The fruit of daily obedience over the occasional spectacular...

This week we have been looking at a section of a famous sermon that we know today as the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:15-20, we Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus in that a right relationship with God is revealed by the results that are produced

The timeless reality is that it is the fruit, or the results that are produced in our lives, that reveals what is going on internally when it comes to the place that God has in our lives.  Once again, we see Jesus move past externals to the issue of the heart. Once again, we see that Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that what is in the heart will eventually spill out. And what spills out of our hearts is the fruit, or the results that are produced as a result of our internal heart condition.

And that fruit cannot be faked for any significant period of time. Sure, you might be able to fool some people for some period of time, but eventually your behavior will betray what you say is going on inside to instead reveal what is truly going on inside. You see, you can only fake it for so long before you become exhausted trying to produce fruit externally that you are unable to produce because of what is present internally. We see Jesus reveal this reality in what He says next in Matthew 7:21-23:

"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. ²² "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.'

Now Jesus statement here, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would have sounded something like this: “Not everyone who claims that I am in charge of their lives actually has a right relationship with Me and will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead, it is the one who lives their lives in a way that carries out in obedience the desires of My Father that reveals the reality that they have a right relationship with Me and will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who are false prophets will say to Me on the day when the Kingdom of Heaven arrives in its fullest sense ‘Didn’t you see all the spectacular things that we did for you?’ And I will declare to those false prophets ‘All the spectacular things that you did in My name were done to deceive people so as to destroy people. You were not carrying out the desires of My Father; you were coopting My name to deceive people. And because of that reality, the results that were produced in your life reveal your true lawless nature of rebellion against Me and the reality that you were not interested in knowing, following or obeying Me. And because you do not truly heave a heart relationship with Me that desires to live according to my desires, you can depart from Me.’”

Jesus point is that it is the fruit that is produced in the life of a person that is driven to follow God’s desires for their lives as they strive to live in obedience to Jesus that reveals the reality of a genuine and authentic relationship with Jesus. Jesus point is that it is the results of daily obedience, not the occasional, spectacular act of an otherwise disobedient life that reveals the reality of a genuine and authentic relationship with Jesus. Jesus point is that a one day a week, 75-minute, check the box on Sunday, Christianity that is betrayed by a lifestyle that goes against the message and teachings of Jesus the rest of the week are the results that are produced in the life of a person externally that does not know Jesus internally. 

You see, at the end of the day, Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that what is in the heart will eventually spill out. And, as Jesus points out in this part of His famous sermon, a right relationship with God is revealed by the results that are produced.

So, with that in mind, here is a question to consider: What does the fruit, or the results that are produced by your life, reveal about your internal heart condition? Are you exhausted from trying to produce fruit externally that you are unable to produce because of what is present in you internally? Are the results that are produced in your life betraying what you say is going on inside to instead reveal what is truly going on inside?

Because, the timeless reality is that it is the fruit, or the results that are produced in our lives, that reveals what is going on internally when it comes to the place that God has in our lives.  That is why Jesus consistently moved past externals to the issue of the heart. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that what is in the heart will eventually spill out. And what spills out of our hearts is the fruit, or the results that are produced as a result of our internal heart condition.

And the reality is that a right relationship with God is revealed by the results that are produced…

A right relationship with God is revealed by the results that are produced...

This week we have been looking at a section of a famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew. Yesterday, in Matthew 7:15, Jesus commanded those who were listening to His sermon to beware of the false prophets. When the letters that make up the Bible refer to false prophets, this term refers to an individual or group of individuals who falsely claim to be a prophet of God who serves as God’s messenger or spokesman.

Jesus painted a word picture that those listening to His sermon would be very familiar with to reveal the reality that, just like wolves, false prophets would be constantly looking for the opportunity to stalk and to hunt down those who were striving to follow God. And these false prophets, in their stalking and hunting of those who were striving to follow God, would externally give the appearance of being right with God and speaking on behalf of God.

However, the reality was that, underneath their external covering that was used to attempt to deceive those who were striving to follow God, these false prophets were marked by an internal heart condition that was opposed to God and that was driven by a desire to destroy the people of God. And because of that reality, Jesus commanded the crowds listening to be on the alert for shady false prophets.

Now a natural question that could arise here is a question that has arisen throughout history. And that question is this: How are we supposed to be able to distinguish between the sheep and the wolves if externally there appears to be no difference between the sheep and the wolves? How are we supposed to recognize a false spokesman for God if they are able to give the external appearance of being right with God and a true spokesman for God? How do we know the difference between a person who is a true spokesman for God and a person who is a false spokesman for God?

 If that question is running through your mind, I just want to let you know that is a great question to be asking. And fortunately for us, we see Jesus provide the answer to that question in what He says next. So, let’s look at what Jesus says next, which is found in Matthew 7:16-18:

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? ¹⁷ "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

Now to fully wrap our minds around what Jesus is communicating here, I want us to think of a crabapple tree and an apple tree. In the winter you cannot tell the difference between a crabapple tree and an apple tree because in the winter these trees are not producing any fruit. However, while these trees look almost identical externally in the winter, they are very different internally. While these trees look identical externally, they produce very different fruit.

Growing up we had a crabapple tree in our front yard, and I can personally tell you that the fruit of a crabapple tree is extremely tart and nasty. A crabapple is a small hard piece of fruit that is only good for throwing at other people. Crabapples look very different than an apple. It is only when the summer and fall come, when the trees begin to produce fruit, are we really able to tell which tree is a crabapple tree and which tree is an apple tree. It is the fruit, or what is produced by these trees, that enables us to distinguish the difference between a sweet apple and a sour nasty crabapple.

And that is Jesus point. Jesus here is revealing the reality that it is the fruit, or the results that are produced in the life of these prophets that will enable one to distinguish between a person who is a true spokesman for God and a person who is a false spokesman for God. In addition, Jesus also revealed to the crowds listening the reality that a tree cannot produce anything externally that is contrary to their true nature internally.

Just as grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, Jesus explained that a good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Jesus point is that the fruit, or the results that are produced externally, provides the evidence of what is present internally. Jesus then hammered His point home in what He says next. So, let’s look together at what Jesus says next in Matthew 7:19-20:

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ "So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Here we see Jesus paint a word picture to reveal how God will respond to the evidence of what is present internally in the life of a person that is revealed by the results that are produced externally by the life of that person. When Jesus talks about being thrown into the fire, this word picture is used in the letters that make up the Bible to describe the fires of judgment.  Jesus uses this word picture to reveal the reality that every person whose life produces the results that reveal the reality that they are worthy of punishment as a result of having a heart that is rebellious against God will experience that punishment.

And because of that reality, Jesus explained that you will be able to recognize false prophets by the results that are produced by their lives. And similarly, a true spokesman for God who is living in a right relationship with God will be able to be recognized as a result of the results that are produced by their lives. And it is here that we see Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus.

And that timeless truth is that a right relationship with God is revealed by the results that are produced. The timeless reality is that it is the fruit, or the results that are produced in our lives, that reveals what is going on internally when it comes to the place that God has in our lives.  Once again, we see that Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition.

Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that what is in the heart will eventually spill out. And what spills out of our hearts is the fruit, or the results that are produced as a result of our internal heart condition. And that fruit cannot be faked for any significant period of time.

Sure, you might be able to fool some people for some period of time, but eventually your behavior will betray what you say is going on inside to instead reveal what is truly going on inside. You see, you can only fake it for so long before you become exhausted trying to produce fruit externally that you are unable to produce because of what is present internally.

Friday, we will see Jesus reveal this reality in what He says next...

A timeless and timely alert...

At the church where I serve we are in the middle of a sermon series entitled Jesus uncut. During this series, we are spending our time together looking at perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. During this series, we are going to see Jesus reveal the true nature of what God demands of humanity in order to experience a right relationship with Him and what it truly means to obey the message and teachings of the letters that make up the Bible. And during this series, as we see Jesus uncut, our hope and prayer is that God would move by the power of the Holy Spirit in a way that enables us to wrap our heads, hearts, and hands around the lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as one who is living in a right relationship with Him. 

This week, I would like for us to pick up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew, we are going to discover another timeless truth from Jesus uncut. So, let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Matthew 7:15:

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

As Matthew continues to give us a front row seat to this famous sermon that Jesus preached, we see Jesus command those who were listening to His sermon to beware of the false prophets. Now when Jesus uses the word beware, this word, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to be in a state of alert. Jesus warning to the crowds listening, and to His followers throughout history, is that we need to be on alert.

Jesus then explained that what the crowds listening, and followers of Jesus throughout history, were to be on the alert for were the false prophets. When the letters that make up the Bible refer to false prophets, this term refers to an individual or group of individuals who falsely claim to be a prophet of God who serves as God’s messenger or spokesman. After commanding the crowds listening to beware of the false prophets, Jesus then revealed the shady nature of false prophets. Jesus explained that false prophets are those who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. But this morning, what does that even mean? 

Throughout the letters that make up the Bible, followers of God are described as sheep, while those who were the prophets, priests, teachers, or leaders of God’s people are described as shepherds. Now while the Jewish people of Jesus day would have totally connected with this picture, today we do not spend any time around sheep and shepherds. So let’s take a minute to understand a few things about sheep, shepherds, and how they related to one another.

The first thing about sheep and shepherds is that sheep desperately need a shepherd. Now you might be here this morning, and a natural question that could arise here is “Well, why do sheep need a shepherd?” You see, sheep need a shepherd because sheep are needy. And sheep need a shepherd because sheep are stupid. Sheep are some of the dumbest animals on the planet. 

And because of that reality, sheep need protection, sheep need guidance. Sheep need direction. Sheep need care. Sheep need feeding. Without a shepherd, a sheep’s needs remain unmet. Without a shepherd, the sheep suffer, and even die. And one of the greatest dangers that sheep face was the threat that came from wolves. Wolves were constantly looking for opportunities to stalk and hunt down sheep, who were very easy targets for the wolves.

Jesus here paints a word picture that those listening to His sermon would be very familiar with to reveal the reality that, just like wolves, false prophets would be constantly looking for the opportunity to stalk and to hunt down those who were striving to follow God. And these false prophets, in their stalking and hunting of those who were striving to follow God, would externally give the appearance of being right with God and speaking on behalf of God.

However, the reality was that, underneath their external covering that was used to attempt to deceive those who were striving to follow God, these false prophets were marked by an internal heart condition that was opposed to God and that was driven by a desire to destroy the people of God. And because of that reality, Jesus commanded the crowds listening to be on the alert for shady false prophets.

Now a natural question that could arise here is a question that has arisen throughout history. And that question is this: How are we supposed to be able to distinguish between the sheep and the wolves if externally there appears to be no difference between the sheep and the wolves? How are we supposed to recognize a false spokesman for God if they are able to give the external appearance of being right with God and a true spokesman for God? How do we know the difference between a person who is a true spokesman for God and a person who is a false spokesman for God?

If that question is running through your mind, I just want to let you know that is a great question to be asking. And fortunately for us, we see Jesus provide the answer to that question in what He says next.

Tomorrow we will look at what Jesus says next…

7 Common Questions About Attending City Bible Church this Easter...

7 Common Questions About Attending City Bible Church this Easter...

If you are considering visiting a church for the first time this Easter, or after not having been to church for a while, you may have questions, but you’re not sure who to ask. So here are 7 frequently asked questions that you may have if you are considering visiting City Bible Church this weekend for Easter:

What should I wear?

At City Bible Church, you will see all styles of dress. Some will wear suits and dresses. Some will wear jeans and t-shirts. You will probably see shorts since the weather will be warm enough. To answer your question, choose an outfit you already own, one you feel comfortable in, and join us.

 

What will we do? What can I expect?

We will have a fairly typical worship schedule. We will have a short greeting time, sing two songs, I’ll share a message, we will sing two more songs. We will attempt to have songs that would be somewhat similar in style to what you may hear on your radio and that all ages can enjoy. And, yes, in full transparency, and in case you’re wondering, we will receive an offering. Our offerings support the full range of ministries we offer in the church, community, and around the world. You are not required, however, to participate during this time unless you choose to do so.

 

Will you embarrass me?

I certainly hope not. It will be a primary goal not to do that. I don’t personally like to be embarrassed when I visit somewhere new, even in a church — and I’m a pastor — so my goal is to create an environment that is comfortable for all. You WILL NOT be singled out as a visitor. We don’t make visitors stand, raise their hand, or even fill out a card if you choose not to do so.

 

How long will the service last?

Slightly more than an hour. I’d love to say an hour, but frequently the service ends up being an hour and 5 or 10 minutes. At the most, you’ll be with us for an hour and 15 minutes.

 

What time should I arrive?

That’s a great question. We have three worship services on Easter Sunday (8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m.,  and 11:30 a.m.). And, I’m really trying to help when I suggest you get here a few minutes early. Maybe even as many as 10 or 15 minutes early. It takes a little while to make your way through our campus, especially if you have children to check into our children’s areas or this is your first time. We especially want you to find a seat where you are most comfortable, and you’ll feel more comfortable if you have a few minutes to adjust before the service begins. We have a special Easter bulletin you can be reading while you wait for the service to start.

 

Do you have something for children?

Absolutely. Birth through 6th grade have their own activities designed especially for them. They will enjoy a time called Kids Konnection that will engage them at their level. Of course, we don’t keep you from bringing children with you in the worship service if that is more comfortable on a first visit, but our experience is that they truly do enjoy Kids Konnection. Either way, we love when entire families join us Easter Sunday.

 

Can I only come one time? Really, for what am I signing up when I come Easter Sunday?

There’s no obligation beyond Easter Sunday. Promise. Being honest, we do ask you to fill out a communication card and, if you do, we will follow up with you. And I hope you do. I love seeing who God brought to us as our guests. I love meeting guests. We won’t put any unfair pressure on you to ever come again. We hope you will, and we’d love if Easter triggered that desire in you, but that’s your call — not ours.

 

I hope that answers some questions of those who are thinking about visiting City Bible Church. 

What other questions do you have? Seriously, I’d rather you asked. 
***Much of this post adopted from a great post by Ron Edmonson on this issue...

“How do I get on the pathway to God that Jesus talks about?"...

This week we have been looking at a section of a famous sermon that Jesus preached, which we know today as the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:13-14, we see Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus in that a right relationship with God requires a right entrance into that relationship.

The timeless reality is that to experience a right relationship with God requires that we choose a way of life that places us on the right pathway to eternal life with God as part of the kingdom of Heaven. Then, in John 14:1-11, we see Jesus describe the way that one could experience the relationship with God that they were created for, but had been separated from as a result of selfishness and rebellion. Jesus is saying “I am the way of life; I am the source and embodiment of truth; I am the source by which you can experience forgiveness and the relationship with God that you were created for forever. And there is only way to experience that forgiveness and relationship. No one comes to experience that forgiveness and relationship with God apart from placing their trust in Me. You need to trust Me. Just as you are to place your confident trust in God, you need to place your confident trust in Me. If you really understood who I was as both life and the source of life, you would really understand who God was”.

We discovered that John 14:6 is inclusive and John 14:6 is exclusive. Jesus invitation is inclusive; everyone is invited to experience a right relationship with God. And Jesus invitation is exclusive in that there is only one way to experience a right relationship with God. And that way is through Jesus, who is the way.

Jesus came to earth to reveal and explain God to humanity and to rescue humanity from their selfishness and rebellion. And because Jesus is God-in-a-bod, Jesus provides us the pathway to God. Jesus provides the pathway to God because Jesus entered into humanity in order to live the life that we were created to live but refused to live, and then willingly allowed Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives, so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life.

And because of Jesus life, death, and resurrection, Jesus invites everyone to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on the pathway that leads to entering into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven. And that way, that pathway is Jesus. And while everyone is invited to take that way and pathway, that pathway is narrow, that pathway is exclusive. And unfortunately, few choose that pathway. Many choose to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on that pathway that results in entering a gate that leads to eternal punishment after being found guilty of evil and wrongdoing that flows from a selfishness and rebellion against God.

Now another question that could arise at this point is “How do I get on the pathway to God that Jesus talks about?  How do I engage in a life that places me on the pathway that leads to entering into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven?”

If that question is running through your mind, I just want to let you know that you are asking a great question. And the answer is quite simple and can be summarized in three simple words: believe, trust, and follow.

First, you need to believe that you have done selfish things that have hurt God and others and are in need of forgiveness. In addition, you need to believe that Jesus was who He said He was; that Jesus was God in a bod, who entered into humanity and allowed Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived His perfect life.

Second, you need to trust that Jesus death for your selfishness and sin provides forgiveness and the relationship with God you were created for. And third, you need to follow Jesus as Lord and Leader. In other words, you need to place Jesus as large and in charge of your life and strive to follow His message and teachings.

If you desire to accept God’s invitation to enter into the relationship with Him that you were created for, you simply need to express to Him that you believe, trust, and desire to follow Jesus as Lord and Leader. There are no magic words, prayers, or formulas. Just talk to God and express that desire as I lead us in prayer.

Because, the timeless reality is that a right relationship with God requires a right entrance into that relationship.

"God-in-a-Bod" who is the pathway to God...

This week we are looking at a section of a famous sermon that Jesus preached, which we know today as the Sermon on the Mount. Yesterday, in Matthew 7:13-14, we saw Jesus reveal for us the timeless truth that a right relationship with God requires a right entrance into that relationship.  The timeless reality is that to experience a right relationship with God requires that we choose a way of life that places us on the right pathway to eternal life with God as part of the kingdom of Heaven.

Now a natural question that arises here is “Well Dave that sounds great, but what exactly is that way of life? What do I need to do to make sure that I end up on the pathway that leads to eternal life with God as part of the kingdom of Heaven”? In an event from history that is recorded for us in a section of another account of Jesus life in the Bible, called the gospel of John, we see one of Jesus followers ask that very question.

However, to fully understand this encounter, we first need to understand the context in which this encounter took place. At this point in the gospel of John, Jesus is engaged in the final conversation that He would have with His disciples before He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. Jesus began that conversation with His disciples, who thought that this was going to be the time where Jesus was going to kick out the ruling Roman Empire and establish the Kingdom of Heavens, by basically saying “I love you guys, you are my spiritual children, but I am only here for a little while and then I am out of here. And while you are going to look for Me, just like I said to the self-righteous religious people who oppose Me, I say to you guys as well, you can’t follow Me where I am going. I am leaving, and you cannot follow”. Because it is in this context that we are jumping into this encounter together, beginning in John 14:1-4:

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ² "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. ³ "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ "And you know the way where I am going."

Here we see Jesus explain to the disciples that instead of being disturbed at His words, that they should believe in His words. Now when Jesus uses the word believe here, this word is the same word that is also translated trust in our English Bibles. This word literally means to entrust oneself with complete confidence in someone or something. Jesus is saying “You need to trust Me. Just as you are to place your confident trust in God, you need to place your confident trust in Me”. Jesus then provides the reason why they were to place their confident trust in Him: ^“In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Now the disciples had heard this kind of language before. You see, in Jesus day, the tradition of marriage was that the bridegroom would make a wedding proposal to the bride and her family. The bride and her family would then agree to the wedding proposal. At this point, however, things become much different than today, because the bridegroom would then go back to where his family lived and would prepare a place for them to live, with his family. The bridegroom would basically build an addition on his parent’s house for them to live in.

After the addition was completed, bridegroom would then come back with his entire family banging pots and pans in a loud parade-like celebration. The parade would then stop at the bride’s house, where a wedding ceremony and reception would take place, which could last several days. At the end of the celebration, the bridegroom would pick the bride up, and take her to be with his family. When Jesus uses the phrase “receive you to myself”, this phrase literally means to take someone into a close association with oneself. Jesus is saying “I am going to take you to myself”.

Now imagine yourself as a disciple. Jesus is using language of getting married, but Jesus does not have a girlfriend. And besides, He is not talking about marrying a girl. Instead, He is talking about you. Jesus has just told you that His Father’s house has many dwelling places and that He is going to prepare a place for you to be able to live in a close intimate association with Him. And if that was not enough, Jesus says that you know the way to His Father’s house. From your perspective, what would you be thinking? And it is here that we see Thomas ask the very question that Jesus words in Matthew provoke in verse 5:

 ⁵ Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"

In this question, we see Thomas reveal the confusion that the disciples were feeling. Imagine yourself as Thomas. Earlier Jesus stated that where He was going that they could not come; now Jesus is saying that they know the way where He is going? So which is it? “Jesus, I’m confused. So, can I or can’t I come with you? Jesus, how am I supposed to know the way, when you have never told us the way you are going? And where are you going? Jesus what is the way?”

You see, Thomas, as the rest of the disciples were thinking of a literal road to a literal house where they never have been, so how are they supposed to know the way there. Jesus, however, is talking about something altogether different. And it is in Jesus response that we discover the right entrance into a right relationship with God. So, let’s look at Jesus response in verse 6-7:

 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. ⁷ "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."

You see, Jesus was not talking about an earthly way to an earthly house. Instead Jesus was talking about the way that one could experience the relationship with God that they were created for, but had been separated from as a result of selfishness and rebellion. Jesus is saying “I am the way of life; I am the source and embodiment of truth; I am the source by which you can experience forgiveness and the relationship with God that you were created for forever. And there is only way to experience that forgiveness and relationship. No one comes to experience that forgiveness and relationship with God apart from placing their trust in Me. You need to trust Me. Just as you are to place your confident trust in God, you need to place your confident trust in Me. If you really understood who I was as both life and the source of life, you would really understand who God was”.

Now, so often John 14:6 is used like a sledge hammer by Christians to argue for the exclusive nature of salvation through Jesus alone in order to experience a right relationship with God. And so often, when Christians quote Jesus words here, they like to place special emphasis on certain words in this verse. So often the conversation sounds something like this: Well you know that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to Heaven. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 I am the WAY, I am the TRUTH, I am the LIFE; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME”.

But when you look at the context, do you really think that Jesus communicated these words to His disciples with that emphasis?  Do you really think Jesus used these words like a sledgehammer? No Jesus here is talking to His closest followers who were confused and who felt that their world had been turned upside down. Jesus here is basically saying to His followers “Guys I AM the way, I AM the truth, I AM the life; no one comes to the Father but THROUGH ME. So guys, COME THROUGH ME. TRUST ME. FOLLOW ME.

You see, unlike how this verse is often used by Christians, Jesus here is inviting His followers to trust Him. Jesus is inviting His followers into relationship with Him. When you look at this verse in its context, we discover that John 14:6 is inclusive and John 14:6 is exclusive. Jesus invitation is inclusive; everyone is invited to experience a right relationship with God. And Jesus invitation is exclusive in that there is only one way to experience a right relationship with God. And that way is through Jesus, who is the way.

Up to this point, the twelve disciples had not fully grasped the full significance of who Jesus was. The disciples had not fully wrapped their minds around who Jesus was and how He was connected and related to God. However, Jesus explained to the disciples that would change. And as this conversation continued, Jesus would continue to blow up their categories when it came to who He was and how He was connected to God. We see Jesus begin to demolish their categories as another of the disciples asks a question in verse 8:

 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."

In other words, Phillip asks “Jesus all you have to do is take us to God and we will be good. So, Jesus, just take us to God already, then things will be clear”. We see Jesus response in verse 9-11:

Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father '? ¹⁰ "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. ¹¹ "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

In other words, Jesus says “Phillip, where have you been these past three years? How is it that you have not come to the know that I am God. Phillip, I am God in a bod. You see Phillip, I do not need to take you to God, because I am God who has come to you to reveal and explain myself to you.” When Jesus uses the phrase “I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me” Jesus is revealing the reality that He is God in a bod.

Jesus Christ is the second member of the Triune God. Jesus has the same nature and essence as God the Father. Jesus then backed His statement by explaining that His message and teachings are not of His own initiative. In other words, Jesus is not coming up with what He is saying. Instead, it is God the Father abiding in Me that initiates both His message and His miracles. Now when Jesus uses the word abide here, this word means to not leave a certain sphere of existence, to remain connected.

Jesus here is revealing the reality that He and God the Father are distinct but inseparably related and connected with one another. That is why earlier in the gospel of John, in John 1:18, John stated that the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. Jesus came to earth to reveal and explain God to humanity and to rescue humanity from their selfishness and rebellion.

And because Jesus is God-in-a-bod, Jesus provides us the pathway to God. Jesus provides the pathway to God because Jesus entered into humanity in order to live the life that we were created to live but refused to live, and then willingly allowed Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives, so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life. And because of Jesus life, death, and resurrection, Jesus invites everyone to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on the pathway that leads to entering into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven.

And that way, that pathway is Jesus. And while everyone is invited to take that way and pathway, that pathway is narrow, that pathway is exclusive. And unfortunately, few choose that pathway. Many choose to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on that pathway that results in entering a gate that leads to eternal punishment after being found guilty of evil and wrongdoing that flows from a selfishness and rebellion against God.

So, with that in mind, here is a question to consider: What way, what pathway are you on? Are you engaging in life in a way that has placed you on that pathway that results in entering a gate that leads to eternal punishment after being found guilty of evil and wrongdoing that flows from a selfishness and rebellion against God? Or are you engaging in life in a way that places them on the pathway that leads to entering a gate that leads to eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Now you might be wondering “how do I engage in a life that places me on the pathway that leads to entering into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven? Friday we will answer that question…

A right relationship with God requires the right entrance into that relationship...

At the church where I serve we have been spending our time together looking at perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. And, as we have looked at this sermon, our hope and prayer is that God would move by the power of the Holy Spirit in a way that enables us to wrap our heads, hearts, and hands around the lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as one who is living in a right relationship with Him. 

This week I would like for us to pick up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew, we are going to discover another timeless truth from Jesus uncut. So, let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Matthew 7:13:

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

As Matthew continues to give us a front row seat to this famous sermon that Jesus preached, we see Jesus command those who were listening to His sermon to enter through the narrow gate. With this command, Jesus is painting a word picture to the crowds of how one would enter into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven. In this word picture, Jesus paints the entrance to eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven as being narrow.

Jesus then unpacks the reason behind His command to enter through the narrow gate by explaining that the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Jesus here uses the image of a pathway to describe how one chooses to conduct one’s life here on earth. In other words, how one chooses to behave and engage in life here on earth places them on a way or a path that leads to a destination that is marked by a gate.

Jesus point is that there is a way that one chooses to behave and engage in life here on earth that places them on a pathway to destruction. The destruction that Jesus refers to here involves eternal punishment for those who are found guilty of evil and wrongdoing. In addition, Jesus explained that entrance to this destruction and punishment is marked by a gate.

And that pathway, that way of behavior and lifestyle is broad; many choose to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on that pathway. In addition, the gate that marks the entrance to destruction is wide; many will enter through that gate and into a state where they will experience eternal punishment after being found guilty of evil and wrongdoing. Jesus then contrasted the pathway and gate that leads to eternal punishment for those who are found guilty of evil and wrongdoing with the narrow gate that Jesus commanded those who were listening to His sermon to enter in verse 14:

 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus explained that, unlike the pathway and gate that leads to eternal punishment for those who are found guilty of evil and wrongdoing, the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life. Jesus point is that there is a way that one chooses to behave and engage in life here on earth that places them on a pathway to eternal life with God as a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. And just like the entrance to eternal destruction and punishment, entrance to this eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven is marked by a gate.

However, unlike the pathway to eternal destruction and punishment, the pathway to eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow. Now when Jesus uses this word narrow, this word paints a picture of a confined road that is a source of trouble or difficulty to those who choose to take it. In addition, Jesus explained that the gate that marks the entrance to eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow.  Jesus point is that few choose to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on the pathway that leads to entering into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven.

And it is here that we see Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus. In that a right relationship with God requires a right entrance into that relationship.  The timeless reality is that to experience a right relationship with God requires that we choose a way of life that places us on the right pathway to eternal life with God as part of the kingdom of Heaven.

Now a natural question that arises here is “Well Dave that sounds great, but what exactly is that way of life? What do I need to do to make sure that I end up on the pathway that leads to eternal life with God as part of the kingdom of Heaven”?

If that question is running through your mind, I want to let you know that is a great question to ask. And in an event from history that is recorded for us in a section of another account of Jesus life in the Bible, called the gospel of John, we see one of Jesus followers ask that very question.

However, to fully understand this encounter, we first need to understand the context in which this encounter took place.

At this point in the gospel of John, Jesus is engaged in the final conversation that He would have with His disciples before He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. Jesus began that conversation with His disciples, who thought that this was going to be the time where Jesus was going to kick out the ruling Roman Empire and establish the Kingdom of Heavens, by basically saying “I love you guys, you are my spiritual children, but I am only here for a little while and then I am out of here. And while you are going to look for Me, just like I said to the self-righteous religious people who oppose Me, I say to you guys as well, you can’t follow Me where I am going. I am leaving, and you cannot follow”.

Now I would like for us to try to place ourselves in the disciple’s shoes.  Imagine yourself as a disciple. You left everything, family, friends, career, in order to follow Jesus. And now Jesus has basically told you that He is leaving and that where He is going, you cannot follow Him. Now if you were one of Jesus disciples, what would you be thinking and feeling?

“What! What do you mean that we cannot follow you? We left everything to follow you. We leveraged everything to follow you.” As a disciple, your world has been turned upside down.

Because it is in this context that we will be jumping into this encounter tomorrow…

A summary statement surrounding the Sermon on the Mount...

This week we have been looking at a section of a famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the  Bible called the gospel of Matthew, where Jesus was addressing the issue of prayer. We discovered a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus in that a right relationship with God requires that we accept His invitation to pursue Him in prayer.  

A person who is living in a genuine and growing relationship with Jesus will accept His invitation to pursue God in prayer for God to provide for them materially so as to meet the needs that they have in our lives. A person who is living in a genuine and growing relationship with Jesus will accept His invitation to pursue God in prayer for God to provide the guidance and direction that they need in their lives. And, most importantly, a person who is living in a genuine and growing relationship with Jesus will accept His invitation to pursue God in prayer for God to experience His presence in their lives.

We discovered that the main function of prayer is a growing and continual communion with God on the deepest possible level. Prayer is divinely designed to be the vehicle by which we experience life with Jesus and life change by Jesus. You see, to pray is to change because prayer is the central avenue that God uses to transform us. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we will see our need and the more we will desire to be more like Jesus. If we are unwilling to change, we will give up on and avoid prayer, because when we pray, God reveals to us who we are and what needs to change.

Jesus addressed the issue of prayer because Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that eventually what is in the heart will spill out. And because of that reality, Jesus was calling the crowds listening to Him, and humanity throughout history, to accept His invitation to pursue Him in prayer for His provision, direction, and presence so that He could be at work to change us.

Jesus then concluded this section of His sermon by making a summary statement that would serve as a transition point to what He was about to address next in His sermon. So, let’s look at that summary statement together, which is found in Matthew 7:12:

 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Now if you grew up in church, or spent any time in church, you are very familiar with Jesus statement here. And even if you did not grow up in church, spend any time in church, or read the Bible, you are still familiar with this statement, but may have not have known that it came from the Bible. This statement is known as the Golden Rule.

Here we see Jesus summarize all that He had said in this sermon about how we relate to others in this simple, yet profound statement. This statement paraphrased God’s command to the Jewish people in Leviticus 19:18. In Leviticus 19:18, God commanded the Jewish people to love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus called the crowds, and humanity throughout history to this standard because we reflect God’s love for us and our love for God by loving others. Jesus point is that in everything, which literally means everything, in every aspect of our relationships with others, we are to show our love for God by loving others. Jesus then explained the reason behind His command with the phrase for this is the Law and the Prophets. But what does that mean?

During Jesus day, and still today, the Hebrew Scriptures were classified into three main sections; the Law, the Writings, and the Prophets. The Hebrew Scriptures take most of what we call the historical books like the Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and classify them under the Law. Jesus point is that everything that God had commanded the Jewish people in the letters that make up the Old Testament of the Bible revolves around this principle of treating people the same way you want them to treat you. Everything that God had commanded the Jewish people in the letters that make up the Old Testament of the Bible revolves around loving our neighbor as ourselves.

I would like to illustrate this by way of our ideas of obedience and sin. If what is most important to God in terms of obedience is loving God with our total being and loving our neighbor as ourselves, then sin could be defined as love of self over God and our neighbor who was created in His image.  If we treated people the way we wanted to be treated; if we loved our neighbor as ourselves, would we lie? Cheat? Steal? Murder? Gossip? Slander? Be divisive? Commit adultery? Be involved in pornography?

You see, Jesus here, by giving what we call the Golden Rule, was not giving us a new teaching, but is instead reinforcing what the Old Testament already taught, but the Jewish people had missed. Once again, we see Jesus move past external obedience to the issue of the heart. Once again, we see that Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that eventually what is in the heart will spill out.

So, with that in mind, here is a question to consider: what does how you treat others reveal about what is going on in your heart? What does how you treat others reveal about where you are at with God?

And how have you responded to Jesus invitation to pursue Him in prayer? Are you willing to create the space to pursue Him in prayer for His provision, direction, and presence so that He could be at work to change you? What is one thing that you could do this week when it comes to being more consistent in prayer?

Because a right relationship with God requires that we accept His invitation to pursue Him in prayer...