The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 7 Part 8 The Broad Way That Leads To Destruction

We all begin life going through the wide gate and walking on the broad way toward judgment.

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. 

What is the wide gate where many pass through?

In this context the wide gate refers to how we are born into this life.

By Adam's sin, made all humanity since the fall, a race of sinners in need of salvation.

It must be pointed out that God sought Adam and Eve after they sinned, and He provided a way for their sin to be covered by the sacrifice of an innocent substitute lamb, and the application of its' blood to atone for them.

Thus, the gospel or good news that God will save sinners who repent and trust Him by faith has been operative since the fall of man.

The wide gate is where all people enter this life as sinners needing redemption.

Romans 5:12-14  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13)  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14)  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 

God gave the first Adam a moral test and he failed.

Because Adam sinned, every single person born since that time is born with a sin nature.

No one has to teach us how to sin because that is part of who we are in Adam.

Some have called Adam the federal head of all humanity, for his choice to sin impacted every single person every born since the fall.

Paul wrote about the first Adam and the wide ranging consequences of his sin.

Adam's moral failure to obey God in the garden of Eden directly resulted in sin entering the world.

The ultimate consequence of sin is death for that is the wages of sin (See Romans 6:23).

Therefore, all people are born with a sin nature and all will die due to the sin in us.

No one is born righteous (See Romans 3:10).

No one is born with a heart to seek God (See Romans 3:11).

No one is born with a good heart because we routinely transgress God's law (See Romans 3:12).

Every single person since Adam falls far short of the glory of God because all have sinned. 

Everyone since Adam has been born a sinner and has sinned. This is why the world is depraved.

Ephesians 2:1-3  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus to help the Gentile Christians understand how salvation changed them.

These verses describe how all people are and will remain unless they hear the gospel of Christ, repent and call upon the Lord.

We walked according to the course of this world.

This means our behaviors, thoughts and speech were shaped by the cultural norms which are generally depraved. 

Whatever the world seeks after in terms of pleasure seeking, sensuality and wickedness, is what we naturally do as fallen humans.

This fallen world is under the sphere of Satan's influence.

This is why when you think that it can't get any worse, you hear or read about some new, vile and diabolical crime that has been committed. 

This is why all humanity is called children of disobedience.

We seek to satisfy our fleshly lusts and sin against God with impunity.

Humanity at large are called the children of wrath because God's judgment hangs over the head of each sinner and the moment they die in their sins, they will be judged and sent to the flames of Hell for eternity.

None of this truth contains a "feel good" message, but this truth is very much a part of the gospel that we must share with lost people.

People need to know about their sin and its lethal consequences.

What is the broad way that leads to destruction?

The broad way is a highway that leads to a hard life of sinning followed by eternal condemnation.

It is a wide road because the majority of people are walking on it, unknowing or uncaring about the reality of death, condemnation, and Hell.

The works of our flesh are depraved and vile and reflect the wickedness in the world around us. 

Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

There are many lists that describe the depravity of mankind in detail and this is one of them (See Romans 1:18-31).

Paul was guided to list broad categories of sin that are manifest in the world during every generation.

All of these lists describe what it means to walk on the broad way that leads to destruction.

The broad way leads to eternal condemnation and fiery judgment from God. 

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7)  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8)  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9)  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

God's judgment upon sinners is sure and certain to be carried out.

Paul described the day of judgment for the Christians at Thessalonica.

Sinners will always persecute those who follow Christ and seek to live for the glory of God.

Sinners will always cause trouble and incite hatred and do horrendous, violence against others.

Mark it down, King Jesus will return with the overwhelming mighty angelic host of heaven.

Jesus will come with flaming fire to judge all who reject the gospel of Christ.

Sinners shall suffer eternal condemnation for their sins.

This is what it means to enter the wide gate and to walk on the broad way that leads to destruction.

Living life as a sinner is hard now and will be infinitely worse in eternity.

Proverbs 13:15  Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Living a life dominated by committing sins and transgressions is hard enough but the eternal consequences of a transgressor is much worse.

Thus, we have two gates that we must consider.

We are all born sinners because of Adam's moral failure and thus, we enter this life through the wide gate.

We begin life walking on the broad way that I described for us from the scriptures.

However, we do not have to stay on that road to destruction.

There is another gate that Jesus is calling all sinners to enter.

It is the gate of salvation that is entered when anyone hears the gospel of Christ, the preaching of the cross and blood shed for our sins.

One day, I understood my own sins after hearing the Word of God (Faith comes by hearing preaching of the Word Romans 10:17).

I repented of my sins and cried out to the Lord to save me and He did.

I was blessed to see old things begin to pass away from my life. 

I was blessed to be in a church where I was taught truth from God's Word that helped me learn how God wants me to walk.

Our merciful, gracious God will do the same thing for you.

No one has to stay on the path that leads to eternal condemnation because God provided a Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Repent, turn from your sins and call upon the Lord and He will save you. 

Bob