SEMESTER 6
288 – Two Gates, Two Religions
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY VI LESSON # 88
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
TWO GATES, TWO RELIGIONS
Read: Mat. 7:1-14
INTRODUCTION:
1. This is lesson 24 on my exposition of the Sermon on the Mount.
2. Remember these are serious issues with the Lord, not mere lessons to learn.
i. “Ye shall in no case enter.” (Mat. 5:20)
ii. “Is in danger of hell fire.” (Mat. 5:22)
iii. “Thy whole body cast into hell.” ( Mat. 5:29)
3. This passage resumes the discussion of the serious implications of careless religion.
4. Remember the context is not religion versus no religion, but right religion versus wrong religion.
III: Those who are destroyed do in fact seek to enter in.
I. THE WIDE GATE IS THE WAY TO DESTRUCTION
1. Human philosophy sees this as being bigotry, “That many people cannot be wrong.”
2. The common exhortation today is, “Be broad-minded about religion.”
III: You may correct a man about his car, tobacco, food, or his politics, but you must not discuss his religion.
3. Contrary to human philosophy, the Lord warns, this way is the path to destruction.
4. Man has always despised the small, and admired the large. “What do these feeble Jews?” (Neh. 4:2)
5. This simple, common, natural error leads to eternity in hell.
6. This broad way to destruction embraces all that is not contained in the narrow way.
II. ONLY THE STRAIT GATE AND THE NARROW WAY IS TO LIFE
1. Frequently, misunderstanding of this still belongs to the above category.
III: Walk the “strait and narrow,” and they think of salvation by works.
2. There are a thousand “narrow ways” which are still part of the broad way.
III: We are going different ways, but all for the same place. Totally false!
3. This word “strait” means exacting, or difficult by reason of deceptions or obstacles.
4. Everywhere Satan has painted false road signs and false gates.
III: By the modern, false delusions of religious movements, etc.
5. Some of these delusive dreams are sacerdotalism, in all its forms. All these are differing religious majors.
6. The lying road signs are everywhere, on ways that seem right, but there is only one way to life.
III. THE IDENTITY OF THE STRAIT GATE WHICH LEADS TO LIFE
1. We could not and need not identify all the ways to destruction, but only the way to life.
2. Upon this subject the Bible is more than clear. There is no need to stumble or quibble.
3. The way is not a church, or formula of Christianity, or even all of them compositely.
4. Jesus Christ clearly says He is the way. (Joh. 14:6)
5. He says He is the only door (Joh. 10:9), and the only name. (Acts 4:12)
6. He is THE LAMB of God (Joh. 1:29), and THE ONLY PRIEST who purges sin. (Heb. 10:14)
7. He is the “END OF THE LAW” for everyone that believeth. (Rom. 10:4)
8. Hear Paul’s instruction, (Heb 12:1-2) run with patience – the race looking unto Jesus.
9. Not as a model or formula, but as the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith.
10. Are you seeking to enter by this gate or by one of the many others.