Life or Broadway

II Timothy 3: 1-5 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Hedonism is the dominant Pleasure & Self-gratification religion in America. Pleasure & Self-gratification

Jesus does not represent His calling as providing one with pleasures of the flesh.

Jesus taught us more about hell than anyone else in scripture. Mark 9: 43, 48-49 A If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, … 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.

Thesis : The gate into Heaven is restrictive and few will enter therein.

God does not want for anyone to be unhappy, but He warns that some Christians will be.

Psalms 144: 15 How happy are the people whose God is the Lord! John 10: 9-10 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice !

Philippians 4: 5-7 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Christians are targets for Satan’s wrath. Matthew 10: 34, 36 Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. … 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

John 15: 18-20 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Acts 14: 22 – strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. II Timothy 3: 12 – Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. John 3: 20 – For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

II. Jesus requires that one make a life commitment in order to enter Heaven.

Jesus warned that not everyone who wants to enter will be accepted. Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter

Being a Christian makes demands on your life.

Ephesians 2:2-3 Sins in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

II Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.” I Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Separate former way of life. Separate from former sins. Pursue godliness. Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Christianity requires that one’s life measure up to a set standard. I Pet. 2: 20-21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

Colossians 1: 9-10 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

III. The broad way is the most convenient, but it leads to eternal destruction.

“Easy Street” Set own Standard Unlimited travelers One destination

IV. The narrow way has many, hazards and restrictions.

The word “narrow” in verse 13 and the word “narrow” in verse 14 are different. Verse 13 … “narrow” ( stenos ) … 1 strait , narrow ( measurement = not wide ) a. Refers to something like a county road. b. A narrow road does not have many lanes. Verse 14 … “narrow” ( thlibo ) … 1 to press hard upon. 2 a compressed way. 2a contracted. 3 metaph. to trouble, afflict,

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V. There are no other options; there are just two ways, two gates, two destinations.

The broad way is easy; but it doesn’t go where you want to go. Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter.

Broad way leads to eternal destruction Matthew 7: 22-23 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

I Thessalonians 1: 8-9 Revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Only the strait and narrow way leads to eternal life. Matthew 7: 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Jesus Christ is that narrow way that leads to life eternal. John 10: 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 14: 6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

If one wishes to enter that holy city, he must surrender his life to Christ. John 12: 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

Mark 8: 34-37 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Few people are willing to make that commitment. Like the Marines, Jesus is seeking a few good men.

Matthew 22: 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. ( Parable of wedding garments ) Luke 13: 23-24 – And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, 24 " Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able

Which road are you traveling

We urge you to commit Your life to Christ today

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. I Corinthians 11: 26