WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.520 Well, today we arrive at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the conclusion. 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.060 But in some ways, this is just the beginning for us. 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:20.640 Some say this conclusion by Jesus includes possibly the scariest reading for Christians in the Bible. 00:00:21.859 --> 00:00:25.879 Others say that Jesus is at his most passionate in these last verses. 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:43.179 But what is clear is that in Jesus' final words here in Matthew chapter 7, he asserts an ultimate authority that calls, that demands us to respond and answer to who he is and whether we want the kingdom that he offers. 00:00:44.299 --> 00:00:54.679 So arriving at Jesus' conclusion, we need to hold that in mind as his final words here, a call for faith, a call to faith for unbelievers, 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:57.439 and a call to discipleship for believers. 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:06.120 So when we hear this, I think we really need to consider what is Jesus saying about where we start our journey? 00:01:06.859 --> 00:01:11.039 What does he mean when he says the easy path isn't the safe path? 00:01:11.620 --> 00:01:16.859 And probably the key question, does Jesus know us and do we know him? 00:01:17.579 --> 00:01:20.659 Do we know that he's our sure foundation for the journey home? 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:23.979 So we're given like a few images. 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:24.939 We're given these images. 00:01:25.119 --> 00:01:27.859 There's two gates we can enter, as Don just talked about. 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:36.459 There's two journeys we can see marked by those who follow false teachers or false prophets and also those who are counterfeit Christians. 00:01:37.459 --> 00:01:41.219 But then there's another journey, a journey of the authentic disciple or believer. 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:46.780 And then finally, we see two foundations that show where they will land. 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:52.379 And only the authentic disciple following Christ will stand. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:02:02.259 So these words, they mean so much because Jesus calls for radical commitment, nothing less, and says there is only one way. 00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:08.039 And it's so personal in this, which is why I think we hear Jesus talk so passionately. 00:02:09.420 --> 00:02:15.020 What's at stake is either life with him or death and separation without him. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:19.879 And Jesus says to us, there is a cost to be part of his kingdom. 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:25.759 And he gives us a really serious warning if we're not going to be part of that kingdom that he offers. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:35.959 A few years ago, prior to all this COVID stuff happening, when we could actually travel, Alex, Anna and I traveled over to the UK. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:42.039 And as part of our trip, we went to an area in the north of UK called the Lakes District. 00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:48.680 Now, before we'd arrived at the Lakes District at this place, we'd heard it was meant to be one of the most beautiful parts of the country. 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:55.159 It's filled with, well, lakes, lots of lakes, mountains that over there they call fells. 00:02:55.200 --> 00:02:56.140 They're like really big hills. 00:02:56.840 --> 00:02:59.800 Lush trees, native wildlife like badgers, all this stuff. 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:01.659 And then there's all this history to it. 00:03:01.819 --> 00:03:07.000 So William Wordsworth, the famous poet, lived just around the corner from the place where we stayed. 00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:10.420 And you've heard the stories of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit. 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:12.060 They were all inspired by this area. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:15.719 So I woke up the next morning, first night we'd stayed. 00:03:16.100 --> 00:03:17.060 It was really early. 00:03:17.060 --> 00:03:18.140 No one else is awake. 00:03:18.659 --> 00:03:22.360 And I thought, I'm just going to go out for a walk and see what this experience is about. 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:30.680 And straight as I got out of the place, we stayed straight behind the place was what's called one of these fells, one of these big mountains or hills. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:32.500 And I looked at it straight away. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:33.460 I just had this urge. 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:34.759 I was like, I've got to climb that. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:35.759 I've got to get to it. 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:39.840 So I walked up a road and I started scouting for a gate. 00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:44.319 I knew I just needed to find a gate that could get me up the hill. 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:46.939 I knew most fells had a gate that could get you up. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:49.520 But to be honest, I became a bit frustrated. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:53.159 I kept going up areas where I thought I could get access. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:55.199 But as it turned out, they didn't lead the way. 00:03:56.140 --> 00:04:03.580 And just when I was about to give up, I found this little road that led to a path that led to a track that just seemed to be up this hill. 00:04:04.259 --> 00:04:06.800 As I moved, I had to go through the first gate. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:08.219 Track continued. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:12.760 And I had to follow up with gate after gate after gate to continue getting up that fell. 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:25.500 As I looked back down the track as I climbed up and up, it became very obvious to me then that there was no other track that could take me up the fell as much as I tried to get up all these other tracks. 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:30.060 So if you've got your Bibles there, look at chapter 7, verse 13. 00:04:31.019 --> 00:04:31.639 It says this. 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:55.979 Just like my experience that day, coming across many tracks to enter to get to the top of that fell, but none leading the right direction. 00:04:55.980 --> 00:05:00.780 Jesus says there is only one gate, only one way to life. 00:05:01.780 --> 00:05:06.840 And he also says there's many other gates that look good to us because they seem easy. 00:05:07.340 --> 00:05:11.840 But the truth is they end in disaster and ultimately our destruction. 00:05:13.140 --> 00:05:16.280 In fact, a lot of those gates just look easy, the easy way. 00:05:16.340 --> 00:05:17.920 They don't even require any change. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:25.980 One of these gates that is wide on the way to destruction is the just you do you attitude in our world. 00:05:26.140 --> 00:05:27.620 It's everywhere in our culture. 00:05:28.520 --> 00:05:33.840 By the way, have you ever noticed how easy it is to buy into that attitude, into that culture? 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:37.860 See, C.S. Lewis, famous writer, everyone knows C.S. Lewis. 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:41.040 He noticed this in himself at a young age and he said it like this. 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:50.020 He said, I was soon altering, I believe, to one does feel and oh, the relief of it. 00:05:50.280 --> 00:06:04.580 From the tyrannous noon of revelation, I passed into the cool evening twilight of higher thought where there was nothing to be obeyed and nothing to be believed except what was either comforting or exciting. 00:06:04.579 --> 00:06:13.959 It's just so tempting, isn't it, just to follow what we feel, do whatever is natural to us or whatever we desire. 00:06:15.459 --> 00:06:19.360 So what is Jesus calling for that's actually different? 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:23.419 And I guess another question, are we meant to just do the opposite? 00:06:23.919 --> 00:06:30.879 Do we just like work hard, put in effort to get through this gate and just resist what we feel? 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:41.600 I think it's important we don't take away from today that Jesus is asking us to search harder to find the entry for the gate as if we can really make it by our own effort. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:47.879 In fact, the beauty of this metaphor Jesus gives is he's showing us that he is the gate. 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:52.879 And just like it says in John 14, verse 6, and we've already heard Don read it. 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:55.639 I am the way, the truth and the life. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:59.019 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:06:59.019 --> 00:07:02.319 So there can only be one way to the kingdom of heaven. 00:07:02.479 --> 00:07:10.500 It has to be through Jesus Christ who provided a way for us to enter because there's his death for our sins, not our effort. 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:24.919 Jesus was showing to the crowd that day in front of him and a much bigger audience ever since that he was coming to fulfill his mission of being the gate to enter into relationship with the Father. 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:30.740 He was coming to ultimately fulfill what the law and the prophets spoke of. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:36.280 The picture of the gate, it's not just the start point. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:40.900 As you know, once you've entered a gate, there is always a road leading somewhere. 00:07:40.899 --> 00:07:55.299 So in our picture today, the gate and the path are simply just a metaphor that explain how what we believe and what we put our faith in leads us on a road to a particular destination. 00:07:56.659 --> 00:08:03.639 And what Jesus does, he starts with the gate, but then he moves us from looking at the big picture of where we are outside the gate. 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:14.899 And then he brings it closer to home and he turns the focus to those who say they follow him, the ones that say they are in the gate and on the path to the kingdom of heaven. 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:21.759 Now, if you look at verse 15 with me, Jesus makes a simply a standing claim. 00:08:22.219 --> 00:08:29.860 And he says this, he says, not everyone who teaches about his kingdom are in his kingdom. 00:08:29.860 --> 00:08:41.300 He even goes as far to say there are those who are disguised and say they proclaim the truth, but are actually deceitful at heart. 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:44.740 Just let that sink in for a moment. 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:49.279 That's a really big warning. 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:51.300 This is serious business. 00:08:51.299 --> 00:09:01.779 He then gives us a second warning and follows up in verses 21 to 23 about how we need to be careful of self-deception ourselves. 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:04.679 Jesus is saying it's true. 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:06.620 There are counterfeit Christians. 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:15.199 In other words, there are people who say that they follow God, but they actually don't really know God and they don't show real fruit. 00:09:16.099 --> 00:09:19.719 In other words, they're pretending they can fake it until they make it. 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:24.660 So why does Jesus warn us about this right at the end of his sermon? 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:28.060 Well, let's go through some observations that Jesus makes. 00:09:28.180 --> 00:09:31.639 So turn with me to verse 15 and let's start with the false teachers. 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:37.960 Firstly, notice Jesus already assumes false teachers are present. 00:09:38.779 --> 00:09:44.399 And not only are they present, but it also says later in the New Testament that they're going to be prevalent. 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:48.920 Listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11, verse 13 to 15. 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:50.139 He says this, 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:57.199 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:01.939 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:06.679 So again, they will be deceitful and they will be disguised. 00:10:07.459 --> 00:10:10.000 There is also another observation we need to make. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:15.700 And that is there is an objective standard of truth that we can tell them apart by. 00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:18.240 And Jesus doesn't mince words. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:22.720 He's saying light and darkness cannot be the same. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.659 Or truth and falsehood exclude each other. 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:31.139 They do not say the same thing and they don't lead the same direction. 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:36.279 So these false teachers look like they're saying the right thing, but the truth isn't really in their words. 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:42.939 What I find probably the most confronting observation that Jesus makes about false teachers is this. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:45.699 It's that their fruits will actually distinguish them. 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:49.740 So it doesn't matter. 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:57.580 It really doesn't matter how many degrees someone has, whether they are a professor, a bishop or some other dressed up title. 00:10:58.280 --> 00:11:01.620 The truth is written by what comes out of their life. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:07.680 And this, Jesus says, can help us discern, are they a sheep or are they a wolf? 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:20.779 Throughout Jesus' beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount throughout this whole series we've been going through, we've heard some really clear differences of what this good and bad fruit looks like. 00:11:21.459 --> 00:11:23.000 And the bad is ugly. 00:11:23.819 --> 00:11:32.359 For example, this is those who are simply interested in self-gain, self-promotion and seeking the praise of others. 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:43.639 Whereas those who show good fruit, these are the guys who are prepared to stand on God's agenda, deny themselves and follow him whatever the cost. 00:11:44.800 --> 00:11:47.980 They say the truth, even when it costs something. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:50.800 And they are prepared to do that in love. 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:54.100 They practice showing love to their enemies. 00:11:55.560 --> 00:11:57.519 You see, the fruit is the key. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:02.980 It's the key for us to recognize who they are, who the false teachers are. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:08.079 And it shows because the fruit shows the values they live by underneath. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:13.079 The things we cannot see shows those values. 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:17.960 Jesus' whole Sermon on the Mount, and again, just gives example after example of this fruit. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:25.179 And it comes from those who share the good fruit, it comes from those who share the values and principles that he does in his kingdom. 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:35.459 So see, whatever values we hold underneath and are determined to choose to live by every day, it shows through our words, attitudes and actions to others. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:44.779 What I find about these verses, as confronting as they are, is isn't it just a gift of grace that Jesus gives us these words? 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:51.939 It actually gives us the freedom to observe and interact with what we hear and what we listen to. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:13:00.820 Now, that's a bit scary as a teacher, but that's an act of love of God, that he keeps teachers accountable by their very words. 00:13:02.160 --> 00:13:07.020 And in God's economy, it shows he cares about every word we take in. 00:13:08.040 --> 00:13:15.260 Jesus does not want his sacrifice and suffering to be in vain for us to be misled away from his very words of life. 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:22.139 I think we just need to stop and ask ourselves some questions at this point. 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:29.799 Practically, are we taking on board things that just appeal to our natural anything goes desires in us? 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:34.019 And, you know, I'm not just talking about listening to teaching here. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:39.319 False prophets or false teachers work their way around in many ways, not just through a church service. 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.540 So let me ask it like this. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:44.280 What music do you let yourself listen to? 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:55.740 I think if I'm honest, in my own life, particularly when I was a lot younger, I really underestimated the impact of falsehood and deceit that could be shared through some forms of music. 00:13:56.940 --> 00:14:00.400 Just like God's amazing power and grace can also be shared in music. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:10.120 And I really struggled listening to particular music that I liked the tune to, but the words spoke very differently to what I knew the gospel said. 00:14:10.959 --> 00:14:15.179 And in some ways, shockingly, it felt natural for me to listen to this stuff. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:16.579 Can't explain it, right? 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.480 But I knew deep down it wasn't any good for my heart. 00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:26.500 And I think sadly, to some extent, this also had an impact on how I acted and treated others. 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:32.200 Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we can't enjoy music that isn't overtly Christian. 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.220 Of course not. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:37.240 In fact, and I've borrowed this saying from a friend, but just tweaked it a bit. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:41.340 And that is Christian, really Christian music is like underwear, isn't it? 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:45.940 No matter how good the quality, neither were designed to be used for 25 days straight. 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:48.500 At least I think that's kind of true. 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:52.220 So music is just one area we need to consider. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:55.840 What about, and let's go somewhere else. 00:14:55.840 --> 00:15:01.259 What about friends and mates around you that speak truths different to Jesus' truth? 00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:04.300 Do you give weight and value to what they say? 00:15:04.540 --> 00:15:07.379 Do you really take on board what they say and believe it? 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:12.300 Or what about, how do you engage with social media, especially in lockdown? 00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:14.080 Everyone's on social media. 00:15:14.780 --> 00:15:18.960 How do you wisely filter messages coming through with the light of the gospel? 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:25.280 We've just heard this morning just how much division can even be in Christian communities over COVID. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:28.039 So how do we filter this through the gospel? 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:31.120 And I suppose, step back from that. 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.679 Let's ask ourselves these questions. 00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:40.539 Are these influences helping my walk with Christ get deeper with their messages? 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:48.139 Or do these messages undermine the authority of Christ and his truth working through my life? 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:50.620 Something to think about. 00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:56.939 So as Jesus gives us an example of what good fruit and rotten fruit look like with false teaching, 00:15:57.819 --> 00:16:02.679 he also draws us into thinking about how we need to take care not to be deceived ourselves. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.559 And this is it. 00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:08.419 This is arguably one of the scariest passages of Scripture for Christians. 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:11.039 Matthew 7, verse 21 to 23. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:18.500 Now, I pray for all of us we understand that Jesus loves to comfort us. 00:16:19.099 --> 00:16:22.139 And these verses are not here to create doubt. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:32.759 But it is a test to help us answer whether we are on the broad or the easy road or the narrow and the hard road. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:38.840 Notice here, firstly, it's actually not a question of how much faith we have. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:47.740 Again and again, we're reminded through the Bible of weak and ordinary characters that God transforms by his powerful grace. 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:52.000 Even remember, just back in chapter 6, verse 30, it says, 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:58.399 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, 00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:02.460 will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:08.240 So who are these unsound hearers or these counterfeit Christians? 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:10.420 And what can we learn about them? 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:18.820 Well, according to Tim Keller, there are three traits that authentic Christians and these counterfeit Christians share. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.660 First, notice in verse 21 where it says, 00:17:22.600 --> 00:17:27.700 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:32.100 but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 00:17:33.300 --> 00:17:37.940 So these counterfeit Christians come and they say, Lord, on the last day. 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:43.019 They know he is God and they may even believe that he's the divine son of God, the Messiah. 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:50.059 So in other words, they share orthodox doctrine with authentic Christians. 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:54.580 The second trait is that they are really emotionally involved. 00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.920 They're emotionally invested. 00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:57.420 They don't just say Lord. 00:17:57.580 --> 00:18:00.420 They say, Lord, Lord, twice. 00:18:00.580 --> 00:18:04.019 And that's really significant in the text of the passage. 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:10.519 In the writing, it actually indicates a real intensity, a real emotion, a real investment. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:16.799 The third trait is these guys are really active in service. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:19.960 I mean, they're deeply involved in ministry in the church. 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:25.379 And yet on the last day, Jesus says, I never knew you. 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:26.380 So. 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:31.240 It's a couple of keys to unlocking this passage. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:42.020 First, Jesus makes it clear that those who do the will of his father will enter the kingdom of heaven in verse 21. 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:50.860 And second, those who Jesus never knew in verse 23, he will command out of his presence. 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:55.099 See, Jesus was set. 00:18:55.459 --> 00:18:59.459 He was set on earth on doing the will of his father. 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:03.319 He loved his father and he wanted to please him. 00:19:04.219 --> 00:19:06.240 And Jesus did exactly that. 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:12.659 So he could become the go-between and the mediator for us to know God as our father. 00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:15.359 But Jesus, it was personal. 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.899 He surrendered. 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:19.559 He surrendered his will to please the father. 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:30.599 So when Jesus says the mark of an authentic Christian, someone who does the will of my father, he's saying this is a person who is surrendering their will to him. 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:35.359 This is someone who gives the control and choice in their life to God. 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:38.759 They are not the God of their own life. 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:42.159 It's just so easy. 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:45.919 We can be tempted that through our own efforts will please the will of the father. 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.500 So tempting, isn't it? 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:53.099 It's almost like we sometimes can believe we need to be more moral and more self-controlled. 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:55.440 And that's enough for God. 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.599 But it's just self-deception. 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:03.519 We can't please God and enter the kingdom and enter the narrow gate through our effort on our own merit. 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.579 It's salvation on our terms. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.079 It cheapens God's grace. 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:07.920 And it's deadly. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:13.740 The scary thing is Jesus says this moral effort, it can look good. 00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.880 It can look really good. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:20.580 I mean, like being part of a church or even knowing your stuff and what to say when it comes to the Bible. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:30.080 You know, know the creeds, say the right doctrine and have the appearance of being a disciple, yet still not having surrendered to the control of the father's will. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:32.659 Okay, so come with me now. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.919 What's missing in the counterfeit Christians' words? 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:40.439 Because there is no sign of true character or deep values of the kingdom in these words. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:46.500 In fact, they just justify themselves by presenting the shiny kind of polished image of what they've done for Jesus. 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:51.039 They talked about God, but they didn't know God. 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:57.740 For me, as I went through this passage, and I'll be honest, I felt scared when I was going through it. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.579 It's like these are big truths to handle. 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:09.559 And as I was doing my reading, I came across just a little sentence in John MacArthur's commentary. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.140 And it just grabbed me. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.400 So I just want to share it with you. 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:18.519 So he has this to say about what the shape of true surrender and obedience looks like. 00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.600 And he says it like this. 00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:25.440 Only one built on the foundation of obedience to God's word stands. 00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:36.400 This obedience calls for repentance, rejection of salvation by works, and trust in God's grace to save through his merciful provision. 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:38.820 Say that last part again. 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:48.839 This obedience calls for repentance, rejection of salvation by works, and trust in God's grace to save through his merciful provision. 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:58.000 So authentic Christians are always in a posture of dependence on Jesus, their king. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.220 And Jesus knows his sheep. 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:15.179 The counterfeit Christians are marked by their independence, trusting in their own works to make it, their knowledge and words to save them, and spiritual intensity further as some kind of mark of maturity. 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:17.620 But it's just lip service. 00:22:18.080 --> 00:22:22.700 Their hearts are so far from God, and they are running straight down the wide path to destruction. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:29.860 If we stop and think about that for a moment, this is where it gets real. 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.380 It's so awful. 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.779 It's so awful. 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:35.560 You can hear the despising tone in Jesus' voice. 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:37.559 I never knew you. 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.960 Depart from me. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.220 He wasn't fooled. 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:43.539 He wasn't fooled by their facade. 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:48.720 They might have even fooled others, even authentic Christians. 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:53.500 But Jesus isn't fooled and won't be on the day when we all give account. 00:22:55.079 --> 00:23:02.460 These are confronting words that search us, and you just cannot put a silver lining on eternal separation from Jesus. 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:05.740 But I'm glad he doesn't leave us here. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.579 We move on. 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:11.940 Because as we've been through, Jesus is the only one true gate and way. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:21.640 And when we look to Jesus, and there is a true repentance, it produces, doesn't it, a deep love for others that just cannot be gimmicked. 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:27.340 See, genuine disciples have words and actions that seek to please their father. 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:31.119 It's not about getting an immediate reward from pleasing others. 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.000 And that is it. 00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:35.679 This is a mark of genuine discipleship in us. 00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:43.720 It's the growth of a genuine daily walk, wanting to know God more and more and be like our father more and more. 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:49.119 And we get to this final picture that Jesus gives us. 00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:51.599 Final picture in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:24:00.939 Jesus shows us that the type of person we are is like two builders who build their houses very similar. 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:07.439 Either we are a wise builder, meaning an authentic believer, or a foolish builder. 00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:09.279 That is the counter for Christian. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:15.379 And the walls these builders are building are what others can see in us. 00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:18.240 So service to others, the words we speak, our actions. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:21.700 In some, it's a picture of our religious life. 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:24.019 It makes that point in verse 24. 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.319 But there's a big difference. 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:32.680 The wise builder is the one who hears words, Jesus' words, and does them. 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:39.600 And that kind of begs the question, what are the words Jesus is talking about here? 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:41.680 What is the wise builder listening to him doing? 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:45.620 Well, it's the words that he's just told them in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.660 He's asking, have you heard? 00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:48.779 Have you heard what I've said? 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.080 And will you really obey? 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:52.700 Will you do what I've spoken to you today? 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:56.000 No doubt about it. 00:24:56.039 --> 00:25:00.740 Jesus really smacks in the face the religious elite and the false disciples that day. 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:02.400 And ever since. 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:08.799 He sees, he actually sees, they understand that not resisting our natural inclinations, 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:11.019 our natural desires can be a dangerous thing. 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:15.420 The thing is, though, even many non-Christians realize that in part. 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:22.079 The problem with the false disciples or the foolish builder is that they actually believe 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:25.039 they can strive by their own effort to build a religious life. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:30.519 There simply isn't that posture of dependence or surrender to Jesus and to God 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.220 as a father. 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:34.359 There is simply no relationship. 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:37.019 And Jesus does not know them. 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:40.599 Their house is just moral activity and effort for them. 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:45.000 Deep down, they're not teachable in the things of the gospel. 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:49.599 They don't know the grace on offer because they don't think they need it. 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:55.160 And most importantly, they don't show the mark of repentance needed in every authentic 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:56.279 believer's life. 00:25:56.279 --> 00:26:04.180 The beauty of this image Jesus gives is it's so close to reality and so close to home for 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:08.980 us because the test is coming and it's really only a matter of time. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:14.019 Any builder knows that a house is only as good as a foundation it is built on. 00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:17.440 And Jesus was a company and he knew this better than anyone else. 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:24.980 The storms of life and ultimately the final judgment day will show our true colors of what we're 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.600 building on. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:28.259 So have we listened? 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.640 Have we repented? 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:35.299 Is our life marked by emptying ourselves and leaning on Jesus? 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:39.500 Realizing our natural inclinations lead down the path to destruction? 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:47.220 That's the unshakable life as the unshakable life is resting on Jesus as the rock underneath 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.900 our feet. 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:59.039 Jesus' message that day captivated the crowd because of the absolute authority with which 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.720 he spoke. 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:04.400 And Jesus assumed he was speaking absolute truth. 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:09.079 Words of life that showed the only true path to the kingdom of heaven. 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:12.640 And his words, they live today. 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:15.180 They're timeless and they're universal. 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:23.700 That day that Jesus stood before them, the crowd responded in awe at his authority. 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:28.180 How are we prepared to respond today? 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:33.099 Our story began with only one gate that enters to the kingdom of heaven. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:38.920 One journey that surrenders to the Father's will and only one foundation that we can stand on. 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:40.620 Jesus Christ alone. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:44.519 The storms of life are coming. 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:47.180 And for many of us, they're already here. 00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:53.920 You might be facing lockdown, loneliness, uncertainty about the future, lost income, 00:27:53.920 --> 00:28:00.820 or you might just be desperately missing friends and family or even have loved ones, as we heard this morning, 00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:02.740 who are affected by COVID. 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:07.460 So what anchors you in the storm? 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.920 What is your strong foundation? 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:18.160 It can be so easy just to put trust in what the world tells us. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:21.420 More possessions will fill the emptiness. 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:25.480 Judge those who don't agree with you about our changing world. 00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:31.759 Fill your life with more knowledge and don't believe anyone who tells you they know what is best for you. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:35.799 What about the cheap tricks we can bind to as Christians? 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:42.559 Fill your life with more service or more spiritual words that sound right, like it's a duty. 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:50.200 But are your feet resting on the unshakable, unshakable rock of Jesus? 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:55.360 Are you talking to him daily about your struggles and pains, hopes and dreams? 00:28:56.120 --> 00:29:00.700 We need to every day and it's no more needed than right now. 00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:07.319 Are we like the wise builder looking at his foundation and walls around him? 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:15.960 Are you looking at the beauty of grace around you about what Jesus is doing and has done in your life? 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:23.660 Are you prepared to accept that he is for you and his grace abounds your future? 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:32.579 When we rest secure in Jesus every day and let him change us and work through us, 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:36.460 we can take confidence that we're not going to fall. 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:41.900 He works out every detail and we don't even need to be confronted. 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:47.060 We don't even need to be overwhelmed when we're confronted by our own sin. 00:29:47.600 --> 00:29:52.960 Because of grace, we can see a greater picture of what God is doing in our life. 00:29:54.380 --> 00:30:01.040 He's changing us, even when we are shaken and rattled and making us into the perfect picture of his grace. 00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:07.759 And he's drawing us, he's drawing us to be more righteous like he is, like our father. 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:13.220 And the beauty of it is, he gives us all the resources we need on our walking journey. 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.039 He gets it. 00:30:14.379 --> 00:30:21.740 He understands our loneliness, our pain, our frustration, our temptations like no one else can. 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.200 It's one choice. 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:29.420 Or will you take the option where you just pursue what the world tells you? 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:31.339 Do whatever feels good to you. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:34.079 Or what about the counterfeit Christian? 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.220 False teachers. 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:37.579 More effort, more hard yards. 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.660 Just breeds hypocrisy and legalism. 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:47.500 The world's way, the false teacher and the counterfeit Christian way lead down the wide path to destruction. 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:55.380 So, on what road, on what foundation are you standing on today? 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:55.519 Okay.