I. The Narrow and Wide Gate
- Matthew 7:13-29 is the end of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Unlike His previous sermons, Jesus taught this with authority. This is a sermon commanding His followers to change their ways and live a life that will glorify God.
A. The Narrow Way
- In verses 13-14, Jesus used the analogy of a wide and a narrow gate. This is a choice that we have for our eternal life. We can either go through a wide gate with a lot of people or go through a narrow gate by ourselves. With a wide gate, people can do whatever they want, we can carry all our "baggage" (sinful heart, immorality, lack of repentance, and lack of relationship with Jesus and God). This is the gate of self-righteousness, self-indulgence, for the proud, and for the ungodly. People don't have to work hard to get through this gate and they can continue to live the life of the world and still be welcomed here. The only problem is, this leads to destruction or hell. On the other hand, Jesus told us to “Enter by the narrow gate;... Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it". This gate is small and you can't bring any of your baggage through here. You are often laughed upon and persecuted. You have to repent your sins and surrender your life to God. You have to follow the way of the Lord and receive divine righteousness. You must be humble and glorify God with all the blessings you have received. This narrow gate reminds me of the new X-ray body scanner they have in airports. We have to take our jackets and shoes off (self-righteousness), leave our baggage (immorality, sinful heart), your jewelries and watches (pride), and even your wallets (self-indulgence) before you can pass through. The X-ray can detect if you try to bring these with you. It is just you without your impurities and sin. Additionally, a narrow gate has enough space for one person. Salvation is a personal decision and you receive this gift from God when you accept Jesus as your savior and repent. Sometimes, we have to leave our loved ones because they are the ones that hold us from joining God's family. Jesus encourages us to take the next step and passed through the narrow gate to heaven. God only gave Christians one way to enter the Kingdom:
"6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me - John 14:6.
Also, in 1 Timothy 2:5, "5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
Jesus Christ is the only way for salvation and even though this way is narrow, we have to take this route because God did not give us any other way.
B. Know Them by their Fruits
- In verses 15-20, Jesus warned us about false prophets and teachers. Jesus used a sheep and a wolf for his analogy. Supposed you were in the wilderness and you suddenly heard some rustling, and a sheep came out, what will be your response? How will you react? What if it was a wolf? Jesus preached about wolves that cover themselves up with a sheepskin, hiding all the ungodly and unrighteous messages he/she is teaching. We can tell if they are men of God or a church of God by the fruit that they bear and if they follow what is written in the Bible, the Word of God. If a certain religion or cult, preaches about praying to people, about risking injuries for a chance to touch a statue, allows idols to be in your homes, and endorses self-flagellation, don't you think that those might be red flags? For any religion to change or add what is written in the Bible is blasphemy. If someone uses verses in the bible and distorts it for his own agenda, don't you think this person is not with the spirit of God? Like what I have said in previous posts, the Bible is out there and we have to read it to know the truth because we can't trust men to deliver the message of God, especially if they are wolves covered in sheepskin. In addition, this message was given to warn us of the enemy. In the end times, a false prophet and an anti-Christ will emerge from no where. They will announce themselves as messengers from God, the messiah, and the savior. Let us not be fooled for many of them for it is written in Matthew 24:5, For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
B. Know Them by their Fruits
- In verses 15-20, Jesus warned us about false prophets and teachers. Jesus used a sheep and a wolf for his analogy. Supposed you were in the wilderness and you suddenly heard some rustling, and a sheep came out, what will be your response? How will you react? What if it was a wolf? Jesus preached about wolves that cover themselves up with a sheepskin, hiding all the ungodly and unrighteous messages he/she is teaching. We can tell if they are men of God or a church of God by the fruit that they bear and if they follow what is written in the Bible, the Word of God. If a certain religion or cult, preaches about praying to people, about risking injuries for a chance to touch a statue, allows idols to be in your homes, and endorses self-flagellation, don't you think that those might be red flags? For any religion to change or add what is written in the Bible is blasphemy. If someone uses verses in the bible and distorts it for his own agenda, don't you think this person is not with the spirit of God? Like what I have said in previous posts, the Bible is out there and we have to read it to know the truth because we can't trust men to deliver the message of God, especially if they are wolves covered in sheepskin. In addition, this message was given to warn us of the enemy. In the end times, a false prophet and an anti-Christ will emerge from no where. They will announce themselves as messengers from God, the messiah, and the savior. Let us not be fooled for many of them for it is written in Matthew 24:5, For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
C. I Never Knew You
- In verses 21-23, Jesus preached about lawlessness. These are the hypocrites, especially those who were supposed to be leaders or preachers of a church. They have given sermons, prophesied in His name, and even called themselves Christians, but at the same time are committing adultery, murder, blasphemy, and idolatry. They say that they are men of God but they do not follow the same commandments that God had given them (Exodus 20:1-17). Inheriting the Kingdom of God is not a multiple choice question. As stated earlier, there is only one way and that is through Jesus Christ. People do want to go to heaven but they do not want to give up their sinful ways, and when that time comes and they call on the Lord, Jesus will declare to them,
"I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
- Finally, in verses 24-28, Jesus ended with an analogy of two builders. What do you think is a stronger house, one that is built on a solid (rock) foundation or one on a sand?. Jesus should be the foundation of our lives. We need to follow God's Word and not the trends of the world. Following the world is a temporary pleasure. Following the Word is an eternal joy and happiness. One way is the truth and will lead us to eternity, and the other is a lie and will lead us to death. Spend some time with God, read the Bible, and learn the truth. Follow the way of the Lord and not men of tradition, pride, greed, and self righteousness.
II. Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
- In Romans 5:12-21, Paul talks about the sin and death we have inherited in Adam and the salvation and forgiveness we were given through Jesus. Paul reminded us that we were already dead even before the Laws of Moses were given. The reason why the Law was given was to show us we are sinners and unrighteous and to lead us to repentance from God. But these same Laws did not accomplish this and did not save people so God had to send his son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins. In Romans 3:23, it says that "we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Adam was the first man and in him all men are sinners, separated from God, and Jesus is the second man and in him we have received grace, and are reconciled with God.
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear[c] the image of the heavenly Man" -1 Corinthians 15:45-49
"22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive"- 1 Corinthians 15:22
The Adamic race died along with Christ on the cross. We are now a new race, a new creation, a new covenant. This all happened after confessing our sins and accepting Jesus as our savior.
"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" -2 Corinthians 5:17.
III. Proverbs for Today/3:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for this message, a message that involved Jesus teaching us that there's only one way for salvation, and that is through Him. We know God that we have to go through a narrow way, but this would not stop us from your grace and gift of salvation. We pray that you guide us, and give us the wisdom that would help us in this journey so we can repent and live a new life for we are a new creation, a new race, and the new covenant. Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending us your son, for in Him, we are again reconciled with you. We pray for blessings, protection, and we ask for forgiveness for our sins and the sins of this world. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
