Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 71)
Introduction:
1. We learn from James 1:27 that "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world" is an important part of "pure and undefiled religion before God." 2. Valuable instructions are given in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) that will help us to remain free from the world's spots. 3. While Jesus addressed a number of specific issues in His Sermon, this lesson is a study of the general instructions He presented in Matthew 7:13-14. 4. To keep ourselves unspotted from the world we must enter in at the strait gate and travel the narrow way. Discussion: I. THE LORD WANTS US TO ENTER IN AT THE STRAIT GATE
A. "Enter" implies effort on our part. 1. The strait gate cannot be entered by accident -- it requires conscious, deliberate effort. 2. (Luke 13:24) Jesus said that we must "strive" to enter it. B. The "strait" gate is narrow and fixed [like a narrow gorge hemmed in between rocks]. 1. Limitations indicate that a person must pay the price to go through this gate. a. (Matthew 5:29-30) Certain things must be given up. b. (Matthew 16:24) Self must be denied, and crosses must be carried. 2. Paying the price to enter the strait gate is worthwhile because it leads to eternal life. C. To help us understand what is involved in entering the strait gate,: 1. Heaven is pictured as having 12 gates (Revelation 21:10-13). 2. Only certain ones will be allowed to enter (Revelation 21:27; 22:14). D. There is a "wide gate," but it leads to destruction. E. In addition to entering in at the strait gate, . . . II. THE LORD WANTS US TO TRAVEL THE NARROW WAY
A. The "narrow" way also indicates that there are limitations. 1. (John 14:6) Jesus is "the way," and the only way to get to the Father is through Him. 2. There are not many ways -- there is only one, and that way is narrow. B. Years earlier, Isaiah prophesied about "the way of holiness" (Isaiah 35:8-10). 1. There would be no unclean people on this way of holiness. 2. Only the redeemed and the ransomed would travel this way to Zion. 3. In Zion, those who traveled this way would be blessed. C. There is a "broad way," but it leads to destruction. D. The Lord wants us to enter in at the strait gate and travel the narrow way; however, . . . III. ONLY A FEW WILL FOLLOW THE LORD'S INSTRUCTIONS
A. "Many" will go to destruction, whereas "few" will find life. B. To illustrate, out of all the people living on the earth at the time of the flood, only 8 were saved in the ark (Genesis 7:13). C. Only 8 precious souls were willing to enter in at the strait gate and travel the narrow way. D. By doing so they kept themselves unspotted from the world. Conclusion:
1. Everyone will appear before Christ in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). 2. Where we spend eternity will be determined by which gate we entered and which way we traveled.
