Grounded In Christ Series

Healthy Disciples: GROUNDED IN CHRIST—Matthew 7:13-27

Read Matthew 7:13-14.

This is troubling. We know that many people in the world are not interested in eternal life with Christ as Lord and King, and that troubles us. Jesus implies, however, that many who claim to be Christians might not be headed for eternal life with God. Some preachers will not make it, some active churchgoers will not make it, and some who claim the name of Jesus will not make it, because they were never really on the right path.

How could this be?

SOME MISS THE GATE.

There are many views about how to enter into eternal life with God:

Some people think they can be born into it: Their parents or grandparents were people of faith, and they were taught to believe in God and identify as Christians.

Some believe the gate is the door of the church building. As long as they show up sort of regularly, they are good for eternity. If they are baptized, join the church, and give online, their heavenly entrance is covered.

Some trust in their good deeds and fine character. They figure that if they are better than most people, God will be good with that, and they will be set for eternal life.

Some decide to follow the crowd that seems to be headed for eternal life. They join up with a group of good people in the church, and trust in their acceptance by the group to put them on the right path.

Jesus said the gate to eternal life is “narrow” and “small,” and few find it. It is not the entrance requirements that keep people away; there are no requirements of family lineage, natural goodness, or acceptance into an exclusive club. People miss the gate because they are looking for the wrong kind of gate.

The gate is Jesus himself. He said in John 10:9-10, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved…The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Only Jesus gives access to eternal life, both now and at the end of the road. Through Jesus…

…we have forgiveness of sins, by his atonement on the cross, and his resurrection.

…we are right with God, and adopted as his children.

…we are a new creation in Christ, and we receive the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way.

…we begin to live in obedience to our Lord and King, who will reign forever.

No other religious or moral approach provides those things. Jesus is the gate.

SOME LOSE THEIR WAY.

Jesus warns his disciples about 3 pitfalls along the way.

-The first is: Matthew 7:15-20, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Who are these false prophets? In Jesus’ day, they were the Pharisees and teachers of the law. In our day, they might be preachers, teachers, bloggers, or social media influencers.

Some, like the teachers of the law in Jesus’ day, are legalistic, reducing Christianity to a set of rules and obligations. Often the rules are about being “good church members”: paying the tithe, supporting church programs, and showing up on Sunday.

More commonly today, false prophets reject legalism, encouraging everyone to follow their own path. They don’t talk about God’s law, and they don’t expect people to become more like Christ. When they talk about grace, they make it sound like a free pass to forgiveness and eternal life.

Titus 2:11-14 gives a different perspective on grace: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Grace doesn’t stop with forgiveness; it keeps us on God’s road to life.

Jesus says the false teachers come with “sheep’s clothing.” They appear to have our best interests at heart, and their teaching seems helpful. They are really “ferocious wolves,” however, and they destroy people.