2020-01-19
13 beginning of verse 22
when Jesus went through the towns and Villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asks them Lord are only a few people going to be saved. He said to them make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many I tell you will try to enter and will not be able to once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door. You will stand outside knocking and pleading sir open the door for us, but he will answer. I don't know you or where you come from. Then you will say we we ate and drank with you and toilet and I'll see you taught North streets. But he will reply. I don't know you or where you have come from away from me. All you evildoers. They will be weeping there and gnashing of teeth. When they you see Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out people will come from east and west and north and south will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God indeed. There are those who are last will be first and the first who will be last. May God be pleased with the reading of his word. Please be seated.
Robert Frost famous poem ends two roads diverged in the woods and I I took the One Less Traveled by and that has made all the difference.
Many people feel that there are not just two roads to choose from when it comes to matters of faith. Majority of people hold to the view that all roads lead to heaven.
In fact in a recent Pew poll of Christians found that 52% believe that they were other paths to heaven besides Christ. Costas resonates within a pluralistic society and uncritical tolerance Dr. John gerstner recounted A young hen those students studying in this country her to speaker at an International Group saying that Jesus Christ was the only savior of the world. After what? He said. I do not like your idea that there is only one way to heaven you your Christian way. I like to think that there are many ways your way in Mine The Way of the Christians in the way of the Hindus the way the Muslims and all religions your way is too narrow. I like room on the road. I travel I want other people with me and not just my own group. It's all sounded very broad-minded. It was broad-minded. It was Broad Road Sinking it leads to destruction. Not because the speaker said one thing and he said another that's irrelevant. But Christ said one thing and Hinduism says another if Christ had said that the man came to God through Hinduism the young man could be right. But since Christ said no man cometh to the father, but by me the old man is dangerously wrong.
All such belief in other ways to God all failed decisively in that. They do not comprehend the uniqueness of Jesus as it fully God and man and the absolute necessity of his mission to die and redeem sinners. To accept any other path to God is to be on the broad road that leads to destruction Matthew 17 through 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. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.
Play a scripture opens with Jesus going through the towns and Villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem remember back in chapter 9 as a time of frogs for him to take up be taken up to heaven. Jesus result. They said himself towards Jerusalem, like where the King James version translated. He set his face to Jerusalem. He is zealous passionate burning intense the greatest battle yet. Fought on Earth was his and his alone. He wasn't a victim. He was the protagonist. And Jesus was on his schedule. He had a Divine appointment in Jerusalem and nothing in heaven and on Earth would stop him from meeting that appointment. In fact for the down and the chap that Jesus adamantly tells the Pharisees when they warned him about her and seeking his life. He replied go tell that fox. I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow and on the third day. I will reach my goal. In any case I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day will surely no Prophet can die outside Jerusalem. Jesus we might say had a date with Destiny a last meal across a tomb. He was on point his heart and his face said no one nothing could stop him and with every step he carried. Believers his children me and you and it's hot. He took all our appointment to take our place on the cross and he made it his he had an appointment with the cross reservation with a tune to fulfill. And John chapter 12 after Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We read Jesus reply. The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified very truly. I tell you unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies. It remains only a Single Seed. But if it dies, it produces many seats now, my soul is troubled and what should I say father save me from this hour know it was for this reason I came to this hour.
Dispensational School teachers at Christ original purpose and plan was the comment to be crowned King and to restore the kingdom and the davidic thrown up because he was rejecting Christ went to plan B. And postpone the kingdom. I believe that scenario to be incorrect. Jesus did not come to be kind of Crown King. He was already King. He was born King and in fact, he inaugurated the kingdom upon the Earth. But the reason he came as I just read was to redeem his people to suffer and to die and their place and off of forgiveness and Reconciliation to God. He came to die. As agreed upon in the Trinity before the creation of the world or anyting Revelations 13:8 States the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He came to give his life a ransom for many. At some point in this journey was probably a man person is on my identifying ask the question. Lord are only a few people going to be saved. That's an important question and one that is still debated today. Today the church is threatened with overt universalism the belief that everyone will eventually get to heaven. Really doesn't matter what type of life you led or whether you profess faith in Christ. As long as some Minister say if you comforting words at your funeral you're in.
and how often let me see the example some great athlete baseball or football some musicians pass and let me hear comments like Heavens baseball team just got better. Or Heaven's choir sings more beautifully.
It's just not true. It's universala. It's heresy. What's the brand of closer to home? Our own loved ones? Don't get to heaven because we love them.
Well that they loved us. People get to heaven because they love Christ. I hate love songs.
Nearly all the Jews were confident that they would enter the kingdom since they were God's chosen people. Play Boston and John chapter 9 we are Abraham's descendants.
Jesus doesn't directly answer the question that was asked. It doesn't say Auto only a hundred and forty four thousand will be saved or some other such nonsense. It doesn't give any number the question back on the audience.
Make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many I tell you will try to enter and will not be able to do so.
I'll translation make every effort is 2 mi. The Greek word is much stronger. Actually, it's where we get our English word agonize from it means strenuous Zeal contend against difficulties in danger fight to enter the narrow door.
And it means with urgency do it now.
This is a call to repentance and belief in Christ. At the beginning of this chapter. We looked at Christ response to the tragic scenarios of death. He did not tell us why such things happened, but rather he pleaded but unless you repent you too will perish
Canal Christ changes the picture but the meaning is the same the narrow door is himself. It is a metaphor Christ use with similar imagery in John 10 sang. Barely very truly. I tell you I am the gate for the Sheep all who come before me are thieves and robbers but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate whoever enters through me will be saved.
Are presenting this narrow door Jesus giving a sincere and heartfelt call an invitation to come to him in faith to accept that he is Messiah. And this is the way of the Gospel is to be presented to everyone who will hear it proclaimed.
not only do the a minion free will school believe this but so do the reform school like myself believing reformed Theologian Anthony hoekema rights in the last analysis. It is God's business to bring into harmony the predetermined outcome of the preaching of the Gospel with the general offer the gospel. We are bound to the means God has prescribed for bringing people to Salvation. And the most important of these means is the preaching of the Gospel.
At the wild scripture we have the sincere urgent call to Believe In Christ to repentance faith in baptism. It is a sincere Nicole over which even Jesus sheds tears for the great majority refuse the call.
Such as the sad consequences the total disinterest an inability of people to believe as a result of the fall and sin.
We are not to determine the quality of the soil. God is in charge of preparing soils. We are the spread the seed of the word indiscriminate Lee.
And maybe you're saying yes. Yes, we got that. What is the other part mean? Because many I tell you will try to enter and will not be able to Rose are Red Scare You
Does it bring up the image of someone or perhaps yourself banging on the door of salvation, but Christ refusing to opener.
Well read on. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading sir open the door for us, but he will answer. I do not know you or where you've come from and then you will say we ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets, but he will reply I do not know you or where you come from away from me all you evildoers.
An image you have knocking on the door and pleading to Christ to open it and he would not. true
there will come a time when it will be too late.
Not in this life.
But God's patience and long-suffering will have empty towards the unbeliever and the door will be shut and never opened again. Are these words should scare you not even scarier. They should terrify you if you have not trusted in Christ, Jesus as your savior.
There will come a time when it's too late.
When you cross from this life to the next and death, it will be too late.
Jesus gives us the parable of the ten virgins and Matthew 25. At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom five of them was foolish and 5 a wise their foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take any oil with them the wise ones however, took a loyal and drawers along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming and they all became drowsy and fell asleep at midnight cry ring on here's the bridegroom come out to meet him. But all the virgins woke up and trim the lamps the foolish one said to the wise give us some of your oil lamps are going out. No, they reply they may not be enough for both of us and you instead go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourself. But while they were on their way to buy the oil the bridegroom arrive The Virgins who were ready went in with him and to The Wedding Banquet and the door was shut. Later, the others also came Lord Lord. They said open the door for us, but he replied truly. I tell you I don't know you.
Therefore keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour.
Of course, if we want another example from the Old Testament after Noah and his family in the animals were on board Genesis 17 reads and then the Lord shut him in.
Should we die without trust in Christ? There will be no second chance. What crisis saying you can bang on that door for all eternity is not going to open. It's too late.
If we have procrastinated about Christ and the trumpet sounds and Christ returns and terrifying glory and in a twinkling of the eye Believers will be change for unbelievers will be too late.
All those who wander the broadpath seeking many ways to God when he appears or just calls it will be too late.
The door will have been shut and all I want is pleadings and tears at that point will be useless.
And they will know the truth and Proverbs 16:25. There is a way that seems right to a man. But its end is the way of death.
This is the exclusiveness of Christianity. It is the way it is because Christ himself is supremely unique.
espalda class in Colossians 1:18 about Christ and he is the head of the body the church. He is the beginning in the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy, but God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. organic Philippians 2 of Christ who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own Advantage rather. He made himself Nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness and being found in the appearance as a man. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. This is the Jesus of the scripture. This is the Jesus whom we serve when we speak of Christ Jesus. We are speaking of God. God In the Flesh and there is only one God who lives in tri-unity there is only one God. Is it any wonder why Peter Foley Proclaim Xanax salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Yes, that is exclusiveness. Yes, that is narrow, but it is scriptural truth. And we gladly accept it and we worship and praise Christ who affirmed his own uniqueness. Saying I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father, but by me. You either accept that or you call Christ a liar.
What happens to those who discovered? It's too late?
They'll be weeping their gnashing of teeth. When you see Abraham Isaac and Jacob know all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.
It will hear those Dreadful words. I never knew you.
They will experience condemnation. They will be excluded from the kingdom refused entry to the great banquet Feast of the lamb at Suffern eternity in hell.
Only all references to weeping and gnashing of teeth have one thing in common the undeniable fact that those who do not belong to Christ will suffer a terrible fate. Why is children will enjoy Bliss in heaven with him forever?
There are not many roads to God. It's like there are two roads only and there was only one that leads to life.
That one is the exclusive path of Jesus. Who is the narrow door?
But there is also an inclusive this and Christianity in the gospel. Yeah, there was a shift from the Old Testament to the new. In the Old Testament, there was a centripetal emphasis calling people and Jews towards the center towards Jerusalem towards the temple towards Mount Sinai.
Put in the New Testament. It becomes centrifugal meaning everything is moving away from the center and sports Jesus commands Go Make Disciples of the nation everything starts going out.
I have Jesus point out people will come from east and west and north and south and will take their place at the feast in the kingdom of God indeed. There are those who are last will be first and the first will be last. This statement is primarily directed at his Jewish audience. But I held that price price will confidence. That is God's chosen people. They would inherit the Kingdom. And such reasoning rested on their ancestry as they look to Abraham Isaac and Jacob to the Covenant of the law. John the Baptist challenge them in Matthew 3 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them you brood of vipers who warned you to flee from the coming wrath produce fruit in keeping with repentance and do not think you can say to yourselves. We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these Stones God can raise up children of Abraham. likewise Paul in Romans But not all who are descended from Israel are Israel know because they are his descendants. Are they all Abraham's children on the contrary? It is through Isaac that your Offspring will be reckoned. In other words. It is not the children by physical to send to a God's children, but is the children of Promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. We need to take note of this line of argument because today too many people have the same full security.
They claim. I was born a Christian home.
I was born a Christian that must mean I'm a Christian.
All I know is the saying goes just because the cat gave birth to kittens in the oven. It doesn't make them muffins.
Jesus is telling the Jews. You are invited first. To the Jew first then the Gentile but you rejected the offer and now others the Gentiles from the East is from the west and the North and the South will take the places. How much you a cast out?
Revelations 7 Is this is Grand Vista View? And after this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count. come every nation and tribe and people language standing Before the Throne before the lamb and they were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in the hands and they cried out in loud voice salvation Belongs To Our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb
Let's not ask the same question the man did. Water only a few people going to be saved. Brother SQ. Self am I safe?
Am I ready to repent and be baptized have I chosen the narrow door and put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as my only Lord and Savior do I recognize that salvation is only through him.
You've never done that.
Do it today.
Tomorrow might be too late.
Death May overtake you tonight.
If you're ready, let's talk. I want to talk with you. Just come with me after the service I passed that I like to talk about this. I want to make sure that I'm trusting Christ as my Lord and Savior. Be happy to do that. Let's pray. a father God how we do praise you and thank you for your tender Mercy to us the grace with you extended to us that open our eyes and I'll hard to see on knee to enter through that narrow door of Jesus Christ. And Lord, we pray that that same Grace will be poured out upon any here today. Was not made that commit. Let me know a lot about what's being said, but that never fully committed their life to you. I pray Lord by the power of your spirit that you would indeed.
Moving that hot but they might be born again and Speer and trust you and you alone. We will praise you and we will thank you for the prayers and Christ name common.