“Choices, Contrasts & Warnings” Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9 Matthew 7:13-29.

““Choices, Contrasts & Choices, Contrasts & Warnings”Warnings”

Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9

Matthew 7:13-29Matthew 7:13-29

A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad

““Enter through the narrow gate. For Enter through the narrow gate. For

wide is the gate and broad is the road wide is the gate and broad is the road

that leads to destruction, and many that leads to destruction, and many

enter through it. But small is the gate enter through it. But small is the gate

and narrow the road that leads to life, and narrow the road that leads to life,

and only a few find it. and only a few find it.

(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)


For the LORD watches over the way of For the LORD watches over the way of

the righteous, the righteous,

but the way of the wicked leads to but the way of the wicked leads to

destruction. destruction. Psalm 1:6 (NIV)Psalm 1:6 (NIV)


……they are not of the world any more they are not of the world any more

than I am of the world. My prayer is not than I am of the world. My prayer is not

that you take them out of the world but that you take them out of the world but

that you protect them from the evil onethat you protect them from the evil one. .

John 17:14b-15 (NIV)John 17:14b-15 (NIV)


• Their Their charactercharacter

For wide is the gate and broad is the For wide is the gate and broad is the

road …But small is the gate and narrow road …But small is the gate and narrow

the road.the road.


• The broad way describes a life The broad way describes a life

unrestrainedunrestrained; without ; without boundariesboundaries. .

• The narrow way describes a life of The narrow way describes a life of

disciplinediscipline and willful and willful restraintrestraint..


• Their Their popularitypopularity

• Jesus said thatJesus said that many enter through many enter through the the

wide gate and travel the broad road.wide gate and travel the broad road.

• ““The terms “wide” and “broad” are The terms “wide” and “broad” are

spatial, but they also evoke a sense of spatial, but they also evoke a sense of

easeease and and comfortcomfort” ”


• Their Their destinationdestination

• The broad road “The broad road “leads to destruction”leads to destruction”. .

• The narrow road “The narrow road “leads to life,”leads to life,”

A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…

• ““Watch out for false prophets. (v.15)Watch out for false prophets. (v.15)

• By their fruit you will recognize them.By their fruit you will recognize them.

(v.16) (v.16)


• They are members of the “flock” but They are members of the “flock” but

they are intentionally they are intentionally destructivedestructive. .

• Jesus said “Jesus said “they come to you in they come to you in

sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are

ferocious wolves…”(15b)ferocious wolves…”(15b)


• They do They do spectacularspectacular things to things to impressimpress

people.people.


• The test of The test of subsequentsubsequent eventsevents

(Deuteronomy 18:21-22) (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

• The The theologicaltheological test (Deuteronomy test (Deuteronomy

13:1-6) 13:1-6)

• The The ethicalethical test (Jeremiah 23:9-15) test (Jeremiah 23:9-15)


• How do we keep from being deceived? How do we keep from being deceived?

We examine the We examine the lifelife not just the not just the worksworks

of the prophet.of the prophet.

• Jesus said it is “Jesus said it is “by their fruit you will by their fruit you will

recognize themrecognize them”.”.


Do people pick grapes from Do people pick grapes from

thornbushes, or figs from thistles? thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Likewise, every good tree bears good Likewise, every good tree bears good

fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A

good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a

bad tree cannot bear good fruit. bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

- Matthew 7:16-18 (NIV)- Matthew 7:16-18 (NIV)


Every tree that does not bear good fruit Every tree that does not bear good fruit

is cut down and thrown into the fire. is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize Thus, by their fruit you will recognize

them.them. – Matthew 7:19-20 (NIV) – Matthew 7:19-20 (NIV)

A A delusionaldelusional group of travelers group of travelers

““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord,

Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,

but only the one who does the will of but only the one who does the will of

my Father who is in heaven. Many will my Father who is in heaven. Many will

say to me on that day,say to me on that day,


‘ ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in

your name and in your name drive out your name and in your name drive out

demons and in your name perform demons and in your name perform

many miracles?’ Then I will tell them many miracles?’ Then I will tell them

plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from

me, you evildoers!me, you evildoers!’ ’

– – Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)


• Jesus introduces us to a new group of Jesus introduces us to a new group of

people; people; falsefalse disciplesdisciples. .

only the one who does the will of my only the one who does the will of my

Father.Father.


• Notice the phrase ‘Notice the phrase ‘I never I never knewknew you you… …

(v.23)(v.23)

• When Jesus said “When Jesus said “I never knew youI never knew you…” …”

“he used a verb meaning to “know by “he used a verb meaning to “know by

experienceexperience” ”


• Here is righteousness that exceeds Here is righteousness that exceeds

religion – religion – embracingembracing Jesus as our Jesus as our

SaviorSavior..

Our Bottom Line:Our Bottom Line:

• Life Life transformationtransformation requires requires applicationapplication

of Biblical truth.of Biblical truth.

Two builders; one builds on Two builders; one builds on rockrock and one builds on and one builds on sandsand..

Both builders “Both builders “keepkeep on on hearinghearing””

• ““Therefore everyone who hears these Therefore everyone who hears these

words of mine … is like a wise man words of mine … is like a wise man

who built his house on the rock. (v.24)who built his house on the rock. (v.24)

• But everyone who hears these words of But everyone who hears these words of

mine … is like a foolish man who built mine … is like a foolish man who built

his house on sand (v.26)his house on sand (v.26)

Both builders have different Both builders have different responsesresponses

• ““Therefore everyone who hears these Therefore everyone who hears these

words of mine and puts them into words of mine and puts them into

practice is like a wise man who built his practice is like a wise man who built his

house on the rock. (v.24)house on the rock. (v.24)

Both builders have different Both builders have different responsesresponses

• But everyone who hears these words of But everyone who hears these words of

mine and does not put them into mine and does not put them into

practice is like a foolish man who built practice is like a foolish man who built

his house on sand (V.26)his house on sand (V.26)

Both builders Both builders facedfaced the the consequencesconsequences

The rain came down, the streams rose, The rain came down, the streams rose,

and the winds blew and beat against and the winds blew and beat against

that house; yet it did not fall, because it that house; yet it did not fall, because it

had its foundation on the rock. (v.25)had its foundation on the rock. (v.25)

Both builders Both builders facedfaced the the consequencesconsequences

The rain came down, the streams rose, The rain came down, the streams rose,

and the winds blew and beat against and the winds blew and beat against

that house, and it fell with a great that house, and it fell with a great

crash.” (v.27)crash.” (v.27)

Jesus is telling us to Jesus is telling us to putput into into practicepractice what He said. what He said.

When Jesus had finished saying these When Jesus had finished saying these

things, the crowds were amazed at his things, the crowds were amazed at his

teaching, because he taught as one teaching, because he taught as one

who had authority, and not as their who had authority, and not as their

teachers of the law.teachers of the law. (vv.28,29) (vv.28,29)

ApplicationApplication

• Healthy choices require respecting Healthy choices require respecting

Christ honoring Christ honoring disciplinesdisciplines..

• Healthy choices sometimes make you Healthy choices sometimes make you

look look crazycrazy to other people. to other people.

• Healthy choices focus on Healthy choices focus on eternaleternal

consequences.consequences.

ApplicationApplication

• Healthy choices are based on good Healthy choices are based on good

advise from advise from trustworthytrustworthy counselorscounselors

• Healthy choices come out of a desire Healthy choices come out of a desire

for good for good charactercharacter not good not good worksworks..

• Healthy choices reflect a Healthy choices reflect a desiredesire to do to do

God’sGod’s willwill..

“Choices, Contrasts & Warnings” Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9 Matthew 7:13-29.

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Transcript of “Choices, Contrasts & Warnings” Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9 Matthew 7:13-29.