Continuing Michael message, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the road to destruction in Hell is wide and the narrow gate to Heaven is like a turnstile that limits what you can bring in. Diagnostic questions screen people to determine if they are bound for heaven. The first question is, “if you are standing at the gate of heaven, why should Jesus let you in?” The answer to this question will determine the person’s heart. Are they aware of the way of salvation? DO you have the key? Have they confessed “Jesus is Lord”, have they believed that God raised Him from the dead, that the living Christ ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father?
2 Peter 1:3-10 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”
Jones says that when we enter the narrow gate to the Kingdom of God, we become exceptional. The Christian way of life is not popular. It is contrary to the way of the secular pagan world. Only God can call a person bound for Hell and destine them for Heaven. We who are “born again” are the result of God’s election. A Christian has changed Lords. He’s no longer lord of his own life. When a man or woman becomes a Christian, they begin to see their self as holy and apart from this world of sin’s darkness. They must separate themselves from the God-rejecting world’s direction.
The small gate to the narrow way to Heaven leads to life but the wide gate to Hell is the broad way leads to destruction. Jesus said, why do you call me Lord and yet do not do what I have commanded you? He did not call us to a program of behavior modification. He called us to heart transformation that leads to behavior modification. As Israel’s King David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” He called us to defeat the sinful kingdom of self. He’s called us to our own “white funeral” where we die to self in order to live for Him and His kingdom. According to Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
When Jesus spoke to the people at the Sermon on the Mount, he connected with those who were ready to accept His Word. According to 2 Timothy 2:24-26, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
As men and women of God and servants of the Lord, we’re called to gently correct those who oppose themselves and God. To correct means to restore to an upright position. In fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father, and one with another in the household of faith, there is fullness of joy (fruit of the Holy Spirit). We’re sanctified saints, set apart for the purpose for which God has called us. We’re separated as lights shining through the darkness to call God’s people from the darkness of this sinful world into the glorious light of His gospel of truth that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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