necessary, in the illustration, for you to take another step, and that next step was not characterized by the word unto but by the word Into.

I know there is a mighty little difference in the spelling. Just drop the "u" and put all "I," and you have the other word, but it has a different meaning and carries with it this thought, viz: transition from the outside to the inside.

If I wanted to get this knife within that hat, it must first be brought unto the hat. Hence, as I move it toward, or in the direction of the hat, the word unto prevails. It has now been brought to the margin. Now you want to put it into it. What does into mean? From the outside to the inside. All right. I transfer the knife from without to within.

I walk up to the home of some neighbor, and knock at the door. I have come unto his home. I knock, and courteously he opens the door. He does not say, "Walk unto the house," but "Walk into the house."

Back in the country, when I was younger than I am now, we use to slip off and go to the old mill pond. We didn’t go in bathing either, we went in awashing. Of course, I would say now, "Let’s go in bathing," I remember quite well how we hastened toward the margin of the creek and removed the little paraphernalia we were accustomed to wear. Those were steps unto. Then we jumped into it. I knew exactly what these words meant before I ever saw a dictionary, or learned anything about the Bible.

Friends, make the application further. How come into Christ Jesus? Faith that comes from hearing and learning God’s word, plus turning in the direction which I have learned, are those steps that bring us unto those things we desire. That’s the way the Bible talks about it. In Romans 10:10, Paul said, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." The word into never follows faith. The idea of a man’s having faith into a thing is contrary to good sense. Nowhere, in the Bible or out of the Bible, is it correct to talk about a man’s believing into. You could not believe into the Masonic Lodge to save your life. In addition to that faith you have in it, you must ride the goat.

You cannot believe into the Odd Fellow Lodge. I once was a member of that, and I know whereof I speak regarding it. You may have faith in it, but you cannot have faith into it, because the word does not so signify. So Paul said, ’With the heart man believeth unto." Acts 11:18, "Repentance is unto."

Those are steps that bring a soul unto Jesus Christ, who is the way. My next inquiry was this: are there any stop signals? Is there a bar across my passage? How may I enter into the way?

I wonder if it would be possible for all of us to be willing and candid enough just to accept what the Bible says about it without any comment or explanation? In the sixth chapter of Romans, I begin with verse 1 and read four verses, which I bid you hear carefully:

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Now I never put that in the Bible. God said that. But you ask, "Brother Hardeman, what does that mean?" I think I know. It means this: "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." That is what it means. Now if you ask me how do I know, here is the answer: that is what it says, and I do not think that God was joking about it, or merely playing upon words.

Friends, Paul says, "We are baptized into Jesus Christ." Now what does into mean? Transition. From where? From the outside to the inside. But you know that you could not possibly baptize a man into Jesus Christ, unless first, that man had come unto him. It would be impossible for you to come into this tabernacle without having come unto it. You took certain steps that brought you unto it. You took a final step that transferred you into it. The idea of a man’s thinking he can be baptized into Jesus Christ without the proper antecedents of faith and of repentance, is all idea foreign to the teachings of God’s book.

Again, Paul said, in Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Jesus Christ have put on Christ."

How many are in Christ? "As many of you." How many? Just as many. Any more? No. Any less? No. We are children of God by faith in Christ.

You who have been baptized into Jesus Christ have put Him on. Friends, that is the way it is in your Bibles. Numbers of people, up in Alaska, may not believe it, but it is there nevertheless. But some of my good friends say, "Well, Brother Hardeman, I cannot understand it." My friend, I do not much believe you can misunderstand it. I doubt if there is a responsible man in Nashville who is able to misunderstand that by himself. He might get some expert help, and, finally, have the matter clouded, and imagine that he does not understand it, but that would be a mere fancy. But again, 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." That body is the church, the family of God. Who is the way? Jesus Christ said, "I am the way." How get into Christ? The Bible says we are baptized into Him. Friends, that is all I know about it. But that is enough.

Question: am I willing to accept that, or will I raise a question of doubt, and try to ease my conscience by respecting the commandments of men? Do you think that because Christ commands a soul to believe, to repent and to be baptized, the matter of grace is eliminated from salvation? Can it be by grace, and yet upon the terms that grace imposes? There is not a man or a woman in Nashville who believes that salvation is by grace any more than does your humble servant. With all my heart I believe that it is by the grace of God, and through the faith of man. But a faith that stops short of obedience is not the faith that brings the salvation or blessing.

But, says one, "I don’t believe in baptism." Hardeman doesn’t either. I believe in Christ. He is the object of all my faith, for He is the way, and I cannot believe in Christ, and disbelieve in anything that He said. Faith in Christ implies all acceptance of what He says. When any of my people get sick, I send for the doctor. My faith rests in him, but it would be a sorry faith that would not do what the doctor said.

But, friends, having entered into the way that leads to Memphis does not mean that we are certain to reach that city. We are now ready to commence to begin. To stop now would be futile to our first ambition. We must travel in that way until the journey is over. There are marks all along to guide and to assure us of our safety. So when a man enters Jesus Christ, who is the way, he must likewise continue his course until the end is reached and the crown is won. That straight and narrow way has its signs all along. On one you see written, "Pray without ceasing." On another, "Practice the principles of pure and undefiled religion." Still further, this, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together." And then, "Let your light so shine." Finally, "Be thou faithful unto death." As you near the end and come to touch the waters in that last stream, you may ask, Master, what is this? The reply will come: "Hold fast your hand in mine." A little later, the white caps may burst round about you and the waves sweep over your brow. Jesus will then say: "This is the end of life’s journey, and I now transport you into the golden glories of our Father’s home." Will you, my friends, enter into that way and pledge the remnant of your days to His service? If so, I now bid you come, while angels watch and wait.