Weekend Sermon

     I am sorry that I am late getting the sermon posted today, but it has been a terrible morning.  It's been raining all week, and my crawlspace under my house and my garage got water in them this morning.  I dealt with that, and then my friend's motor blew out in his car.  I had to help him with that.
     I hope that everyone who reads the blog had a chance to read the book review that I posted on Wednesday.  I plan to post a review of an animal book each Wednesday for the next few weeks.
     I'd like to ask everyone to pray for the people in my area who have been affected by the flooding.  Please pray that the rainfall in this area will stop for awhile.  Also, please continue to pray for those who were affected by the tornadoes.  This last week, one of the the little towns in Kansas where my uncle Allan once served as pastor was hit by a tornado.  This little town of 150 people needs prayer.
     In our last message, we focused on Jesus' teaching commonly referred to as the Golden Rule.  We saw that we should treat others in the same way that we want to be treated.  Our example in the way that we should act in every situation in life is the Lord Jesus.
     Today, we turn our attention to Jesus' teaching about two gates and two ways.  Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate for the gate is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter it.  For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it."
     These verses contain some of the most controversial statements that Jesus made.
     Jesus taught that the human race has a choice of paths to follow in this life.  We can follow a narrow path that leads to life or a path that leads to death.
     Everyone who is born is born on the road that leads to death and destruction.  Every person is born a sinner.  The only human being who never sinned was Jesus.  All of the rest of us are sinners.  All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.  The gate that leads to the way of destruction is birth.  We are born in sin. 
     The vast majority of people will continue on the road to destruction away from God and His will as a result of their own choice.  According to Scripture, humanity is at enmity with God.  As Isaiah says, "We have turned everyone to his own way."
     Most people give little thought to God and His Word.  People want to do their own thing, and they don't want to follow God.  The Bible says that people live in darkness, and they do not want to be exposed to the light.
     Thanks be to God, the Lord is loving and gracious.  He did not want to leave the human race without help living their lives as they headed down the road to destruction.  God sent His Son to this earth to live a holy and sinless life.  Because Jesus was sinless, He could be the sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross.  Jesus was buried.  He then rose again from the dead overcoming death and Hell.
     People now have the choice whether to continue on the path of sin and death or choosing a new path that leads to forgiveness, life and a relationship with the Father through His Son.
     Jesus is the door.  Jesus is the gate to the narrow path that leads to life.  To enter into this path, a person needs to realize the he is a sinner.  He must confess his sin and ask Jesus to forgive him.  He must believe that Jesus was God and man and died for his sins.  He must believe that Jesus rose bodily from the grave, and he must then accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.
     If a person makes this choice by the grace of the Lord, that person is on the narrow path that leads to life.  He is transported from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
     Now here's where the controversy comes in.  Jesus said that He was the only way of salvation.  No one can come to the Father except through Jesus.  Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
     Jesus said that only a few people would be willing to accept Him.  Jesus said that most people will remain on the path that leads to destruction.
     People don't like to hear that there is only one way.  Many find it offensive.  They want to say that Jesus is one path to God but not the only path.  They want to believe that everyone is on a path to God whatever that path might be.
     This is not the teaching of Scripture.  This is not the teaching of Jesus.
     If you want to be sure that you are on the path to eternal life, if you want forgiveness of sin, then you must give your life to Jesus Christ.  No other religion or religious teacher has the power to redeem you from sin.  There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ.
     Anyone can come to Jesus.  You can receive Jesus today by asking Him to be your Savior and Lord.  I hope that you will give your life to Jesus today.
     For those of us who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, it is our responsibility to share the gospel with the world.  As Jesus said, the fields are white unto harvest.  Many need to hear about the life changing love of Jesus.
     Next week, we will continue with the Sermon on the Mount.  I will probably wrap up this series in the next two to three weeks.  Then, Lord willing, I am going to do a brief series on Nahum.  This Wednesday I will post another review.  May God bless you.  Amen.