The Blessed & The Cursed

Psalm 1

Only 2 Gates & 2 WaysMatthew 7:13

• Cain & Abel

• Isaac & Ishmael

• Jacob & Esau

• David & Saul

• Wicked & Righteous

• Born Once & Born Again

A Tale of Two People

Blessed is the man…

Do NOT• WALK... in the counsel of the

ungodly• STAND... in the path of sinners

• SIT... in the seats of the scornful

Jesus & taxcollectors

What he likes…..

•Delights in the law of the Lord

• Meditates day & night on God’s word

Like a Tree..

•plantedby the river

• bears fruit in its season

• leaves do not wither

• What he does --prospers

An Interview with Joni

People on the Broad Way

• “ungodly”, “wicked”

• like chaff• blown away by the wind

What happens to them?

• NOT STAND

• in judgment• in the congregation of the righteous

Why the Certainty…

•For the LORD knows• the way of the righteous

• the way of the ungodly

• shall perish

“Unless you be born again...”

• John 3

• Nicodemus -- a Pharisee, a Bible teacher

• Jesus: “..you will NOT enter the Kingdom of God”

False Evidences

• Matthew 7

• 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’-

Signs of New Life• A delight in the Bible

• Growth in knowing God better & becoming more like Jesus

• Bear fruits

• Love for fellow believers