Narrow Way

"Narrow Way" - Matthew 7:13-14

The Lord now warns that the "door" of Christian discipleship is narrow (not very wide) and that narrow (tight) is the way. But those who faithfully follow His teachings find abundant life. On the other hand, there is the "wide" door. The end of such a life is "perdition."

I. Perhaps you will live and be saved by fire.

A. You can miss living, the purpose of one's existence (effectiveness, validity, reality).

1. (Proverbs 16:25) There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death.

2. The wide gate and the spacious path lead to perdition.

3. The narrow gate and the narrow path lead to life.

4. Jesus tells us that this difficult life will require faith, discipline, and patience.

5. This difficult life is the one worth living.

6. If you choose the easy way, "you'll have plenty of company," but you'll miss God's best for you.

7. (Romans 6:4) Water baptism gives a visual demonstration of baptism in Christ.

8. It shows the believer being immersed in the dark waters of death (in the person of the Lord) and presents the new man in Christ rising to walk in newness of life.

9. There is a sense in which the believer attends the funeral of his old self when he is baptized.

10. Passing underwater, he is saying, "All that I was as a sinful child of Adam was put to death on the cross."

11. As he comes out of the water, he is saying, 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.'"(Galatians 2:20).

12. We walk in "new life": love, justice, faithful, meek.

13. (2 Corinthians 5:7) The fact that we "walk by faith," and not by sight, is abundant proof that we are absent from the Lord.

14. The Lord has never been seen with physical eyes.

15. It is only by faith that we have been able to see Him.

16. (Galatians 5:16) As believers we should "walk" "in the Spirit," not in the flesh.

17. To walk "in" (or by) "the Spirit" is to let Him have His way (space destined for passage, street, path).

18. It is to remain in communion with Him.

19. It's making decisions in the light of His holiness.

20. It is to be occupied with Christ, because the ministry of the Spirit is to occupy the believer with the Lord Jesus.

21. When we thus walk in the Spirit, then "the flesh," or "life of self," is treated as dead.

22. We cannot be occupied "with Christ and sin at the same time."

23. (Ephesians 4:1) Paul, in an absence of haughtiness, refers to himself as a "prisoner" in the Lord.

24. Paul regards it as the highest honor and what he must glory in his chains for Christ, rather than a king on his diadem.

25. As one who had been imprisoned because of "his faithfulness" and obedience to the Lord, Paul exhorts his readers to walk "worthy" (dignity) of their calling.

26. "Walking": Describe your entire lifestyle.

27. A worthy walk is one that is aware of a Christian's worthy position as a member of the Body of Christ.

28. (Ephesians 5:2) Another way we should resemble the Lord is by walking in "love."

29. It's giving us ourselves for others, that's walking in "love."

30. This made Him our perfect example.

31. Amazing!

32. He loved us.

33. The proof of His love is that He gave Himself for us in death at Calvary.

34. His gift is described as an offering and "sacrifice to God."

35. An "offering" is everything that is "given to God": a "sacrifice" here includes the additional element of death."

36. He was the true burnt offering sacrifice; The one who was "totally dedicated to the will of God," and even death on the cross, for me.

37. His 'sacrifice' of an unspeakable devotion (it cannot be explained through words, which is so great, intense or extraordinary that it cannot be expressed or described) is extolled as 'fragrant smell'.

38. It was a spectacle that filled heaven with fragrance and God's heart with joy: My Beloved.

39. The Lord Jesus pleased His Father by giving Himself for others.

40. The others, the others, Lord! This is my subject; Help me to live for others; To live for You.

41. (Ephesians 5:15) It is a general plea to his readers to "walk," not as reckless, but as wise.

42. As mentioned before, "walking" is one of the key words of the Epistle: to walk as wise is to live in light of our "position as children of God."

43. To "walk like fools" means to descend from this high plane to the conduct of worldly men.

44. (1 John 2:6) If you say you abide in Him, you must walk like Him.

45. Then you must walk as the Lord walked.

46. His life, as set forth in the Gospels, is our standard and guide.

47. It is not a life we can live in our own strength; it is only possible "in the power of the Holy Spirit."

48. Our responsibility is to give our lives to Him without reservation and let "Him live His life in and through us.

49. (1 John 1:7) If someone walks "in the light," then he can have fellowship with the Lord Jesus and His brethren.

50. This blood (Jesus') provided God with a righteous foundation on which to forgive sins.

51. Blood will never lose its power.

52. It has a permanent efficacy in cleansing us.

53. Believers must confess before they can receive forgiveness. Amen.