Sermon Tone Analysis

A Paradox

Jesus draws to a conclusion the Sermon on the Mount in these last two paragraphs (Mt7:21-23; Mt7:24-29).

Keep in mind this series has been about Kingdom instructions for Kingdom dwellers; but are all who think they are kingdom dwellers, kingdom dwellers?

Jesus has already used a paradox and continues to turn the people upside down in their thinking as He draws to a close the sermon.

Some simple truths:

Most people believe they will go to heaven when they die; Jesus says few will enter (Mt7:14)

People build their hope on what a preacher, pastor, priest or rabbi say which may or may not be in line with the Bible

We have many who are Bible illiterate

People want to hear Good News without the bad (2Tim4:3)

Hearing, believing, confessing, repenting, baptism and obedience are not what they want to hear

People want to hear about grace, forgiveness and mercy and God’s giving in abundance.

It is common to believe all you have to do is believe to enter the kingdom

If this were true, then even the demons would be going to heaven for even the demons believe ( ref only to Jam2:19)

There is a theology that boasts works of salvation, yes you have to believe but it is your works that earn your salvation.

In other words earn your way to heaven by being good and not as bad as the other guy.

This theology is in direct opposition to what the Word says (Eph2:8-9)

You may think Jesus started His conclusion back in (Mt7:13-14) but without a doubt He does here (Mt7:21-23)

and now may we take just a minute to look at our passage for tonight (which we will cover in greater detail later)

Jesus in His paradoxical teaching method bring in some radical truths.

The shift come in.

It is no longer about instructions for kingdom dwellers it is about application for kingdom dwellers and to identify who the kingdom dwellers are for eternal life depends on it.

J.C. Ryle says

“The Lord winds up the Sermon on the Mount passage by a heart-piercing application.

Going from false prophets to false teachers; From unsound teachers to unsound listeners.”

Where what we are looking at this week and next you will clearly see they show the right and wrong responses to Christ’s teaching.

You will be able to see the conclusion that there is no middle ground, no neutrality.

A radical choice needs to be made and is proven out in how we morally respond and live, apply the teaching.

In our passage we see the mere verbal profession without moral application.

And in the passage next week the intellectual knowledge without moral application.

Kingdom instructions (the Sermon on the Mount) is no good, avails nothing without application.

The application here is outside of what the people believed and had been practicing for hundreds of years.

Doing the right thing with the wrong heart is still the wrong thing!

Jesus emphasis internal obedience for eternal entrance into the kingdom of God.

So having said all that maybe just a couple of things to look at tonight.

What is the kingdom of heaven (brief review)?

Who will enter the kingdom of heaven?

When profession is not good enough, then what?

What is the kingdom of heaven

I know we have previously defined the kingdom of heaven but it has been awhile so lets look again briefly.

Kingdom of heaven; kingdom of God are interchangeable (Mt4:17; Mk1:14-15)

Kingdom is focused on the person Jesus Christ and His rule, reign in the hearts of men (LK17:20-21)

I said keep it brief so only going to briefly touch on a few scriptures at this point and encourage you to take your outline and read all the scriptures note

Kingdom is spiritual in nature (Jn18:36; Rom14:17)

Kingdom began when all authority was given to Jesus (Mt28:18; Act2:36; Eph1:20-23)

Kingdom is now, and believers are in it now (Col1:13-14; Rev1:9)

The kingdom was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost and will be culminated when Jesus comes back to deliver the kingdom to God (1Cor15:23-28)

I just want to highlight a portion of the 1Cor passage

In our passage we see “on that day” (Mt7:22) or in the Corinthian passage “comes to an end” (1Cor15:24-25) meaning there is a future element, aspect to this kingdom, or the kingdom to come.

Jesus is speaking in our passage of the future element a day of judgment(Act17:30-31)

For we can know that God has fixed a day (Act17:30-31) that judgment will be delved out and the kingdom here will become the kingdom there and we need to know who will enter that kingdom since that is what Jesus is addressing.

Who will enter the kingdom of heaven?

Shifting from heaven on earth, kingdom of the beloved Son, now we will briefly look at the “who” element of the future dwellers of the heavenly kingdom that is the one presented to God.

There are those who are the will not’s and the those who will.

_________________________________________________

Not everyone who professes Jesus will enter (Mt7:21; Jm2:24; Jm2:19; then the importance of Jn8:30-32)

Not everyone who does good works will enter (Mt7:22; Tit3:3-7) a good illustration (Act10:1-4; Act11:14)

Jesus condemns lawlessness (Mt7:23)

So who will be saved?

(Mt7:21; Jm1:22-25; Lk17:10; Rom6:17-18; Heb5:9; 2The1:7-9)

_______________________________________________

Not everyone who confesses will enter, even the one’s who call Him Lord Lord.

There are many who have the belief “faith alone” and by believing they are saved.

Even though that is contrary to this passage

For even the demons believe

Believing is not enough as noted in John

The one who enters is the one who does the will of God as noted in Mt7:22 and also here again in a passage in John

While belief is essential for entrance into the kingdom, it is not alone, it is not your free ticket into heaven

Not everyone who does good works will enter

Many will say did we not do this, do that, and do it in Jesus name?

Good works cannot earn our way into heaven.

Salvation is by grace not by merit

Good works are good, but they cannot save, here is a good illustration in looking at Cornelius

Our definition of good work, good works, as they are called filthy rags (ref to Isa64:6) can oftentimes be done without authority because we practice lawlessness

It is not Jesus condemning them for the works, just as He did not condemn the one doing wonders and was not a follower of Jesus and the Apostles as noted in (Mk9:38-41).

the acts are being done without authority.

We may be great in doing great works but if we live in sin, practice lawlessness we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

So the question now arises, who can be, will bill be saved?

In our passage the answer is found.

The one who does the will of the Father!

James elaborates on that too, by saying those who do good works, works of faith, not for faith are blessed in (Jm1:22-25)

Salvation is by grace through faith that will produce works of faith, but in no way does any works we do make us worthy.

The Fathers will does include obedience, obedience of heart

for Christ is the author of our salvation, we do not do it ourselves

And it is not good for those who do not obey the gospel

Now thinking back on our passage tonight, what could be wrong with these people, they are making the public profession (did we not say) and professing Jesus (Lord, Lord), there is nothing wrong with the profession per se, but without application of Jesus as Lord over your life it lip service like (Mt15:8; Lk6:46) Works and behavior (life style) do not match, may you consider (2Tim2:19)

Lip service is not proof of a heart change.

Obedience is important.

This passage tonight shows Christ describing people with a profession (saying) and works that appear good, but without moral application if avails nothing.

Yes there needs to be a verbal confession (Rom10:9-10) and that is made under the power of the Holy Spirit (1Cor12:3) which is where we have our power to apply the morally in our obedience not for salvation but from salvation.

May we know where we stand by our faith, by our moral application and by our fruit from a good tree

Bear a good fruit bearer in your life and you will know that the entrance into the kingdom is abundantly supplied to you (2Pt1:11)

(encouragement slide 1) encouragement (Encouragement slide 2) prayer