WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.040 Luke chapter number 13, if you're able to stand for the reading of God's word, I love that song. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:10.580 Ms. Nina sang, goes right along with our songs and go right along with the message. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:12.339 It's what Jesus told his disciples. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.420 Remember there in Luke chapter 10, we were there a while back and he's going to send out the apostles, the disciples. 00:00:18.420 --> 00:00:19.359 They're going to go minister. 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:23.739 And he tells them in verse number 20, verse number 19 of chapter number 10, he says, 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:29.500 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all power of the enemy, 00:00:29.579 --> 00:00:31.259 and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 00:00:31.579 --> 00:00:36.679 But Jesus says, Notwithstanding, and this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:41.140 but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:43.460 Listen, that's the most important thing. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:46.700 That's the most important place your name will ever be written down. 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:48.159 And I'm thankful for that. 00:00:48.539 --> 00:00:50.840 Growing up in school, my name was on the whiteboard a lot. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:54.060 It's not a great place to be. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:56.640 Usually that means come see me after class. 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:01.060 But I'm thankful my name's written in heaven, and I hope that that's your testimony as well. 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:03.420 Found your place there in Luke chapter number 13. 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:08.060 We'll pick up our reading in verse number 22, where the Bible says this, 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:13.280 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.600 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:23.659 And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the straight gate. 00:01:24.260 --> 00:01:28.579 For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able. 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:34.079 When once the master of the house is risen up and is shut to the door, 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:36.840 and you begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:39.379 Lord, Lord, open unto us. 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:45.879 And he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not when she are. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.579 Then shall you begin to say, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:52.939 and thou hast taught in our streets. 00:01:52.939 --> 00:01:57.200 But he shall say, I tell you, I know not when she are. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.899 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 00:02:01.759 --> 00:02:04.200 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:08.379 when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:13.620 in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:18.280 And they shall come from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south, 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.879 and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:29.960 And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.099 Over this last couple chapters we've seen in the Gospel of Luke, 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:37.519 he's really driving this point home. 00:02:37.579 --> 00:02:38.500 Jesus is driving this point home. 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:39.500 We need to be ready. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:42.359 That Jesus Christ is coming back. 00:02:43.340 --> 00:02:46.419 And here's the real serious thing. 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:49.159 If we die before he comes back, we're still going to meet him. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:51.519 But the question is, are we ready? 00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:53.460 Are we ready to meet him? 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:56.060 And this question seems like a great question. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:58.439 But really, it was more of a presumption. 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:03.560 And the idea is we can't just presume that we're on our way to heaven. 00:03:04.299 --> 00:03:05.639 There's a way to heaven. 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:07.060 And we have to enter. 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:10.300 We have to strive to enter at the straight gate. 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:14.120 And so Jesus has a lot to say, and I think it will be helpful and a good reminder to us. 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:16.759 So let's go to him in prayer and ask him to help us this morning. 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:19.360 Father, thank you for this time together. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:21.920 Thank you for the baptism this morning. 00:03:22.020 --> 00:03:24.920 We're thankful that you still save souls. 00:03:25.420 --> 00:03:27.060 It doesn't matter if they're young or old, Lord. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:28.580 The Gospel is for all people. 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:34.520 And Lord, I pray that if there is somebody here in this service this morning that doesn't know you as Savior, 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:35.680 that today would be that day. 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:39.099 But I pray that you would help me with this text, Lord. 00:03:39.099 --> 00:03:46.319 It's a difficult text, and my intention is not to scare or cause doubt, Lord, 00:03:46.359 --> 00:03:51.419 but just to clearly proclaim the truth that you teach here in this passage. 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:52.959 Lord, I pray you would be with me. 00:03:53.019 --> 00:03:55.539 You would empty me of self, cleanse me of sin, fill me with your spirit, 00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:57.340 that I'd be a help to these people, Lord. 00:03:57.379 --> 00:04:00.280 I pray that you would just help us not just to hear but to respond. 00:04:00.379 --> 00:04:01.539 And we ask it in Christ's name. 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:02.539 Amen. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:03.459 Thank you so much for standing. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:04.240 May be seated. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:10.180 I want us to imagine that we're standing in just a massive hallway. 00:04:11.260 --> 00:04:15.520 And just all it is, I mean, we can't see the end of the hallway. 00:04:15.700 --> 00:04:17.100 It just seems like it goes on forever. 00:04:17.340 --> 00:04:24.400 And in the hallway, there are just door after door after door claiming this is the way to heaven. 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:28.460 And when you see it, and you see a door, and we picture in our mind, 00:04:28.460 --> 00:04:31.439 and one door says this, be religious. 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:33.439 That seems like a good way. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.000 And maybe you think, hey, that's the way that we should go. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:40.920 And another door says, as long as you're sincere, then you'll make it to heaven. 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:45.240 Another door just says, just do some spiritual things. 00:04:45.540 --> 00:04:47.800 Another door says, be kind to your neighbors. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:51.720 Another door says, all roads lead to God. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:55.259 And honestly, that sounds appealing to a lot of people. 00:04:55.259 --> 00:05:00.219 Because really, the idea is, it doesn't really matter which door you walk through, 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:04.420 that you're going to find your way to heaven somehow, someway, someday. 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:08.399 Because in the end, it all just kind of plays out perfectly. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:11.680 I mean, that's the society we live in. 00:05:12.159 --> 00:05:13.639 Really, that's the culture that we live in. 00:05:13.659 --> 00:05:14.560 And that's not something new. 00:05:14.620 --> 00:05:16.199 That's kind of always been there. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:19.560 But our culture is kind of taking it to an extreme. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:23.319 We hear things like this, truth is personal to you. 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:26.519 As long as you just believe your truth. 00:05:27.019 --> 00:05:30.199 Listen, I know your teacher said there's no dumb things not true. 00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:32.439 That's not. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:34.519 There is such thing as truth. 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:37.079 And Jesus shows that here in the gospel. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:40.480 Our world says, everybody has their own path. 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:42.720 Hey, I'm glad that works for you. 00:05:42.820 --> 00:05:44.500 You might invite somebody to church. 00:05:44.580 --> 00:05:45.120 You might witness. 00:05:45.260 --> 00:05:46.840 You might share how God's changed your life. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:48.960 Hey, I'm glad you found something that works for you. 00:05:49.060 --> 00:05:51.160 But I have something that works for me. 00:05:51.960 --> 00:05:56.260 And as long as I do good things, you know, I'll be good in the end. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:01.160 But as we're looking down this hallway and we see all these doors with all these signs 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:05.280 and promising the truth, it's almost like Jesus steps in the hallway 00:06:05.280 --> 00:06:06.820 and we can see him at the end. 00:06:06.820 --> 00:06:10.040 And he said, listen, not all these doors lead where you think they do. 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:13.319 Not all these doors lead to heaven. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:15.600 There is only one door. 00:06:15.900 --> 00:06:19.240 It is a narrow door that leads to eternal life. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:23.640 And Jesus here in this text, don't misunderstand what he's doing. 00:06:23.780 --> 00:06:27.660 And I hope that it comes across this way when I preach it this morning. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:35.660 But Jesus is honestly and he's urgently warning people, don't miss the door. 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:40.100 If you're going to miss anything in life, make sure it's not this. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:42.360 That this is the most important thing. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:45.780 And I just want to say something carefully before we go any further. 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:51.100 That the goal of this message, and I know it's a Sunday morning and it's kind of a heavy subject, 00:06:51.460 --> 00:06:59.000 but the goal of this message is not to create unnecessary fear in the life of a genuine believer. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:05.160 My goal, my aim, Jesus as he's teaching and Jesus as he was preaching to the crowd that day, 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:11.139 wasn't to get people that had truly trusted Christ to begin to doubt and begin to worry and think, 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:12.399 did I go in the right door? 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.180 Did I make the right decision? 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.860 You see, Jesus is not trying to push people away from salvation. 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:20.879 No, that's why Jesus came. 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:22.500 I mean, that's the whole goal. 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:23.439 That's his whole mission. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:29.899 We're going to see later in Luke 19, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:07:30.860 --> 00:07:41.000 But what he is doing here in our text this morning is he is lovingly warning people not to presume that they are saved 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.720 simply because they are close to spiritual things. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:50.439 Because they are around the things of God and these Jewish people would have been in that situation. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:58.519 And as we walk through this passage, we're going to see that Jesus is confronting one of the most dangerous things imaginable, 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:00.180 false assurance. 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:03.240 We all have false assurance in our life. 00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:05.279 I mean, we're certain it's going to play out. 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:06.699 I mean, some of you are excited. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:10.000 You know, this past week they released the schedule for the NFL and you're thinking, 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.279 I think the Cowboys are going to be so good this year. 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:14.560 That's called false assurance. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:17.720 Not going to happen. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:19.360 Not going to happen. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:19.980 Not going to happen. 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:29.420 And we can laugh when it comes to silly things and we put assurance in sports teams and this and that and those type of situations. 00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:32.039 But Jesus is dealing with a very serious matter. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:39.840 He's dealing with people and he's speaking to people here as they've asked this question who knew all about religion. 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:45.539 I mean, these weren't just kind of some passerbys that maybe have been to the synagogue once or twice. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:47.980 I mean, this was a way of life. 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:50.060 Religion was their life. 00:08:50.700 --> 00:08:51.960 I mean, they knew the scriptures. 00:08:52.180 --> 00:08:56.740 There was verses they would quote every single morning and every single evening. 00:08:56.920 --> 00:09:00.019 And they knew the Psalms almost by heart. 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:02.419 And they knew truth. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:04.460 They had heard the prophets. 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:06.519 They knew the Messiah was coming. 00:09:06.620 --> 00:09:08.379 They knew all of these things were going to take place. 00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:13.480 And the simple idea is these people were surrounded by spiritual things, 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:22.060 but many of them never truly entered into a relationship with Christ, entered into faith with him. 00:09:22.059 --> 00:09:29.939 And I just want to submit to you this morning that this warning is still as applicable today as it was when Jesus first gave it. 00:09:29.940 --> 00:09:37.840 Just to give us a little bit of context, we see there in verse number 22 that Jesus is journeying towards Jerusalem. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:40.040 He's on his way to the cross. 00:09:40.760 --> 00:09:41.940 He's alluded to it. 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:43.740 The disciples are still missing it. 00:09:43.780 --> 00:09:44.860 But Jesus is there. 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:48.760 And every single step is bringing him closer and closer to the cross. 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:54.580 And maybe you've been thinking over the last month or two as we've been going through this, like Jesus is real serious right here. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:58.779 I mean, he's been dropping the hammer, so to speak, in Luke 12 and here in Luke 13. 00:09:59.019 --> 00:09:59.379 Why? 00:10:00.319 --> 00:10:01.919 Because he knows his time is short. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:05.179 And he didn't come just to feed the multitudes. 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:07.919 He didn't come just to heal the lame and the blind. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.139 He did those things. 00:10:09.259 --> 00:10:16.500 But they all pointed to the truth that he is the Messiah, that he is the Savior, that he has more than what they need. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:24.019 But as they're there and these people have been hearing these messages and no doubt the word has got around. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:26.379 And the Bible tells us he's going to these cities and villages. 00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:29.700 And verse 23, someone pops up and asks a question. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:31.740 And they've been waiting for it. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:35.080 I mean, they've been waiting for Jesus to come to their city, waiting for Jesus to come to their village. 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:36.539 They say, hey, Lord, I've got a question. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:37.559 I've been wondering this for a while. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:40.500 Are there going to be few that are saved? 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:44.120 How many people are going to be saved? 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:50.659 And you think to yourself, maybe even when I read it very off the get-go, I think, man, that's a great question. 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:53.379 I mean, that's a good theological question. 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:55.019 I mean, who wouldn't want to know that? 00:10:56.299 --> 00:10:58.940 But underneath is something much deeper. 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:07.260 You see, in this time period, and I know sometimes history kind of bores some of you, but it's very important to this text. 00:11:08.160 --> 00:11:18.540 That the Jews of Jesus' day largely assumed that they were safe and on their way to heaven simply because they were Jews. 00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:24.519 When you read the Gospels and you see the Pharisees talking all the time, they'll say things like this. 00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:25.919 Well, our father Abraham. 00:11:26.599 --> 00:11:28.759 Well, Moses and the law. 00:11:29.079 --> 00:11:30.120 And here's the idea. 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:35.360 The Jews thought they were on their way to heaven because they had Abraham, which gave them the land. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:38.039 They had Moses, which gave them the law. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:39.299 And now they've got a temple. 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:40.879 What else did they need? 00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:45.000 They figured, man, anybody that's got all three of these things, we don't have to do anything. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.399 I mean, we're basically a shoe-in for the kingdom. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:48.860 We're Jews. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.559 After all, we're God's chosen people. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:59.539 And on top of that, not only did they believe that they were in, they were pretty certain everybody that wasn't a Jew was out. 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:07.659 Except a few exceptions, maybe like Rahab and Ruth because it's in the law, so we can't really deny that. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:10.460 But they really didn't believe Gentiles were going to make it. 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:17.500 So this question that is asked of Jesus is not curiosity. 00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:19.460 Here's what it is. 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:21.440 Religious presumption. 00:12:22.540 --> 00:12:26.280 It was almost like, hey, Jesus, we know we're really good people. 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:29.100 I mean, we know that we're kind of on the end. 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:34.480 The crowd wanted to talk to Jesus about who was outside the kingdom. 00:12:35.040 --> 00:12:35.840 Because you know what? 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:39.259 When you want to make yourself better, you find somebody else that you're better than. 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:41.419 Like, hey, at least I'm better than them. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:44.399 Hey, at least I'm, look at those people. 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:46.139 I'm at least doing a better job than that. 00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:48.299 So obviously Jesus has got to let me in. 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.980 I'm not a horrible person. 00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:53.539 But we notice what Jesus does here. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.019 Is he turns the spotlight back on them. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:00.259 Jesus doesn't answer with statistics. 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:04.939 And they said, how many, how few are going to be saved? 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:07.000 He said, well, let me just tell you, 1,400. 00:13:07.280 --> 00:13:07.560 No. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:10.400 Jesus is not giving statistics. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.200 He's not giving a number. 00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:13.580 He's not going to give a certain thing. 00:13:13.780 --> 00:13:13.880 No. 00:13:14.040 --> 00:13:16.460 Here's actually how he responds with a command. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.240 They said, Lord, Lord, are there few that be saved? 00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.140 And here's Jesus. 00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:24.920 He says, strive to enter in at the straight gate. 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:27.900 That was Jesus' response. 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:31.779 In other words, kind of here's the main idea of this text. 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:37.840 He says, don't spend your time wondering how many are going to be saved. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.340 I want you to make sure you have. 00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:44.699 I want to make sure you've entered into the door. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.500 That you know that you're on your way to heaven. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:53.579 And with that warning in mind, Jesus is going to give us four kind of sobering truths 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:58.200 that every person must understand before eternity arrives. 00:13:58.680 --> 00:13:59.940 Because eternity is coming. 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:01.759 I mean, we're already here. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.940 We are eternal beings. 00:14:04.040 --> 00:14:07.500 The question is, will we be with the Lord or will we be in hell? 00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:10.639 Because hell is real and Jesus is going to really get into it in the next few chapters. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.300 So if you're taking notes, here's the question we're going to answer. 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:18.460 What must we understand before the door closes? 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.920 Because there's a door we have to enter. 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:23.240 But at some point, the door is going to close. 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:25.279 What do we need to know before that happens? 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:31.759 Number one, we see first of all in verse number 24, we see the demand of salvation. 00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:33.980 The demand of salvation. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.779 Notice Jesus doesn't say, hey, that's a great question. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:41.480 Y'all should really consider trying this door out. 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:44.000 You know, that's not how it is. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:47.960 Jesus isn't just giving some, you know, real good advice. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:51.039 Hey guys, when you get around to it, don't you love that? 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:53.699 See, sometimes I'm like that with my kids. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.959 I'm like, hey, when you get around to it, my wife says, we can't say that. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.219 Because they're never going to get around to it. 00:14:59.219 --> 00:15:00.759 I'm like, oh yeah, yeah. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:05.899 You know, because I'm trying to be kind about it and say, that's not what Jesus is saying. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.980 He's not saying when you get around to it, you know what? 00:15:08.439 --> 00:15:09.519 Try this door out. 00:15:09.959 --> 00:15:10.980 It's a really great door. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:12.240 It's one of the best doors I know. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.060 No, that's not what he's saying. 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:15.980 He says this, strive. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.139 Strive to enter in at the straight gate. 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:24.860 This phrase, strive to enter, it's intentional. 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:26.779 It's powerful. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:32.100 I know everybody loves Greek, but it comes from the Greek word agonizomia. 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:34.500 Yep, butchered that. 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:39.779 But I think you probably heard a word that you kind of understand, agonize. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:42.299 That's where we get our word, agonize. 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:47.840 It implies and describes an intense effort. 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:51.059 It has the idea of seriousness. 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:55.700 Really, these last couple of chapters, it just keeps screaming this, urgency. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.460 Jesus isn't saying, hey, you got all the time in the world. 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:02.360 No, he's saying this, today is the day of salvation. 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:04.780 Today is the day you need to enter into the door. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:08.400 Now, do not misunderstand what I'm saying or what Jesus is saying. 00:16:08.780 --> 00:16:13.340 Jesus is not teaching salvation by works. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.220 That is nowhere to be found in the Bible. 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:19.740 You are not saved by what you do. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.480 You are not saved because you're here in this church. 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:25.060 You're not saved because you've been through the baptismal waters. 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:28.620 You're not here, you're not saved because of all of these things. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.980 No, scripture is clear. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.720 For by grace are you saved through faith. 00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:36.539 Because if it was up to us, we'd boast about it. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:41.539 But it's a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:43.259 You can't work your way to heaven. 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:45.179 You don't accidentally end up in heaven. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:47.360 No one just says, I think I'll go to heaven today. 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:52.299 Everybody wants to go there, but Jesus says there's a way to get there. 00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:54.200 See, that's what he's saying. 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:59.560 He's implying there is a specific route by which someone must take. 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:03.180 And he's saying you've got to be urgent about it. 00:17:03.660 --> 00:17:08.200 Because eternity is too serious to be casual about. 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:12.860 You know, sometimes I'm casual about things in my life I shouldn't be casual about. 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:14.660 Bills. 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:18.519 Like, that's just a suggestion. 00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:21.039 I'll get around to it. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:24.119 And sometimes it just slips my mind, honestly. 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.659 And you get a phone call, is this Mr. Erbittner? 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:29.099 We're just saying, would you like to make a payment online today? 00:17:29.659 --> 00:17:31.200 I was like, oh yeah, I forgot about that. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:35.579 Listen, we just treat a lot of things in our life just kind of casually. 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:37.659 Like, it's still going to be there, it's not a big deal. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:41.139 That's not how we should treat eternity is what Jesus is saying. 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:43.000 Because we don't know. 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.480 We assume. 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:47.720 Everybody in this room assumes we have a lot of life to live. 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.740 And I pray to the Lord, I do. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:53.579 But the reality is, we do not know. 00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:57.819 And salvation is not something to casually postpone. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:03.160 Because what Jesus is saying, he's not saying, listen, you just kind of live your life, 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:06.480 and when you feel like the time is right, just add me on to it. 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:10.019 Just add me on, and someday when it's convenient. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:10.400 No, no. 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:16.000 He's saying, the reason you have to agonize and there's urgency is because this is life and death. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.539 This is heaven and hell. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:20.079 This is eternity, and that's a long time. 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:28.500 So when he's saying strive, it carries the idea that we have to humbly walk through this door. 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:32.900 The door is narrow, and you can't take anything with you. 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:36.279 We can picture maybe trying to walk through the door. 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:39.400 You ever try to get into a small space with a bunch of stuff? 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.880 You know, we got all our baggage with us, and the door is real tiny. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:45.200 Like a Willy Wonka door kind of situation going on. 00:18:46.040 --> 00:18:46.800 You ever seen Willy Wonka? 00:18:46.820 --> 00:18:47.760 I don't know what you're doing with your life. 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:50.120 But there's like a little door, and you're trying to get through it. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:52.460 Listen, only you can get in there. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.860 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:57.220 He's saying, you can't bring your good works with you. 00:18:57.800 --> 00:18:58.880 You can't bring your religion. 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:01.480 You can't bring all the things you know about me. 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.520 Here's how you get in. 00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:03.220 Humbly. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.740 Jesus says it like this in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:07.500 Now, blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:13.039 Those that realize that they're bankrupt, and they have nothing to offer, and we come humbly before Christ. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.920 That's how you enter the door. 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:16.299 That's how you strive. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.980 That's where the effort comes from. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:25.099 And when they would have heard this command, it would have shocked them. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:28.120 It would have shocked that situation. 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.299 Thank you, Brother James. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.159 He's bringing me a cough drop. 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:34.180 So if I put a cough drop in in a second, you just hang in with me, okay? 00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:37.099 This lovely pollen is helping me out a lot. 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:49.339 But Jesus, what he does here is they would have been shocked because many assumed in that crowd, when they asked that question, they were already in. 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:54.899 They say, hey, we know we're in, but just tell us why we're in. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.559 Tell us how awesome we are. 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:01.759 But he destroys their complacency in one statement. 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:11.079 He says, strive to enter in at the straight gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.720 They just said, who's he talking to? 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.579 I mean, we're good Jews. 00:20:16.159 --> 00:20:17.779 We go to the synagogue every Saturday. 00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:21.059 I mean, we observe all the feasts. 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.740 We love the law of Moses. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.819 We love all these things. 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.960 But notice what he said. 00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:29.379 He didn't say, he didn't say, just a few are not going to be saved. 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:34.779 He said, many will think they're in, and they're not. 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.839 That's a sobering thought. 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:39.740 It really is. 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:45.299 And the demand for salvation is great, but this presumption still exists today. 00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.879 And we mentioned it already. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.480 I mean, you can grow up in church. 00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.519 Your parents can be Christians. 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.720 Your granddaddy could be a preacher. 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.299 You can know all the Bible stories. 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.620 You can say I'm a good person. 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:55.220 But I just want you to hear me carefully. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.339 Proximity to spiritual things has never saved one single person. 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:06.860 I mean, there was a guy that walked around with Jesus for three and a half years and didn't make it. 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.259 Because I'm here. 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:11.059 I know all the stories. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.620 I mean, this guy was involved in the miracles. 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.160 He's carrying back his loaves. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.960 His name was Judas, and he missed it. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.299 Why? 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.259 Because he's a bad person? 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:20.140 No, because he chose not to trust Christ. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.039 He said, I'm good. 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:24.519 I mean, I'm one of the 12. 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.120 Proximity never saves anybody. 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.920 And you can sit in church every Sunday. 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.620 You can hear the gospel. 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:34.039 You can repeat the Romans road by heart. 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:39.160 You know Psalms 23 like the back of your hand, and you can still not know Christ. 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.640 Why? 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.279 Because salvation is not automatic. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:47.899 Listen, you're not saved because you live in the Bible belt. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:53.019 No, you're saved because you place your faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.379 There's a demand for that. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:22:01.319 So we see the demand for salvation, but what is this narrow door that Jesus speaks about? 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.399 Secondly, he wants us to understand this. 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.700 He wants us to understand the door of salvation. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:07.519 That's what the Bible says. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:10.539 Enter in at the straight gate. 00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:13.680 The idea of straight, it just means narrow. 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.759 It means constrained. 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:23.539 What Jesus is doing is he is teaching there is one exclusive entrance into the kingdom of God. 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:27.720 All roads do not lead to heaven. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.140 They don't. 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:32.700 The world says all religions are basically the same thing. 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:33.980 No, it's not. 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:35.980 I mean, it's just not. 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:39.240 I'm trying to say it as nice and lovely as it can, but that's just the truth. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:41.539 And Scripture makes that unmistakable. 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:45.299 The Bible tells us in John chapter 10 verse 9, I am the door. 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:50.640 Jesus tells us again in John chapter 14 verse 16, I am the way and the truth and the life. 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:56.039 Peter stands before the Sanhedrin and he says, neither is there salvation in any other. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:58.200 That it is only by Jesus Christ. 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:01.440 Simply put, Jesus is not one of many doors. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:06.279 He is the door that we have to walk through. 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:09.100 Picture that narrow door. 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.880 We already kind of did. 00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:11.500 Your pride doesn't fit through that doorway. 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:15.440 Your self-righteousness doesn't go through. 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.380 It's going to weigh you down. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.480 It's going to make it impossible. 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:21.519 Your good works can't make it through. 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:28.980 But what does make it through is when you humbly, brokenly, repentantly come and trust Christ and say, Father, forgive me. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.779 I'm a sinner. 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:32.420 That's how you make it through the door. 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:40.779 Our world and really American Christianity in the West especially talks about how the gospel, you make healthy, wealthy and all that stuff. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.420 Listen, the gospel is not about self-fulfillment. 00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:46.060 Here's what it's all about, self-denial. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:55.759 Jesus says, if any man come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:23:56.680 --> 00:24:01.960 There's a reason why a lot of people in the crowd weren't really following because they said, that's a hard saying. 00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.740 Who can hear it? 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.200 That's what they said in John chapter 6. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.420 They said, hey, listen, we like the good parts. 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:09.519 We like when you feed our belly. 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:12.660 But we're not really sure we want to go all in right there. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.819 But you have to go all in. 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.779 You're either all in or you're not. 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:19.099 You can't ride the fence. 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:21.339 And following Christ, here's what it means. 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:24.779 It means you surrender your sin and your pride and your righteousness. 00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:26.659 And you think, well, that seems simple. 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.939 But listen, we like to hold on to those things. 00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:32.959 Because we want to say, you know, we like to do things on our own, don't you? 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.559 Remember when you're little? 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.480 I mean, every kid wants to do it on their own. 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:38.079 They want to dress themselves. 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.659 They want to open the door. 00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:40.339 They want to do everything. 00:24:40.459 --> 00:24:41.240 They can't read. 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:42.220 They can't tie their shoes. 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.119 But they want to do everything. 00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:47.879 It's like sometimes the parents, you just let them do it and you laugh at them. 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.179 I mean, it builds character. 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:52.200 And we think, man, what's their problem? 00:24:53.560 --> 00:24:57.140 I think a lot of well-meaning Christians live their life the same way. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.100 The Lord's like, hey, this is the way. 00:24:59.320 --> 00:25:01.519 I know that you said it's the way, but I want to do it. 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:03.360 Like, I want to be a part of this. 00:25:04.060 --> 00:25:05.820 Here's the only part you bring, sin. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.160 I know we don't like that. 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.640 It's not woo. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:11.120 But Jesus paid the debt. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.920 He paid the price. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.860 And you're going to have to lay down your life. 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:17.500 And when you do that, here's what's going to happen. 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.640 Your life's going to change. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:22.539 But you know what sin and pride and self-righteousness leads to? 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.460 It leads to death. 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.039 It leads to hell. 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:28.720 I mean, you might enjoy life a little bit here. 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:30.259 Sin's fun for a season. 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.920 But there always comes payday. 00:25:34.060 --> 00:25:35.380 But Jesus paid that debt. 00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:40.400 See, Christ came that we might have life and we might have it more abundantly. 00:25:40.560 --> 00:25:42.560 Not just here, but eternally. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.240 That it's worth it. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:48.220 And the application here is that we don't accidentally drift into heaven. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:51.259 Nobody stumbles into the kingdom of God. 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:53.039 Nobody just asks, what's this door? 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:54.099 Let me try this one out. 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:57.660 No, you must personally enter the door. 00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.240 You. 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:01.200 Each individual. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:05.220 You don't enter the door by joining Central Baptist Church. 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:08.180 I'm going to say something that's going to shock y'all. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:13.299 There's going to be more than just Baptists in heaven. 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:16.279 I know. 00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.720 Write it down. 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.619 Research it. 00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:22.059 No, don't misunderstand. 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:25.019 I have a bunch of reasons why I'm a Baptist. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.079 We can go through all the distinctives. 00:26:27.159 --> 00:26:27.460 We'll do that. 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.779 That's another sermon for another time. 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:31.399 But you're not saved because you're Baptist. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:36.059 There's going to be Presbyterians, Methodists, Catholics. 00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:40.220 There's going to be everybody in heaven if they go through the narrow door. 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:45.660 You don't go because a lot of your family already is on the way. 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:52.519 It's not like you're in the car on a road trip and, well, I don't know if I want to go, but at least I'm in the family, so I have to go. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.940 It doesn't matter. 00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.500 It doesn't matter. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.720 It doesn't matter. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:59.000 My kids aren't going to make it because I'm the preacher of this church. 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:02.920 No, they're going to make it because they place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. 00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:07.960 You're not going to make it because you're a good, moral person. 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:13.840 Jesus kind of really throws that to the ground in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.480 He said, well, I've never killed anybody. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:18.220 He said, but if you hate somebody in your heart, you already have. 00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:22.140 See, our morality, it may be good outwardly, but inwardly we're wicked. 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:26.120 The heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.200 Who can know it? 00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.779 The next verse says the Lord knows it. 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.640 The Lord knows our heart. 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:37.800 Listen, your good deeds, your good intentions, none of those things help you enter. 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:39.560 That's not how you enter. 00:27:39.840 --> 00:27:43.140 No, it's by grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ alone. 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:46.680 And don't misunderstand what Christ is saying here. 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:49.140 The narrowness, people say, well, that's so narrow. 00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:52.180 The narrowness of salvation is not cruel. 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:54.360 No, it's Jesus being clear. 00:27:54.359 --> 00:28:02.339 He wants all of us to know, hey, the door's open for everybody, but you have to go through this door. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:12.099 For God so loved the world that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.459 And Jesus isn't finished. 00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:19.179 He now gives a warning to those who assume they are safe simply because they're close to spiritual things. 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:22.400 That's what He says in verse 25 through 27. 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:24.279 We won't read it again for the sake of time. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:28.060 But He gives this parable of a master getting up and closing the door. 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:32.340 The beautiful thing about that, number one, is this. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.660 The door's open right now. 00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:36.400 If you're still breathing, hopefully that's you. 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:40.460 If you're still breathing right now, the door's open. 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.380 You still have an opportunity. 00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:47.960 But also, the other side of that coin is, it's not going to stay open forever. 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:54.340 What Jesus is saying in verse 25, 26, and 27 is this. 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:58.960 There is a limit, a time limit on the offer of salvation. 00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:05.700 And this parable, Jesus kind of makes it ominously clear what He means here. 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:08.620 Because one day the door will close. 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:12.180 Either through death or Christ will come back. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:15.299 One of two things will happen to everybody on this planet. 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:18.880 And when that happens, it's too late. 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:21.039 The door's closed. 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:24.360 And we see that, and we read it earlier. 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:28.820 But just imagine the panic as they're kind of saying, hey, well, I'll talk to Him later. 00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:31.320 And when I get around to it, I mean, I'm pretty busy this week. 00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.580 And it's just not a good time. 00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:33.740 And I'm just not sure. 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.160 And I don't know if I want to do it. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.039 But then the door closes. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.360 And now these people are outside. 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:41.720 Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, open unto us. 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.440 Hey, hey, we want in. 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:46.100 We realize you are serious. 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:48.440 We realize the time is now. 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:53.539 And then in verse number 26, they begin to list all their religious familiarity. 00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:56.880 They say, hey, we've eaten and we've drunk in thy presence. 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:58.799 We've been around all the things of God. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.519 We were there when you were preaching. 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:03.559 We heard you teaching in our streets. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.080 I mean, they're saying we're around you. 00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:06.580 We heard you. 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:09.460 We know all about you. 00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:13.399 But notice what the Lord says. 00:30:14.659 --> 00:30:18.159 I know you not. 00:30:20.439 --> 00:30:23.159 He doesn't say, I know about you. 00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:25.199 I've heard about you. 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.240 Now, don't misunderstand. 00:30:27.939 --> 00:30:28.919 God knows everything. 00:30:29.899 --> 00:30:30.740 He knows everyone. 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:33.680 But what he's saying, he's saying this. 00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:35.220 You're not in the family. 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.920 You didn't come through the door. 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.859 You refused the door. 00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:41.059 You heard the truth. 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.259 You were given the route. 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.680 You plugged the coordinates in. 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:45.980 But you just refused to accept it. 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:52.680 See, salvation is not about how familiar you are with the things of God. 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:55.680 It's about a relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.940 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:30:57.940 --> 00:31:01.600 And I know we keep hammering this point. 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:04.860 But I think that's what Jesus keeps doing in this text. 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.820 There's people all over this world. 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:09.880 And my prayer is there's none of them in this church. 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.960 But we can know Christian songs. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.880 And we can know the hymns. 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.220 And we can know the Bible stories. 00:31:14.320 --> 00:31:15.600 We can know church culture. 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:17.180 We can have religious language. 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:20.039 And never really surrendered to Christ. 00:31:23.320 --> 00:31:26.259 See, Jesus is describing people that know all about him. 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:28.000 But don't really know him. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:32.619 I mean, I can't remember what my wife wants me to get from the grocery store. 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:38.599 But I can tell you the most obscure stats about a sports player. 00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:41.220 Like, I know when they're born. 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.500 That's just saying it out loud. 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.140 That's weird. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.140 I never met this guy. 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.660 But I'm like, hey, I know when your birthday is. 00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:51.779 Like, hey, that's called stalking, actually, is what that's called. 00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:55.740 And so, you know, but it's what it is when Dirk's the goat. 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.759 I mean, it's just how it is. 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:58.940 He's my favorite player, so I know everything about him. 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:04.740 But if I saw him on the street, if I saw Dirk Nowitzki on the street, if you don't know who it is, it's probably not the church for you. 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:07.940 I'd say, hey, Dirk. 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.680 And he's like, who's that guy? 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:14.859 I know that's a really crude illustration, but that's kind of how people live their Christian life. 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:17.039 They can know all about the Bible. 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.420 Oh, I love the Lord. 00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:21.660 But the Lord says, I don't even know who that person is. 00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.860 They're not part of the family. 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:29.039 See, being close to spiritual truth is not the same as entering through the narrow door of salvation. 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:35.480 But Jesus has one last thing, another illustration. 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:42.279 And what he does here in the final few verses in verse 28 through 30 is he really pulls back the curtain on eternity. 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:46.539 He's saying eternity is a real thing, and I want you to understand it. 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:52.460 In verse number 28, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:58.299 When you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, 00:32:58.359 --> 00:33:00.659 and you yourselves are thrust out. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:04.379 And they shall come from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south, 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:07.460 and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:13.740 And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:21.660 What Jesus does here in these closing verses is he really describes eternal separation. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:27.859 And what he said here might be more shocking than what he told them at the beginning. 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:35.180 Because these men, these women in this crowd would have prided themselves, as we mentioned, on being of Jewish lineage. 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:39.860 You remember when Moses was there at the burning bush in the book of Exodus? 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:45.380 And when he comes to the burning bush, God introduces himself as the God of your father, 00:33:45.900 --> 00:33:48.980 the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:51.960 And these weren't just men to these Jewish people. 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:54.100 These were the progenitors of Israel. 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:56.820 I mean, this was the Mount Rushmore. 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:58.560 You put Moses up there. 00:33:58.600 --> 00:33:59.100 You put David. 00:33:59.099 --> 00:34:01.339 But I mean, these were the guys. 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:03.319 And for any Jewish person, this is man. 00:34:03.439 --> 00:34:07.619 I can't wait until one day we're sitting in heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:09.420 And I'm going to ask them all those questions. 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:11.319 Which, by the way, I'm looking forward to that too. 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.659 I'd love to sit. 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:14.579 I cannot wait to sit down and talk to Abraham. 00:34:15.299 --> 00:34:19.139 Like, how did you convince your wife to move all those times without even knowing where you're going? 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:20.980 I need to know how that's possible. 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:24.940 You know, deep theological questions like that. 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:28.920 The prophets are going to be there. 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:34.119 You go through the Gospels, and they would always say, well, the prophet's this, the prophet's that. 00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:35.059 We love the prophets. 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:37.619 Jesus said, yeah, your father killed them. 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:39.179 And you would have done the same. 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:45.099 Elijah, and Elisha, and all of these, Jeremiah and Isaiah. 00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:47.079 All these great prophets are going to be there. 00:34:47.240 --> 00:34:49.460 And this crowd thought, we're going to be there with them. 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.820 Jesus said, no, you're not. 00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:56.380 You'll see them, and you're going to realize, we went through the wrong door. 00:34:57.519 --> 00:35:02.460 Jesus actually says, there's going to be weeping, which has the idea of sorrow and gnashing of teeth. 00:35:02.680 --> 00:35:04.960 It's this idea of fierce rage. 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:08.260 Like, why are they there and we're not? 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:10.000 Hey, we're good people. 00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:12.360 We're Jews just like they are. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:15.340 Well, Abraham wasn't justified because he was a Jew. 00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:17.980 He was justified because he believed God. 00:35:18.660 --> 00:35:19.559 He trusted him. 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:21.340 He realized who he was. 00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:26.820 And if that really didn't set him off, verse 29 did. 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:31.480 Because he said, not only will you not be there, you're going to be thrust out. 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:34.539 There's going to be people coming from the east and the west and the north and the south. 00:35:34.580 --> 00:35:35.180 What does that mean? 00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:37.780 Jesus says, you know who's going to be in the kingdom of heaven? 00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:39.700 Non-Jews. 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.340 You know who's going to be there? 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.140 We are. 00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:47.059 Anybody that's placed their faith and trust in Christ is going to be there. 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:50.659 That they wouldn't have understood that because they thought, you know, well, we're the first. 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.679 I mean, we're the Jews. 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:53.059 We're the people. 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:55.000 We're God's chosen people. 00:35:55.159 --> 00:35:57.380 He said the first is going to be last and the last is going to be first. 00:35:57.860 --> 00:36:00.059 In the kingdom of heaven, there's no hierarchy. 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:00.940 Here's what it is. 00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:03.320 God and everybody there by grace. 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:05.380 That's what he's teaching there. 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:12.200 See, Jesus says that believing Gentiles would be seated at the table with God. 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:15.360 And I don't know, but maybe some of the Jews in the crowd that day just fainting. 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.240 Like, what? 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:19.320 You can't say that. 00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:22.720 Why does Jesus make that point to close it out? 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:31.339 Because salvation has never been based on ethnicity or heritage or privilege. 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:36.459 It always has and it always will be based on grace through faith. 00:36:38.219 --> 00:36:43.500 You know, heaven's going to be the only place where everybody there shouldn't be there. 00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:48.659 You know, people say, well, hell's not fair. 00:36:48.939 --> 00:36:51.279 No, hell's the only place where everything is fair. 00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:54.799 Heaven's the only place where nothing's fair. 00:36:55.459 --> 00:36:56.459 None of us should be there. 00:36:57.219 --> 00:37:01.099 But the only way you get there is going through the narrow gate, going through the narrow door. 00:37:01.319 --> 00:37:04.279 And just imagine the heartbreak that's going to take place that day. 00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:09.099 And God was trying and what Jesus was teaching here, he wasn't trying to make their life miserable. 00:37:09.339 --> 00:37:12.480 No, he was trying to break their heart here so it wouldn't be broken there. 00:37:13.259 --> 00:37:20.859 Imagine the heartbreak seeing the kingdom, seeing the redeemed, seeing what could have been yours and realizing it's too late. 00:37:20.860 --> 00:37:24.420 He's going to give a parable of the rich man and Lazarus pretty soon. 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.680 You know what he realized? 00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:26.519 It's too late. 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:27.780 It's too late for me. 00:37:27.860 --> 00:37:32.720 But send somebody to tell my brothers that it's the real deal, that Jesus is who you need it to be. 00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:40.819 See, there's nothing wrong with religious privilege. 00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:43.359 There's nothing wrong with it. 00:37:43.899 --> 00:37:48.359 Listen, I'm thankful that I was raised in the Bible Belt. 00:37:49.459 --> 00:37:51.219 I'm thankful I was born in America. 00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:53.059 Just to be honest. 00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:58.119 I mean, I'm thankful that from a young age I've had a Bible. 00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:00.380 What a great privilege. 00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:02.759 There's places in the world they still don't have Bibles. 00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:05.940 They still don't have the Word of God in their own tongue. 00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:08.139 I'm thankful for that. 00:38:08.340 --> 00:38:11.079 Listen, there's nothing wrong with a Christian upbringing. 00:38:11.860 --> 00:38:12.619 There really isn't. 00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:14.719 Listen, I think that's the best way to go. 00:38:15.739 --> 00:38:20.400 And some of you didn't experience it younger, but praise the Lord, you're here and you're trying to bring your kids up in it now. 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:22.239 Listen, there's nothing wrong with that. 00:38:23.779 --> 00:38:26.019 There's nothing wrong with Bible knowledge. 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:34.199 Listen, even people that don't know the Lord, the Bible still will help you not do dumb things in life. 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:38.119 I mean, it's pretty foolproof. 00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:42.579 There's nothing wrong with church attendance. 00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.219 I'm glad you're here. 00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:46.259 I hope it helps you. 00:38:46.299 --> 00:38:47.400 I hope you feel encouraged. 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:49.039 I hope you feel blessed when you come here. 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:50.799 I hope you have relationships and friendships. 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:52.219 Listen, we need that. 00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:56.399 You look in the New Testament, nothing happens outside of a community of a local church. 00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:57.980 That's how God works. 00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:59.159 God works through the church. 00:39:01.319 --> 00:39:02.779 But none of that saves you. 00:39:04.319 --> 00:39:05.399 None of that saves you. 00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:14.680 If you're trusting in religious privilege, your upbringing, your knowledge of the Bible, your church attendance, one day there's going to be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:17.380 Because that's not going to save you. 00:39:18.720 --> 00:39:21.300 See, the greatest tragedy is not being far from Jesus. 00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:28.800 I think the greatest tragedy is being close to Him and never entering the door. 00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:31.620 You're right here this morning. 00:39:32.620 --> 00:39:34.220 Some of you have been wrestling with it. 00:39:35.760 --> 00:39:36.920 Think, I'm just not sure. 00:39:37.580 --> 00:39:37.840 No, no. 00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:39.320 It's the door you need to go through. 00:39:40.180 --> 00:39:41.580 It's the door you need to walk through. 00:39:42.200 --> 00:39:46.180 The narrow door is still open today. 00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:49.199 But it will not remain open forever. 00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:51.440 Don't hesitate. 00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:53.139 Don't delay. 00:39:54.659 --> 00:39:58.019 See, the question in the passage was, will few be saved? 00:39:59.259 --> 00:40:01.279 But Jesus redirects our focus. 00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:06.460 And He asks them, and He's asking still today, have you been saved? 00:40:07.279 --> 00:40:08.279 Because that's what matters. 00:40:09.399 --> 00:40:11.859 Listen, Jesus isn't interested in the crowd. 00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:15.700 Jesus could draw a crowd, but He could thin one too. 00:40:16.380 --> 00:40:17.960 You know who Jesus was interested in the crowd? 00:40:18.940 --> 00:40:19.420 Individuals. 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.680 He's interested in you. 00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.579 He knows what you're going through. 00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:25.120 He knows where your life is. 00:40:26.440 --> 00:40:30.740 And He wants you to make sure that the door has been presented to you. 00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:34.940 And He's giving you an opportunity, even today, to walk through that door. 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:40.740 Because when the door closes, eternity is forever. 00:40:41.860 --> 00:40:46.320 Strive to enter at the straight gate. 00:40:46.740 --> 00:40:47.900 Would you stand with your heads bowed?