Wide is the Gate that Leads to Destruction:

Introduction:

Good morning everyone, its good to be back, to be able to worship with you all today. Last time we talk about how Christ wanted his believers, followers, and listeners to treat other people. we talk about how Jesus Christ condemned some judgement, How Jesus Christ did not condemned all kinds of Judgement, and finally we talk the example within scripture. for this week and next week we are going to be going over two verse. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Mt 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 NIV

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

From these two verse here we are going to be discussing about the gate of destruction, and the narrow gate that leads to life. for this week we are going to be looking at the gate of destruction. our points for today are going to (1. what is sin and its desire, (2. what are the effects of sin here on Earth, and (3. is the the consequesnce of sins.

What is sin, and the desire of Sin:

From our main passage here in Mt 7:13-14, there is a question we should be asking ourselves, are we on the narrow way or are we on the path that leads to destruction? So, today we really need to look at the core of the path of destruction, which most us know is sin. there is more to sin then meets the eye. we tend to measure sin with a leveling system. what I mean by this is that this sin is not so bad compared this other sin. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Gal 5:19-21

Galatians 5:19–21 NIV

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now from this passage in Galatians, we come to see that Paul the Apostle is talk about the works of the flesh. our human side wants nothing more than to dive right into doing these things here. the world makes look wonderful and fun also. Young people I know you all have friends and they will peer pressure you into doing worldly things within this life. you young people live in a different world compare to the rest of the world. you all have you own little society within schools. the choices you make in school and the choices you make will have an effect on you physical, and spiritual. These things that Paul talks about are nothing new, Paul explains how the work of the flesh is not good for us that cause us to sin, and sin is like a lion waiting to devor anyone who falls into its trap. which leads us to sins desire which we see in Gen 4:6-7

Genesis 4:6–7 NIV

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

From this passage in Gen, we see the conversation with God, and Cain. we see that God warn Cain about how sin desire is to rule over us. Sin wants to be in charge of us. today there people who allow sin to rule over them, even Christians. we can fall into cycle of sin thinking its going to be okay, which is not. Sin has this cause and effect on mankind, a give and take relationship with mankind. which leads us to our Next point.

The effects of Sin on Us:

Now that we know what sin is, which we come to understand that it is human nature of our own desire and passion that we chose to chase rather than to chase after God. because of this we come to understand that we can call sin a spiritual cancer that destroys the spirit between God, and man. it separates us from God. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Is 59:1-8

Isaiah 59:1–8 NKJV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. 4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. 5 They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. 6 Their webs will not become garments, Nor will they cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8 The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.

From this passage here in Isaiah, we see that the Prophet talks about how those who follow their own desire, and chase after things of world, they chose to reject God, and Christ. we come to that Sin separates us from God also. we are not under the protection of God, and Christ. we are choosing to walk down a dangerous path. if we chose a life of a life of sin, and seek the pleasures of the flesh God will hide from us. Let us turn in our Bibles Rom 1:24-25

Romans 1:24–25 NKJV

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

another effect of sin is that not only are we separated from God, and Christ. if we continue to live against God’s will, we are no longer under the protection of Christ. God will allow us to chase after our own desires, and leave us to them. Sin is some that is harmful for all of mankind. its what separates us from God, and Christ, not only that it is not pleasing to God. From these two points alone we come to see that Sin is the works of the flesh, its desire is to rule over us, and that Sin separates us from God, and God will leave us alone to our own desires, and passion for the world. Which leads us to our last point for today.

The consequence of Sin:

for our last point for today about wide is the gate of destruction is the consequences of Sin. the end goal of sin. Sin ultimate goal is what leads us to the path of Destruction. According to the world sin is what is fun, what is easy, and what is comfortable. one of the best example is David who became comfortable, and sin against God. Sin leads to death. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Rom 6:20-23

Romans 6:20–23 NKJV

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

From this passage here in Romans, we come to see that Paul explain we have two choices within this life. If we chose to live according to God’s will than we will be slaves to righteousness. compare to the other side of things where as we chase after our own desires and passion for the world we become slaves to sin. which leads to our destruction. Not only does sin lead to our destruction. Another consequence effects our spiritual life also. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Lk 16:19-31

Luke 16:19–31 NKJV

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

From this parable we learn about the effects and consequences of sin. not only that we get some imagery of what hell would be like. we come to see that the rich man had regretted his life on Earth, and requested that his family be warn, we also see that the response from Abraham. they had the prophets, the apostles, and Jesus Christ. They still refuse to acknowledge the truth. how are they still going to believe if you went back.

Conclusion:

At the end of the day we should be asking ourselves are we on the path of righteous which is the narrow way, or have we gotten to comfortable and allow sin to rule over us? because at the end of the day there many who people who think that they are okay with God, by doing only the bear minimum. we can really tie in Mt 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21–23 NKJV

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

it really comes down to how we live here on earth. I may not know where you are in your faith with God, but God knows your relationship with him. God’s knows your struggles in this life, and God knows your needs. what do you have to lose? is your physical life more important than your spiritual life? mankind worries about the physical life. we have a being that created life, that created a universe, and provide salvation for all of mankind. God wants a relationship with you, but you are going to have chose are you going to accept or are you going to reject his offer. if you are in need of prayers, if you wish to start a study, if you are in need of help, or wish to become child of God through baptism please come forward as we stand and sing.