GATE OF HEAVEN (MATT. 7: 13-14)

THUHMAI HRUAI (A)

sungah (A fiakmi sangka sungin lut uh, Sangka tum ih nan luh ah cun, a fehnak a ol, a sinan a netnak ah cun siatralnak an thleng ding a ti. a fate mi sangka in lut ih , a feh cu a har asinan nunnak pek theitu a si, curuagnah a fehtu khal an mal a ti.

Hmuh theinak (; ) A kaumi snagka cun siatralnak a pek a ti.

sungah (ramsa thuhla ka hmu thei ih, 16-20 tiang ah thingkung pawl kan hmu thei. ( sungah cun false prophet sungah kan hmu thei.

7:15 sung ah ralrin peknak a sim thok, (24:11, 24 ) sungah false prophet thawn ralrin a peknak thuhla kan hmu thei. (Wolves - ; ).

Rah in nan thei ding (Prophet dik lo) - (7: 19, 3: 8, 10; 12: 33, 26, 21:19; ; )

7: 16b - Zirhtu diklo pawl khal Jesus thu zirhtu lak ah an tel ve ding “Bawipa, Bawipa tiah an ko ve ding a ti) (7: 21-22; 10:16; 24: 11-24)

7: 17-18 - Rah tha a rahmi le rah thalo a rahmi thuhla kan hmu thei. ()

7:19 - Rah tha a rah lomi cu Meisa sungah tlak an si ding ( - Speak of eschatological judgment (3: 8-10; 13:40-42, 50; 18: 8-9; 25:41) -

Good tree bear good fruit but nbadd fruit turn a way from God and His Kingdom, and live accrodingly Bad fruit.

7:20 ( For Matthew, “faith and works never part company” (Davies and Allison 1988:705).

For Matthew, “faith and works never part company” (Davies and Allison 1988:705).

7: 21 -23 - False Prophet cu an simmi in thuphan per an asi (; )

Turner, D., & Bock, D. L. (2005). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark (p. 116). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Jesus in Pathian cu ka pa tiah ko ding in thu a pek. (7:21) 6:9, 15; Sonship (3:17) (Eschatological judge ih thuhla a simmi a si.

THUHMAI HRUAI (B) THUTHENNAK NII

Cumi Nii ah : ( 10: 15; 11:22, 24: 19, 36, 38; Isiah 10:20)

Miin Bawipa Bawipa tiah in ko ding, Thiltam na hmin in kan tuah, Khuasia kan dawi, tvp. (4:24; 8:3, 13, 16, 9:6, 22; 10:12:24-29) thuhla uainak cu (thilmak an tuahmi a hman lo mi hi a si). Ka pa duhnak a tuahtu pawl lawng (6:10; 12: 50; 21: 28-32; 26:42) ------- (VAN CUNG UKNAK AN LUT DING)

(KA LO THEI DAH LO) Thei dah lo timi a hmang bet (25:12) … Prophet dik lo. Thukam hlun khal ah a hmang, bulpak pehtlaih awknak (Hebres - YADA - 3045 - 3359) - (; Paslam 1: 6; ; ; ; ; Galati 4:9; )

KA HNEN IHSIN TLAN UH NAN NIH CU KA DAN THLUN LOTU NAN SI (Psal 6:8, 25: 41) - Culmi pawl cu (Daan nei lo ih a nung paw an si) - 24: 11; 13: 41; 23: 28; - Daan thlun daan ah an buai a si nan daan ih a tumtah mi cu (Thu awi nun hi a si)

Jesus cu daan famkim ter ding ah a ra. (5:20) - Dunghtuntu pawl ih an kilkhawi bikmi cu Prophet dik lo hi an si.

7:24-27 () - This is the third kingdom response. abang aw mi tong kam (ANUONE WHO) - 7:24 -26 )

KA THUPEKMI A NGAIIH A THLUN TU CU MIFIM AN SI, LLUNGPAR IH INN SAKTU PAWL VEK AN SI. (10: 16; 24:45; 25:2; 4,9). --- Vancunguknak cu Inn saktu mifim le miaa pa vek in a ththim.

KA THUPEKMI A NGAIIH A THLUN TU CU MIFIM AN SI, LLUNGPAR IH INN SAKTU PAWL VEK AN SI. (10: 16; 24:45; 25:2; 4,9). --- Vancunguknak cu Inn saktu mifim le miaa pa vek in a ththim.

KA THUPEKMI A THEI IH A THLUN LO TU CU (MI AA ) AN SI --- (5: 22; 23: 17; 25:2, 3, 8) - Inn sak tu pahnih ih thuhla kan hmuh thei cu cu (An tuahnak hi a si)

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

It is important to note that both the wise and foolish builders hear the teaching of Jesus. It is his teaching, no longer that of Moses, that is the standard of judgment. But it is not enough to have heard the teaching of Jesus. Hearing and knowing the teaching of Jesus are worthwhile activities only when they result in application. The false prophets, whatever their appearance and words, are lawless. The wide gate, though attractive, leads to destruction. Eschatological judgment utterly destroys houses built on sand, but houses built on rock withstand it. (See 16:18 for the use of the building metaphor in a different context.)

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

eschatological judge.

A thupi zet mi: Mifim le miaa ih inn sak daan Jesuh ih a zirmi. Moses ih a zirhmi thawna bang awnak a um, asinan a sang deuh ih (a standard cu - THUTHENNAK a si)…

Jesus ih a zirhmi ngai lawng si lo in, theihfiang hi a tul ih (Jesus in duhsak mi cu --- nunnak ih hman ding hi a si). PROPHET DIKLO CU- AN KAA IN THU AN SIM IH AN NUNNAK AH DANGLAM IN AN NUNG.

(sungah, ziangvek ram le uknak a si timi cu “15-23” sungah fiangten kan hmu thei.

Jesus in nitin te in kan nunnak ah siatnralnak si lo in, duhhrilnak ka neihnak thu in sim.

Deu. 10: 19-20; ) - Nunnak hril uh cuti cun nan fate an nung ding ih Pathian kha thinlung tak in nan biak thei ding.

Pathian duhnak tuah thuhla a sim tik ah: Prophet, Zirh tu dik le dik lo tahthimnak khal ah - An nunnak in zoh uh a ti: (Deu 13: 1-11; 18: 20-22)

Tuahmi hman le tuahmi hman lo thu hla a sim ().

Nunnak hriluh a ti cumi cu (Duhhrilnak/ Thu then catnak thawn lutuh a ti).

- A fiakmi sangka in lut uh a ti ih, a hrilih a lut ih a nungtu cu mimalte an si ee a ti.

(Nunnak le Siat ralnak)

A fiakmi lamzin timi hi Jews pawl ih an zirh aw mi a si

: Zumtu hmaisa pawl ih an zirh aw mi a si ko.

Thukam Thar ih (Kawhhran pawl ziangmi si an zirh aw:

An nih cu Thukam thar ngan a si hrih lo ruang ah an hman mi Bible hi (O.T) Thukam hlun a si.

A fiakmi le a kaumi Lamzin (A fate mi le a tummi lamzin)

A fiakmi lamzin

A fiakmi lamzin: A fate ih “a thlun khal a haar) Cumi cu hril ding a si.

A kaumi lamzin cu a kau ih duhhrilnak a tul lo.

Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary xi. Warnings against Spurious Discipleship (7:13–27)

Easy and hard are not the best translations of eurychōros and tethlimmenē, which reinforce ‘wide’ and ‘narrow’

(Meisa)

Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary xi. Warnings against Spurious Discipleship (7:13–27)

eurychōros and tethlimmenē

(Pathain uknak sung ih luhnak)

(Cumi ni ah)

(Ka hnen ihsin tlan uh)

(cutnel par ih inn sak tu le lungpi par ih inn saktu)

Jesuh ih a simmi faignte in kan hmu thei:

Greek:

(A) Eurychoros (Wide - Easy)

A) Eurychoros (Wide - Easy)

(B) Ththlimmene (Narrow - Hard)

: Himi sung kan zoh tikah Matt. 5nak ihsin a fate vivo ih ah cun “Sangka te le tum a sim” naklam ah tla cu “Bawipa ih ti din gkeicun ka lo thei lo ka lo ti ding”a ti. Vancung ram luhnak sangka hi a olmi a si lo a har mi a si.

(Duhhrilnak, Tuahnak, A tuah)

CHOOSE

Jesuh ih kan mahih bulpa a langmi cangvaihnak hi thupi tuk ah a ret (A fimmi thuthluknak le Thulunnak)

Jesuh ih Nitin te kan nunnak ah tontehmi “a fimmi duh hrilnak in sim ih cumi cu, Thuawi nun hi a si”

Sung hi “Ralrinank a pek ih cumi cu, Duhhrilnak hi a si.

and Deu. 11: 26 - 29’ 28 sunh khal ah (Moses ih - Thlasuah le duhhrilnak ka lo pek khuimi sawn nan hril ding tiin Bawipa in a ti).

Deu. 30: 19-20; ) - Nunnak hril uh cuti cun nan fate an nung ding ih Pathian kha thinlung tak in nan biak thei ding.

Difference Verse 13 and 14 (New Idea)

V 13 (New Idea) - Khuimi si a tha sawn

V 14 (Nouns) narrow and Hard

; - Harsatnak le Aihramnak tuarnak Thuhla a sim

DOING

Pathian duhnak tuah in fial.

Pathian duhnak tuah thuhla a sim tik ah: Prophet, Zirh tu dik le dik lo tahthimnak khal ah - An nunnak in zoh uh a ti: (Deu 13: 1-11; 18: 20-22)

Tuahmi hman le tuahmi hman lo thu hla a sim ().

(A rah lomi)

(Ka pa duhnak a tuahtu cu)

(Sangka tha lo)

(An tuahnak in lang ter seu)

Tuahmi hman le tuahmi hman lo thu hla a sim ().

NOW

Semon conclusion ah a simmi kan hmu thei (Netabik Thuthennak)

(Nunnak le Siat ralnak)

(Meisa)

(Pathain uknak sung ih luhnak)

(Cumi ni ah)

(Ka hnen ihsin tlan uh)

(cutnel par ih inn sak tu le lungpi par ih inn saktu)

Jesuh ih a simmi faignte in kan hmu thei: (A TUAH CUMI SANGKA CU LUH DING A SI) Jesuh ih in duhsakmi le a phan bikmi cunitin te kan nunnak hi netabik thuthennak hrang ih kan ralrinding hi a duh a si.

Two ways (Sangka kau le Sangka te)

SANGKA TE

Sangka te cu Jesuh Khrih Zumnak/Rinnak thawn luh a tul. (matt. 5:20)

SANGKA KAU

Mah ih dingfelnak (sunglam ih a suakmi ding felnak) par ih hngah awknak

Leitlun ah minung

Rundamnak cu Sangka a oneaw mi a si

Rundamank Nor aw men ih luhngah lomi a si

Bulpak ih luhtulmi Sangka a si

Bulpak ih luhtulmi Sangka a si

Rundamnak ih a danlamnak

Rundamnak ih a danlamnak

Leitlun ah Minung tamzet kan um a sinan, Jesuh in (Sangka fate ih a lut tu cu minung malte an si a ti)

Verse 14

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· sunghi tlangpar thuzirhnak a si ih ( – 14 hi a sungmu ril a si).

· Matthew in Jesuh ih thuzirhmi a sim ih, cucu duhhrilnak a si. nunnak cu duhhrilnak lawnglawng a si, ziang kan tuah ding, ziagntin kan nung idng, ziangmi kan inn in ka ei ding.

Minung kan duhhrilnak cu hinah ah nikhat hrnag lawng si lo in, Kumkhua hrang ih duhhrilnak in sim a si.

Deu. 30 “Pathian in Moses hnen ah, Israel pawl nan hmaiah thihnak ele nunnak ka ret na duhmi hril uh a ti.” ah “nan duhmi hril uh, keile ka inn sang cun Pathian lawng kan hril ding tiah a sim.

“nan mipi hnen ah sim aw, Pathian in nan hmai ah thihnak le nunnak ka ret a ti.

1 King 18: 21 “Baal Pathain maw a nung mi Pathian nan rian ding hril uh.”

“Jesuh ih Peter hnen ah mitampi cun dung in tun ih an feh nan nih the nan feh lo ding maw? A ti.

Jesuh in hinah khalah “cu vek thotho in, thihnak lole nunnak hril ding ah thu a pek a si.

Essentially that is what Jesus is saying here, in and 14. John Oxenham, the British poet, wrote it this way: “To every man, there openeth a way, and ways, and a way, And the high soul treads the high way, and the low soul gropes the low. And in between, on the misty flats, the rest drift to and fro. But to every man there openeth a high way and a low; And every man decideth the way that he shall go.”

Tlang par thu zirhnak, thuhla pahnih a hman mi ‘One, Jesuh cun a paihpaih fehuh a ti lo, kan fehnak ding “destiny thupi ah a ret as i. Two, Thaizing hnak uh ti zawgn in a fehpi lo, neta ih hngak ih feh leh ding thuhla khal in a sim lo.

A tu ih kan hril ding in fialmi a si. Mitam pi ih neta a ra dingmi vancung uknak hrang a si an ti, a Sinan cu mi khal a simduh mi a si in ka hmu lo. Jesuh ih a simmi cu duhhrilnak thuhla a si.

A deliberate choice has to be made. Christ came to bring a kingdom. He was a king. He was the King. He was the King of kings. And He came with a kingdom that was unique, and special, and separate, and different from all the kingdoms of the world.

Jesuh cun a uknak sung ih a sinak in sim duh a si, a uknak zingvek a si, kan thei theh, nang the ziangmi na hril ding. Respone, and reaction, what is your?

John Stott says about that. He says, “Jesus cuts across our easy-going syncretism.”

There is only two way, (lamzin fate le lamzin tum.) Voitampi kan ruah theumi, satan in a lamzin dang a tuah, biaknak hman le biaknak hman lo tivek a si lo. Biaknak Pahnih lawng a um, keimah in ka tuah idng, a si lo le, Pathain in Jesuh Khrih ah a theh thluh zo. Zaangfahnak biaknak lole tuah tuannak, zuamnak biaknak.

Zaangfahnak lole tuahtuannak biaknak a si. zumnak thawn biaknak, titsa zuamna biaknak. Thinlungtak biaknak le lenglam lawng ih biaknak.

Minugn lam biaknak cu, malte in pek aw la adang cu keimah ten kan zuam ko ding, etc.

Farasi pawl in an zuam zet ih, ( ah Paul in a ngan tik ah an mang a bang zet.”

Daan cun kan tlinlnak le misual kan sinak in theih ter. Cu ruagnah “ tlangpar thuzirhnak khal ah hitin a simnak a si. Thlarau lam ih ka farah ti a thei aw tu cu milungawi an si. Jesus change the system.

khal ah Bawipa Midang vek ka si lo ruagnah ka lo thangthat,a ti. A thlacammi kan zoh tikah Pathian a tulnak pakhat te hman a um lo.

Jesuh ih duhmi cu, kan thinlung le thazagn le thlarau zate ih amah pan ih ne patawk ih zate pek hi a si. Farari pawl cu anmah te ih van an thlen tum ruangah Jesuh in khanah feh hlah uh ka hnen ah ra uh a timi a si, cu vek thotho in in ko ve a si.

But from here on, the choice is clear. There are two gates; the wide and the straight. There are two ways; the broad and the narrow. There are two destinations; life and destruction. There are two kinds of travelers; the few and the many.

There are two kinds of trees; the good and the corrupt. There are two kinds of fruit; the good and the bad. There are two builders; the wise and the foolish. There are two foundations; the rock and the sand. And there are two houses, and there are two elements to the storm that He discusses.

Thil 4 kan zoh ding

two gates – two gates.

“Enter in at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate.”

Then verse 14, “because narrow is the gate.”

Two times He mentions the narrow gate,

once He mentions the wide gate. Two gates – only two. Both roads, as I said, point to salvation.

Both roads point to God.

Both roads point to the kingdom.

Both roads point to glory.

Both roads point to blessing.

Both roads point to heaven. Both roads don’t go there.

One is self-righteousness,

one is divine righteousness.

Before you get on the road, you have to go through the gate. So the gate comes first.

Narrow Gate ( v13)

1. Enter: we must inter, we must inter now, it is command. Lamzin bite cu nunnak lamzin a si.

in a simmi hi a fate vivo, a fate vivo in ah cun nan nunnak cu Pahtian sunlawinak hrangah hmang uh a ti. A um daan kan zoh tikah “lamzin fate a si ko. Voitampi cu Farasi pawl kan soisel ih van Kainak cu zumnak a si kan ti ih olzet in kan sim theu a Sinan, Mat t.7nak kan zoh tik ah a olmi a si lo, lamzin fate a si ko.

ii. Jesuh in ka uknak sungih nan rat ding ah cun, lamzin fate a si man cia uh a tinak asi.

Jesuh in ka uknak sungih nan rat ding ah cun, lamzin fate a si man cia uh a tinak asi.

Khat lam ih kan sim a si le, ka uknak sung nan rat ding a si ah cun, misual nan sinak thei uh la, A thianghlim mi Pathian sinak thawn umtlang dingmi nan si, nan sinak kha duh tuk hlah uh, dingfelnak kha hal uh, a ti lo. A Sinan Enter, lut uh a ti.

Lut uh in ti tikah a mah ih in fial vek in kan lut a tul.

2. Ut uh in ti tikah a mah in fial vek in kan lut a tul.

2. This gate, a mah ih sangka ah kan lut a tul. Sangka fate ih lut ding a si.

A lamzin cu fatete a si. mirampi In Christian pawl cu biaknak dang hi van an thleng lo ding an ti, a hman mi a si. kan mah ih duh hrilnaka si lo, Pathian ih in ti mi a si.

Jesuh lawng lamzin um sun a si

ii. Jesuh lawng lamzin um sun a si “”

iii. Kei cu lamzin umsun ka si, kei cu lamzin thutak le nunnak ka si “.

Kei cu lamzin umsun ka si, kei cu lamzin thutak le nunnak ka si

Pathain le minung karlak ih rem daihnak tuah tu.

iv. “Pathain le minung karlak ih rem daihnak tuah tu.

v. Jesuh lawnglawng ih cumi snagka ih luh theinak um sun a si.

Jesuh lawnglawng ih cumi sagnka ih luh theinak um sun a si.

3. Enter alone: (Bulpak ih luhding a si)

Zoo tivekkan feh caan ah kan thei ko, kan fehnak ih kan feh tik ah voikhat ah minung tampi luh a si dah lo, Pakhat tete ih luh a si.

ii. Jew pawl ih ruahnak cu a butbut feh ding ah an ruat. Abraham ci thlah, serhtanmi kan si, etc.

Jew pawl ih ruahnak cu a butbut feh ding ah an ruat. Abraham ci thlah, serhtanmi kan si, etc.

Tu san ah minung tampi ih a burbur ih van kai ding ah an ruat aw tehu, asinan a hman lo mi a si. Bulpak ih feh atul.

iii. Tu san ah minung tampi ih a burbur ih van kai ding ah an ruat aw tehu, asinan a hman lo mi a si. Bulpak ih feh atul.

iv. Zumnak thawn bulpak ih rat a tul. Mitam pi in an sim theu, a ol zet, “Believe” theihfiang aw la a si ko an ti men theu, na kut thlir aw, himi thlacam hi cam aw la an ti theu.

Zumnak thawn bulpak ih rat a tul. Mitam pi in an sim theu, a ol zet, “Believe” theihfiang aw la a si ko an ti men theu, na kut thlir aw, himi thlacam hi cam aw la an ti theu.

A loolnaka san cu cang 14 a cemnak lam ah a sim ih mi malte lwng ih an hmu a ti “O.T ah thinglung takte ih ii hawl tu cun ii hmu ding a ti.

v. A loolnaka san cu cang 14 a cemnak lam ah a sim ih mi malte lwng ih an hmu a ti “O.T ah thinglung takte ih ii hawl tu cun ii hmu ding a ti.

Agnizomai “1 Korin 9: 25, Colosians 4: 12, Timothy 6: 12 “faith for wasfare).

vi. Agnizomai “1 Korin 9: 25, Colosians 4: 12, Timothy 6: 12 “faith for wasfare).

; , “we must overcome Satan”

vii. ; , “we must overcome Satan”

William Hendriksen says,“The Kingdom, then, is not for the weaklings, the waverers, and the compromisers. It is not for Balaams, or rich young rulers, or Pilates, or Demas.” But he says, “It is not won by means of deferred prayers, and unfulfilled promises, and broken resolutions, and hesitant testimonies.

Come with broker “and His power will become your resouces.” MIlian pa pakhat Jesus hnen ah a ra ih, Jesus in a neihmi hmuahhmuah a zuar ter a sinan ka tuah thluh zo a si, Jesus in ii thlun aw a ti ih a thlun ngam lo, “Sual sir ih Jesus thlun, cucu, sangka te ih feh a si.”

2. “nauhak te vek ih thinlung put nan nei lo ah cun Vancung uknak sungah nan lut thei lo ding a ti.

“nauhak te vek ih thinlung put nan nei lo ah cun Vancung uknak sungah nan lut thei lo ding a ti.

A nungmi zumnak cun, ruahnak in ka tuah ding, ka tuah ding a ti lo ih, a nunnak pumhlum thawn a tuah taktak.

Next, you must enter, you must enter the narrow gate, you must enter alone, you must enter with difficulty, you must enter with nakedness, and can I add, you must enter repentantly.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, that great preacher, said, “You and your sins must separate, or you and your God will never come together.

Come with repentance.

Salavation is not addintion ti carnal man, Samvation cu “nunnak danglam nun a su.”

The whole message of 1 John is that if you are truly redeemed, it will manifest itself in a transformed life, where sin is confessed, where obedience is characteristic, where love is made manifest.

Rundamnak cu nunnak danglamnak in thei a theih. Self-denial,

A West Indian who had chosen Islam over Christianity said this:“My reason is that Islam is a noble, broad path. There is room for a man and his sins on it, and the way of Christ is far too narrow.” That’s the choice.

End:

Saam 1 sungkhal ah hivek in a sim, mi ding lamzin le mitha lo pawl ih lamzin.

Lam zin kau:

Jesuh thihnak le thawnh salnak thei cun taw, ziang tuah lo khal in kan um thei ko, thlacam ciamco khal a thupi lo, etc.

Ephesian 2:2

· Thufim “nunank lamzin khihhmu lo cun netabik ahthihnak a thlen ding.

· Psalam 1: 6 “the way of ungodly shall be perish”

It’s like a narrow path on a precipice, very narrow. And that’s why Paul says, in Ephesians, you must walk circumspectly, with your eyes open, because you just can’t float and flip-flop.

“Jesuh in ka dung ii thlun tu cun a sinak hmuahhmauh tan san sehla ka dugnthlun tu si she, a pa siseh, a neih mi si she a tanta pei.” - Adoniram Judson, a nupi ih pa hnen ah na fanu hi inn tlung non lo in a nunak aliam men thei I pelk thothoding maw a ti.” – If you wan to follow Christ, just follow, if not leave him a long, he give you change to repent and believe.

Mah duhdan ih kan nung ringring a si ah cun, ne ta bik ah cun, “” ih Jesuh ih a sim vek in, nanmah that tum ih a ra pawl vek in nan nunak nan liam ve ding a ti mi vek kan si ding.”

o Mah duhdan ih kan nung ringring a si ah cun, ne ta bik ah cun, “” ih Jesuh ih a sim vek in, nanmah that tum ih a ra pawl vek in nan nunak nan liam ve ding a ti mi vek kan si ding.”

Don’t live like your own desire, will, delf-ish live.

And as John Bunyan said, “The entrance of hell is from the portals of heaven.” What a shock it’s going to be for some people.

According to Revelation, chapter 7, verse 9, it says there will be an innumerable number of Gentiles redeemed out of every people, tribe, and tongue, and nation, and that the whole nation of Israel will be redeemed as well. .

They don’t want to come to Jesus Because they love their darkness, “Matthre 12:32” Jesus look his dispel an said do not afraid little eflock.

o They don’t want to come to Jesus Because they love their darkness, “Matthre 12:32” Jesus look his dispel an said do not afraid little eflock.

, Jesus put it this way, “Many are called, but” – what – “few are chosen.” Few – it’s so easy to choose the broad way. It’s such an easy way to go, you just go with the crowd.

“Jesus said enter the narrow Gate.

“Many will say that TO mo Lord, Lord, Lord, but I will say I do not know you.

A letter was written to the Melbourne Daily paper after the Billy Graham Crusade of some years back. This is what the man who wrote the letter said: “After hearing Dr. Billy Graham on the air, viewing him on TV, and reading reports and letters concerning him and his mission, I am heartedly sick of the type of religion that insists my soul and everyone else’s needs saving, whatever that means. I have never felt that I was lost, nor do I feel that I daily wallow in the mire of sin, although repetitive preaching insists that I do. Give me a practical religion that teaches gentleness and tolerance, that acknowledges no barriers of color or creed; that remembers the aged, and teaches children of goodness and not sin.

“If in order to save my soul I must accept such a philosophy as I have recently heard preached, I prefer to remain forever damned.” And he signed his name. And that’s the choice everyone makes. You either invent a nice little religion that fits you, or you take the truth of God and accept it. That’s the choice you make. One gives life, the other death. Let’s pray. Thank You, Father, this morning for speaking to us so pointedly. These are hard words, hard words for us to face because of our sin. May we face them. Thank You, though, that when we enter that narrow gate there is great security and confidence, as our hearts cry out Abba Father, knowing full well that we’re Your children.