INTRODUCTION
Matthew 7:13 – 14 The Narrow & Broad Way (Literal)
13 Go through the straight gate because wide is the gate, and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going through it;
14 How straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and few are those finding it!
I. GO THROUGH THE STRAIGHT
a. What is the straight gate?
John 10:9 – 10 (Jesus speaking)
“9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
All those who enter through Jesus will be saved.
Coming in and going out refers to what sheep did. They came into the gate for protection, and went out for pasture.
The thief is the devil and his servants are false prophets.
They only come to steal, kill and destroy.
Jesus comes that we may have life, and to have it abundantly!
There is a relation between our childhood memories of father and how they relate to our understanding of God.
b. Only one way to the Father. Jesus
John 14:4 – 6
“4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
There is only one way because Jesus was the only one who paid the wages of sin for you. There are two covenants right now, one leads only to death, the covenant of LAW, and the other leads to life, the new covenant in Christ.
You will be judged by one of these covenants and the choice is yours.
c. I lay life & death before you, choose life!
Deuteronomy 30:19 – 20
19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life…
II. Because
a. Wide gate = easy to pass through.
b. Broad road = easy to stay on and travel.
It’s not hard to sin against God. It’s not hard to live in sin.
Remember; everyone commits sin but not everyone lives in sin.
Committing a sin – we repent & ask for forgiveness and are forgiven.
Living in sin – we sin & do nothing about it, and therefore live in Unforgiveness.
If we have never accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and commit ourselves to Him, we are living in sin, and a state of Unforgiveness. And we will be judged by the Covenant of LAW, by which we are all guilty.
i. Already condemned.
John 3:17 – 18
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
We are already condemned because if we have not accepted the New Covenant, we are judged under the Old Covenant.
Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Jesus came to rescue us, the prisoners of sin.
We are to do the same, rescuing those who are still prisoners.
Luke 9:56
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
c. Wide path Leads to destruction = it’s a “path to” not the “destination of”
If you are still alive, you have not been destroyed yet! And there is hope!
But the path you are on, if you do nothing about it, WILL LEAD TO YOUR DESTRUCTION!
d. Believers CAN STRAY from path.
James 5:19-20
19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death (eternal punishment) and cover over a multitude of sins.
e. Destruction = DEATH (everlasting)
There is no such thing as “Once Saved Always Saved”.
The Bible does not teach that.
What it does teach, with no stretch of the imagination or needing special translation, is James 5:19 & 20.
This scripture CLEARLY STATES, a believer can walk away from the truth of Christ, and be in danger of losing his soul!
It says whoever brings that person back has not only saved his soul but his returning to the truth will cover his sins.
III. Many are those GOING THROUGH IT (the wide gate and broad road).
a. My people die because of lack of knowledge.
Hosea 4:6
6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
"Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children.
God’s people are being destroyed today because of lack of knowledge.
The knowledge is the Word of God, the Bible. Their Lack of it, isn’t because of ignorance, but rather, a willful rejection of God’s Word. They didn’t know because they chose not to know.
So what knowledge from God’s Word is so important? What knowledge is it we are to gain that will keep us from being destroyed?
b. It is God’s will that all come to knowledge of the TRUTH
1 Timothy 2:3 – 4
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
It is God’s will that
What, or rather, Who is the truth?
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
c. Jesus IS the WAY the TRUTH and the
Narrow is the WAY that leads to
Narrow, because there is only one way that leads to life. THAT is the truth, the knowledge from God’s Word that will save His people from being destroyed.
d. Time has come to worship in Spirit & Truth!
John 4:23 & 24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The time is now…we have the Holy Spirit, and in that spirit and the Truth of Jesus Christ, we worship the Father.
Those who worship the Father through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.
IV. How straight is the gate.
a. Straight meaning perfect
b. Jesus is the perfect gate (or door)
c. Jesus paid your debt
d. Salvation is
V. Narrow is the way that leads to life.
a. Narrow because there is only one way to life, many to death.
b. Narrow is the way of faith.
c. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God
d. Faith is where Salvation is.
e. Believing and being committed to.
CONCLUSION
Find that narrow path today. Find it now.
Accept the covenant of the Lord.
Receive the
Have life and more abundantly.
COMMUNION
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