Untitled Sermon

Intro: We are continuing to study into the promise that Jesus made to us in the fifteenth chapter of John’s Gospel:

John 15:13–15 (NKJV) — 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Purpose: Today, we are going to examine Jesus’ instruction concerning the general pattern of our lives. We are going to see that we have a choice to make. We will revisit some foundational principles that we might not have thought about for some time.

Mat 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

v There are two ways of life:

Ø One leads to salvation and eternal life, the other to destruction.

Ø We used to hear them characterized as the way of give and the way of get.

v The way of get

Ø This is the way that puts the self at the front of the line despite the needs or wants of others.

Ø It seeks to benefit from others, at their expense.

Ø The get way is the way of theft.

Ø We talked last time about how many kinds of theft man’s law addresses. God simply says “You shall not steal”.

Ø God understands that we know when we are stealing. Not necessary to define every kind of theft.

Ø The Get way of life is embodied by competition.

Ø Survival of the fittest.

Ø It is a way of life that expresses hatred rather than love.

Ø This is the way of life that resists and disobeys the simple and concise principles God has given us to regulate human life.

v The way of give

Ø Characterized by outgoing concern for others.

Ø Doesn’t seek its’s own gain and profit at the expense of others

Ø Is willing to suffer loss so that someone else may gain.

Ø It is the way of cooperation.

Ø This way has been described as the way of love.

Ø The Greek word, Agape is defined as the kind of love that isn’t looking for a return on investment.

Ø It is given unconditionally and doesn’t require that the love be returned.

Ø The give way results in peace.

v We can also classify these two ways as the way of obedience to God’s law and His word, contrasted by the way of disobedience: Psalm 1:1–4 (NKJV) — 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Ø But the wicked choose a different way: Psalm 1:4-8 The ungodly are not so,But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Ø This is exactly what Jesus was saying. The right way leads to life and the other way leads to death.

Ø The right way is the way of obedience to the law and the word of God.

Ø The natural mind of man can’t always comprehend the law of God or the principles contained in the word of God. Romans 8:7–8 (NKJV) — 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Ø Thy word is a light unto my feet-Camp Thunderbird-Lost in the woods at night, boy scout camp Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) — 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Ø Jesus is telling us to follow the narrow path the Bible illuminates.

Ø Don’t follow the crowd (many go in by the wide gate).

§ Sheep like to follow each other.

§ I read a story about a New Zealand sheepherder who lost a very large flock—hundreds of sheep.

§ One accidently ran over a cliff.

§ The rest followed.

§ That is why we must be sure we are following the Shepherd.

v The two ways are symbolized by the two trees in the Garden: Genesis 2:8–9 (NKJV) — 8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Ø The two trees were symbolic of the two ways of life.

Ø The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented the way that departs from the way of God, from obedience.

§ It represents man’s attempt to devise his own way.

§ To live by his own principles.

§ To make up his own standards of good and evil.

§ The way that leads to death.

Ø The tree of life represents

§ Acceptance of God’s knowledge

§ Reliance on God and His wisdom

§ Obedience to God’s commands

§ The way that leads to eternal life.

v The story told by Herman Hoeh at the FOT in 1980 in Rapid City

Ø Recount the story

Ø This faction believes that their way of life, their philosophy can produce good results and deserves a trial.

v The correct way is not the easiest.

Ø It’s not the way we would tend to go naturally.

Ø It tends not to make sense to the natural mind.

Ø It is a way that is navigated by faith-not easy.

Ø It is not a short-cut. It is the long road.

Ø God often does things by the long road:

§ Good things take time to grow and mature.

§ Wine, for example.

· Many steps in the process

· Must be aged

· Takes patience and practice to arrive at the correct method

§ Living the correct way for many years produces fruit in us that can’t be synthesized.

§ God can’t create perfect character instantly

§ He tried that. It didn’t always work. Ezekiel 28:15 (NKJV) — 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.

§ It takes a lifetime of experience in living by His standards.

§ Character is developed in men by a lifetime of making the correct choices.

§ When Hillel exercised choice, he chose to do evil.

v There is a gate, a door that leads to eternal life.

Ø A gate can be a portal or a roadblock.

Ø Gates keep out the unauthorized.

Luke 13:24–30 (NKJV) — 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Ø In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that He is the way: John 14:6 (NKJV) — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Ø He is clearly talking about being a door, when He says we must come through Him. John 10:7–9 (NKJV) — 7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Ø The traditions of the world and its religions do not show the way to eternal life and salvation. Matthew 23:13 (NKJV) — 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Ø Jesus and the Ark: Similarities

§ The ark had one door. Genesis 6:16 (NKJV) — 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

· It was the entrance to salvation for Noah and his family.

· Jesus is the door to salvation. John 10:9 (NKJV) — 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

· The I Ams: Seven in the book of John

¨ Door of the sheep

John 10:7–9 (NKJV) — 7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

¨ Just like the door of the Ark, Jesus is the door to salvation.

· But most were shut out of the ark and did not acquire salvation.

Genesis 7:16 (NKJV) — 16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.

· In the time of the flood, as now, most are not going to find the door. Most will be denied entrance.

§ God designed both the ark and the plan of salvation. Genesis 6:14–17 (NKJV) — 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. Hebrews 5:9 (NKJV) — 9 And having been perfected, He [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

§ The ark was provided for grace and salvation. Genesis 6:8 (NKJV) — 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. John 1:17 (NKJV) — 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

§ Both Jesus and the ark were the way to escape the penalty for sin. Genesis 6:9–22 (NKJV) — 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

§ Because of this incredible level of sin, God determined to destroy all human life. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

§ But God made a plan to save a few: 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

§ Man was invited into the ark Genesis 7:1 (NKJV) — 1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.

§ We were invited, called to Jesus: John 6:44 (NKJV) — 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

§ It isn’t given to everyone to have salvation now. Matthew 7:13 (NKJV) — 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

§ Most were not saved from the flood. 1 Peter 3:19–20 (NKJV) — 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

§ There were few that found salvation.

§ Eventually, all will be saved: Revelation 20:4–5 (NKJV) — 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

v Jesus is the way, the truth and the life

John 14:6 (NKJV) — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

· Good Shepherd

John 10:11 (NKJV) — 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:14 (NKJV) — 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

· It is the job of a shepherd to lead the sheep in the correct way.

· They show them where to go.

· They lead them in the right path.

· They define the right way by pointing it out and leading.

· The sheep follow the shepherd.

· Jesus’ life was an example of how we should conduct our lives. 1 Peter 2:21–24 (NKJV) — 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

¨ Jesus practiced the principles that He expounded in the SOM.

¨ He did not retaliate against His enemies.

¨ He didn’t return insult for insult

¨ Didn’t return blow for blow.

· Shepherds don’t drive the sheep,

· They don’t chase them,

· The sheep know the voice of the shepherd and they follow him voluntarily.

Psalm 23 (NKJV) — A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

· Jesus has led us by His example.

· We must choose to follow Him.

v Two ways is an Old Testament principle: Deuteronomy 30:15–20 (NKJV) — 15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

Conclusion: The same individual that compelled ancient Israel to make a choice between good and evil, life and death compels us to make the same choice today. We have to choose to take the hard path, the way of good, the way of give, the way of obedience to and reliance on the Word of God, The Door of the sheep, The Way, Jesus Christ.