Subtopic: Are You Committed?
Text: St. 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: (vs14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
DEFINITIONS
To Commit means to handover for safekeeping or to deliver to. Entrust means to commit with trust and confidence.
PREMISE
"The More Committed We Are The More Committed We Become" Pastor A.H. Coleman Sr.
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.15, Pages 296-297, a comment on St. Matt.7:13-14. 1. "THE STRAIGHTNESS OF THE FIRST GATE. No one can become a Christian without an effort. We do not drift into the kingdom, nor do we grow up in it unconsciously. Even the children of Christian homes need to come to decision and make a deliberate choice. Moreover, there are sins to be repented of, evil habits to be renounced; pride must be humbled, and the simple trust of a little child attained. We become Christians by complete surrender to Christ. 2. THE WIDTH OF THE SECOND GATE. We do not need to make any choice of evil. Evil is all around us. We have but to let ourselves go, and we shall be swept through the wide gate. This is so very wide that we cannot miss it if we merely permit ourselves to go with the crowd.
Text: St. 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: (vs14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
DEFINITIONS
To Commit means to handover for safekeeping or to deliver to. Entrust means to commit with trust and confidence.
PREMISE
"The More Committed We Are The More Committed We Become" Pastor A.H. Coleman Sr.
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.15, Pages 296-297, a comment on St. Matt.7:13-14. 1. "THE STRAIGHTNESS OF THE FIRST GATE. No one can become a Christian without an effort. We do not drift into the kingdom, nor do we grow up in it unconsciously. Even the children of Christian homes need to come to decision and make a deliberate choice. Moreover, there are sins to be repented of, evil habits to be renounced; pride must be humbled, and the simple trust of a little child attained. We become Christians by complete surrender to Christ. 2. THE WIDTH OF THE SECOND GATE. We do not need to make any choice of evil. Evil is all around us. We have but to let ourselves go, and we shall be swept through the wide gate. This is so very wide that we cannot miss it if we merely permit ourselves to go with the crowd.
THE WAY. Life is more than its beginnings. We have to consider its whole course. But that course is likely to resemble its commencement. The straight gate leads to the narrow way, the wide gate to the broad way. The whole life has a character of its own. 1. WHY THE RIGHT WAY IS NARROW. This is not because there is a virtue in restraint on its own account.(1) There is but one right way, while there is an infinite diversity of wrong ways. At every moment there is just one thing needful, one thing that it is our duty to do then and there. If we neglect that, we can make our choice out of any number of things that ought not to be done. (2) Righteousness involves self-denial. We have to take up the cross to follow Christ. 2. WHY THE WRONG WAY IS BROAD. The very variety of evil makes it so. Then there is no law in sin (1 John 3:4). Thus the way of evil is one of wild self-will; it is everyone turning to his own way (Isa.66:3) A track across open country, if much used, tends to become wider and wider as each fresh traveler chooses what seems to him the best bit of ground on which to walk.
THE END The two ways keep apart from beginning to end; neither issues in the other. The broad way is not the short cut to the narrow way. Each has a separate destination. We do not all come to the same end. But the character of the end is determined by the character of the way. This makes the way of great importance. It is not a city in which we dwell, nor even a temporary camping-ground on which we rest for a night. We are always moving along it. The great question is--- Whither does it tend? Christ sets the alternative before us very clearly--- eternal life or destruction. Here is reason for rousing ourselves and listening to the urgent entreaty of the Saviour "Enter Ye In."
EXPOSITION
1. To What Degree Does Christ Require A Commitment Of Me? Total Denial and Complete Embracing Of My Commission--- St. Matt.16:24-25. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. (vs25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
2. Upon What Basis Should My Commitment Be Established ? The Finished Work Of The Cross. Rom.5:8-9 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(vs9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
1. Peter 1:18-19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (vs19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
3. How Can I Manifest My Commitment?---(a) By Witnessing---1 Peter 3:14-16 "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (vs15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (vs16) having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
(b)By Separation and Consecration---2 Cor. 6:17-18 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,(Isa.52:11) and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (vs18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."(2 Sam.7:14).
(c) By Fulfilling My Call and Vocation--- Eph. 4:1-3 "I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (vs2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (vs3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
(d) By a Longing For The Old Paths and the Good Way---Jer.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."
4. What Is The Satisfaction Of My Commitment ? A Hope ---Psalm 17:15 "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
5. What Is The Privilege Of My Commitment? Unfettered Access--- Heb.4:15-16 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (vs16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
6.What is The Ambition Of My Commitment? Obtaining My Prize--- Phi.3:13-15 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
7.What Is The Sure Reward Of The Work Of My Commitment? My Labor Will Not Be Forgotten --- 1 Cor.15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
8. What is The Confidence Of My Commitment? Absolutely No Separation from His Love--- Rom.8:35&38-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (vs38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (vs39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
THE END The two ways keep apart from beginning to end; neither issues in the other. The broad way is not the short cut to the narrow way. Each has a separate destination. We do not all come to the same end. But the character of the end is determined by the character of the way. This makes the way of great importance. It is not a city in which we dwell, nor even a temporary camping-ground on which we rest for a night. We are always moving along it. The great question is--- Whither does it tend? Christ sets the alternative before us very clearly--- eternal life or destruction. Here is reason for rousing ourselves and listening to the urgent entreaty of the Saviour "Enter Ye In."
EXPOSITION
1. To What Degree Does Christ Require A Commitment Of Me? Total Denial and Complete Embracing Of My Commission--- St. Matt.16:24-25. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. (vs25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
2. Upon What Basis Should My Commitment Be Established ? The Finished Work Of The Cross. Rom.5:8-9 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(vs9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
1. Peter 1:18-19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (vs19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
3. How Can I Manifest My Commitment?---(a) By Witnessing---1 Peter 3:14-16 "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (vs15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (vs16) having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
(b)By Separation and Consecration---2 Cor. 6:17-18 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,(Isa.52:11) and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (vs18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."(2 Sam.7:14).
(c) By Fulfilling My Call and Vocation--- Eph. 4:1-3 "I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (vs2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (vs3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
(d) By a Longing For The Old Paths and the Good Way---Jer.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."
4. What Is The Satisfaction Of My Commitment ? A Hope ---Psalm 17:15 "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
5. What Is The Privilege Of My Commitment? Unfettered Access--- Heb.4:15-16 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (vs16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
6.What is The Ambition Of My Commitment? Obtaining My Prize--- Phi.3:13-15 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
7.What Is The Sure Reward Of The Work Of My Commitment? My Labor Will Not Be Forgotten --- 1 Cor.15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
8. What is The Confidence Of My Commitment? Absolutely No Separation from His Love--- Rom.8:35&38-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (vs38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (vs39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
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