The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 7 Part 7 Walking On The Narrow Way

We must enter through the straight gate in order to walk on the narrow, God pleasing path.

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

In John 10, we saw that Jesus is the door for all the sheep who follow Christ our Shepherd.

A sheep pictures those who have repented of sin and believe on the Lord Jesus christ. 

In this text, Jesus is the straight gate that leads to heaven.

Salvation is something God does in us at the individual heart level.

Church membership is good but it cannot confer salvation.

Growing up in a Christian home or going to a Christian school is good but they cannot confer the new birth.

Each sinner must be convicted of their sin by the Spirit of God when they hear gospel preaching. 

The apostle Paul lived as a strict Pharisee and outwardly was righteous but inwardly he lusted was covetous.

Paul said that he would not have known his sin without hearing the holy standard of God (See Romans 7:7).

Gospel preaching must include the fact that the whole world is guilty of sin before God and subject to eternal condemnation (See Romans 3:19).

God's Spirit works in human hearts through gospel preaching in such a way that a sinner is led to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel points to a repentant sinner to our Savior, Jesus Christ who is God's perfect passover Lamb (See Exodus 12; John 1:29-34). 

Jesus died in our place on the cross, bearing our sins and receiving death, which is the wages of our sins (See Romans 3:25; Colossians 2:6-15; 1 Peter 2:20-25).

The gospel must then preach about the cross, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He emerged victorious over death, hell, the grave and Satan (See 1 Corinthians 15).

The gospel must also preach the ascension to heaven of Jesus Christ where He sits at His Father's right hand.

Therefore, going through the straight gate pictures the moment a sinner believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and is born again. 

What about the narrow way that the straight gate leads us to?

The word "way" refers to a clearly marked and known path leading from one place to another.

Thus, the life of a Christian on earth is compared with walking on a certain path that God wants His children to walk on.

The "narrow way" pictures a believer walking with Christ by faith in newness of life.

Romns 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism is a reminder that Jesus died for us, receiving the wages of our sins which is death.

Christ's resurrection reminds us that we too, will be raised from the dead and spend eternity in heaven with God.

This is symbolized by a believer raised up out of the waters of baptism. 

As soon as a repentant sinner is regenerated by the Holy Spirit, he or she begins a brand new life.

Paul tells us that we are to walk in newness of life.

"Newness of life" refers to a new state of life that we did not have before. 

Newness of life is spiritual life put in us from God whereas we were born spiritually dead.

The work of the Holy Spirit brings new, spiritual life to us in order to produce a new way of living which is eternal life in us.

Romans 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 

Paul uses the phrase "newness of spirit" to remind the believer in Christ that we are no longer condemned by God's law beacuse Christ fulfilled it for us.

What does it look like to walk in newness of life?

It is serving God and others with newness of spirit, as the indwelling Spirit of God produces fruit in us and seeks to lead us in the way of God.

David's daily prayers of worship and a desire for God to teach and lead him His ways.

Psalm 25:1-5  A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2  O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3  Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4  Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 

King David wrote many Psalms and his prayer in this one is one that we can and should pray each day.

Those who are "in Christ" can always lift up our soul to our wonderful God and Savior. 

When we put our trust in Him we will always be readily received by our LORD.

David gave us some wonderful guidance on specific things that a believer in Christ should ask of God.

Walking on the narrow way means total trust in Jehovah and seeking Him each day.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Walking in newness of life means not relying on our experiences, knowledge or the counsel of other people.

Instead, we are to live by leaning on the everlasting arms of God, seeking His wisdom and guidance so that we do not go astray from Him.

Each day we must open our Bible to hear from God and to be taught by His Spirit.

Psalm 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

The Word of God is a manual to guide us through this life, to show us how to honor God and to help us worship Him aright.

His word shines like a bright flashlight showing us immediate perils in front of our feet that we do not fall into sin.

His word shines out like a blazing beam from a spotlight to show us the path of holiness that He is leading us to walk on.

Walking in newness of life means learning live as followers of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 

Paul urged Christians to follow his example because he was following Christ.

The word translated "followers" means to imitate the apostle's life and conduct because Jesus taught all the apostles how they must live according to the gospel (See 1 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 5:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6). 

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 

We are instructed to follow the example of Christ's apostles as they walked with their risen Lord.

Jesus spoke to us through the apostles and He sustained them to the end of their earthly pilgrimage, just as He will do for us.

Paul taught the Thessalonians to follow the apostlic example because it was pleasing to God.

Even more, Paul said we must continually grow in walking by faith with our Lord so that we are not conformed to the sinful ways of a depraved world.

Thus, we are instructed to learn Christ's commandments as they teach us how to live and walk as strangers and pilgrims who seek that heavenly city made by God (See Hebrews 11).

Followers of Jesus Christ no longer live the same life they did before theri conversion to Christ. 

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Those who are truly born again know this text to be true.

We are regenerated by the Spirit of God, made a new creation in Christ so that we might walk in newness of life.

Old things pass away. This passing away of old things includes our sinful habits, our old circle of sinful friends, the old places we used to go and impacts all of life.

We no longer desire to listen to the world's music, we no longer watch or listen or practice that which God says dishonors Him.

Instead, we walk being led by the Holy Spirit, taught by Him and shaped by Him as He seeks to produce His beautiful fruit in our lives (See Galatians 5).

Walking in newness of life means seraching out the holy, old paths from God.

Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

When we open our Bible to hear from God we must stand at the two divergent paths and choose to enter through the straight gate to the find the narrow, God pleasing way. 

With an open Bible let us ask our LORD for the old path which is marked by holiness and seperation from the corrupt culture.

This is a good way marked out by God's Word that He wants us to walk on.

When we pursue the narrow way that pleases God we will be blessed and find rest for our soul.

Proof of salvation is walking on the narrow path and keeping His commands.

1 John 2:3-6  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

The apostle John gives us a spiritual litmus test to determine if we are a born again follower of Jesus Christ or if our profession of faith is hollow.

All who know Jesus as Lord and Savior will keep His commandments.

All who say they know Christ but fail to keep His commandments are liars and the truth of the gospel is not in their heart.

All who truly profess faith in Christ will devote their lives to walking as Jesus walked.

Our life will be marked by love for God and others.

It will be a life dedicated to serving God and others.

What is the outcome of walking on the narrow way?

Eternal life and a home in heaven with God!

In our next lesson we will look at those who go through the broad gate and walk on the wide way.

Bob