1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 Let's pray. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:15,000 Father God, we are so thankful that this is the day that you have made, that you have 3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:25,700 brought us together and by your grace have given us your word to gather together to hear 4 00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:26,700 your word. 5 00:00:26,700 --> 00:00:29,820 And that's what we ask for this morning. 6 00:00:29,820 --> 00:00:37,520 We ask that by your Spirit you would speak not just to our minds but to our hearts, that 7 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,160 you would change us. 8 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:45,480 We ask for this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. 9 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:46,480 Amen. 10 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:52,520 So church, for the past several months we've been exploring the incredible sermon that 11 00:00:52,520 --> 00:01:00,320 Jesus gave to his first disciples in the first century on a little mountain somewhere in 12 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:01,520 Galilee. 13 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:08,000 And as we've seen through the months, as we've explored the words of our Lord, this 14 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:16,160 sermon was never meant to stay in the minds of the first century Jewish disciples but 15 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:23,680 was designed to penetrate and echo through every generation of those who wanted to hear 16 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,960 what Jesus had to say. 17 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:32,280 And I want to point this out, this sermon was never meant to stay just as a historical 18 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,280 record of an incredible teaching. 19 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:43,180 I mean through the months as we've seen Jesus has removed any possibility of impartiality 20 00:01:43,180 --> 00:01:47,800 when it comes to being a follower of him. 21 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:52,360 Either you are for him or you're against him. 22 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:58,360 Because as we've discovered his revelation requires a response from those who hear it. 23 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:04,600 Every step of the way, every sentence we've looked at, every doctrine that Jesus has spoken 24 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:15,360 into, we've been left with a choice, either to believe what he has to say, like on things 25 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,360 like our ethical obligations in this world, our relationships with others in and out of 26 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:26,400 the church, our priority of God in every aspect of our life as well as our relationship to 27 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,640 our material possessions. 28 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:31,360 We're left with a choice. 29 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,880 Well again this morning we're left with a choice either to follow Jesus as his disciples 30 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:45,320 against all odds in this world, which is to embrace eternal life or cling to the world 31 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:52,360 and take the easy route, which will end in total and utter destruction. 32 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:59,800 There's only two ways and according to the word made flesh, you can't have your cake 33 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,600 needed too. 34 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,040 So let's dive in and see what Jesus means to tell us. 35 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:08,560 If you have your Bibles that will be very helpful. 36 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:13,320 Verse 13, enter through the narrow gate. 37 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:21,160 So the first thing that I want you to notice here is that Jesus gives us a command, a command 38 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,320 to enter through the narrow gate. 39 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:30,520 And it's an urgent call for you to make a choice to join his kingdom in the one and 40 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,400 only way that we can. 41 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:34,400 That's right. 42 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:39,960 Jesus is calling on people to respond to the message he's been preaching. 43 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,760 Let's think about where this command is placed in the sermon. 44 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:51,320 All through this sermon, he's been telling us about the righteousness of the kingdom, 45 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:56,120 about the way of the kingdom, about the character of the kingdom. 46 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:03,200 And now after teaching us all these glorious truths, he says, I don't want you to stand 47 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,360 there and admire the kingdom. 48 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,720 No I command you to enter it through the narrow gate. 49 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:20,080 In other words, it's an urgent call for his hearers to do something with what they've 50 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:21,680 been teaching. 51 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:28,080 You see what Jesus is doing here is ending his sermon with an exhortation, which I think 52 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,320 we need to take as a warning as well. 53 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:38,880 In fact, we're going to look at four warnings over the next few weeks that cap off this 54 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:39,880 sermon. 55 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,800 There's two ways to live, which we're going to look at this morning. 56 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:51,840 To trees that bear different fruit, to claims of Christ's disciples and two ways to build 57 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:53,520 your house. 58 00:04:53,520 --> 00:05:00,480 All that to say what Jesus is doing here with this narrow gate language is capping off his 59 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:09,060 teaching with a call, a call to respond to what he has said because hearing his teaching 60 00:05:09,060 --> 00:05:12,120 alone will not save you. 61 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:18,000 It's like going to swimming lessons and listening to what the teacher has to say, but then putting 62 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:24,160 nothing into practice and then wondering why you can't swim. 63 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,440 Much in the same way, you are to do something with the Lord's teaching. 64 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:40,560 Namely, you are to embrace Christ and live out the way of the kingdom in this world. 65 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,640 Now there's something to note here about our context. 66 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:50,120 The disciples have been the primary receivers of all that Jesus has been saying since we 67 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,120 started looking at this sermon some months back. 68 00:05:54,120 --> 00:06:00,280 But throughout, Jesus has also had an eye on the crowds as they could overhear what 69 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:01,280 he was saying. 70 00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:07,960 We know that's the case because Matthew reports to us in verses 28 and 29 of this chapter 71 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:13,280 that there were others there that were listening by the end of this sermon, meaning there was 72 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:17,080 a mix of people before Jesus. 73 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:24,000 And so he's cautioning both his disciples and the crowds about what they are to do with 74 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,000 what they've heard. 75 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:31,920 I mean, on the one hand, he's warning his disciples to examine themselves, to be sure 76 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:40,520 that they're truly members of the kingdom and not simply those who profess an allegiance. 77 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:45,640 Yet on the other hand, he wants the crowds to consider very carefully what they have 78 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,600 heard about the kingdom of heaven. 79 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:55,840 In other words, whoever has heard the words of Jesus, a choice must be made. 80 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:02,800 Are you going to embrace Christ and what he has to say, or are you going to reject him 81 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,920 and all that you've been told? 82 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:10,800 There is no middle ground, no middle ground with Jesus. 83 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,120 No other choice and a decision must be made. 84 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,920 What Jesus says here, that decision has eternal consequences. 85 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:27,720 Now I want to pause here for a moment and I think we need to ask ourselves something. 86 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:32,000 What exactly is the narrow gate? 87 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,160 What does Jesus mean by that? 88 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:40,480 Well, we know by looking at other places in scripture that Jesus reveals himself to be 89 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:46,640 the gate, meaning he's the only way to be saved. 90 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:53,240 For example, in John 10, 9 he says, I am the gate. 91 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:54,240 Pretty clear. 92 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:58,160 Whoever enters through me will be saved. 93 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:05,320 Again, John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth and the life. 94 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:13,000 No one, no one comes to the father except through me. 95 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:14,600 It's incredible stuff. 96 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:20,920 Jesus makes it clear that he is the only way that one can enter into the kingdom of heaven, 97 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:27,760 that he alone is the gateway of salvation. 98 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,240 There is no other way. 99 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:34,720 He is the way of eternal life. 100 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:44,240 Either choose him and enter that life or reject him and be eternally ruined. 101 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:50,400 This actually isn't the first time that we've heard God speak like this to his people. 102 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:56,560 I wonder if you would for a moment cast your mind back to when Israel was at Mount Sinai 103 00:08:56,560 --> 00:09:03,200 after God had rescued them from the tyranny of Pharaoh. 104 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:10,680 God had taken his people from the iron furnace, from the house of slavery because they were 105 00:09:10,680 --> 00:09:19,320 his and he had done so because he had promised Abraham, their forefather, to do so. 106 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:25,480 It was on that mountain after he had given them the law that God says to his people, 107 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:31,160 I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse. 108 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:37,240 The blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I'm giving you, the curse 109 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:45,240 if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you, 110 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,040 Deuteronomy 11. 111 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:54,320 Hear what's being said after God draws his people out of absolute darkness, after he 112 00:09:54,320 --> 00:10:00,200 had gathered them to himself on the mount, after he had taught them the law, he gives 113 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:10,080 them a choice saying today I'm setting before you a blessing and a curse going on in Deuteronomy 114 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:18,640 30 saying I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 115 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:25,720 In other words there are only two ways and you have a choice. 116 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:31,920 Either listen to what you've heard and live in covenant with God and be blessed entering 117 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:40,160 that life or follow the way of the world and come to ruin. 118 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:47,440 So with all that said, with all that Jesus has revealed about God and the kingdom, he 119 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,960 gives us a few things for us to consider because he knows that there's many things in this 120 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:59,400 life that try to vie for our attention and pull us away from choosing the Lord Jesus 121 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:07,560 Christ, from choosing life and then living that life in the kingdom of the kingdom in 122 00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:08,560 this world. 123 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:14,880 And so he lays before us a few things in this passage as to why we must enter life through 124 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:20,720 the narrow gate and keep on keeping on. 125 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,400 Look with me at verse 13. 126 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:29,440 Jesus says for wide is the gate, broad is the road that leads to destruction. 127 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,280 Many enter through it. 128 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:40,120 So the first things first, first things first, the way of death looks like the best way to 129 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:41,680 live your life now. 130 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:50,560 Jesus says the way is wide meaning it's easy as it offers to the senses a natural pull 131 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:58,920 towards it because the easy and attractive way seems like the best way yet its end is 132 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:06,000 destruction and many people, many people are on it. 133 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:11,560 I was watching an interview this week with two, well they like to think they're political 134 00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:17,580 commentators, Russell Brand and Jordan Peterson and they were talking about how culture has 135 00:12:17,580 --> 00:12:25,040 radically become unhinged in every arena in things like politics, education, journalism, 136 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:32,680 philosophy and even women's sport however that's defined these days not to mention ethics 137 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:34,400 around sexuality. 138 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:42,000 They came to the conclusion that social media has so much to play in it but as I was watching 139 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:48,920 them talk it became abundantly clear that there is more than a popular opinion in this 140 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:55,480 world that has infiltrated many people's minds. 141 00:12:55,480 --> 00:13:03,340 There's actually a spiritual rebellion and this spiritual rebellion flies in the face 142 00:13:03,340 --> 00:13:10,300 of God's order yet people can't be bothered to fight against it either because they're 143 00:13:10,300 --> 00:13:17,600 afraid of being trashed on social media, cancelled in society or having their livelihoods threatened. 144 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:25,120 So they just get in line and they just go with the flow of the people and that's the 145 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:26,640 thing right. 146 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,760 It's easier to just go with the flow. 147 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:37,920 It's more attractive, it's more popular to go the way of the broad road. 148 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:46,240 It's easier because it goes with the popular opinion and it has the least resistance meaning 149 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:51,000 it's going to be the most accepted thing in our world. 150 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:58,320 So secondly we notice here that many will embrace that way of life because it's the 151 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,880 easiest thing to do. 152 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:11,760 It means that many will embrace the broad way and many will reject the narrow gate. 153 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:17,640 I want you to think about this in our context in Australia. 154 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:26,840 It's not popular to say this day and age that there is only one way and that way is Jesus. 155 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:38,160 It's simply not but that is the gospel because all of us, every single one of us has sinned 156 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:42,560 and fallen short of the glory of God. 157 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:50,400 We by our very nature are doomed to destruction meaning we are all by nature on the broad 158 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:58,360 road and without any intervention total and utter destruction would be our end yet God 159 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,640 made a way. 160 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:10,320 God came to rescue us in the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sin and we must turn 161 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,960 to him and cast ourselves before him. 162 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:16,400 There is no other way. 163 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,360 That is the narrow gate. 164 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:25,600 But that message church is not popular with this world. 165 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:33,240 That message is detested by many and that's why so many people take the broad road because 166 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,680 they want to do things their way. 167 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:42,200 They don't want to bow the knee to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords no matter how 168 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:43,760 good the news is. 169 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,400 But where does it lead? 170 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,320 What does Jesus tell us to utter destruction? 171 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:56,040 There's only one way and his name is Jesus. 172 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:05,640 He is the narrow gate which leads to life and he knows that coming to the narrow gate 173 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:13,440 it looks hard and admittedly brothers and sisters it is hard. 174 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:19,080 It is hard if we take everything that Jesus has said to us in the sermon. 175 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:25,720 We see that to become his disciple well it requires repentance. 176 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:33,040 It requires faith, self denial and coming to grips with just who and what we are before 177 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,720 God. 178 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:40,360 Jesus calls it being poor in spirit. 179 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:46,440 It's hard and in fact I would say impossible to do without the grace of the Holy Spirit 180 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,120 working in our lives. 181 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:55,840 Yet Jesus tells us here though it's hard, though it's not popular, though not many people 182 00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:01,800 are doing it, it is more desirable than the pleasures and the ways of this world because 183 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,880 all of that is heading to one place. 184 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:10,560 Utter destruction. 185 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:16,960 So he says in verse 14, small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life. 186 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:20,120 Only a few will find it. 187 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:22,000 Only a few find it. 188 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,640 And I want you to hear this. 189 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:32,400 There are only a few who find it, sorry there are only a few who find and take the narrow 190 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:33,400 course. 191 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:42,400 So third and we must all be aware of this, we are not automatically saved because we 192 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:46,360 have just heard the gospel and attend church. 193 00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:52,040 As we have already seen this morning Israel was rescued from certain death. 194 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,920 They were given the revelation of God. 195 00:17:54,920 --> 00:18:01,960 They were part of Abraham's descendants, part of the covenant people but what did we see? 196 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,800 God still gave them a choice. 197 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:10,720 He gave them a choice whether to believe his word and follow after him or to reject what 198 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,800 he had revealed to their own peril. 199 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:20,880 In other words the blessing of God was not automatic, not automatically given to all 200 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:21,880 Israel. 201 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:28,840 Now it was only given to those who believed God, who loved God, who trusted God and who 202 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,120 worshipped God from the heart. 203 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:38,760 Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Romans in chapters 9 through to 11. 204 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:46,200 And so with that background and with the context of the crowds that are before him, Jesus reminds 205 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:52,240 us here as well that there are many out there in the world and dare I say it in the visible 206 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:58,360 church as well that hear the gospel but they end up rejecting it. 207 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:01,320 It's what Jesus is getting out here. 208 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:05,680 Not everyone who hears the gospel responds to it in faith. 209 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:09,920 Many will hear it but still reject it. 210 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,680 Only a few find it. 211 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:18,940 Now it's only those who embrace and believe the gospel that will find eternal life. 212 00:19:18,940 --> 00:19:30,200 It's only those who trust in Jesus fully and finally that find the way of life. 213 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:35,800 So as we think about these things this morning I want to draw your attention to the two gates 214 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:42,240 and two ways that have been contrasted and presented to us this morning. 215 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:51,640 On the one hand there is the wide gate and it is that gate says Jesus. 216 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:58,480 That gate that many enter into because it's the popular and easy way. 217 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,960 I mean think about what we've already heard this morning. 218 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:06,400 To be on the broad road you don't have to change at all. 219 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,520 There's no repentance required. 220 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:15,280 No the way that leads to destruction is easy and doesn't require you to turn at all. 221 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,040 Remember what we've learnt about repentance. 222 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:24,240 It's a change of mind and it's a turning from the way that you were going and to the Lord 223 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:29,400 Jesus. 224 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:39,720 Calling to our Lord if there's no repentance that way of life leads to one place. 225 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,360 There's a narrow gate however. 226 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:53,280 The narrow gate and that gate requires porness of spirit and confession of sin. 227 00:20:53,280 --> 00:21:02,960 It requires a humility to look to Christ and confess that there is nothing in and of yourself 228 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,680 that merits anything before God. 229 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:14,400 It requires a life that is fully surrendered to God and the life that cries out to Christ 230 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,320 to save them. 231 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:22,960 And that's what's been presented to us over the months again and again and again. 232 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:29,560 To enter through the narrow gate requires us to leave behind our self-righteousness 233 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:35,000 and our self-ambition at the gate. 234 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:42,040 In other words Jesus requires a full surrender. 235 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:47,720 I want to say something about the language that's found in our passage this morning. 236 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:55,080 You'll notice in verse 13 Jesus uses the language of the narrow gate but in verse 14 talks about 237 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:56,080 the small gate. 238 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,960 Is he talking about the same thing? 239 00:21:59,960 --> 00:22:05,040 Well the narrow gate as we've seen is Jesus talking about himself. 240 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:12,320 He is the narrow gate through which people pass as they respond to his invitation to 241 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,560 come into the kingdom of heaven. 242 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:22,600 However with a lot of reading, a lot of conversation, quite a bit of study, I believe that the small 243 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:28,360 gate and narrow road language is meant to be seen together. 244 00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:36,240 And it's the struggle of the disciple that lasts the rest of their life. 245 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:42,780 It's the struggle of the disciple and that struggle lasts the rest of our life as we 246 00:22:42,780 --> 00:22:47,680 seek to live out the ways of the kingdom in this world. 247 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:55,800 And I say that because Jesus is contrasting two patterns of life in our passage this morning. 248 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,880 There's two patterns that he's contrasting. 249 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:05,280 The lifestyle of the unrighteous and the lifestyle of his faithful. 250 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:09,840 And it's as we've looked at this over the months that we can see that there is only 251 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:14,240 one way in which to please God. 252 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:20,640 And it's not to live in any which way that you want. 253 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:26,240 Now over and over the Lord Jesus has said to us there is only one way of life that's 254 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,180 pleasing to the Father. 255 00:23:28,180 --> 00:23:36,520 And it's a life that seeks to live by God's way which has been clearly marked out in divine 256 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:37,520 revelation. 257 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:44,280 A life that is restricted if you will to doing what God wants. 258 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:51,120 AKA it's a life that walks the narrow way. 259 00:23:51,120 --> 00:23:57,840 To put it plainly those that are pleasing to God are those that come to Christ and then 260 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:04,120 by the grace of God under the reign of God according to the righteousness of God live 261 00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:11,240 a life as set forth in accordance with his word. 262 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:16,720 That's what we're seeing contrasted here this morning in these two lifestyles. 263 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:25,380 Much like the psalmist says in Psalm 1, there is a way that seems right to humanity, right 264 00:24:25,380 --> 00:24:33,440 in our own eyes and many live that way because they can set the standards and live by it. 265 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:38,980 And it's easier more attractive because at the end of the day they can indulge in anything 266 00:24:38,980 --> 00:24:46,960 that they want and live in such a way where in their minds at least there's no consequences. 267 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:55,600 But Jesus says that way of life dear ones it's a delusion. 268 00:24:55,600 --> 00:25:01,440 It's a delusion because it might seem right now it might feel right now but at the end 269 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,640 of the day it will end in destruction. 270 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,920 However there is another way. 271 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:16,000 It is the narrow way which is the way of righteousness as revealed in God's word. 272 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:24,520 And church there is no doubt that it is the harder way. 273 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:33,000 It is the harder way because it is the way of self denial and a life of what Jesus says 274 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:38,320 in Luke of picking up our cross. 275 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:43,600 But as Jesus says here it is so worth it. 276 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,000 That's what I believe Jesus is saying. 277 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,800 There's only one way to the Father. 278 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:55,400 It is through Jesus and being a disciple of Jesus is not going to be easy. 279 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,680 The narrow way is hard. 280 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:07,160 It's going to take work on our end either externally from outward persecution or internally 281 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:09,520 from your own flesh. 282 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:16,640 But be encouraged brothers and sisters because though something's not easy doesn't mean 283 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,060 it's not worth it. 284 00:26:19,060 --> 00:26:26,760 And I want to say this as well though it's not easy it doesn't mean it's going to be 285 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,320 miserable. 286 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:32,920 Is it hard to repent of our sins? 287 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:33,920 Yes. 288 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,240 At times it's incredibly hard. 289 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:41,200 Is it hard to be confronted with who we are? 290 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,320 Yes very much so. 291 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:49,520 Does it sometimes hurt when we're examining ourselves in light of the Scriptures? 292 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:50,520 Absolutely. 293 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:57,480 Is it sometimes abrasive to hear sermons and dare I say it even preach sermons that slash 294 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,800 at our pride? 295 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,120 Very much, very, very much so. 296 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:07,920 But the question might be asked is it good? 297 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:08,920 Is it good? 298 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:14,920 Is it good when a light is shined into that dark place so that we are confronted with 299 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:21,480 those things about ourselves so that we can take them to our Father in heaven in confession? 300 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:22,480 Absolutely. 301 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,480 Make no mistake the narrow way is hard. 302 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,360 It hurts to see ourselves as we are. 303 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:33,680 It hurts to know that we're still somewhat rebellious in what we do. 304 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:39,560 It hurts to know that there is something in us that's still striving and kicking back 305 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:46,280 against our gracious Father even after we've come to the knowledge of the truth. 306 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,000 But the question is asked. 307 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,080 Ask that question. 308 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:59,920 Aren't you also filled with absolute joy, absolute joy to know that though the way is 309 00:27:59,920 --> 00:28:08,840 hard, though the path is narrow, that you're actually on the narrow way because in God's 310 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:17,840 kindness, in God's unrelenting love, he by the work of the Holy Spirit has opened your 311 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:29,440 heart to the Gospel so that we who were on that road to destruction might embrace the 312 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:39,200 narrow gate, embrace Christ and enter the narrow way. 313 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:48,240 You see, far from being a miserable life, there's a whole spectrum of joys that we as 314 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:54,160 the disciples of Christ, that we enjoy on this side of eternity. 315 00:28:54,160 --> 00:29:00,480 As I said, the deepest joy comes from personally knowing God as our heavenly Father through 316 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,320 the Lord Jesus Christ. 317 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:10,200 There's also freedom that over time, over the course of our life, we've experienced 318 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:20,240 more and more and more from that sin that once so consumed and killed us. 319 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:28,760 Paul says it like this, we are no longer slaves and we get the privilege of learning what 320 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,920 that is to live that out. 321 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:36,000 And then of course, there's the joy of knowing like we did this morning as the people of 322 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:43,460 God, that we can approach God together in and through Christ and confess our sins to 323 00:29:43,460 --> 00:29:50,980 our Father in heaven and know that he has forgiven us, that our conscience is clear 324 00:29:50,980 --> 00:29:53,560 because of the work of Jesus. 325 00:29:53,560 --> 00:30:00,960 I also want to point that there's a new love that many of us come to experience in our 326 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:03,800 hearts towards one another. 327 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:14,000 There is a love in this room that goes deeper between us than even between physical family. 328 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:21,600 And we are learning and experiencing that together as we walk the narrow path together. 329 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:30,080 Church, make no mistake, it is the kindness, graciousness and covenantal love that God 330 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:37,080 has for his people that leads us to embrace and enter through the narrow gate and then 331 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:39,880 puts us on the narrow way. 332 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:48,000 And though we might not see it fully right now, those that have confessed yourself before 333 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:56,480 God and embraced Jesus Christ, well there is coming a day when you will experience something 334 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:03,000 that is far beyond anything we could imagine now in this life, far beyond any treasure 335 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:10,340 on earth, far beyond any vice, far beyond any missed career opportunity, far beyond 336 00:31:10,340 --> 00:31:13,280 anything we could imagine. 337 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:18,960 That's the destination of those who have entered through the narrow gate and are walking the 338 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:23,400 narrow way by God's grace. 339 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:29,840 So as we end our time in this couple of verses this morning, we've seen that there are two 340 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,040 ways to live. 341 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:40,040 There is the wide road and many embrace it and as Bon Scott once said, it is the highway 342 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,000 to hell. 343 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:47,760 And though hell is not a popular thing to preach about, it is something that the Lord 344 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:53,040 Jesus Christ warned us about time and time again in his ministry. 345 00:31:53,040 --> 00:32:01,560 Utter destruction is the consequence for rejecting the once and for all sacrifice and walking 346 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:05,380 the broad road of popular opinion. 347 00:32:05,380 --> 00:32:12,560 So might I say if you have not embraced Christ, if you have not seen the beauty of Christ 348 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:19,040 and called upon his name, then friend, you are here by no mistake this morning. 349 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:25,000 You are here because God is really reaching out to you through the gospel and his promise 350 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:32,200 to you is that he saves anyone who calls upon the name of Jesus. 351 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,400 Anyone who's done anything. 352 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:39,480 Wide is the road that leads to destruction, many are on it. 353 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:42,040 Today is the day. 354 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:45,960 Today is the day to get off the highway to hell. 355 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:51,600 As we've seen this morning, there are only two ways, no compromise with Jesus. 356 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:55,360 You're either part of God's people or you're not. 357 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,760 Either embrace Jesus by faith or you haven't. 358 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:01,880 You are either in the kingdom or you're not. 359 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:07,720 And so brothers and sisters, Christ's words to us this morning, as it's been said, are 360 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,400 not just an exhortation. 361 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:18,360 They're a warning, a warning to examine ourselves in light of his words. 362 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,800 What choices are you making right now? 363 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:27,720 Because the choices that you're making in your life right now will show you if you're 364 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:31,360 on the narrow path or if you're straying. 365 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:37,980 And so as we end, Jesus spoke these words to his original audience all those years ago. 366 00:33:37,980 --> 00:33:41,880 As he spoke to them, he's speaking to us. 367 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:45,880 This is a call for believers and unbelievers alike. 368 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:50,440 If you would say, yes, yes, I have turned to Jesus. 369 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:56,000 Then in light of what we've heard this morning, examine your walk, dear one. 370 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:59,360 Examine your walk in light of the gospel. 371 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:05,880 Examine your walk in light of who and what Jesus has done for you. 372 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:07,740 Have you strayed? 373 00:34:07,740 --> 00:34:08,740 Have you strayed? 374 00:34:08,740 --> 00:34:14,080 If you would confess yes, then now is the time to repent. 375 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:22,080 Now is the time to ask, to seek, to knock, and the door will be answered. 376 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:29,480 If you have not embraced the Lord Jesus, then friend, I plead with you, come to the narrow 377 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:38,880 gate, come to the way of the truth and life and embrace the King of God's heavenly kingdom. 378 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:43,040 He rejects no one who comes to him. 379 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,240 Let's pray. 380 00:34:45,240 --> 00:34:57,640 Lord Jesus, these are very hard words to hear this morning, but we thank you that you have 381 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:04,640 given them to us because as it was said all those years ago, you have the words of eternal 382 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:05,640 life. 383 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:14,880 Lord, we thank you that you are the one who rescues your people, that we've seen time 384 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:25,040 and time again, you are leading us to a personal and living salvation in you. 385 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:34,640 Father, we thank you for our Lord Jesus, who we can look to as the atoning sacrifice for 386 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:37,440 all our sin. 387 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:45,080 Father, these words, I ask that they pierce the hearts and minds of your people and that 388 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:52,800 in light of the gospel, we would come to the throne of grace and that you would restore 389 00:35:52,800 --> 00:36:01,520 to us the joy of our salvation and that you would help us to tell others about the narrow 390 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:07,960 gate in which we find so much joy in. 391 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:11,200 We ask for these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 392 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:26,200 Amen.