Is Christianity Too Narrow?.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Welcome to Village Church. [0:01] My name’s Steve, I’m one of the pastors here [0:03] and I’m glad to see you this morning. [0:05] Glad to be here as well. [0:07] If you have your Bibles, [0:08] go ahead and open them up to Matthew chapter seven.

[0:10] We’re gonna be starting our reading this morning [0:13] in verse 13, but before we get into that, [0:17] before we get into the message time, [0:19] I wanna kind of continue in a spirit of prayer. [0:22] So if you’ll just pray with me. [0:24] Father, Lord, you are a good God.

[0:29] Lord, and I believe that you have abundantly [0:32] revealed that to us, Lord. [0:34] I pray this morning, specifically right now in this hour, [0:38] that you would just make yourself abundantly clear [0:43] to us through your word. [0:46] Lord, that you would remove distraction.

[0:50] Lord, that we would, everyone in here [0:52] would be drawn towards you. [0:55] That you would strengthen our faith, [0:58] strengthen our trust in you. [1:01] God, and all of those things that would distract us [1:05] from having an open heart, from having an open mind

[1:08] to your word this morning, [1:09] I pray that you would quiet that. [1:12] And Holy Spirit, in this time, my prayer is that [1:16] you would give us a fresh realization that you’re here. [1:21] Lord, and through that, help us to understand your word, [1:24] help us to understand the revelation of yourself

[1:27] that you have made.

[1:30] Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.

[1:33] Preach to us, Father. [1:35] In the name of Christ, I pray, amen. [1:38] This is the fourth week of a series called Explore God, [1:41] and what we’ve been doing is, [1:43] is we’ve been, for the past few weeks, [1:45] we’ve been going through different questions

[1:47] that people in the culture ask concerning God. [1:52] And so, these are the big questions of life. [1:55] We’ve talked about, you know, is there a purpose to life? [1:57] Is there a God? [1:58] Is there a purpose to pain and suffering? [2:00] And so, these are the big questions of life.

[2:03] And so, what we’re doing is, we’re attempting to answer them [2:06] from the Christian perspective. [2:08] And so, when we do that, understand that [2:11] we’re gonna be talking a lot about Jesus, [2:13] we’re gonna be talking a lot about the Bible, [2:15] and because we believe that this is where

[2:18] the only real answer is to any questions about life, [2:21] specifically in these areas, is going to be found. [2:26] And so, interestingly, the perspective [2:29] that we’re going to be talking about today is important [2:31] because we’re specifically gonna be talking about [2:33] the question, is Christianity too narrow?

[2:37] And so, I personally think that that question is vital [2:40] to understanding every question [2:43] that we’re going to cover specifically from here out. [2:46] I think all of the questions that have led up [2:47] to this question kind of lean into this question. [2:51] I mean, when you think about, is there a purpose,

[2:53] or is there a purpose to life, is there a God? [2:56] Is there a purpose to pain and suffering? [2:59] So, when we answer those, we get more and more specific. [3:04] So, it doesn’t get more general the more specific [3:06] the question about life gets. [3:08] It gets more specific.

[3:09] And so, when you get more specific, [3:11] you just reasonably need to understand, [3:14] you’re going to get more narrow. [3:17] And so, coming off of this week, we’re gonna say, [3:19] is Jesus God? [3:21] Is the Bible true?

[3:23] Is it reliable? [3:24] Can you personally know God? [3:26] And so, as we go week in and week out, [3:29] it gets more and more specific [3:31] to where ultimately it’s going to be, [3:33] how do you react to the answers to all of those questions?

[3:39] And so, we won’t be getting more general. [3:41] We will be getting more narrow. [3:43] And I think this question is vital [3:47] if you’re going to understand the rest of the questions [3:49] that we will cover. [3:51] And the answer to this one, in fact, leads into all of those.

[3:55] And there’s also a lot beneath that question. [3:59] So, as everything, there’s two possible answers. [4:02] This is a yes or a no. [4:03] And so, I could just say yes, or I could just say no, [4:06] and then say, all right, go do with that [4:08] whatever you want to.

[4:10] But if you say yes, understand that there’s a lot [4:13] that needs to come after that. [4:15] So, if I say yes, it is too narrow, [4:17] then that comes from a specific perspective. [4:20] And so, I want you to understand [4:21] that I’m bringing a perspective in this morning

[4:24] that if you think that Christianity is too narrow, [4:27] I think there’s something beneath that. [4:30] I think that there’s a perspective. [4:32] I think there’s an experience. [4:34] I think there’s an interaction with a person [4:36] or some people that you have had.

[4:39] And so, usually, when people say [4:41] that Christians are too narrow, [4:43] they’re not just saying Christianity itself is narrow, [4:46] but usually it’s a statement about Christian people. [4:49] That Christian people are narrow-minded. [4:52] That they’re judgmental.

[4:54] That they’re legalistic. [4:56] That they’re hateful towards certain people [4:58] or certain people groups. [5:00] And the truth is that there’s two possibilities to that. [5:04] The first one is, I want to fully admit [5:06] that there are some people who label themselves

[5:09] as Christians that may be all of those things [5:12] for the wrong reasons. [5:14] And those people, quite frankly, [5:16] aren’t really Christians at all. [5:18] But there is also a possibility on the other end [5:22] of that question slash claim.

[5:25] And that is the fact that it’s possible [5:27] that you are narrow-minded and your perspective is narrow [5:32] because you are doing all of those things [5:34] to Christians themselves. [5:36] That you are being narrow-minded. [5:39] That you are being judgmental.

[5:41] That you are actually being hateful towards certain people [5:44] or even a certain people group. [5:46] So the guilt in that could possibly lie on both sides [5:49] depending on the motivation and the reason [5:52] from which it all flows. [5:56] And so I want to say personally that you’re going to hear

[5:59] a lot about my perspective, but more than that, [6:02] I hope we can get past my perspective [6:04] and actually get to what God has revealed [6:07] about whether or not his path is narrow [6:10] and whether or not God happens to be a narrow-minded person. [6:15] And so just to be honest,

[6:16] I don’t think Christianity is too narrow. [6:20] I think it’s the perfect amount of narrow. [6:23] If life has a purpose, all right, [6:27] if there is a God and suffering has a purpose [6:30] on the path that God has designed to the end of suffering, [6:35] Christianity then is as narrow as God has designed it to be.

[6:40] And it can’t be any broader than that, [6:43] nor can it be any more constrictive than that. [6:47] It has to be as God intended it to be [6:51] if God is the one authoring it. [6:55] And so our task and the responsibility [6:57] that we talked about on the question, is there a God?

[6:59] Our responsibility is to actually find that path, [7:05] is actually to find where God has designed for us to be [7:09] and where he has designed for us to go. [7:11] Because if God has a path, understand, it is his path. [7:16] Any other path would not be his. [7:19] It would be possibly one of your making.

[7:23] And if it’s the one of your making, [7:24] then you have not crowned him God, [7:26] rather you have crowned yourself as God. [7:28] But understand that God has a path and more than that, [7:32] he intends for you to find that path, but find it, you must. [7:37] There’s no other option.

[7:39] The other option is a destructive option. [7:42] And meaning for you to find that path, [7:44] he has not done what he could have done, obscured it.

[7:51] Instead, God has made it plain as day, [7:52] he’s made it very clear, he’s revealed to us [7:54] in as much as he could and as much as he wanted to, [7:59] where the path is and who the path is. [8:02] So look at Matthew chapter seven, verse 13, [8:04] because Jesus specifically talked about this subject.

[8:08] In verse 13, he says, [8:10] enter by the narrow gate. [8:12] For the gate is wide and the way is easy [8:14] that leads to destruction. [8:16] And those who enter by it are many. [8:19] For the gate is narrow and the way is hard

[8:23] that leads to life. [8:25] And those who find it are few. [8:30] So Jesus makes a pretty bold statement. [8:32] And interestingly enough, he sandwiches this statement [8:35] first between what we call the golden rule [8:39] and the warning against false prophets.

[8:43] And so I think there’s a message in that itself to us. [8:47] And that is that if you want one of these two things [8:50] to be abundantly clear to you, [8:51] how to treat people, how to live as a person, [8:54] and then how to be aware of those who are wrong, [8:57] there’s a narrow path to that.

[8:59] And it is not very broad. [9:02] So number one, understand, [9:03] knowing God demands a narrow road. [9:07] Knowing God demands a narrow road. [9:10] I believe that everyone is seeking God. [9:14] I think everyone is born with this inclination

[9:17] to try to find something bigger than themselves. [9:20] And we talked about that a lot [9:21] on the week on meaning and purpose, [9:23] but English writer and philosopher GK Chesterton [9:26] once put it this way. [9:28] He says that every man knocking on the door of a brothel

[9:31] is looking for God. [9:34] We crave feeling. [9:36] Our search for purpose and significance [9:39] is a reaching out for something greater [9:40] than what we have in hopes that we will finally find it [9:45] or finally find something better

[9:47] than what we currently have. [9:49] And that longing in our souls for more than what we have [9:54] is something that I believe God shows us [9:57] that he has actually put into our hearts [10:00] to lead us to himself. [10:03] But thankfully, God didn’t choose to toy with us.

[10:06] He’s made it clear. [10:08] Even speaking of what we’re talking about today, [10:10] which is kind of like the exclusivity of Christianity [10:13] and the narrow path, an old analogy [10:15] that many who would deny exclusivity have said [10:18] that it is much like there is an elephant on a path

[10:21] and four blind men stumble upon it. [10:23] Maybe you’ve heard this before. [10:25] But each blind man sets about feeling around the elephant [10:28] to say, what is this that’s obstructing our path? [10:32] To the first blind man, he finds the legs [10:34] and he tries to put his hands around them

[10:36] and he just feels around them. [10:37] He says, oh, there’s a tree in the way. [10:41] Second blind man feels the tail [10:43] and he says, there’s a rope in the path. [10:47] The third blind man finds the trunk [10:49] and he says, oh, this is a large snake.

[10:52] The fourth blind man walks directly into the side [10:55] of the elephant and says, [10:56] there’s a great wall in front of us. [11:00] And the analogy goes that in seeking God, [11:03] many are like these blind men, [11:05] all looking for the same thing,

[11:07] describing what they feel of God, [11:10] but it’s all the same God. [11:11] It’s the elephant. [11:13] But that analogy can be deconstructed, [11:16] Leslie Newbigin tells us, [11:17] by understanding that there’s a few things

[11:19] that are left out. [11:21] First, the elephant. [11:24] The elephant is not four things. [11:25] He’s an elephant. [11:27] More than, he may know he’s an elephant. [11:29] And if he could speak the same language,

[11:30] he would say, yeah, elephant.

[11:34] But second, the narrator.

[11:38] He knows that the blind men are seeking an elephant. [11:42] And in this scenario, both of the elephant [11:44] and the narrator represent God. [11:47] Because God knows who he is. [11:50] And he knows from whence he came, [11:52] and he knows towards where he’s going.

[11:54] And more than that, he has not left us as blind men [11:58] on a path of credulity to just make our best guess. [12:01] Instead, Christianity tells us through great evidence [12:05] that God himself became a man in Jesus Christ [12:08] to a whole world of blind men and said, [12:11] I am not other things, rather I am Jesus.

[12:14] I am God before Abraham was. [12:17] I am. [12:19] So in that culture, speaking to blind men in that way, [12:22] they know who he is claiming to be. [12:25] Therefore, God has not left us ignorant on this path. [12:29] Understand, a God demands a path, a destination,

[12:35] a source, a truth. [12:38] Apart from that, there can be no certainty. [12:42] Instead, your guess is as good as mine. [12:45] But Jesus is very clear in Matthew chapter seven, [12:49] the great teacher tells us, he says, [12:51] if you do not get to that narrow path

[12:53] that God has hewned out for you to find him on, [12:56] understand that the wide path that seems so easy, [12:59] the wide path that may seem so right, [13:03] its end is destruction. [13:05] And in that light, understand that the destructive path, [13:08] you can’t really parse the term destruction

[13:10] to mean anything positive. [13:13] It’s a pretty fatalistic understanding [13:15] as to where the wide path apart from the specific one [13:19] that God has hewned out for us if he is one is. [13:24] So understand, this is no easy task, [13:27] and Jesus describes it as one that is of great difficulty.

[13:31] But understand also that the reason [13:32] that it’s of great difficulty is because it demands [13:34] you do the same thing that you do on finding your purpose. [13:38] It is never easy to get over yourself [13:41] and admit that you have to submit to someone else’s way. [13:44] And specifically for our purpose,

[13:45] it’s very difficult to admit that you need [13:48] to submit to God’s way. [13:50] But according to Jesus, you need to, [13:52] or you will lose it all. [13:57] In John 18, I think that our strife and our trouble [14:01] is made abundantly clear right before

[14:04] the crucifixion of Jesus. [14:06] Jesus is standing before the man who believes himself [14:08] to have power over Jesus, [14:10] because he has the power to either have him crucified [14:12] or the power to have him released. [14:14] And Jesus looks to him and is questioning

[14:16] when he says, Jesus, are you a king? [14:18] And Jesus says, I am a king, but not one of this world. [14:23] And then he says, for this purpose, [14:25] I was born in this purpose, I have come into the world [14:27] to bear witness to the truth. [14:30] And everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.

[14:36] And Pilate’s response, what is truth? [14:42] That’s a great question, because Jesus is making [14:45] a very exclusive claim. [14:47] And if Jesus is not who he says he is, [14:50] then he is not a good teacher in this light. [14:53] Because Jesus makes the claim that everyone

[14:56] who’s of truth will listen to him. [15:01] That is a claim, therefore, that if you don’t listen [15:03] to Jesus, then you are not of the truth. [15:07] You’re opposing the truth. [15:08] You are believing lies and possibly propagating lies. [15:13] That term truth is so interesting,

[15:16] because it sounds so simple, but it’s not. [15:22] What complicates it is not the difference [15:24] between fact and fiction, but our search [15:27] for meaning and identity. [15:29] What is the truth of these things? [15:31] How do I feel the truth?

[15:35] As I think of what Pilate’s really getting at. [15:38] He’s not just talking about facts and figures. [15:40] He’s talking about the longing that goes on [15:42] deep inside everyone’s soul, to where we want to feel [15:46] a certain way to make sure that we’re finding [15:50] the right God.

[15:51] So what do we do? [15:52] We pour ourselves into practices, behaviors, [15:56] and lifestyles in hopes of at some point [16:00] figuring out the truth of life. [16:03] And what Jesus is saying is that truth cannot be found [16:07] in your attempts at meaning and any practice

[16:11] that you pour yourself into, no matter how religious, [16:14] pure, or even nirvanic it may feel. [16:19] In John 14, six, Jesus, before he goes towards the cross, [16:22] makes this statement abundantly clear [16:24] when he looks to the people and he says, [16:26] I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life.

[16:28] No one comes to the Father except through me. [16:32] If you’ve been in church for any long periods of time, [16:34] I’m sure that you’ve heard this claim, [16:36] and we’re usually pretty good with the first three things [16:38] Jesus says, so long as he doesn’t go too far. [16:41] Okay, you’re the way, the truth, the life, that’s cool.

[16:44] That’s your thing, but other people have their thing. [16:48] And I think to that, Jesus gets a little obstinate [16:50] and he says, also, no one comes to the Father [16:55] except through me. [16:58] Where Jesus is saying, he’s putting a period [17:00] on the end of the thought, where he’s saying,

[17:03] understand, I’m not a way, I’m not a truth, [17:06] I’m not a life in which you can find very many. [17:09] I am the way, truth, and life, [17:12] and you will not know God apart from him. [17:18] Friends, the only truth that can ever be found [17:21] in this world is the one that God has given us, Jesus.

[17:26] Everything else must and will flow [17:29] from that single truth, that person, Jesus. [17:35] And even inside of Christianity, I see so many people [17:40] claiming that Jesus is truth, while you pour yourself into, [17:46] lifestyle after lifestyle, activity after activity, [17:49] even the most religious of activities,

[17:52] wandering, searching, wanting to feel more [17:55] than the person of Jesus can make you feel. [17:58] But the reality is, until you have settled [18:01] that there is a foundation upon which everything that I do [18:04] and everything that I am in life is, [18:07] and that’s the person of Jesus,

[18:09] even the best of intentions beyond that [18:11] will lead to nothing but moot activities [18:14] that will be detrimental rather than helpful [18:18] because none of them will ultimately bring you satisfaction. [18:21] So Christian, if you are working your fingers [18:25] to the bone, hoping that you will feel more,

[18:31] you’ll never do it. [18:33] It is found in the foundational belief and trust [18:39] that the person and work of Jesus Christ is enough [18:45] for the longings of your soul. [18:48] That is the grace of God’s path, [18:51] and there is no other.

[18:54] Number two this morning, understand that followers [18:56] of Jesus defend the narrow road. [19:01] Followers of Jesus defend the narrow road.

[19:05] And this is where I kind of want to answer some things [19:07] that both Christians struggle with, [19:09] as well as those that maybe you are not a Christian, [19:11] you are not someone that accepts or trusted faith [19:14] in Jesus Christ as of yet, [19:16] is that Christians are too defensive of a people,

[19:19] and if it is all true, then why are Christians so defensive? [19:23] To which I hope you will understand [19:25] that I believe Christians should be [19:26] the most defensive people in the world. [19:29] Because that doesn’t make any sense, what do you mean? [19:31] Well you gotta follow me on this, okay?

[19:33] Number one, all religious claims, [19:36] and every claim in my opinion is a religious claim. [19:39] All of them are exclusive. [19:40] There’s no such thing as an inclusive faith in anything. [19:45] To make you understand that is I don’t care if, [19:47] and I do care, but I don’t care if you’re a atheist,

[19:50] a Muslim, or a pantheist, [19:53] so if you’re a atheist, monotheist, [19:55] completely pantheistic where God is in everything, [19:57] you are ultimately at some point [20:00] going to have to make an exclusive claim about your faith. [20:05] And the moment that you do that,

[20:07] what you are doing is you are excluding [20:09] absolutely everyone that disagrees with you. [20:12] So if I disagree on any point of exclusivity, [20:14] our heads will ultimately butt together [20:17] to which we will look at one another [20:19] and be like you’re not accepted in my faith

[20:21] and I am not accepted in your faith. [20:23] Because all of us have exclusive claims. [20:25] The most pantheistic religion in the world [20:28] that says God is in everything, [20:29] the moment that I say no, he’s in one thing, I’m out.

[20:34] That’s exclusivity, that’s the way that it works. [20:37] Even in secular religious realm, [20:40] which is what we have right now, [20:41] which claims I must be accepting [20:43] and tolerable of everything in the world, [20:46] which by the way, it is a religion.

[20:49] Don’t be confused about that, secularism is faith.

[20:54] But they’re completely tolerant [20:55] until I am in some way intolerant [20:58] to something that they have, [20:59] and then their tolerance cannot accept my intolerance [21:01] because that is something that tolerance [21:03] just simply will not tolerate.

[21:07] I don’t know that I could. [21:10] The reality is is that all exclusive claims [21:14] will at some point butt heads against one another [21:20] because we cannot be cohesive so long [21:24] as we do not land on the same place. [21:28] So where does that leave Christians in an exclusive faith,

[21:30] and I admit that it is fully an exclusive faith, [21:34] where does that leave us in society? [21:37] Well, I believe that Jesus is the standard for truth. [21:40] I think I’ve made as much clear, [21:41] but I believe that that fact should make Christians [21:45] better neighbors, friends, coworkers, students, et cetera,

[21:50] and that does seem to go against the notion [21:52] that Christians are too constrictive, judgmental, [21:55] hateful, and the like. [21:56] But the reason that I believe the prior to be true [21:59] rather than the latter is because it depends on perspective. [22:03] The reason that I see the positive

[22:05] is because a follower of Jesus actually has [22:09] a real foundation upon which to serve others, [22:13] upon which to love others, to forgive others, [22:16] always seek the good of others, [22:17] and have a real message of hope for others. [22:20] All of those things are defined, commanded,

[22:23] and promised by Jesus and given [22:25] through his work on our behalf.

[22:29] Problem comes that in those things, [22:33] Jesus can only offer them as who he is. [22:37] He cannot offer them as who he is not. [22:40] The God who made all that exists [22:42] and has a design for how it all should work, [22:45] that we should submit our lives to,

[22:48] has revealed who he is.

[22:53] And so to not take him on that account [22:55] is to not take him at all. [22:58] But if you take that, then you have an unchanging foundation, [23:02] you have an unchanging ethic upon which [23:05] to build a life of service, [23:07] and which to build a life of love,

[23:09] of which to build a life of hope, [23:10] and of which to build a life in which other people [23:13] truly matter to you in the highest regard possible [23:16] because God has himself revealed [23:18] how ultimately valuable he thinks that people are. [23:23] In every other ethic upon which you could build

[23:26] any type of neighboring, family, coworker, and friendship, [23:30] you are left with the shifting sand [23:33] of how you feel it should be. [23:39] And if you build a objective foundation apart from Christ, [23:44] you will ultimately not build one [23:46] that is beneficial in this life,

[23:47] but obviously as we have seen, [23:50] religion can become very detrimental [23:52] to human existence very quickly if we redefine God. [23:57] It is only in faith in Jesus [24:01] that we have an unchanging perspective [24:02] of how we view life in general.

[24:07] But ultimately because if truth can be known,

[24:12] that changes everything. [24:15] That changes the whole perspective. [24:17] That changes the whole road [24:18] that you are leading yourself down [24:20] and you are seeking to lead everyone else down. [24:23] Because foundationally,

[24:25] what will cause conflict with people [24:27] who claim to have either found it elsewhere [24:29] or balk at the notion that someone would claim [24:32] to have found truth is that it changes you. [24:39] It must change the way that you think. [24:41] It must change the way that you believe.

[24:44] It must change the way that you have personal allegiances, [24:48] the way that you act. [24:49] It changes the way that you worship [24:51] and it will change everything. [24:54] Because that is what the apostle Paul told. [24:58] A group of people who had no religious background

[25:00] the way that the Jews would have had [25:02] when he spoke to them, [25:03] but instead in Greece he has people [25:04] that love all types of philosophy, [25:06] but land on very little. [25:09] And he looks to them after saying,

[25:11] there is clearly a God from which we all find our source. [25:14] And he says, being then God’s offspring, [25:17] we ought not to think that the divine being [25:18] is like gold or silver or stone, [25:20] an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [25:22] The times of ignorance God overlooked,

[25:25] but now he commands all people everywhere to repent [25:29] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge [25:34] the world and righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. [25:38] And of this, he has given assurance to all men [25:41] by raising him from the dead. [25:44] See, we all come from God.

[25:46] And if God has made himself known, [25:48] then it is our responsibility to know him. [25:51] More than that, God has offered a path for us [25:54] to be forgiven of our sin and against him [25:57] through a profound act of kindness, mercy, [26:01] and power through the resurrection of Jesus.

[26:07] So when you see it in that light, [26:09] understand that the most rigid term [26:13] that can be used for God, [26:15] the most rigid, constrictive term that you can use for God [26:18] is the term judge. [26:20] And it is the one that Paul uses for him

[26:23] to show why he is so kind. [26:28] And what’s interesting about that is that he tells us [26:30] that there is coming a day when even those who deny him, [26:34] they will meet God. [26:37] And on that day, he will judge us by how we respond [26:40] to what he has shown us.

[26:42] And ultimately, that means how we respond to Jesus. [26:46] He is the narrow road. [26:48] He is the truth. [26:49] He is the resurrected life that Paul is talking about [26:53] in that passage. [26:55] And so to believe in Jesus and be a Christian

[26:57] is to come to terms with that very fact. [27:02] And so when a Christian seems too rigid or narrow, [27:06] that’s the reason. [27:08] That’s the why behind the what [27:10] of Christianity and the narrow road. [27:13] It’s not that I think I’ve got the market

[27:14] cornered on truth, friend. [27:16] It’s that I think God has revealed the whole market [27:19] and he is the point of said market. [27:24] Therefore, my life has lived in realizing [27:25] that there is coming a day when I will stand [27:28] before Judge Jesus and so will everyone else.

[27:31] And because of that, I care what he thinks [27:34] and what he says life is all about. [27:38] Elsewhere in the New Testament, Paul writes to [27:40] a young pastor named Timothy in 2 Timothy. [27:43] And he writes that people are always going [27:45] to fight the truth of God.

[27:47] All opposing exclusive claims will always butt heads. [27:52] But he says some will even pretend to know God [27:54] but give an opposing message of hope that is actually a lie. [27:59] This is the wide road has various passions [28:01] that lead away from the God, excuse me, [28:05] from God all the while pretending not to see

[28:08] the guiding lights of the truth for the plane to land. [28:12] The apostle Paul writes, he says that there will be [28:14] people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, [28:17] proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, [28:21] ungrateful, unholy, arrogant, abusive, [28:24] oh, I repeated that, heartless, unappeasable,

[28:27] slanderous, without self control, brutal, [28:29] not loving good, treacherous, reckless, [28:32] swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure [28:34] rather than lovers of God. [28:36] Having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. [28:41] Avoid such people for among them are those

[28:46] who creep into households and capture weak women, [28:49] burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, [28:53] always learning, never able to arrive [28:56] at a knowledge of the truth. [28:59] See, apostle Paul explains what seems kind of exhaustive [29:03] to us, every response under the sun that sin may have

[29:07] in a person who’s either denying God [29:10] or just living an outright rebellion against God [29:13] in their sin and then he warns us that what’s going [29:16] to happen is that the further you go away from God, [29:20] the more you may actually be convinced that God [29:24] is a different person than he actually is.

[29:27] And so you will embrace forms of godliness [29:32] and claim to have truth, claim to be able to define truth, [29:37] claim to be able to say I’ve got a new revelation knowledge, [29:41] I’ve got a new way that culture can flourish, [29:43] I’ve got new ways in which to go against God’s design [29:47] but to still have God himself yet denying the very power

[29:51] that God has in and of his truth.

[29:58] And he says you will always be learning, [30:02] you’ll always think progress, [30:06] you will always think this is growth, [30:11] you will always think these things [30:12] but you will never land on truth.

[30:19] You see this is what we see in many areas even today, [30:22] thousands of years later, as Paul has written this, [30:26] we see a culture demanding a concept of God [30:29] without any of the authority of God. [30:32] And sadly we see many Christians wanting [30:34] to compromise on the claims of God and the commands of God

[30:38] rather than submitting to God all for the fear [30:42] of men more than God. [30:46] As the apostle Paul warns us, [30:49] he tells us that when you get to a certain degree, [30:51] avoid them, he doesn’t say go, [30:55] cultivate yourself with all of this not God,

[30:59] with all of this denial of God, [31:02] with all of this ignoring of God, [31:05] with all of this wickedness against God’s design, [31:08] with all of this refusal to submit to the God who is there [31:12] but instead what is he saying? [31:14] Avoid it.

[31:16] He said you are building a life under a different construct [31:20] than those who would deny the very God who is. [31:23] So how could you be in that culture [31:27] when all that will happen? [31:30] It’s a continuous butting of heads. [31:33] In 1 Peter 3.15 the apostle Peter states that

[31:36] in light of things like what Paul is talking about, [31:39] the follower of Jesus is to avoid being infected [31:42] by false claims of those messages [31:44] but instead to defend the truth. [31:46] Here’s what he says, he says, [31:47] in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,

[31:49] always being prepared to make a defense [31:51] to anyone who asks for a reason of the hope that is in you, [31:54] yet of course do it with gentleness and respect. [31:58] So what is he saying? [31:59] Well that term defense, that term in the Greek Apology [32:01] is actually a legal term for stating your defensive case

[32:09] and your true case. [32:11] In this instance it means that we need to defend our hope [32:14] for the future with God and every bit of it flows [32:17] from all of the truth of Jesus which goes into every part [32:21] of how I identify myself to what I believe to how I live. [32:28] Yes friends understand Christianity is narrow

[32:31] because it seeks to give definition [32:33] to what many want confused. [32:38] That’s because 2 Corinthians 5.14 states [32:40] that the love that is constraining us is constraining [32:44] because it’s defined by God. [32:47] So when you’re asking why should Christianity

[32:50] or why are Christians so defensive? [32:53] Understand that only real Christians are defensive [32:58] about matters of faith. [33:01] Therefore if there is no defense then there may be no faith [33:05] not because it’s flimsy but because it’s pure, [33:09] real and worth defending.

[33:13] And so if we claim as many do to have a faith [33:17] that’s it’s a good faith to have but you know [33:21] we can’t be certain of anything. [33:22] Well friend then you are putting yourself [33:24] at a very risky position of flying all around the truth

[33:31] yet never landing on the knowledge of truth. [33:35] What Paul is telling us is that is not to be encouraged. [33:40] Rather that is something that we need to be warned about. [33:44] That is something that we need to be careful about [33:47] because God has not been silent not just in his designs [33:53] it is way beyond that.

[33:55] God has not been silent in his identity. [34:00] He would have us to land, he would have us to learn, [34:04] he would have us to turn away from that which is not true [34:07] towards that which is true and he would have us to grow [34:11] within knowledge of who he is and a clear view [34:16] and a clear representation and command

[34:18] of what it is that he expects [34:21] and what it is that he wants from us. [34:25] Therefore being defensive is not something to be feared. [34:29] Defending your faith is something friend [34:32] to be prepared for not so that you can combat [34:36] the evil forces of this world

[34:38] like God’s little power rangers but instead [34:41] so that when you butt heads with the exclusive claims [34:45] of those who deny your faith that you can be the voice [34:50] of gentleness and the voice of respect [34:52] that does contradict but contradicts [34:55] with real foundational core truth that is not just known

[35:01] but is trusted and believed with every part of who you are. [35:06] The culture around us needs the voice of God [35:11] and if you are a Christian then that is exactly [35:16] what you claim to have and those of you in here [35:19] who’ve not yet accepted Christ as your savior, [35:22] you’re kind of on this journey of not knowing exactly

[35:25] what you believe and you don’t know if Jesus is someone [35:28] that is God or someone whom you should give your life over [35:32] to understand that when Christians defend their faith, [35:35] they’re not doing it out of a hateful and ignorant heart [35:39] but rather they are doing it out of love and allegiance [35:42] to the God who has saved them with his very life.

[35:48] And that is exactly how vital and important [35:51] the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is [35:53] to those who believe it and those who live foundationally [35:57] with it as the resource for their lives. [36:00] But thirdly this morning, understand that followers [36:02] of Jesus rejoice in knowing that there is a road.

[36:08] You know friends, the love of God is seen [36:11] by those who know it. [36:13] See when God isn’t trusted, [36:16] he will probably appear very irrelevant to your life. [36:21] When God isn’t followed, he will not appear vital. [36:27] He will not appear worth worship.

[36:32] He will not appear worth allegiance. [36:35] But more than that, those who do claim to trust him [36:39] will seem completely unbending in their unwillingness [36:43] to just accept opposing points of view. [36:48] But understand the reason for that [36:50] is what the Bible calls faithfulness.

[36:53] You see when a Christian claims the path that others are on [36:57] lead away from God rather than towards God, [37:00] it is not hate at all. [37:04] It is the biblical definition of what the Bible calls love. [37:09] It is love because we believe that it is good news [37:12] that God has provided a path to find him,

[37:14] know him, and ultimately meet him face to face. [37:18] And so if I know and believe and trust [37:22] that such a road to God exists, [37:25] it would not be loving for me to stay completely silent [37:29] to those around me. [37:30] Rather, that would be hateful.

[37:33] That would be spiteful. [37:35] That would be detrimental and evil to the very life [37:40] that I believe God loves. [37:43] Therefore, when a Christian is warning others [37:45] of the narrow road to God and our desire for others [37:48] to repent of their sin and come towards it,

[37:50] that is the very definition of what a loving person [37:53] would do if they have found what is salvation [37:56] from impending doom. [37:59] It’s love because we believe that the good news is real. [38:04] It’s not false. [38:06] It’s not just one hope among many others.

[38:10] It’s vital. [38:12] It’s beneficial. [38:14] And it’s singular. [38:16] There is no other. [38:19] In John chapter six, Jesus speaking again stated [38:23] that when we go to him, it is because we followed the path

[38:26] that God made for us to get there [38:28] because God wants us to know him. [38:32] It’s even more than that. [38:33] When we do find God through Jesus, [38:36] we don’t find a God that pushes us away [38:38] like unwanted stray cats.

[38:40] We find a God that moved through his own sacrifice [38:44] to get us to an open door and a prepared home. [38:49] You see, in that passage, Jesus makes what is, I think, [38:54] one of the most personal promises, [38:57] not just in the New Testament, [38:59] not just in the accounts of Jesus,

[39:01] but in the entire New Testament. [39:05] He says that when we find him, when we come to him, [39:10] he will never cast us out. [39:14] That’s the promise of verse 37. [39:17] He looks to us and he says, [39:19] all that the Father gives me, understand, will come to me.

[39:23] It’s because he’s God. [39:25] Then he says, when you come,

[39:30] I’ll not cast you out. [39:32] Jesus says, I’ll keep you. [39:35] I’ll secure you. [39:37] I will put an end to all of the wandering. [39:42] I will put an end to all of the ignorant longing. [39:47] I will put an end to all of your questions.

[39:56] And you will stay because you will know God. [40:03] Friend, I do want you to understand that to know Jesus [40:07] is to trust the judge of the Bible. [40:10] It is. [40:11] To trust the judge of the Bible is to be thankful [40:15] that questions have answers and life has a foundation

[40:19] to stand on that will last forever. [40:22] Everything else that you go to for answers, meaning, [40:26] and even love in this life will not last forever. [40:31] At best, it will die with you. [40:34] That’s because you were never meant to stand your life [40:37] on things that don’t last forever.

[40:40] You were meant to stand your life [40:42] on the foundation of the God who made all

[40:46] and then pointed us back towards himself [40:49] when we rebelled against it [40:51] in the person and work of Jesus Christ. [40:55] I want you to know that the narrow road isn’t hidden. [40:58] The path that God the Father has made to draw us to Jesus [41:03] has been made clear.

[41:06] It’s a landing strip with many lights, [41:09] with many signs pointing towards it. [41:12] God found it so valuable that he came down here himself [41:15] and called us all towards it with the ultimate sign being [41:20] that he died and then refused to stay dead. [41:25] He rose again, winning victory over sin,

[41:28] winning victory over death itself, [41:30] and thirdly, ultimately making the claim, [41:33] which is a pretty good one to back up [41:35] when you raise up from the dead yourself, [41:37] and that is Jesus is God. [41:41] He is to be trusted.

[41:43] If he can be trusted with your sin [41:46] and if he can be trusted to give you victory over death, [41:50] understand that he can be trusted to give you a new life [41:53] and he can be trusted with all of the questions [41:57] that plague you right here and right now. [42:01] Only a life in him will offer a pathway to them.

[42:09] Jesus is leading. [42:12] He’s calling you to stop your wandering and to follow him. [42:16] As the band comes up, [42:18] I wanna speak to two different groups here as I often do. [42:23] First, I wanna speak to those of you [42:26] who don’t know what really to put your faith in.

[42:31] Maybe you’ve thought of Jesus as a good teacher, [42:33] maybe you’ve thought of Jesus as maybe even a good God, [42:36] but you’ve never really submitted your life to him. [42:39] You can’t really honestly say, I trust him with my life. [42:43] He is my Lord. [42:46] If you’re in that category,

[42:48] I want you to understand that Jesus has made himself clear [42:53] that he’s God, he’s not just a good teacher. [42:57] Because of all that Jesus had done is come to this world, [42:59] said a couple of good things, [43:00] and then undergirded it with this tone of, [43:03] by the way, I’m the God that made everything,

[43:05] then went to the cross claiming to die for your sins, [43:08] and then that was the end of it, [43:10] then he would not be a good teacher. [43:12] He would be a very evil man [43:13] seeking to lead many people astray. [43:15] But that was not the end of the story.

[43:18] We’re gonna see coming up that the resurrection [43:20] of Jesus Christ puts an end to the speculation. [43:25] If he did that, then he is God. [43:29] If he did that, then he’s the only one to be trusted [43:32] with all of life. [43:35] And if you’re in here and you’ve never trusted him,

[43:37] I do wanna call you this morning to trust him, [43:42] to give your life to him, [43:44] to follow him through all of your life. [43:46] Understand that when you trust Jesus, [43:48] what that is is that’s that drawing that he says [43:51] the Father will do to those who are to follow him.

[43:54] And when you trust him, he’s not gonna say, [43:56] good job, now you’re on your own. [43:58] No, it says, I’ll never cast you out.

[44:02] I’ll keep you forever. [44:04] I’ll be with you every step of the way [44:06] through everything that you go through in your life. [44:10] If that’s you, then there are people in the foyer [44:12] that would love to pray with you, [44:14] would love to answer any questions that you might have,

[44:16] or if you’re not ready yet to make that step of faith, [44:19] maybe you just need to be encouraged [44:21] to keep exploring this. [44:22] Maybe you just need somebody to talk to you [44:25] about why you should keep coming and checking it out.

[44:29] In just a moment, I’m gonna give you that opportunity. [44:32] But if you are in here and you are a Christian, [44:34] I want you to understand that if you’re in here [44:40] and you’re saying to yourself, I think I’m a Christian, [44:43] but sometimes I struggle to land on truth. [44:47] Sometimes I struggle to give my life over fully.

[44:51] Sometimes I struggle with the very thought [44:54] that there is one singular truth for everyone. [44:58] And there’s two possibilities for you this morning. [45:01] Number one, God is calling you to another level of faith. [45:06] He’s calling you to submit more of your life over to Him [45:09] than you ever have before.

[45:11] And if that’s you, you will never regret that turn. [45:14] You will never regret taking that extra step [45:17] of trusting Jesus. [45:19] There’s another option. [45:21] That is maybe you’ve never really trusted Him. [45:24] And so for you in that second category,

[45:27] in just a moment, I’m gonna ask you to go to the foyer. [45:29] I’m gonna ask you to pray with someone [45:31] and talk to someone. [45:32] But if you’re in here and you look at that road [45:35] and you say, I’m a sinner and I’m just thankful [45:39] that there’s a path.

[45:40] I’m just thankful there’s a road. [45:42] Well, we’re together in that. [45:44] God did not have to save us. [45:46] We didn’t deserve it. [45:48] And if you’ve trusted in Jesus Christ, [45:50] the way that He’s told us to remind ourselves,

[45:53] to reflect on that and to rejoice in that, [45:57] is that we eat a peculiar thing called the Lord’s Supper. [46:01] The bread representing the broken body of Jesus, [46:03] the cup representing His shed blood. [46:06] It tells us that whenever we meet, [46:08] we come together and we eat and drink

[46:10] to reflect on the cost that Jesus paid. [46:12] But more than that, to realize and make a picture [46:15] that Jesus is in our lives. [46:19] And when we eat and drink, [46:21] that’s what we say to everyone around us. [46:24] I trust Jesus.

[46:26] And He will never cast me out. [46:29] So if that’s you, when you’re ready, come.