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.
How can we identify the wolves? Jesus shifts the metaphor: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” In other words, what effect does their teaching have on them, and what effect does it have on those who follow their teaching?
The Apostle Paul gives several examples of the FRUIT Jesus was talking about,
Galatians 5:22-23 talks about their character: “The FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Unfortunately, there have been examples lately of prominent pastors who were manipulative, self-serving, and controlling. The character of the leader matters.
Ephesians 5:9 talks about moral and ethical values: “The FRUIT of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.” Disciples should be growing better, loving righteousness, and accepting truth of God’s word.
Colossians 1:10 talks about the actions that come from those who listen to prophets and teachers: “Live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing FRUIT in every good work…” What impact do people have in the world, when they follow this leader?
Some lose their way by following false leaders, whether church leaders or cultural influencers.
-Others lose their way in counterfeit spirituality: Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Jesus might be talking about a church that seems “spirit-filled,” because the music is great, worship is expressive, emotions are high—yet it is not about Jesus or the Spirit of Jesus, and not as much about worshipping the Lord, as it is about the incredible experience.
Jesus might be talking about a church with a great choir, a friendly smile on every face, and an uplifting sermon every week—yet although it has an appearance of piety, it is more about the goodness of people than the goodness of God.
Jesus might be talking about people who pray for healing, or do great ministry in their community in the name of Jesus—but it’s not as much about the power of Jesus to heal and overcome evil, as it is about what THEY are doing to make them feel good.
These are all good people, and they even serve in the name of Jesus, but Jesus will say to them, “I never knew you.” They lost Jesus along the way.
-The third way people lose their way is: Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
These are people who study their Bibles. They go to church and take notes. They join groups and discuss important issues. They have good opinions, and understand the difference between right and wrong.
Yet when it comes to applying the Bible to their own lives, and acting on it, they resist.
They are convinced they should love their neighbor, but they treat people poorly.
They believe in grace and forgiveness, but they don’t forgive the person who has hurt them most.
They believe in prayer, but their prayers are superficial and impersonal.
They hear what Jesus says about wealth, but their lives still revolve about their belongings.
They understand God’s concern for the poor, but it doesn’t change their political views.
They understand God’s demands for righteousness, but they don’t confront their greatest sins.
Will failure to put the words into practice keep people from eternal life? That is a troubling thought, since we all have our failures. Even if we are right track, failure to apply God’s truth in our lives will make us unstable in the storms of life. If we don’t deal with anger, wealth, moral values, or obedience, we will not be prepared when stressful situations arise.
The warnings Jesus gives are sobering! Yet in these warnings, we also find comfort and hope:
JESUS IS THE WAY!
“I am the gate,” he said. “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
It is possible to build a life on Christ—a life that will stand firm, in the face of any storm.
Paul said in Colossians 2:6-7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
A life rooted in Christ has a solid grasp of the gospel. When we truly understand the grace of God in Christ, we are assured of forgiveness, strong in the power of his resurrection, and motivated by gratitude to love and obey.
A life rooted in Christ has a true source of righteousness. It looks deeper than the rules of religion, to see the heart of God, and respond in loving obedience.
A life rooted in Christ overcomes fear, to confront the deepest, darkest parts of personality. The Spirit of God transforms the recesses of our hearts, and in the power of Christ’s resurrection we claim victory over the sins and weaknesses that oppress us.
A life rooted in Christ seeks first the kingdom of God, and less the treasures of this world. When those treasures are threatened, we hold on to the treasures the world cannot take away.
A life rooted in Christ has a positive impact on ourselves and others. We invest in our family, and stand for truth at work. We get off the couch and do something positive in the church or community. We pray for our neighbors, and oppose injustice.
In the storms of life, we will stand firm. Jesus is our Rock, our firm foundation, and the house we have built is built strong on the Rock.
Colossians 2:6-7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
