Matt Ch 7 v 13 - 29 Eternity Where? Matt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
I. NOTICE THE CHALLENGE.
MOSES SAID: Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
JOSHUA SAID: Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
JEREMIAH SAID: Jer. 21:8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
ELIJAH SAID: I King 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
According To Jesus: A Choice Must Be Made!
1. Verse 13-14 Two Gates Wide and Strait.
2. Verse 13-14 Two Ways Broad and Narrow.
3. Verse 13-14 Two Destinations Life And Destruction.
4. Verse 13-14 Two Kinds Of Travelers Few and Many.
5. Verse 17-19 Two Kinds Of Trees Good and Corrupt.
6. Verse 17-19 Two Kinds Of Fruit Good and Evil.
7. Verse 24-29 Two Kinds Of Houses On The Rock and Sand.
II. NOTICE THE COURSE. {“highway, road, path”}
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(a). The Broadway Of Sin. Verse 13 ...”BROAD is the way, that LEADETH to DESTRUCTION”
2 Cor. 4:3-4 ..But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ..... Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. It's A Way that Substitutes : - 1. Reason For Revelation "seemeth right' 2. Beauty For Blood Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 3. Trying For Trusting Eph 2 v 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 4. Feelings For Facts Acts 16 v 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 5. Persecution For Persuasion Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (b). The Blood Bought way Of Salvation. V.14 ...”strait is the gate”... I. WE HAVE A NARROW MINDED GOD A. Exodus 20:3-5 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; B. Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not… II. WE HAVE A NARROW MINDED SALVATION John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. III. WE HAVE A NARROW MINDED SAVIOUR A. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 1. NARROW ON THE WAY
2. NARROW ON THE TRUTH
3. NARROW ON THE LIFE IV. WE HAVE A NARROW MINDED BOOK A. Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 1. NARROW IN ITS’ CONCEPT (From God)
2. NARROW IN ITS’ CONTENT (Full Revelation)
3. NARROW IN ITS’ CONSERVATION ( Unalterable) V. WE HAVE A NARROW MINDED HEAVEN A. Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 1. NARROW IN ITS’ POPULATION (in no wise) 2. NARROW IN ITS’ PURITY (any thing that defileth)
3. NARROW IN ITS’ PERMISSION (they which are written) III. NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES.
Matt 7:13 .... “broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:” Matt 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. THERE ARE TWO POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS IN ETERNITY Jesus tells us here that the broad road leads to "destruction." A. Hell Is A Place Of - 1. Unquenchable fire - Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 2. Memory and Remorse - Luke 16:25; But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 3. Unsatisfied Thirst - Luke 16:24-25 4. Frustration and Anger - 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, 5. Unspeakable Pain and Misery - Luke 16:24-26; 6. Eternal Separation - 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 2 Thes. 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 7. Undiluted Wrath - 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire B. Heaven Is A Place Of - 1. No Tears, pain, sorrow, death, etc - Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 2. No Sin - Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 3. No Night - Rev. 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 4. No Curse - Rev. 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 5. No Seperation From God and Jesus - Rev. 21:3; And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 6. Glory - Rev. 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God:
(a). The Consequences For The Careless. Verse13 ....”that leadeth to DESTRUCTION”
(b). The Consequences Of The Converted. V.14 ...”the WAY which leadeth unto LIFE”...
IV. NOTICE THE CROWDS.
V.13 ... Many there be... {Works...blind leading the blind}
V.14 ....Few there Be..... {Blood ... way}
V. NOTICE THE CHOICES. 3 Enter ye in at the strait gate: Notice : - It's Possibility 1. It is an open gate - Rom. 10:13; John 6:37, Rev. 22:17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. It's Profitability 2. It offers life to all who will come in- John 6:47. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. It's Promise 3. It, alone, promises Heaven to those who come this way - John 14:6. I am the way It's Precondition 4. It is a small gate - Luke 13:3. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ("Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling!")
