Which Way to Heaven Matt
Which Way to Heaven Matt. 7:12-14 EBC 3/15/09
Our lives are filled with decisions-what to wear, what to eat, where to go, what to do, what to say, what to buy, whom to marry, what career to follow, and on and on. Many decisions are trivial and insignificant, and some are essential and life-changing. The most critical of all is our decision about Jesus Christ and His kingdom. That is the ultimate choice that determines our eternal destiny. It is that decision that Jesus here calls men to make. Jesus has been giving God’s standards throughout the sermon, standards that are holy and perfect and that are diametrically opposed to the self-righteous, self-sufficient, and hypocritical standards of man-typified by those of the scribes and Pharisees. Now He presents the choice of entering the kingdom or not. Here the Lord focuses on the inevitable decision that every person must make, the crossroads where he must decide on the gate he will enter and the way he will go. Deut. 30:19-20- God gave Israel the same choice.
John G. Butler- The world wants many ways in the way of the soul but there are only two ways, two categories for the souls of men- Heaven or Hell. John MacArthur-But when self-righteous, ego-centered man saw that he was sinful by the law’s standard, he simply set the law aside and devised standards of his own. He invented new religions that accommodated his shortcomings and that were humanly achievable. By meeting his own attainable standards, man therefore considered himself righteous.
I. The Command (13)
A. The difficulty of the command
1. Strive (Luke 13:24)- to contend with adversaries, to endeavor with strenuous zeal
a. The word strive comes from the word where we get our English word “agonize”
b. Entering the right gate and doing the right thing isn’t easy. It requires considerable effort.
2. Enter- this is in the aorist imperative tense. Thus it demands a specific action. Not to admire or ponder the gate but enter.
3. Strait- another word for strait is “narrow”. This is the word where we get our English word “stenography” which means narrow writing.
a. The narrowness of the gate speaks of the restrictiveness of the way. Salvation is restricted to coming thru Jesus Christ.
1. John 14:6- the way- no one can reconcile you to the father except Jesus. Jesus is our mediator. Think of it is today’s terms that we understand today- Jesus is our bridge to God. We aren’t able to swim we don’t have a boat. Many today are trying to get to God without using that bridge. Many today want to set the way they come to God- they want to do it their way. truth- Jesus is the full embodiment of the truth, you want to know spiritual truth look to Christ. Life- he is the source of all life- spiritual and eternal. No man cometh except by me- Jesus is pretty dogmatic about this. I had a teacher who was dogmatic about some things – 2+2=4, she said and she was dogmatic about it. My bank is the same way. Jesus was too. We ought to be too.
2. Acts 4:12- it is very hard for many folks- including those with good intentions to grasp this- they want to come thru works or some others way but Christ says he’s the only way.
3. 2 Cor. 5:17- many today want to make no sacrifices or changes in their lives. These changes in our lives are things that Jesus has done by working in our lives.
II. The Contrasts (13-14)
In the verses Christ has describes two entirely different ways these also lead to two different destinations. These way are diabolically opposed to each other.
A. Wrong way- it is a wide gate and a broad way that leadeth to destruction. This way can be described as:
1. easy- it is easy to get on because the gate is wide. There are no restrictions. It is easy to travel on because the way is broad. You don’t have to make any changes to stay on this road. The way is broad enough that you can get staggering drunk and still stay on the road.
2. deceitful- The broadness of this road makes deceives us as to the consequences of staying on this road. Sin is only for a season. Satan doesn’t bother to tell you of these consequences of sin. Consequences of drinking alcohol etc.
3. popular- this is where you will find a crowd. This is the way that most will recommend to you. Sin captures many because of its popularity.
B. Right way- this is a narrow gate and a narrow way. It can be described as:
1. difficult- this way will be laden with trials and tribulations all along the way. Of the two way this is the most difficult to travel. This is the way of resistance.
2. unpopular- after you become a Christian you aren’t going to be the most popular person at work.
a. Jer. 15:16-17- thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart, I sat alone.
b. Charles Ryle- Repentance and true holiness has never been fashionable.
1. A few years ago we had the Moral Majority- this was a nice name but the majority was never moral.
III. The Conclusion
As we make decisions for or against anything one thing we must do is to consider the conclusions. Where is all this going to take me? If I jump off this church building what will the conclusions be- I’ll probably hurt myself.
A. Conclusion of the wrong way-
1. Leadeth to destruction- misery or loss. It is not the end of living it is the end of enjoying living. John Butler- you do not cease to be you cease to be well. You lose your serenity, your satisfaction. Your soul will be condemned to a devil’s Hell.
B. Conclusion of the right way-
1. Leadeth unto life- this life will bring joy, peace, satisfaction. It will much more than compensate for your earthly trials and tribulations.
a. Rom. 8:18-
b. 2 Cor. 4:17- our temporal trials from being on the right way give to eternal blessings from being on the right way.
The world has nothing but temporal things to offer- God has eternal things to offer. Which one will you choose –
Josh 24:15, Deut. 30:19-20