Text: Matthew 4-7 [Matthew 5:20 (NCV) I tell you that if you are no MORE obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.]
The Narrow Gate of Repentance to Eternal Life in Heaven (5:3-5)
- God must break our PRIDE in order for us to see our true state of “darkness” (3)
- God must break our HEARTS to make us willing to repent (4)
- God must break our WILL to give us abundant life (5)
The Good News of the Narrow Way of Kingdom Life (5:6-11, 20)
“Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me… (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive…” John 7:37-39 (MSG)
“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT)
- The first supernatural change is a new heart of love gushing out goodness and righteousness. (6)
- The second supernatural change is a new heart gouged with mercy. (7)
- The third supernatural change is a new heart glowing with purity (8)
- The fourth supernatural change is a new heart pouring out peace. (9)
- The supernatural MORE (flood) of the Holy Spirit (20)
Sadly Very Few Will Actually Enter the Narrow Way (7:13-23)
1/ Most church people will not get to heaven (14 “only a few ever find it.”)
2/ It’s not what stuff you think but what you are stuffed with (23 “I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”)
