Welcome to “What Every Christian Ought to Know”

Carmel Baptist Church

www.learningandlivingtheword.com

January 14, 2009

The Importance of the Bible

The Bible defines for us the two roads in life

The Bible accurately and boldly declares to us the destination of each road

The Bible tells us in absolute terms how we can know which road we are on

Notice that Matthew 7:13-27 is divided into four paragraphs

Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:15-20

Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:24-27

Assign a title to each of the paragraphs

Two gates

Two prophets

Two professions of faith

Two foundations

Two gates

Broad

Narrow

Two quantities of people

Many

Few

Two ways

The broad way

The narrow way

Two destinations

road to destruction

road to life

Matthew 7:13-14

Check out the contrasts as given by the Lord Jesus

Observation

The word “ENTER” is in the imperative. This command is given to us because Jesus knows that each person comes into this world on the broad road. (Side note:There are 3 imperatives in Matthew 7:13-27)

Jesus presents an interesting method to persuade people to enter into the kingdom of God

The problem we must deal with and reconcile

We in the church agree that the narrow gate is Christ.

However many are saying that the have entered through this gate and yet are still traveling on the broad way.

Vance Havner used to say that people always want to know “how close to the world can I walk and still be sure that I am saved.”

James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Understanding the words

Destruction - The Greek word for destruction is apoleia and it means the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell

Life - The Greek word for life is zoe and means life that is real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, …in this world of those who put their trust in Christ

Narrow Matt. 7:14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. This is a verb in the perfect tense which is translated in the Greek as “having been afflicted” (Matt. 8:20, 16:24, Luke 14:33)

People many times view affliction as the removal of God’s grace when it may in fact represent the arrival of God’s grace 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul’s thorn in the flesh 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 - People of Macedonia

Why did these people end up staying of the broad road?

Matthew 7:15-20

False prophets

Matthew 7:21-23

False professions

Check out the first word in Matthew 7:15 it is the word “Beware”

This is the second imperative in this section of Scripture

Beware which means to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive, to apply one's self to, attach one's self to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing (to be given or addicted to) to devote thought and effort to

Beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15-20)

Scriptural support:

Acts 20:28-30

Galatians 1:6-9

2 Timothy 3:1-5

The epistles of 2 Peter and Jude

Matthew 24:4-13 - Jesus gives the Mount Olivet discourse Matt. 24:10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Matt. 24:11 "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Matt. 24:12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

Beware of false professions (Matthew 7:21-23)

What are some key reasons a person might not be genuinely saved?

1. False assurance

2. Lack of self-examination1Cor. 15:1 ¶ Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which

I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,

1Cor. 15:2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

2Cor. 13:5 ¶ Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

3. Works based righteousness

3. Works based righteousness

Romans 3:20 - because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:28

Romans 4:2-6

Galatians 2:16 - nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

The fruit from false prophets will be much false doctrine and false converts

Maybe the most alarming verses in the New Testament

21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Digger deeper into the word “knew” from Matthew 7:23

The Greek word for knew is ginosko which means to have an intimate relationship through an intimate knowledge

Amos 3:1-2Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:You only have I known of all the families of the earth;

Genesis 4:17And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch.

Beware of false foundations (Matthew 7:24-27)

Two people

wise

foolish

Two types of foundations

built on rock

built on sand

Type of storm

rain fell, floods came, wind blew and slammed against home

Results

One house left standing

One house totally demolished

What is the distinguishing difference that Jesus is emphasizing in this story between:

A wise person and a foolish person

A house that is built on rock and a house built on sand

A house that stands after a storm and a house that falls

The critical difference is simple this:

The one person sat and heard the word

The other person heard the word and acted on what they heard

So what is does the rock represent in this story that Jesus tells?

Matthew 16:13-18

Matthew 16:13-18He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

The rock is the word of God which declares that Jesus Christ is in fact the Son of the living God!

Scriptural support for the importance of acting on God’s word

John 5:24

John 6:63

John 8:30-31

James 1:22 - But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

1 John 2:3-4 - By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

In conclusion Jesus wants us to know this eternal truth:The validation of your salvation… or the validation you are on the road that leads to life and building a house that will always stand depends on your obedience to the word of God!