Not Good Enough

Intro

Well good evening everyone. Welcome to those of you that are new with us. To those of you that are returning, welcome back. I’ve missed you over the past few weeks for some of you, and for others the past few months.

I’ve got several announcements for you, and I’d like to get them out of the way.

So let’s open our bibles to Luke 13 tonight.

If you’re new with us…this is what we do. We get together, we worship our God, and then we open his word together.

And we believe in God’s word without apology.

We believe that Gods word is exactly what it says.

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2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Long story short. We believe this book has the ability to change your life tonight and every night. Meaning, changing the entire course of your life. This book has the ability to open your eyes and see a truth that you’ve never seen. This book, contains more potency to change your life in 8 verses than every textbook you’ve ever read or ever will read.

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We preach here not to change your mind....not to bring some sort of academic achievement or social justice....we preach, trusting that the Spirit of God will change your soul.

That the spirit of God would open your eyes to the truth in here, the things it reveals about God, and the things it reveals about us. So I want to encourage you tonight…lean in to the word of God.

Be faithful to be present, and God will be faithful in more ways than you can count to meet you and speak to you.

So, that’s my preamble. It’s important I said that to share with you the culture we strive for on Thursday nights.

Now, here’s the text. We are in the Gospel of Luke. Ever fall semester this ministry is in the NT and last fall we started the Gospel of Luke and this fall we are going to finish it.

We are going through the Gospel and just taking a small passage from each chapter to give us an overview of both Jesus’ ministry, and message.

And tonight, we are in Luke 13, verses 22 to 30. Go ahead and make sure you’re there, I’m going to read the whole passage now.

Luke 13:22–30 ESV

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come 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 where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place 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 but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

So in this part of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is traveling towards Jerusalem to eventually be arrested, beaten, and killed. And as he heads towards jerusalem, he is teaching through various towns and villages.

Particularly, he is teaching Jews, that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and that they need to repent to be saved.

And that is who this passage is directed towards. The Jews.

Jesus is traveling, and someone asks him there in verse 23, “Lord, will those saved be a few?”

This was actually a pretty common question asked of rabbis and teachers in Jesus’ day. In fact, it was an ongoing debate because some Jews believed all Jews would be saved no matter what…because they were Jews, and others believed that only the faithful jews would be saved…or a select few.

Sound familiar? Some people believe everyone will be saved…some people believe only a few will be saved.

So this person asks this question, and this person themselves is most likely a jew because they address Jesus as Lord, Kyrios, which is a title of respect that someone gives when they respect the person as a teacher or master…and it’s the title that Jesus’ disciples gave him.

Also, this person is most likely a Jew because Jesus includes them in his statements in verses 25-30 by saying “you” instead of they when talking about the Jews that think they are saved.

So, this Jew asks Jesus a common theological questions…how many are going to be saved? And Jesus, in true fashion…doesn’t answer with a theological answer, but instead answers with a heart application. He answers with a command. And it’s a scary command, because what he says is...

The number of Jews doesn’t matter…because it’s what you do that saves you…and what you’re doing…isn’t good enough.

That’s why this message is titled, Not Good Enough.

Because, guys…the message that Jesus preached to these Jews…is the message that he preaches to us still today.

We as a culture are so caught up in who is going to be saved…if it’ll be people who are part of a different denomination, it it’ll be homosexuals, if it’ll be people who do good works, or value good things...

We concern ourselves so often with whom Jesus saves that we don’t stop to evaluate if we are saved.

And what I mean by saved…is the classic and biblical belief that there is a heaven and a hell. There is a place of paradise with God and glory, and a place of eternal damnation with the weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And the point of this passage tonight, is that Jesus is revealing that there will be people who think they are saved…but aren’t…and someday it’s going to be too late.

Just like, it’s possible and probable that there are some of you in the room right now who think that you’re going to be saved…but you won’t be…because what you’re doing isn’t good enough.

And…if you don’t change it now. If you don’t understand that now…if you don’t submit to the truth and understand what IS good enough…it’s going to be too late someday.

So tonight, I’m going to be telling you, through this passage…what isn’t good enough to save you. And then, at the end, I’m going to tell you what IS good enough to save you…and I’m going to give you an opportunity to do that.

So here’s the first one.

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Desire Isn’t Good Enough to save you. (v. 22-25)

Meaning, just wanting to be saved isn’t good enough to save you.

Look back at the text. Verse 24 right after this question is asked.

Luke 13:24–25 (ESV)

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

So there will be those…that seek to enter. Meaning they want to enter. They want to be saved. Or at least…they say they do. They say they want to be saved…but a day is going to come when the door is shut on them…and it’s too late to be saved.

Whether, because the door is shut from the ending of their life…death. Or…the door is shut because because the end of days has occured and the final judgement is happening.

Either way..there will be a group of people who seek to enter, and find out they can’t enter. Seek to be saved, and find out they can’t be saved.

We find out in verse 27 it’s because they were actually workers of evil..meaning their life was characterized by ungodliness.

But here in this verse we learn something from this...

By seeing that there are those who will say they want to be saved…but won’t be…we learn that just desiring salvation is not good enough to save you.

Just wanting it is not good enough. Giving verbal affirmation to heaven or God is not good enough. Look back at verse 25...

Those people who are knocking call him Lord. They say “Lord, open to us”..So just acknowledging him as Lord with your mouth…is not good enough to save you.

No one who has an actual right mind on them, and is taking it seriously and has even a little grip on the realities of hell…wants to go there.

I went to St. Ambrose yesterday…I bet that if I walked around with a microphone and interviewed the students I met with and said..

“Excuse me miss…would you prefer to go to heaven or hell”

I would bet that the answer is almost always going to be heaven. And if they say it’s hell…it’s because they don’t understand what Hell is.

But my point is…many say they want to be saved.

You are not unique or special if you say you want to be saved. Many desire to be saved.

But Jesus says not everyone will. In fact, he calls the door to salvation a narrow door. Narrow as in, a small space.

Guys, as much as we may all want to get in my car and go get some Whitey’s ice cream…as much as many of us say we would want that…only so many of you are going to fit in my chevy traverse.

Only so many will make it to the narrow way…and Jesus says in verse 24 there…strive to do it.

Make every effort to do it.

Fight for it.

Don’t just desire it…but do it. Because Desire isn’t good enough to save you. So what is good enough? How do you fight for it? How do you get to the narrow door? Well it turns We’ll get to that.

But first, onto the second point.

Desire isn’t good enough… and neither is just going to church.

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Church Isn’t Good Enough to save you. (v. 26-27)

Look back at verses 26 and 27.

Luke 13:26–27 ESV

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 where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

So it’s not just that these people will have desired salvation…it’s that they think they’ve done what they need to be saved. The turn and plead to Jesus in verse 26…we ate and drank in your presence.

Lord, we communed with you. We dined with you. We reclined at table with you. We knew you.

Lord, they say…you taught in our streets.

Lord, we heard your word…we heard your teachings…we were present in your teachings…these things should be good enough…open the door!

And Jesus says…I don’t know you. I don’t know where you come from…but it’s not from my people. Depart from me. You may say that you were with me, that you dined with me, but you’re actually workers of evil. You’re actually people defined by ungodliness.

These are heavy hitting words to the jews…especially the jews that were literally, physically, with Jesus. Those that physically stood with him, dined with him, and heard him teach.

But, loved ones…Jesus is still doing those things.

The church of Christ is still eating and drinking in the presence of the Lord. That’s actually what communion is. It’s coming to the Lord’s table, partaking in the last supper and the new covenant.

Not only that, but the church is still teaching what Christ taught. At least a bible preaching church is.

How this applies to us today…is not only will there be Jews who will make these literal claims to Jesus after the door is shut....but there will be those of us today, outside the door and pleading with Him...

Lord…I went to church. I took communion. I heard your word preached. I was present for it. I was there as you were there. I acted the part and I played the role of Christian…I did what I needed to do...

And yet, Jesus will say to you…I don’t know you. You said you were with me, but evil dominated your life. You don’t know me and I don’t know you. Now depart from me.

Just going to church…isn’t good enough to save you.

I know many of you grew up going to church…many of you got confirmed, or baptized…many of you have taken communion. Many denominations make a big deal out of those things....and those things are a big deal...

But they aren’t good enough to save you. They aren’t good enough to claim you actually, truly, personally, know Jesus.

And in that same vein...

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Culture Isn’t Good Enough to save you. (v. 28-30)

When I say culture, I mean the customs and and social institutions, in which you were raised. Sometimes that played out through race, other times it’s religion, could be both, or not. Either way…the way you were raised, isn’t good enough to save you. Look back at verse 28.

Luke 13:28–29 ESV

28 In that place 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 but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.

So Jesus goes on to define the terrible place that these people will be put. A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In case you’re wondering…gnashing of teeth is a grinding and grating of your teeth caused from extreme anguish or pain. Like when you hit your thumb with a hammer, you instinctually “gnash your teeth” or clench your jaw. It’s meant to signify a terrible emotional and physical distress.

So Jesus says they will find themselves in this terrible place…and they will be able to see their Ancestors, the ones who knew God and loved him. They are going to see the people who raised them in the Jewish tradition…and yet they themselves will not be joining them in the house.

And the same is true for us.

Some of you have been raised by Godly parents. Who took you to church, read the bible, prayed for you…some or many of you have parents who authentically believe…but…their faith is not good enough to save you.

The culture you are raised in, and the people who raised you in that culture, are not good enough to save you.

Your parents faith, your friends faith, your mentors faith…is not your faith. No matter how much they try, no matter how much you live to appease them…it’s not good enough. Because you yourself…could be cast out.

But you don’t have to be.

Look back at verse 29.

Luke 13:29–30 ESV

29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

This is Jesus’ saying that ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE can and will be saved. Not just the Jews. But people from any country and race and nationality and language. That’s including you.

Jesus is talking to the Jews, and he’s telling them, people from all over are going to be coming to my kingdom. And EVEN, those who are thought to be last (that is the gentiles) will be made first.

What is this saying?

That when it comes to the kingdom of God, when it comes to salvation, the gentiles (that’s us) have just as much of a chance to be saved as the Jews did. If you take notes in your bible, these last two verses would be a great place to put a little note saying (this is how I know I can be saved too).

That could be…you.

You can be saved. You can know God. You can have a rightful place in his kingdom. You can have a life filled with joy in the presence of God. You can have a life filled with holy content and purpose. True purpose.

You can have all those things, instead of living a life of things that don’t satisfy. Instead of living a life without true purpose and meaning. Instead of living a life that is displeasing and evil in the sight of God.

You can have a life that leads to feasting at the table rather than begging at the door to be let in.

But just wanting it won’t get you there.

Just coming to church, and saying prayers, and listening to someone preach, and taking communion won’t get you there.

Just relying on the way you were raised, and doing good, and being a good person, and finding happiness, and being true to your self won’t get you there.

Those aren’t good enough to get you there.

So what is?

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Jesus is good enough to save you.

Look back at the beginning of our passage. How does Jesus start his response?

Luke 13:24 ESV

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

This isn’t the only place Jesus speaks like this.

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This is Matthew 7:14

Matthew 7:14 ESV

14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Do you see that? The gate is narrow.

And the way is hard.

It’s difficult. But the same Jesus that said the door/narrow and the way is hard also says this.

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John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Guys. The way to God’s kingdom, to his house, to the table of feasting.

That way…is Jesus. And no one enters the house of the father without Jesus.

Jesus is the only thing…the only one…good enough to save you.

You may have walked in here thinking, or even living, like your deeds…your actions…church…the way you were raised…you desires....any of those things...

You may have walked in here thinking and acting like they are going to save you…but I tell you…they won’t.

This passage proves that they won’t.

But I know that I don’t need to drive this much further....because I know that the Father is calling some of you right now to follow the hard way.

To enter the narrow door.

Some of you are asking…how do I do that? I’m going to tell you.

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Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Understanding salvation is simple.

All you need to do is.

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Admit you’re a sinner.

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Believe in Jesus as your savior.

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Repent of your sins.

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Receive Jesus as your Lord.