The reason we bring this subject up is because many are still confused as what the Apostle referred to when he spoke of those who are of “the way”.
“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1, 2)
“But this I confess to you, that 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)
Many erroneously assume that the Apostle was speaking in the general sense of all believers in Christ. This however is not the case he was speaking here of a specific class of individuals, fully consecrated who believed as he believed, traveled as he traveled, who had taken up their cross and were traveling along the same roadway or path as that walked by the Master, i.e. following in his footsteps. These were not merely nominal Christians, professing Christians, in name only, but rather those who following the Lord’s example fully consecrated themselves to the doing of the Father’s will, and as such had entered into covenant with the Father, a “covenant by sacrifice” (Psa 50:5; Rom 12:1).
This step of sacrifice is what is often called the “second step”, the “first step” was taken when at first we believed and put our faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
The first step cost us nothing save faith and repentance (our best efforts in avoiding sin), this is referred to as a “consecration to righteousness”, a conversion or turning from sin, which all believers must make. This first step is necessary in that it is what makes us acceptable should we decide to take the second step of a full consecration; thus it is prerequisite to the second step.
Unlike the first step the second step does involve a cost; it requires sacrifice, not only the sacrifice of many of the lawful pleasures of this life, but most importantly the sacrifice of our restituional life rights, which were secured to us all through the sacrifice of Christ. Thus it is referred to as a “consecration to sacrifice”, or what the Apostle referred to as a “living sacrifice”.
The few who take this second step are the only ones who are truly “in the way” who have entered the “narrow way”. This way can only be entered through Christ that is it can only be entered by those who are “IN Christ”, who have been joined to the body (prospectively), being baptized into him, into his baptism. As our Lord stated: "I am the way," "I am the door" (John 14:6; John 10:9). There is only one way of access (or acceptableness) to God at this time.
Another reason for broaching this subject is that many having been misled by the teachings of the professing church are of the erroneous opinion that death ends all probation, that is to say if one does not accept Christ in this life, they are eternally lost, that now is the only day of salvation, and no other way will ever be made available to gain life.
In the Scriptures Three ways, the "broad road," the "narrow way" and the "highway," are brought to our attention.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt 7:13, 14)
"And a 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, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, nor be found there; but they that walk there shall be delivered." (Isa. 35:8, 9)
The Broad Road to Destruction
This road is thus named because it is most easy to the degenerate human race. Six thousand years ago, as a sinner condemned to destruction, Adam (and the race represented in him) started upon this road, and after nine hundred and thirty years he reached its end--destruction. As years and centuries have rolled on, the downward path has become more and more smoothly worn, and the race has sped more and more rapidly to destruction, the way becoming daily more glazed and slimed and slippery with sin. And not only does the way grow more slippery, but mankind daily loses the power of resistance, so that now the average length of human life is between 70-80 years (and this only due to the more abundance of food and modern medicine). Men now reach the end of the road--destruction—newly nine hundred years quicker than did the first man.
For six thousand years the race has steadily pursued the broad, downward way. Only a few, comparatively, have tried to change their course and retrace their steps. In fact, to retrace all the steps, and reach the original perfection, has been impossible, though the effort of some to do so has been commendable, and not without beneficial results. For six thousand years sin and death have reigned relentlessly over mankind, and driven them upon this broad road to destruction. And not until the Gospel age was a way of escape brought to light.
Though in previous ages rays of hope were dimly seen in types and shadows, which were joyfully hailed and acted upon by a few, yet life and immortality were not brought to light until the appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the proclamation by the apostles of the good tidings of redemption and remission of sins and a consequent resurrection from the destruction. (2 Tim 1:10) The teachings of Jesus and the apostles bring to light LIFE--a restitution or restoration to life for all mankind, as based upon the merit and sacrifice of the Redeemer; and they show this to be the significance of many Old Testament types. They also bring to light IMMORTALITY, the prize of the high calling of the Gospel Church.
Although a way of escape from the broad road to destruction has been brought to light through the gospel, the great mass of mankind heeds not the good tidings, because depraved by sin and blinded by the Adversary. Those who now gratefully accept the promise of LIFE, restoration to human existence, through Christ, have pointed out to them a new way which has been opened up, by which consecrated believers may go beyond the human nature and be changed to a higher nature--the spiritual.
This new way "consecrated for US"--the royal priesthood (Heb. 10:20)--our Lord called
"THE NARROW WAY TO LIFE" (A205-207)
We will take a look at this “way” and its requirements in our next post.
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