1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 I hope everybody is doing well this morning. 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:04,700 My name is Nick. 3 00:00:04,700 --> 00:00:06,960 As Kyle affectionately called me a couple weeks ago, 4 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:08,660 I'm the backup preacher. 5 00:00:09,660 --> 00:00:12,340 He said, quote, even our backup preacher has skills, 6 00:00:12,340 --> 00:00:15,080 so hopefully I can live up to that this morning. 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,500 I did this in the first service. 8 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:20,220 I don't have an intro this morning. 9 00:00:20,220 --> 00:00:23,000 I think the Lord wanted to give me one this morning 10 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,300 because one, I cut my finger and bled pretty good, 11 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:27,300 so that's what's going on here. 12 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:28,220 Didn't have medical tape, 13 00:00:28,220 --> 00:00:30,560 so I have electrical tape around my gauze. 14 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,440 I'm on day eight of migraines, 15 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,480 and so that gives me some muscle spasms in my leg, 16 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:38,400 which makes me a little bit difficult to walk around, 17 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:39,720 so I might look like a robot. 18 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,280 Or as John affectionately says, you look like your T-Rex. 19 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,200 So just heads up. 20 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,020 But it also really affects my ability to read and to speak, 21 00:00:48,020 --> 00:00:49,900 so we're gonna see how this goes. 22 00:00:49,900 --> 00:00:52,440 I'm just gonna give you that fair warning now. 23 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,940 I'm gonna be preaching on Matthew 7, 12, 24 00:00:54,940 --> 00:00:57,740 sorry, 13 through 23 this morning. 25 00:00:57,740 --> 00:00:59,520 This is near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, 26 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,640 the greatest sermon as we've called it. 27 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,640 And Jesus has turned the corner in his sermon. 28 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,920 He's going to his wrap-up. 29 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,920 And there's an urgency in Jesus' words. 30 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,640 It says, he's pleading with his audience 31 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,320 to see his words as needing immediate response. 32 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:18,440 You can't just add them to everything else 33 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:19,520 that you've been learning. 34 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:21,360 You can't just add them to synagogue teaching. 35 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,560 You can't add them to everything else. 36 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:24,840 They're distinct. 37 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,240 And he gives some analogies that tie his words 38 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,160 to either choosing life or death. 39 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,760 I can't do that at the end of my sermon. 40 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,320 Jesus can, but his words, you either obey them 41 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,760 and you get life, or you follow your way and you get death. 42 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,400 And that's what we're gonna have to deal with this morning. 43 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,040 And a quick recap of this greatest sermon. 44 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,560 It's custom of Jesus' greatest hits, 45 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,280 starting with the Beatitudes. 46 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,400 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 47 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,320 Blessed are the humble. 48 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,080 Blessed are those who are persecuted 49 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,240 because of righteousness. 50 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,560 Jesus gives us the character and heart condition 51 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:06,600 of kingdom people. 52 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:08,960 They're poor in spirit, humble before the Lord, 53 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:13,160 and willing to submit to persecution for joy in Christ. 54 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,360 And then Jesus cranks up the heat even farther, 55 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,360 because that wasn't hard enough. 56 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,840 He starts describing the internal righteousness 57 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,160 that's needed in God's kingdom. 58 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,760 And he does this by discrediting the teaching 59 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,000 of the Pharisees, the cultural elite, 60 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,600 the people that everybody would have turned to, 61 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,120 and insults their righteousness. 62 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,280 He names them and then says their righteousness is worthless. 63 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,440 And they're getting that through their law keeping. 64 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,960 And then six times, he puts himself above their teaching 65 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,800 and then sets himself as over the Torah, 66 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:46,920 claiming himself to be the true interpreter. 67 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:51,000 Like this is super clear, he is fighting them, 68 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,080 and they have no response. 69 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,000 In chapter six, because that was only chapter five, 70 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,040 Jesus shows the difference between internal 71 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,560 and external righteousness, 72 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,320 and how it affects every part of our lives. 73 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,520 Our eating, our praying, our connection 74 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,160 with other people, our money. 75 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,720 And John's sermons last week covered the change heart 76 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,240 that is expected. 77 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,120 Jesus doesn't want our good deeds, 78 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,160 he doesn't care about the outside. 79 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,520 He wants our hearts. 80 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,240 He wants our hearts to be obedient to his will 81 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,480 so we can truly love others. 82 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,000 We don't get to interpret what love means. 83 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,320 I told John this last week, cramming that text, 84 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,360 one of the most important texts in the Bible 85 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,640 into 25 minutes is a masterpiece. 86 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:35,120 That is extremely difficult. 87 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,800 And this morning, we're looking at the two roads. 88 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,680 Let's read our text, the first two verses, 89 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,600 reading Matthew 7, 13 through 14. 90 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,880 Enter through the narrow gate, 91 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:52,800 for the gate is wide and the road broad 92 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:54,560 that leads to destruction, 93 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,800 and there are many who go through it. 94 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,960 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road 95 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,040 that leads to life and few find it. 96 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:03,080 Let's pray. 97 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,480 Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 98 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,320 I pray that this scripture would be let loose like a lion, 99 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,280 that my weaknesses and frailties would not distract, 100 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:19,680 and that you would be glorified. 101 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,560 I pray for your word to divide us, 102 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,360 to change us, to mold us into being like Jesus. 103 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:28,600 In Jesus' name, amen. 104 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:31,760 So like many first century rabbis, 105 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,120 Jesus puts two roads, two paths, 106 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,800 two gates in front of his people. 107 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,280 The audience has to either choose the wide gate 108 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:43,440 or the narrow gate, and then the gates lead to roads. 109 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,440 And be aware that Jesus is focusing on entering the gate. 110 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,320 You have to enter a gate. 111 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,120 You don't choose a road. 112 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,480 You don't just start walking down a road. 113 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,240 You have to go through the gate. 114 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:55,920 And you have to choose an entrance, 115 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:56,880 and then you go to the road. 116 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,080 And then the roads lead to a particular end, 117 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,080 either life or destruction. 118 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:02,520 And the wide gate is often thought 119 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,400 as the way of the world, right? 120 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:05,760 It's what we've grown up with. 121 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,680 A gate that leads down the path to sin, drugs and drinking 122 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,120 and everything that goes with it, like good music. 123 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,960 But eventually ending in destruction. 124 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:18,520 One writer described it as this. 125 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,560 It's a road of tolerance and permissiveness. 126 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,280 It has no curbs, no boundaries of either thought or conduct. 127 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:29,200 Travelers on this road follow only their inclinations. 128 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,880 And this is part of Jesus' meaning 129 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,240 about the wide road and the wide gate. 130 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,280 But Jesus is speaking to an audience 131 00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:38,640 of first century religious zealots. 132 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,440 They were Torah observant Jews. 133 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,640 These weren't just random people. 134 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:44,360 Maybe there was some Romans in the audience, 135 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,400 but they would have been in the way back, 136 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:47,480 not really paying attention. 137 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:48,600 They're not the focus. 138 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,040 Jesus is focused on the Jews. 139 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,920 And in that, they knew the law. 140 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,400 And Jesus wanted to undermine their thinking, 141 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:00,360 their expectation. 142 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,240 And he actually, this makes this really clear 143 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,000 because he has a wordplay in this verse. 144 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,160 He uses the word wide, and the word Jesus is used for wide, 145 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:10,000 and that's what it means. 146 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,600 It was also used in chapter six, verse five, 147 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,920 with the hypocrites and how they pray. 148 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,320 They prayed in the wide place. 149 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,600 And so Jesus' meaning is this. 150 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,480 The hypocrites have entered the wide gate 151 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,680 and are on their way to destruction. 152 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:27,800 And so is everyone who follows them. 153 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,080 That's the Pharisees. 154 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,160 That's the religious people. 155 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,640 John Stott says it this way. 156 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,960 Superficiality, self-love, hypocrisy, 157 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,640 mechanical religion, false ambition, 158 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,800 sincerestness, which means criticalness. 159 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,800 These things do not have to be learned or cultivated. 160 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,240 No effort is required to practice them. 161 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,560 Jonathan Pennington says it like this. 162 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,880 Jesus has been describing the way, 163 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,360 the wide road, the whole sermon. 164 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,640 The broad and easy way is the way of the Pharisees 165 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:02,800 whose righteousness is easily definable 166 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,520 and can be gridded out solely at the external level, 167 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,360 not committing adultery, not murdering, and so on. 168 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,000 So this is the image we have of the wide road. 169 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,280 We have the unlikely bedfellows 170 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:21,280 of the self-righteous, legalistic hypocrites, sorry, 171 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,600 and self-loving, licentious hedonists 172 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,920 walking the same road towards the same destination 173 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,240 and despising each other the whole way down. 174 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,560 And this should sober us up a little bit. 175 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:34,840 Are we following the way of Jesus 176 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,760 or are we following the way of the Pharisees? 177 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,920 That's the question we should be asking. 178 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,360 So what's beyond the narrow gate? 179 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,160 Jesus has got two, we've got a narrow road, 180 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:44,960 sorry, a wide gate, a wide road, 181 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,720 and we have a narrow gate and a narrow road. 182 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,680 And if those who are following all the rules 183 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,760 aren't on the narrow road, who is? 184 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,360 It's those who are denying their flesh through obedience. 185 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,960 The Greek word for narrow includes this notion 186 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:05,120 of pressing upon, being cramped or oppressed. 187 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,200 So the narrow gate leads to the cramped, tight, 188 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:10,640 oppressing road. 189 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,800 And what do you find through the narrow gate? 190 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,480 Well, you find persecution, self-denial, 191 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,960 sacrificial obedience through following Him 192 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,160 and a changed heart. 193 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,120 You see, on the wide road, 194 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,200 you can bring all the sin you want, 195 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,120 bring all the baggage, nobody cares. 196 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:29,560 Sure, everyone hates it, 197 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,560 but there's no requirement to change. 198 00:08:32,560 --> 00:08:35,040 Who am I to say that you should change? 199 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:37,320 You do, you, boo. 200 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,040 It rhymes, it's a little, right, at least, maybe? 201 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:43,800 Not so with the narrow gate. 202 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,680 It is a continuously hard road. 203 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:50,240 It is always pressing in more and more, 204 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,920 making it harder and harder to make every step, 205 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,040 harder to carry anything extra. 206 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:59,120 So I have this image in my head of a hiker, 207 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:00,720 and he's going down the narrow road, 208 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:01,840 he's got his little backpack on, 209 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,240 he's experienced, he knows what's going on. 210 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,200 The walls keep encroaching on him more and more and more, 211 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,400 and it's more difficult to just maneuver. 212 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,440 And then he comes to the very end of it, 213 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,160 but it's too tight, he can't fit in. 214 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,360 He can't go shoulder to shoulder, he's too broad. 215 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:16,400 And he can't go like this 216 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,160 because his backpack gets caught in the way, 217 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:20,520 and he's not gonna fit. 218 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:21,640 And so he's stuck. 219 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:22,480 What is he gonna do? 220 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,520 He can't throw his bag over, the wall is too high. 221 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,560 He doesn't wanna leave it, it's his necessities. 222 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:31,880 What is he gonna do? 223 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,320 I mean, he's experienced, guys. 224 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,200 Like, he didn't just bring frivolous things. 225 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:38,600 He brought what was needed. 226 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,200 He brought his self-reliance, a little bit of slander, 227 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,640 not too much, and some comfort loving. 228 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,160 That's what's in his bag. 229 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:48,880 And so he has to sit there and wait 230 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,000 for either the mountains to move so he can get through, 231 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,440 or he has to take off his bag. 232 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,320 What would you do? 233 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:00,920 Don't get ahead of yourself. 234 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,880 What luggage are you carrying around on the narrow road? 235 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,520 The narrow road will make demands of you. 236 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,720 It will require a change. 237 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,880 It will not let you go unscathed. 238 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,440 Cramped, pressed in on every side, 239 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,200 this road requires not just endurance, 240 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,360 it requires heart change. 241 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,720 You can't get by on your own strength, you need Jesus. 242 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,440 Because he walked it before us. 243 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,840 He's the way we know how to do it. 244 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:29,360 And do you know what's on the other side? 245 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:30,680 Do you know what you get 246 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:34,040 by following the narrow road all the way down? 247 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:35,200 You get him. 248 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,160 You get life and everything that he has to offer you. 249 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,040 And that is how we make it to the end, is by him. 250 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,720 So now that we have that analogy, 251 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:47,640 Jesus turns to highlight two problems 252 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,480 we will face on the narrow road. 253 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,920 How do you know who you should follow on the narrow road? 254 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:55,920 And how do you know someone is actually 255 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:57,440 following the narrow road? 256 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,240 Pretty basic things, we live in community 257 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,080 and we can all hide things and be wrong 258 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,000 and be hypocrites, two-faced. 259 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,680 So backing up to verse 14, 260 00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:09,840 we're gonna start there and then read a little bit. 261 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,200 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road 262 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,560 that leads to life and few find it. 263 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:16,840 Be on your guard against false prophets 264 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,440 who come to you in sheep's clothing, 265 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,040 but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 266 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,200 You'll recognize them by their fruit. 267 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:24,960 Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes 268 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:26,520 or figs from thistles? 269 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,240 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit 270 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,400 and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 271 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,480 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, 272 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,720 neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 273 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,560 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit 274 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:39,960 is cut down and thrown into the fire. 275 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,000 So you'll recognize them by their fruit. 276 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,680 False prophets infiltrated Jesus's crew. 277 00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:49,920 They were rampant in the first decades 278 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:54,160 after the church started and they're with us today. 279 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,320 Their operations have altered a little bit, 280 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,360 but mostly they follow the same playbook. 281 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:01,840 Some reach to the level of heretic 282 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,520 where they have to reduce who Jesus is, 283 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:05,800 they have to change him. 284 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,360 Early on, they removed his humanity 285 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,480 and then made him like this kind of ghost thing. 286 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,240 It was called Gnosticism. 287 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,440 And then once that was stamped out, they had to change it. 288 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,360 They had to remove his divinity 289 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,200 and make him human so they made Jesus 290 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:22,840 into some kind of created being. 291 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:24,760 It was called Arianism. 292 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,720 And in the fourth century, it almost went out. 293 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,000 But the truth of the gospel is undefeated 294 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,120 through the blood of the saints. 295 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,000 And today we have our own false teachers 296 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,800 in our own heretics. 297 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,520 These wolves are often dressed 298 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,800 in really nice fine wool suits. 299 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,880 A clear example of these are prosperity preachers. 300 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,480 Preachers like Kenneth Copeland to name one. 301 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,280 They peddle a God that is all about fulfilling your desires 302 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,400 for comfort, removing pretty much every requirement 303 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,000 for obedience. 304 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,800 And if there is one, it's just reduced 305 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,400 to either some kind of donation or a trite act. 306 00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:00,520 It's abhorrent. 307 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:03,520 It's a modern heretic. 308 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:07,880 They have to gloss over all of the teachings 309 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:09,920 on the importance of self denial, 310 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:14,320 the many commands of Jesus and the expectation of suffering. 311 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:18,120 They make Jesus into something that's paper thin and weak. 312 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,520 And the heretics have to work hard to twist scripture. 313 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,320 It's hard work to be wrong. 314 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,320 Removing parts to make up this new Jesus 315 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,560 that's very different from what he actually taught. 316 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,480 But the fix is really simple. 317 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:33,600 We read scripture. 318 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:36,480 We know scripture. 319 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,520 We look at all of it to define who God is 320 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,680 and understand him, to show us the way to him. 321 00:13:42,680 --> 00:13:44,760 We don't define it ourselves. 322 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:48,040 And it works in us to correct our errors. 323 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,240 And we need to be careful to follow all of his teaching, 324 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,600 including the commands, including the hard parts. 325 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,440 So I'm gonna get on my soapbox for a minute here. 326 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,880 Do you know that Jesus was not afraid of commands 327 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:01,320 and rules to follow him? 328 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:04,840 Jesus was a Torah observant Jew. 329 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:06,960 There is 600 laws in the Torah. 330 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:08,840 It's over 600 laws. 331 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,160 He followed all of them perfectly. 332 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:12,280 He didn't miss a single one. 333 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,640 And he had the right heart condition the whole time. 334 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,040 And he loved following them 335 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,440 because they were the way he honored his father. 336 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,760 Jesus had rules, had expectations of following him. 337 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,800 And he expected everybody to follow them as well. 338 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,880 Sure, we don't follow the Torah now, 339 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:29,320 but Jesus loved reading it. 340 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:30,840 Do you love reading the law? 341 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,960 Like open it up to Leviticus, just get super jazzed, 342 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,320 6.30 in the morning, like this is how I'm gonna start my day. 343 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:38,240 Jesus did. 344 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,400 He probably memorized most of it. 345 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,680 That's how much he wanted to read it and to understand it. 346 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,400 Okay, I'm gonna get off my soapbox. 347 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,400 I wanted to call that out. 348 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,600 And it's easy to follow down that rabbit hole, 349 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:52,880 the YouTube rabbit hole, it's dark and deep down there 350 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:54,880 or get pulled into a new book 351 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:56,320 that makes you think there's an easier way 352 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:57,920 of following Jesus. 353 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,280 Or dare I say a fuller way of discipleship? 354 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,080 If you just did it like slightly differently, 355 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:04,680 like they've got this kind of equation 356 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:06,400 that works better for everybody. 357 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:08,000 And I've been there many times, guys. 358 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,280 I have wandered off the path 359 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,200 because I thought I found an easier way to eternal life. 360 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:14,160 And I was wrong. 361 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:16,640 I just was. 362 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:17,600 Don't wander off the path. 363 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:19,320 Don't follow a lesser Jesus. 364 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,520 The true Jesus is in the pages of scripture 365 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,240 and it can be found. 366 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,720 And I wanna just, I need to say this too, please hear. 367 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,640 I am not saying that only village has the truth. 368 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,360 That's not it at all. 369 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,000 I'm gonna quote three different authors in my sermon. 370 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,560 I've listened to so many podcasts that have been helpful. 371 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,040 There's good people out there 372 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:41,480 and there's a lot of truth available. 373 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,200 But just be careful anybody who doesn't preach, 374 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,520 that preaches an incomplete Jesus. 375 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,120 They will take you off. 376 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,640 They will distract you and it will be really sad. 377 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,320 So I've described this problem of false teachers. 378 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,120 Let's see how we handle it. 379 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:58,960 Jesus gives us a pretty basic rubic 380 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,320 to verify if a teacher is false or not. 381 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,160 He says, twice you will know them by their fruit. 382 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,480 Reading from verse 16, you'll recognize them by their fruit. 383 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:10,920 Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 384 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,560 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, 385 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,760 but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 386 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:17,440 A good tree can't produce bad fruit. 387 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,880 Neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 388 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,600 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit 389 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,800 is cut down and thrown into the fire. 390 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,280 So you'll recognize them by their fruit. 391 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,240 So the fruit of the teacher will always expose them 392 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:30,440 for what they are. 393 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,760 And sometimes it takes a while. 394 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,320 And sometimes it takes a really long while, okay? 395 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:37,760 But there are three types of fruit 396 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:39,760 that we can judge people by. 397 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,200 One, their teaching. 398 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:43,200 This is the first point. 399 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,760 There is a little manuscript called the Didache. 400 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:47,600 It's a wonderful thing. 401 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,280 It's the oldest known manuscript that we have 402 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:54,160 that's not of part of the Bible from the early church. 403 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:55,360 And it could have actually been written 404 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,760 before some of the books of the Bible 405 00:16:57,760 --> 00:16:58,920 in the late first century 406 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,240 or maybe in the early second century. 407 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,000 And in it, they talk about false teachers 408 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:04,400 because they had to deal with it. 409 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,200 Section 11 says this. 410 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,160 If a teacher himself turns and teaches another doctrine 411 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,840 to the destruction of this teaching, hear him not. 412 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,400 But if he teaches so as to increase righteousness 413 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,240 and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. 414 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,640 And I love that little tag at the end. 415 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:23,040 If they're teaching righteousness 416 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,200 and knowledge of the Lord, receive them as the Lord. 417 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:29,360 Test all teaching. 418 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:32,640 If the fruit is bad, the output, and the output isn't biblical, 419 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,040 throw the teaching out. 420 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:34,880 Get rid of it. 421 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:36,440 Don't have anything to do with it. 422 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,400 The second test, their actions. 423 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,800 Again, quoting from the Didache. 424 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,680 But not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, 425 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,400 but only if he holds the ways of the Lord. 426 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,280 Therefore, from their ways shall the false prophet 427 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:51,800 and the prophet be known. 428 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,000 From their ways, says it right there. 429 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,880 Sometimes the false teachers come in 430 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,640 with orthodoxy on their lips. 431 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,120 They know the Christians speak. 432 00:18:00,120 --> 00:18:02,320 They know how to sing and do the dance. 433 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,720 They can fit in, but they lack Christ. 434 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,200 They may sound like they're right. 435 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,400 They might kind of show some good things, 436 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,400 but they don't know Jesus. 437 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,760 So while they get all of the plates spinning, 438 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:19,560 they're gonna come crashing down eventually. 439 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,000 And these are wolves in sheep's clothing. 440 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,880 Don't be missing that. 441 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:26,320 Jesus calls it for what it is. 442 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,120 They're gonna destroy the flock, 443 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:29,800 and they're gonna blaspheme the name of Jesus. 444 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,280 They should not be accepted. 445 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:34,080 And it may take time to expose them. 446 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,080 It doesn't happen right away. 447 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,320 Over the last decade, there is two, 448 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:39,840 and I could probably think of more, 449 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,040 really prominent national Christian figures. 450 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,360 I followed, I read their books. 451 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:46,240 I thought they were great. 452 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:47,960 I listened to their podcasts. 453 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:51,600 And they were exposed as being complete failures. 454 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:52,680 They did not love Jesus. 455 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:54,240 They were full of sin. 456 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,000 And their ministries, well, they started out good. 457 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,600 They hurt people in the end because of it. 458 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,000 They were destructive. 459 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,240 They did not benefit the church. 460 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:07,000 So be watchful for the wolves who try to cover their tracks. 461 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,920 And the last one, the last fruit, their followers. 462 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,440 We should judge teachers by their followers. 463 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:15,400 I had not thought of this one. 464 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,760 This one comes from John Stott, who says this. 465 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:18,840 We have to ask ourselves, 466 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,280 what effect their teaching has on their followers? 467 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,200 Sometimes the falsity of false teaching 468 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,200 is not immediately apparent 469 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,840 when we look at a teacher's behavior and system, 470 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,560 but becomes apparent only in disastrous results. 471 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,320 So this is like when you see a teacher 472 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,200 and you hear them speak and you watch their lives 473 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,160 and you're like, wow, that's pretty good. 474 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,520 They're doing the thing that I want them to be doing. 475 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:42,800 But then you look at their followers 476 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:44,880 and you're like, how are they doing? 477 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:49,120 And you see them and maybe they carry it out okay, 478 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:51,200 but maybe there's a lot of strife. 479 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,000 Maybe they care much more about, 480 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,720 less about recognizing the body and enjoying the church, 481 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,240 and they care about their recognition. 482 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:01,720 There's a lot of infighting. 483 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:02,960 There's a lot of pride. 484 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,440 That's an evidence that maybe the teacher 485 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,000 isn't all who they say they are. 486 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,520 Maybe the teacher can hold all the ideas together. 487 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,880 Maybe he can hold the tension and everything together, 488 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,360 but his followers, they just come crashing down. 489 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,560 My wife pointed this out to me and it's a true statement. 490 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:23,840 The sins of a teacher, whatever they are, 491 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,720 are often magnified in those who are following them. 492 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,760 So watch out, watch the followers of a teacher. 493 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,120 They are a fruit to be tested. 494 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:35,600 So our three tests, just to quickly review, 495 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,600 is the teaching sound? 496 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,520 Is the teacher behaving according to their teaching? 497 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,360 And are the followers, the disciples of the teacher, 498 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:44,680 showing fruit? 499 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,760 Is there growth or is there rampant sin? 500 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:49,800 And two quick counterpoints 501 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,120 because we're an American church 502 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:53,480 that often struggles with some things. 503 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,360 One, this is not for you to individually go and do. 504 00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:00,600 You don't need to go and look for the false teachers. 505 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,240 You don't need to watch another YouTube video 506 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:03,520 about some false teacher in the world 507 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,040 and start adding to the comment section. 508 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,240 That's not where sanctification happens. 509 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,920 All of the New Testament books that talk about this stuff, 510 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,440 they're talking to local churches 511 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:16,440 that are dealing with local problems. 512 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,360 That's where the focus and concern is. 513 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,400 So let's be focused here. 514 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,120 Are we doing the right thing? 515 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:24,360 Are we growing? 516 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:25,920 Are we following the narrow road? 517 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,000 Are we teaching the fullness 518 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,000 of what the Bible says about Jesus? 519 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,640 Or do we have bad influences? 520 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,360 Are we off the mark somewhere? 521 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:35,800 Those are the questions we should be asking for ourselves. 522 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:37,520 And here's the second counterpoint. 523 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,720 The reason for this is because the community is expected 524 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,960 to identify the false teachers. 525 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:44,720 D.A. Carson explains it like this. 526 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,040 Jesus's expectation is that the community as a whole 527 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,720 will be able to protect itself from the wolves. 528 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,040 So if you get duped, if you get taken off, 529 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:55,800 let the community bring you back, 530 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,840 graciously, gently bring you back. 531 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,240 And if you think there's something wrong 532 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:01,440 with the teaching and authority, 533 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,760 bring it to the church, bring it to the board. 534 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:05,560 We have a structure for a reason 535 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,320 because if there is false teaching, we want to address it. 536 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,080 And real quick, if that person in small groups 537 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,200 has something weird, it's not heresy, okay? 538 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,480 It's just something weird. 539 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,840 You don't need to stand up and call them out on that, okay? 540 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,360 Just let them be. 541 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:27,960 I've been in those hallways with you. 542 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,000 You guys got some weird ideas, okay? 543 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,520 A lot of you could pump the brakes just a little bit. 544 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,680 But gently, graciously, we bring them back to scripture. 545 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,240 And very often, we ourselves needed some time 546 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:42,080 to work things out. 547 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:43,560 We ourselves needed to be reminded 548 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,000 of some part of God's truth. 549 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:47,880 So let's not judge others more harshly 550 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:50,640 than we wouldn't want to judge ourselves. 551 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,360 And now we get to the last section 552 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:56,640 and really the most enigmatic one, false confessors. 553 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:58,080 Reading from verse 21. 554 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:00,920 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, 555 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:02,760 will enter the kingdom of heaven, 556 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,800 but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 557 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,920 On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, 558 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:09,800 didn't we prophesy in your name, 559 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:11,280 drive out demons in your name 560 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:14,240 and do many miracles in your name? 561 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:15,560 Then I will announce to them, 562 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,640 I never knew you, depart from me, you lawbreakers. 563 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,040 So there's false roads to life, 564 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,320 there's false teachers on those roads, 565 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,200 trying to bring us to the wrong places, 566 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,360 and there's false confessors of Jesus as well. 567 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:40,360 And these people, again, have the right words on their lips. 568 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:42,200 They're just like some of the false teachers. 569 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:43,920 They ascribe some authority to Jesus. 570 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,360 Lord, Lord, they say emphatically. 571 00:23:46,360 --> 00:23:49,040 And they even have miracles and signs 572 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:50,720 to show their spirituality. 573 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,000 But, it's a big but, 574 00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:56,520 they don't have the one thing that is required. 575 00:23:56,520 --> 00:24:00,200 So you may ask, how can someone have miracles 576 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,080 and prophecies and exorcism 577 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,800 and not have relationship with Jesus? 578 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,120 Aren't those the signs of the relationship? 579 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:09,480 Those are the gifts of the spirit, right? 580 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,160 Like kind of how it works hand in hand. 581 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:14,440 But apparently, no, that's not true. 582 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,600 And there's two simple truths to see here. 583 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,760 Number one, their justification for entrance 584 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:26,120 into the kingdom is their works, not Christ's work. 585 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:27,880 I'm gonna say that again. 586 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,440 Their justification for entering into the kingdom 587 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,040 is their works, not Christ's work. 588 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,320 Jonathan Pennington said it this way. 589 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,520 There is no reason to assume that these false prophets, 590 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,880 false confessors, were genuinely surprised 591 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,160 that they were rejected. 592 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:49,120 It is not surprise, but self-justification they express. 593 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,080 And this is consistent with Jesus' teaching 594 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:54,040 throughout the sermon. 595 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:55,360 We can't detach it from that. 596 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:57,680 And we're back to the beginning of this sermon. 597 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,280 Simply performing outward obedience to the law 598 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,240 is walking down the wide road. 599 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,480 So here also, miracles, spiritual events 600 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,800 are not true justification. 601 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,440 Holding fast to experience as justification 602 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:16,120 for entry to the kingdom is empty and leads to destruction. 603 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,560 Only Jesus provides us with true justification. 604 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,400 Only he can cover our sins, 605 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,040 and that is by grace through faith. 606 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:29,120 It is through him that we are able to walk 607 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:29,960 down the narrow road. 608 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,840 It is by him that we even can get to the narrow gate. 609 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:35,280 We would never choose that. 610 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:37,440 And the second point. 611 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:39,920 The way to obtain entrance into the kingdom 612 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,120 is through doing the Father's will. 613 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:44,720 Verse 21, not everyone who says to me, 614 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,520 Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, 615 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:51,120 but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 616 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:54,800 I need you to hear this. 617 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:59,800 You cannot fill in doing the Father's will with your ideas. 618 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,640 Jesus doesn't let you do that. 619 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:04,840 He has a whole sermon that describes exactly 620 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:06,000 what's happening there. 621 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,680 Anything that you wanna interchange in that is wrong. 622 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:13,400 It'll quickly move you off the wrong path. 623 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:15,880 Jesus lays out over and over and over again 624 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:17,880 what it means to do the Father's will. 625 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:19,800 It's being the Beatitudes. 626 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,520 It's following Jesus's Torah interpretation 627 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:24,320 and having an inward righteousness 628 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,320 that comes from a Jesus transformed heart. 629 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:28,160 That's it. 630 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:29,000 That is it. 631 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,040 That's the only thing that we can use 632 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:32,800 for the interpretation of it. 633 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:34,320 And this is what the sermon has been about, 634 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,600 and this is what the sermon has been about the whole time 635 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:38,960 and what Jesus's whole ministry was about. 636 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:40,640 The Pharisees didn't know how to do it. 637 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:42,040 The false teachers didn't know how to do it, 638 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:43,000 but they thought they did. 639 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,000 The false confessors didn't know how to do it, 640 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:46,520 and they thought they did. 641 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,720 So there's a lot of people who get it wrong. 642 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:51,760 All of them are walking down the wide road, 643 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:55,480 completely blind because of their self-justification. 644 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,520 I'll wrap it up with this. 645 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,000 Why did Jesus put all these topics here? 646 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,680 You ever ask that about the Bible? 647 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:08,240 What do you, it just seems like a grab bag. 648 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:11,160 It's kind of real random all over the place. 649 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,480 So I think this is why Jesus put these things together, 650 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,160 why he put these points right next to each other. 651 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,000 Following his train of thought, 652 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,120 there are two gates in front of us. 653 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:22,040 We can enter the wide gate, 654 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,280 taking along our sin and living life 655 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,520 however we are comfortable. 656 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,840 But then there's the narrow gate. 657 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:32,680 And it requires everything. 658 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,720 On the wide road, there's no sacrifice required. 659 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:37,920 No, no sin imputation needed. 660 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:39,920 Bring along everything you want. 661 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:41,760 Your caravan of stuff will fit. 662 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:43,880 But that narrow gate? 663 00:27:45,360 --> 00:27:47,600 The narrow gate requires all of the stuff 664 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,040 you brought along to go through trial after trial 665 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:54,720 after trial to be tested, to see if it should go. 666 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:56,440 And you will be changed. 667 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,920 The narrow road will cause change 668 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:00,240 to the most inward parts of you 669 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:02,400 and it will not be comfortable. 670 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,160 You will want to start dropping your sin and baggage 671 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,360 because it is so hard to carry. 672 00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:09,360 And so many people walk the wide road 673 00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:12,120 because it doesn't require heart change. 674 00:28:12,120 --> 00:28:13,600 Righteousness can be external. 675 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,280 Self-justification can be experiences, emotions, 676 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:18,120 whatever you want it to be. 677 00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:19,960 And no one can pass judgment on you. 678 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:22,560 That's the defense of our age. 679 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,360 You can't judge me. 680 00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:28,200 And it sounds wonderful until you realize 681 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,240 that everyone you travel with won't be of any help. 682 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,440 They will also be unfulfilled. 683 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,360 They will also be traveling with baggage 684 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,000 that they don't know what to deal with. 685 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,360 And none of them will want to be dealing 686 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:44,840 with any of your stuff. 687 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:46,840 And this is where false teachers live. 688 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:48,400 This is where the Pharisees lived. 689 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,880 Those who are false confessors 690 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,800 and some of the most religious conservative people you know. 691 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:56,680 This is where they thrive 692 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:58,520 because they love all the glory available 693 00:28:58,520 --> 00:28:59,840 to them in this world. 694 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:02,400 They relish their self-righteousness. 695 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:03,400 Don't be like them. 696 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:06,240 Two final thoughts. 697 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,760 How do we make it to the narrow gate 698 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:12,320 and how do we make it on the narrow road? 699 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,040 How do we make it to the narrow gate? 700 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,440 How do we make it on the narrow road? 701 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:18,640 The way to the narrow gate 702 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:21,920 is by going back along the wide road. 703 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:26,920 So you can't just make a shortcut to the narrow road. 704 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,120 There's no interchange available to you. 705 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,040 You don't just keep going a little bit farther 706 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:32,880 and then you can cut over. 707 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:34,400 You have to walk back. 708 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,320 You have to keep walking, saying goodbye 709 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:38,680 to all the people that you thought you wanted to be with, 710 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:41,640 all of the ideas that you thought you wanted to have. 711 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:43,760 And you have to say, no, those are death to me. 712 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,080 Those are disgusting. 713 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:46,760 They're the worst thing I can imagine. 714 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:48,480 And I'm gonna walk back away from it 715 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:50,320 because I have to go back to the beginning 716 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:51,920 so I can get to the narrow gate. 717 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:55,880 And this requires repentance. 718 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:57,960 This requires turning your back, 719 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,200 changing the way you think. 720 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,760 Every day, every hour of the wide road 721 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:05,480 leads you closer and closer to destruction. 722 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,040 And you have to choose, I want life. 723 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,760 You walk back toward the narrow gate. 724 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,280 That's how you get to the narrow gate. 725 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,560 Next, how do you make it on the narrow road 726 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:18,680 when it's so hard? 727 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:19,520 It's simple. 728 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,600 You have to treasure Jesus above all else. 729 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:28,760 You have to look at everything the world has to offer. 730 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:32,760 Praise, money, glory, women, joys, fill it in. 731 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,520 And you just say it's sewage, it's disgusting. 732 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:42,160 Paul in Philippians three, he describes it like this. 733 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:44,480 And he calls all his self-righteousness and good deeds 734 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:46,360 and everything sewage. 735 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:50,080 I, quoting, I also consider everything to be a loss 736 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:52,000 in view of the surpassing value 737 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,120 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 738 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:57,040 Because of him, I have suffered the loss of all things 739 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,080 and consider them as dung so that I may gain Christ. 740 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,640 I'm gonna go do a little Greek searching, 741 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:05,680 go look at that word dung, 742 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:07,840 it's the strongest word you could imagine. 743 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:13,600 Paul's only joy was found in knowing his savior more. 744 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,600 That is how you make it on the narrow road. 745 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,440 That's how you do it. 746 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,320 You see Jesus dimly lit at the end 747 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:23,760 and all you want is to know him more. 748 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,480 Because he is the way, the truth and the life. 749 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:29,400 He is the glory of the invisible God. 750 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,400 He is the Messiah King born to us. 751 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,600 He is the one who walked the road for us and died for us 752 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,520 and rose again bearing our sin and shame 753 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:39,880 so that we can have newness of life in him. 754 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,960 And now he is seated at the right hand of the Father, 755 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:47,120 intercessing for us so that we can keep making it. 756 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:49,840 He keeps pleading with us, he keeps guiding us, 757 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:51,400 he keeps pushing us on 758 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:53,920 because he wants us to see us get to the end. 759 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:01,160 And because he is with us, we can join with the hymn writer 760 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,840 in trying to comprehend his amazing love. 761 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,560 Where the whole realm of nature mine, 762 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:11,160 that we're a present far too small. 763 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:13,680 Love so amazing, so divine, 764 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:18,640 demands my soul, my life, my all. 765 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:20,640 Let's pray. 766 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:30,600 Heavenly Father, we are eager to see you as you are. 767 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:35,320 We are eager to treasure you above all else. 768 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,080 Please give us a new heart. 769 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:41,120 Please help us. 770 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:44,800 Father, I pray for those who are walking the narrow road 771 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,480 that you would encourage them, you would strengthen them 772 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:49,880 and you would prepare them for the next trial 773 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:52,120 so that they could get rid of their baggage 774 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,520 and be closer to you. 775 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:56,800 That they would be formed into your image 776 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,520 and love you more than anything else. 777 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:06,800 And Father, I pray for those who are enjoying the wide road 778 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:09,720 that you would call them to yourself, 779 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:12,200 that you would humble them, that you would break them 780 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:13,920 so that they could see who you are 781 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,760 in a loving, caring Father. 782 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:18,840 That you would give them the strength to walk back, 783 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:21,640 to repent, to change their ways 784 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,200 so that they can be more like Jesus. 785 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:27,080 They can get to the narrow gate and get to life. 786 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:30,840 Father, we need you to do this work in us. 787 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:32,440 We cannot do it ourselves. 788 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:34,280 We need a transformed heart. 789 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:35,680 In Jesus' name, amen.