TEXT:  Matt. 7:13-14

INTRODUCTION:

A.    2 ROADS – ONE TO HEAVEN AND ONE TO HELL.

B.    THE ROAD TO HEAVEN IS STRAIT AND NARROW.

        1.     “Straitened – hemmed in like a mountain gorge” ( Vine ).

        2.     Indicates the narrowness of God’s will.

        3.     The only way to life is the one way God provides.

C.    OUR MAP TO HEAVEN?  THE BIBLE.

I.     JESUS IS THE WAY TO GOD( John 14:6 ).

A.    THERE IS NO SALVATION WITHOUT JESUS( Acts 4:12 ).

B.    GOD’S SPOKESMAN( Heb. 1:1-2 ).

        1.     Thru Jesus we come to know God( John 1:18;  14:9-10 ).

        2.     He is the sum total of God’s will( Eph. 1:10 ).

C.    BUT NO MAN CAN COME TO CHRIST WITHOUT BEING DRAWN

        ( John 6:44 ). 

        BY THE GOSPEL( vs. 45;  2 Thess. 2:14 ).

D.    A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD ENABLES US TO KNOW AND OBEY HIM.

        1.     Knowing the truth can make us free( John 8:32 ).

        2.     The gospel  is the Power( Rom. 1:16;  1 Cor. 1:21 ).

        3.     If a man is to be saved, he must hear and do God’s will

               ( James 1:22;  Matt. 7:24ff. ).

        4.     Trust and obey( Matt. 7:21;  Heb. 5:8-9 ).

II.    WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

A.    ONE MUST BELIEVE IN JESUS( John 20:30-31;  3:16;  Heb. 11:6 ).

B.    A VALID FAITH FINDS EXPRESSION IN WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

        ( James 2:14-26;  Gal. 5:6;  James 2:24 ).

C.    WHAT ARE THESE WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?

        1.     We must repent of our sins( Acts 17:30 ).

               a.     Change of character( Col. 3:9-10 ).

               b.     Change of masters( Rom. 6:17-18 ).

               c.     2 Cor. 5:17.

        2.     We must confess faith in Jesus( Matt. 10:32-33;  Rom. 10:10 ).

               a.     Includes suffering for him( 1 Pet. 4:15-16 ).

               b.     Includes proclaiming his name( Acts 5:42 ).

               c.     The Good Confession( 1 Tim. 6:12-13 ).

        3.     We must be baptized ( Acts 2:38 ).

D.    NEWNESS OF LIFE CAN BE SUMMED UP IN THIS VERSE ( Rom. 12:9 ).

        1.     Abhorring evil will cause us to cease from it.

        2.     Neither will we endorse or partake in evil( Eph. 5:11;  Psa. 1:1-2 ).

        3.     Our lives will be worthy, we’ll strive( Phil. 1:27 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.    WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON?

B.    HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED?

C.    ARE YOU WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE?