Sermon Cloud

“Did I just Miss Out on Heaven?”
Luke 13:22-35

Key Verse:  “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”  Luke 13:24 (NIV)

1. It’s common to have a false sense of security about your spiritual condition, that you are just fine, for reasons that look pretty good and convincing. Be wary of privileged presumption, 13:22-30.

“The day of judgment will produce surprises with its overturning of human

expectations.” I. Howard Marshall

I King 18:21

21        “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people did not answer him a word.” (NAS)

2. Jesus says that His way is the only way. It’s a narrow door not carelessly entered.  Lack of effort will cause you to miss it, 13:24.

“Labor hard at listening and responding.” Darrell Bock

“Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life - to God! - is vigorous and requires your total attention.  A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’” Luke 14:23-24, The Message, Eugene Peterson

“Try your hardest.” Phillips paraphrase

“We are not saved by effort, but we shall not believe without effort.” Alexander Maclaren

Luke 13:3-5

3          “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

4          Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?

5          I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (NAS)

John 14:6

6          “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” (NAS)

Acts 4:12

12        “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (NAS)

Acts 26:19-20

19        “Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20        but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.” (NAS)

1 Timothy 2:5

5          “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (NAS)

3. Ask yourself these two questions:

A. Does Jesus know you?

B. Is your life consistent with a true Christians? 13:25-27.

4. Don’t delay or make excuses, the door will not always be open, 13:25, 27.

5. Privilege, position, heritage, power, nationality, money mean nothing, heaven’s occupants will be from everywhere, 13:29, 30.

Eleven evidences of the new birth

 1. Those who are born of God keep His commandments, 1 John 2:3-4; 3:24.

 2. Those who are born of God walk as Christ walked, 1 John 2:5-6.

 3. Those who are born of God don’t hate others but love them, 1 John 2:9; 3:14; 4:7-8; 4:20.

 4. Those who are born of God don’t love the world, 1 John 2:15.

 5. Those who are born of God confess the Son and receive (have) him, 1 John  2:23; 4:15; 5:12.

 6. Those who are born of God practice righteousness, 1 John 2:29.

 7. Those who are born of God don’t make a practice of sinning, 1 John 3:6; 3:9-    10; 5:18.

 8. Those who are born of God possess the Spirit of God, 1 John 3:24.

 9. Those who are born of God listen submissively to the apostolic Word, 1 John 4:6.

 10. Those who are born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ, 1 John 5:21.

 11. Those who are born of God overcome the world, 1 John 5:4.

 John Piper, Finally Alive