PSALM 1

1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

ONLY TWO WAYS

“THE ROAD NOT TAKEN” Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

ONLY TWO WAYS Deuteronomy 30:15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.

ONLY TWO WAYS Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

ONLY TWO WAYS Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

ONLY TWO WAYS Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

ONLY TWO WAYS Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

THE WAY OF THE REDEEMED Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Life in Christ

BLESSED Not deserved Not earned Not dependent on circumstances Not a feeling A gift from God A family relationship with God Dependent on a saving faith in Christ There will be evidence

LIFE CHOICES Walk, Stand, Sit Wicked, Sinners, Scoffers 1 Corinthians 17:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

STEPS INTO PERSONAL SIN Recognize it Hate it Tolerate it Accept it Embrace it Encourage it “It doesn’t take long to get used to the dark”

THE WAY OF THE REDEEMED Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Life in Christ

THE WAY OF THE REPROBATE Psalm 1:4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Life without Christ

Romans 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

AN ETERNAL DESTINY IS REAL The First Great Awakening “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” July 8, 1741, Enfield, Connecticut Jonathan Edwards Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

PRINCIPLES There are only two categories of people – The Righteous; those in Christ – The Wicked; those without Christ Each category of people have different lives – Blessed by God, Rooted in God’s Word, Fruitful – Not blessed by God, Separated from God, Useless Each category of people have different destinies – Heaven – Hell

ONLY TWO WAYS

APPLICATIONS Who are you? What road are you on? Apply the Gospel to yourself Evaluate your life What proof is there that God has saved you? What is your life focused on? What are you doing with God’s Word? Are you ready for Judgment Day?