There is only one way… vs. 22-30 (4 things)

• 1^st – Narrow is the gate… vs. 22-24
  • Jesus continued on His journey towards Jerusalem teaching in the cites and villages…
    • As you may recall Luke 10-18 is unique – not recorded in the other gospels…
    • It covers the last 6 months of Jesus ministry on His final trip to Jerusalem…
  • One in the crowd asked Jesus – ‘are there few who are saved?’…
    • In other words how many among all the millions of people will make it to heaven…
    • There are currently over 6 billion people living on earth – how many are saved…
    • Only 33% even claim to be Christians – that means at least 66% are going to hell…
    • But even the 33% is high – it includes all the cults / and religious of the world…
  • Jesus said – strive to enter the ‘narrow gate’ – because there are few who will enter!
    • The majority of people will not go to heaven – the majority will not be saved….
      • The reason is because most choose the broad way – rather than the narrow gate…
      • * Matthew 7:13 – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
      • People choose the broad way because its easy / and because so does everyone else…
      • If you drink the Tanduay with ‘everyone else’ no one gets upset with you…
      • If you laugh at the dirty jokes like ‘everyone else’ – you will be accepted…
      • But if you are doing what everyone else is doing – if you are with the majority…
      • If you are standing with the crowd – likely you are standing on the broad way…
      • And the end of that road is destruction – you might want to get off!
    • The Narrow gate is Jesus…
      • John 10:9 – “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.”
      • You might think that’s not fair – what about all the other religions / faiths…
      • Why does God have to make it so hard to get into heaven – so few saved…
      • God desires that all men be saved – He does not want any to perish – II Peter 3:9
      • He did all the work for us – Jesus died on the cross so that we could live…
      • If we reject the way God has provided – there is no second option…
      • The one and only way to get to heaven is through faith in Jesus – period!
      • John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
        
• 2^nd – Today is the day… vs. 25-27
  • After the door is shut – then many will ‘believe’…
    • Everyone will believe in Jesus one day – but it will not be in time to be saved…
    • When all men stand in heaven before the judgment seat of God – who would not believe!
    • But the decision on where we spend our eternity is limited to our time here on earth…
    • The moment we die our fate is sealed – there are no second chances…
    • There is no purgatory – the prayers of saints/priests/family cannot help you…
    • Hebrews 9:27 – “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”
    • Either we have received Jesus and have the hope of eternity with God in heaven…
    • Or we have rejected the Gospel – and have sentenced ourselves to eternity in hell…
  • The people will pound on the door – saying ‘Lord, Lord’ – let us in…
    • We ate and drank in your presence / you taught in our streets…
    • They knew all about Jesus – but unfortunately they did not know Jesus!
    • How many have heard the Word of God / attended a church / heard in the market…
    • How many have had dinner with a Christian / a friend who invites them to church…
    • But in the end they do not believe – they put it off for another day – till its too late…
  • God will answer  – ‘I do not know you’ – leave Me you who practice sin…
    • The choice you make – broad or narrow – is made apparent by your actions…
      • Not that we will not make occasional mistakes – we are all sinners…
      • But if we live a life that is defined by sin – then we show we do not know God…
      • I John 3:6 – “Anyone who continues to live in Jesus will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him…”
      • If you live like the devil – then it’s a good bet you are not a child of God…
    • Then there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth – a graphic depiction of hell…
      • If you choose to reject God – then God will not force you to go to heaven…
      • God does not send anyone to hell – we choose to go there by rejecting Jesus!
      • II Corinthians 6:2 –“Today is the day of salvation.”
      • God does not guarantee anyone tomorrow – today is the day to believe!

• 3^rd – The least likely will be saved… vs. 28-30
  • Israel would see Abraham / Isaac /and Jacob / prophets enter in – but they would not…
    • Most in Israel assumed they would go to heaven simply because they were Jews…
    • Matthew 3:9 – “Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”
    • God is not concerned about nationality / family / or geography – He looks at the heart…
    • Don’t think you are saved because of your nationality – I am Filipino…
    • Don’t think you are saved because you come from a Christian family – no grandchildren…
    • Don’t think you are saved because you attend a church…
    • The question is what is in our hearts – do we have a relationship with Jesus!
  • Instead many people will come from the east / west / north / south…

• People from every tribe / language /and nation will enter into heaven – Revelation 5:9
• Romans 10:13 – “Whomever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• Salvation is not just for Jews – or people from good families – the rich – or the smart… 
• It does not matter whether you think you are a good person – or not so good…
• Jesus gift of salvation is available to absolutely anyone who will receive it…
• No sinner is beyond His reach – no sin so great He cannot forgive it…
• I Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…”
• That is why Jesus came to die on the cross – so we might have eternal life!
• The first and the last…
  • Israel was first – more than any other people – they should have been saved…
    • They were ‘adopted’ as the chosen people of God – Deuteronomy 7:7
    • They were given the ‘Law’ of God – the commandments – Exodus 24:12
    • All of the prophets – even Jesus (through Mary) – were Israelites…
  • But they rejected the message of salvation – so they became the last…
    • And the least likely of all people – gentiles – were welcomed into God’s Kingdom!
    • I think we are going to be VERY surprised at who makes it into heaven…
    • There will be some we were certain would make it – who are not there…
    • People who were raised in a church – knew all the right words – Luke 18:10-14…
    • Perhaps even pastors – those who taught the Word – but did not believe
    • And there will be some we were certain would not be saved – and they’ll get in!
    • The drunks / criminals / prostitutes – the greatest of sinners…
    • Who cried out for salvation and found forgiveness and eternal life!

Keep preaching – keep sharing – keeping pointing people to the Narrow Gate!

4^th – Spiritual blindness… vs. 31-35

Some of the Pharisees came to ‘warn Jesus’…

Herod Antipas was looking for Jesus and wanted to kill Him…

It is unlikely they were really helping – they worked with the Herodians – Mark 12:13

Apparently Herod was still guilty over the death of John the Baptist…

He thought Jesus was John resurrected – and so now wanted Jesus dead…

Jesus was not at all concerned…

He called Herod a ‘fox’ – meaning he was cunning – but also a coward…

And Jesus was not yet done with His ministry – He had ‘3 days left’ to cure and heal…

Perhaps a reference to how much longer He would be in Herod’s territory…

Only when He arrived in Jerusalem would His work be completed – the cross! 

Because a prophet of God has to be put to death in Jerusalem…

Jerusalem who killed the prophets sent to bring them back to God…

God wanted to gather Israel like a hen gathers her chicks – but they were not willing…

Instead they rejected Jesus – they refused to believe – to take the narrow gate…

So Israel as a nation was blinded – dulled of understanding…

* II Corinthians 3:14 – “The people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.”

That is why even today – the Jews as a nation do not understand God’s Word…

And only about 10,000 of the 6 million Jews in Israel believe in Jesus

Until the time comes when they say…

There are a set number of people who will receive Jesus as their savior…

Romans 11:25 – “Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in…”

No one but God knows the number – or who will be the last gentile to be saved…

But when the ‘Last Gentile’ to believe – receives Jesus – the rapture of the church!

I Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

You never know who might be holding the rapture up – the last one to receive Jesus…

All the more reason to tell anyone – everyone – about Jesus…

The Rapture of the church – marks the beginning of the end…

The Anti-Christ will rise and make a peace treaty with Israel – Daniel 7:24-27…

In the aftermath of the rapture (1 billion people – give or take – disappear)…

And the Magog invasion (God destroys armies of Russia and the Arabs)…

The world will be in chaos – one man will step up offering peace & safety…

It is thought he will make peace by offering to rebuild the 3^rd Temple for Israel…

The Jews have everything ready to rebuild the temple – waiting for their messiah…

The Anti-Christ will be received as the Jewish Messiah – rebuilding the Temple…

Thus starting the 7 years of the Tribulation

At the end of 7 years of tribulation – when Jesus returns – Revelation 19:11

All of the Jews will see Jesus coming in the clouds – realize who He is – and believe…

Zechariah 12:10 – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son.”

God will save the whole nation of Israel – all of them will receive Jesus!

Then they will say ‘blessed is He whom comes in the name of the Lord’…

Because the gifts and calling of God cannot be taken back – Romans 11:29…

God does not make mistakes – He does not change His mind – and He chose Israel…

A comforting thought – there has been many a day I questioned God…

Lord are you sure you want to use me – I make an awful lot of mistakes…

But God does not make any mistakes – and He chose us to follow Him!

Just as God will not give up on Israel – neither will He give up on us…

Neither should we give up on others – those who don’t know Jesus yet…