Since Jesus Was Serious…Are You Sure You’re In?

look deeply and be honest about our answer and if it’s not quite there if it’s as Beth put it most of me but not all of me I pray that that would start starting today change for us For Your Glory Jesus bless the children as they go from here help them to make decisions because it’s never too young to follow you in your name we pray amen amen good morning church go ahead and have a seat if you would and kids have a great time as

You Follow Your leaders and learn more about and get to know better Jesus I’ll I’ll just say this as we’re sort of Shifting Gears here a little bit I I look back at these Waters I’ve viewed them from another angle all these years in baptisms and I I remember my dad standing where I was and every baptism he did in the church we grew up in in Oakland my father there was a little theatrics here I think but there were curtains on the side of the

baptistry and my father would finish with words that say we have done as the Lord has commanded and then he would step back slowly as the curtain started to close and he’d say and yet there is room and the curtains closed and every time that happened I just got chills I thought man that’s that’s really cool and so I mistakenly thought that I’m going to do that every time he does a baptism I’m G to not the one doing baptisms I’m going to I’m going to

he said there’s room let’s do it again Dad that was cool you know and but I I thought what a statement what a what a you could put those words in Jesus mouth that’s what he was saying when he came out of the waters and you could read it for yourself in the gospels he heard his father’s voice as the Holy Spirit Dove descended on the scene so you’ve got the trinity here all in one place and the father said this is my son I’m super

proud of him that’s my paraphrase and and if you want to hear those words from God where you’re all in you say I’ve decided and this was a little area of hold back for me but no longer let’s talk like I said earlier that’d be really cool I there’s a reason also I want to by way of introduction to my message I like to make a a clarifying statement like I did where though it was very impactful for for Logan and for Beth and for us

gathered here today we will talk about this it’s a it’s a it’s like wow that was really something and and even though it was wonderful and spiritual it was profoundly spiritual it it didn’t save them in other words their status God didn’t go from this to this they were his child before this day they on some private moment in some private place surrendered to Jesus and said I don’t even know what this means I don’t know all the implications I hope it means good things all

the time but maybe there’s going to be challenges the Bible calls them trials and things like that whatever it happens to be they they signed up for salvation before and baptism it needs to be said doesn’t save you it didn’t save them I said that because it turns out that such a teaching is quite popular and here’s the problem with that if you Embrace that teaching that somehow baptism took you over the threshold or somehow saved you I think it will it will ultimately pay off

with a false sense of security you will be holding on to a rope a rescue rope that doesn’t have the strength to hold you now I think I’m getting your attention a little bit it’s really a true statement what I just said because let’s let me say it the way I think people believe it in our world today it’s the most frequently corrected misunderstanding I make as a pastor you realize that it’s a big deal there’s a lot of belief out there if I get wet

this is how the world thinks this is how nominal Christians people that are I say kicking the tires they’re they’re dipping their toe in the water a little bit and they tend to think this way if I get wet in the waters of B baptism the answer to the pastor’s sermon title if you haven’t seen it is I’m in my my title is a question are you sure you’re in and the the distorted truth is some people that think I wasn’t in but I got baptized

I’m in that’s where it takes us if we get it wrong so there’s a lot writing I guess I would say as the Michelin commercial reminds us there’s a lot writing on the right answer to my sermon question today it’s really meant in the spirit of Corinthians where Paul says test yourself take a look at you and see if you’re in the faith go where no one else can go except as Logan put it the Holy Spirit he knows the answer to all this in my

life and your life but go there and test yourself to see if you’re in the faith baptism and communion go together in our Bibles there are two things Jesus told us to experience both with simple and clear picture of the most important issue of all so we’ve witnessed one of them today and in two Sundays we will once again participate in the other one communion they point to an answer no they point to the right answer the right answer to Life’s most important question some of

you are grabbing a pen or something to write it down but let me just say it again slowly do I have what it takes to live live in Heaven someday when my brief time on this Earth is over Moses in his single Psalm Psalm 89 he said Psalm 90 rather he said Lord you’ve given us 70 days or if due to strength 80 modern medicine has added a few in some cases today but the point they all agree with we’re not going to be here very

long when you consider here against the backdrop of Eternity so it’s an important question more important really than should I marry or stay single more important than should I go to college and if so which one more important than should I buy a home or just rent most people that answer the the answer is sort of made for you in the cost of housing today but I bring up those because every one of those are really important questions I made my own list those were three

of them they really do this isn’t the only question that matters because in this life I’ve got to decide whether I want you know a a home or an apartment years ago do I want to get married or or and if so who and Debbie had the same question she had to make she she had to answer and and so all of those decisions matter and they matter a lot but not as much as life’s most important question is the one I’m wanting us to think

about for one major reason I want us to think about it having what is required to be in heaven matters more than any of those other decisions or that I’ve mentioned or ones that you could come up with for one basic reason those are big decisions I like to tell couples everyone I’ve ever married marriages for a lifetime and a lifetime is a long time right but none of those decisions have eternity hanging in the balance you can choose to stay single and not be married

you can choose to live in an apartment or a RV so can I but but this one goes a long ways I came across a cute story I want to tell you about to kind of help you en enjoy this for a little bit here and and it has to do with what does it take to get to heaven what does it take to live in heaven it was a Sunday school class and some of the best things are mentioned there that’s why I pray for

the kids as they leave here they’re going to hear and their teachers are going to hear some cool things and maybe even talk about some things like what we’re talking about here in big church right so this one teacher decided to draw out her her classroom by asking the question you know how how what does it take to get to heaven so she said if I sold my house in my car and had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church would

that get me into heaven no the children in her first grade class shouted if I cleansed I cleaned the church every day mowed the church yard and kept everything neat and tidy would that get me into Heaven Again the children answered no well then how can I get into heaven she followed a boy in the back row raised his hand and stood up quickly and shouted you got to be dead I love that little guy whoever he is all right well as you’re on your way

with me to Matthew the Bible’s answer to this question Matthew chapter 7 we’ve been here off and on for a while let’s talk about this widely believed fiercely held view in our world today I want to introduce you to a Nuance of it that is so stubborn you you hear it talked about with capital letters in lots of religions and that is this good people get to heaven good people go to heaven so it’s not like it’s not like it doesn’t matter but if you’re good

enough you get there it’s profiled this way by Andy Stanley in a good right there is a good God he says who lives in a good place reserved for good people this God goes by many names he’s behind all major world religions therefore all major and possibly minor religions provide a legitimate path to God and therefore Heaven the Criterion for making it to this good place is to be good each religion has its own definition for good but what they all have in common is that

men and women must do certain things and not do certain things in order to assure themselves a spot in this good place with a good god end quote which introduces a problem says Leo quote for all the talk about being good still no one can answer the fundamental question what level what level what level of good is good enough I did that three times to get you feeling like you’re climbing a ladder that you’re not sure how high you have to climb what level does it

take it’s bizarre he says don’t you think at least I mean staking your internal destination that’s a huge wait on a decision about who you’re going to trust how how you’re going to get there and he concludes at stake is our Eternal destination yet we are more confident about a lasagna recipe than our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven end quote wow I this is big deal that’s what my message this morning seeks to clarify so we’re here in a sermon that is for the ages

it’s the most quoted sermon in the world and it always has been for good reason it’s got very relevant things to say and Jesus when he spoke these words he gave this message it created no small stir there was a whole bunch of people either going yeah baby give it to him or there were other people going get him and arrange of those reactions it was a serious serious stir that Jesus caused not only then but now who think thoughts like good people go to heaven

so when defining good on most people’s minds I’m asking you now to trans transport yourself back in time you have a image in fact a crowd like this would likely all have the same image on their mind when it came to people that had a lock on what it takes to get to heaven and they would likely in the crowd if I were Jesus and you were the people gathered on the hillside in the North Shore of Galilee you would start to look in the direction

of these people CU everybody knew who they were they were dressed a certain way and they they were regular recipients of a certain protocol a propriety a sense of Honor you would make room for them in your row they were that big a deal and everybody knew it about them I’m referring to the Pharisees these are people who they had it down or so the people thought they were what we would say spiritual Superstars some of us may scratch our way into heaven they could they

would not only go in first they would go in with a with a a proud accomplished look on their face these Pharisees so imagine the shock in the moment when I read these words and you can see them in chapter 5 we’re just going to glance them and move on for I tell you verse 20 chapter 5 Jesus speaking for I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law you will certainly not get in this is kind

of quiet in here today but you could hear a mouse on the hillside that day what did he just say does he know Pharisees and teachers of the law does he know who he’s talking about these people had it down they were the ones if anyone existed that truly lived by the law of Moses and to make sure others attempted at least to live that way they came up with a myriad of rules 613 to be exact for the rest of us attempter to try to

live out imagine that so their reaction in the audience that day unless your goodness verse 20 surpasses them you have no future in God’s kingdom said Jesus in effect Jesus was saying as good as they are they’re not good enough and it’s it’s no surprise it wasn’t the first time these Pharisees got their nose out of joint by something Jesus said about them he didn’t hide he didn’t let let him live behind the mask of being a Pharisee a do gooder he called him out but

if you were anyone else in that Gathering that day not only would you go like and you know how we do that sometimes oh my goodness we would also have this really strange kind of disturbance happening in us as we wondered if they can’t what chance do I have we would say today I’m hosed I got nothing I mean there’s there’s professional Christians they would say there’s the there’s the ones that got their act together you you feeling this they are the ones but I’m not

I’m all I’ve always been a three-step forward and sometimes 30 steps back anybody feel that way sometimes three steps forward two steps back is a real kind way to put it right you know what it’s like to just keep trying and failing trying and failing so if the phes can’t pull it off do we have any hope you’re ready for chapter 7 okay just flip to the end of this sermon and last January you remember us talking about this part of his sermon in Chapter 7:

13 and 14 and it it kind of created a stir then and I wanted to Freshly do so today it has to do with heaven and it has to do with things like a roads two different roads and two different Gates so think of traveling you and I are traveling along we want a destination to be heaven and there are different roads and different Gates and verse 13 Jesus says enter through the narrow gate for wide is the gate and Broad is the road that leads

to destruction and many enter through it verse 14 but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it so it appears that a large number According To Jesus words a large number who were on the road that was wide and Broad and there are many of them is a road that ends in destruction you with that that’s what verse 14 is saying right it’s it’s or verse 13 saying but then it also is seems apparent that not

everyone on the road will will arrive at at heaven ‘s gates in in small Jesus says is that road Smalls the gate narrow the road but notice the word he uses he uses many to describe those on their path to destruction in verse 13 and he uses the word few it’s a contrast of intent here are those that are on the road that is narrow that leads to heaven the place we want to go so who goes to heaven even if you’re just mildly interested this

morning you got to be thinking way more personally than I’m making it right now which road am I on I mean that’s a big deal and is it the right one more than a few of us have asked you’re ready now for seven verses later verse 21 we find ourselves staring at a certain event certain in in the it’s going to happen since the coming day of judgment and Jesus tells of that day I’ll just put it out there and many of us are seeing this

unfold now we hear it in the news we I talked to a very respectable person that yesterday told me I was at a gathering for a graduate last night and his his answer he he was a pastor for a lot of years and he led churches well and he led his family well and I I said so what do you do now that you’re not a pastor he says I’ve never been more busy do you notice what’s happening in our world was his answer and I

thought that’s so right that’s so true if you turn on the news and get a little edgy can you imagine how many of your neighbors are hairing out right now they just know that it’s you know of human origin they don’t see the Big Arc they don’t see what Jesus is talking about about when he’s talking about this certain day that is to come but he says so with alarm so let’s read them not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of

heaven but only the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven many will say to me on that day Lord Lord check the record did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles those are all good things by the way then I will tell them plainly Jesus concludes I never knew you away from me you evildoers this sermon just doesn’t stop evidently in a day that’s still to come we have

to agree let’s let’s just start somewhere with those words this day still to come a fairly large number that’s why he says in verse 22 many will we Grant Jesus this he could have chosen other words some a majority he chose many many is the right word and let’s use words that I reference refed earlier how do you get to heaven you do good enough that’s what if you got if you got enough good going for you Karma whatever you want to call it you’re in

so many do gooders will have on this day apparently a bone to pick with Jesus who when they arrive find the gates closed to them it’s getting awkward isn’t it it’s this thing that matters a lot and should matter a lot so they said the right stuff they sang the right songs Lord Lord and they they even did the right stuff it’s why I stopped earlier they prophesied that’s a good thing they cast out demons demon demons are bad and they gave them the boot and

then we’re not told what but they perform Miracles a sick person gets well a blind person sees a lame person walks cool stuff but they will be turned away why maybe you’re asking even harder question how come how can this be Jesus drops a blunt pointed answer to our questions at the end of verse 23 I never knew you now it’s easier to illustrate if we think back on what I said already about Pharisees they had they got the power you know they had the stuff

they walk with a swag if they came to your row you’d make room it’s it’s that it’s that kind of person these are not a bunch of you know sidelined people that are broken and messed up and of course you’re not getting to Heaven you’re all messed up no they’re dressed up the book we’ve been reading and if it’s if you’re with us as a guest today or just checking us out we’ve been in insired by a book by a man named Sky SK Yee jethani

known as the book’s title is a question what if Jesus was serious this series was inspired by that and we we’ve taken it from a question to a statement since Jesus was serious so I’m quoting the author because I like the honesty of his words here Jesus speaks of of the day of judgment and the danger of delusion that’s what we’re reading about here there will be people he says who will plead their case before him he says rather they will claim to belong to Christ

because of the power and magnitude of their words and their works but he will dismiss them with the horrible truth I never knew you for me and he gets personal here this is the most frightening passage in all of the Bible and the most frightening word you can guess it in this passage is many it’s many Jesus says many will be convinced I’m in and to their horror they will be cast aside from his presence end quote it gives me a chill to tell you that

to tell myself that I’ve said this 100% of the time and I don’t think I miss too often when I prepare something I’m working it through myself first before you ever hear a word so I read that and I’m like is this man here’s the Shocker for me the many are among those who’ve tried to have it together they’ve tried to do and say the right stuff so far that’s me I’m thinking I’ve tried to have it together I’ve tried to say the right stuff but

somehow I these the like these people they they it turns out they had their ladder leaning against the wrong building it didn’t turn out well so what is the right building that’s what you want to know and I’m glad we don’t have to look anywhere else because Jesus gives it to us right here he says do the will of my father who is in heaven do you see how verse 21 ends they will enter the kingdom of heaven do the will of my Father in heaven

now that raises a controversy because some people says I knew it’d come down to roll up your sleeves and get busy that is a wrong interpretation of his words his will the father’s will is that Steve McCracken believes in his son done hear me say it again the will of the father is is that you bow your knee to Jesus Christ and Pledge Your Allegiance to him and him only done not and get baptized great thing wonderful thing but done by people that have bowed their

knee to Jesus and it become becomes an entry point into heaven you’ve heard me say it a lot we have a throne every single one of us and it’s the Throne of us of self somebody gets to sit there until you meet Jesus you’re sitting there you’re the Lord of you and then you meet Jesus and he he doesn’t go hey get off you know there’s no room for you here he just waits for you to say you know what you belong here not me I’ll

ride shotgun you drive do you know him and by the way your answer isn’t for my sake at all in fact that’s why he says down at verse 23 then I will tell them plainly I never knew you he’s the one that wants to hear he by the way is the one that already knows the answer you with me so that should settle life’s question am I in I’ll just tell you this as we’re stepping away from this this morning it was less than 20 years

later from this sermon that there is a book that’s written to a group of people who started out well they had the right desire and they they pursued Jesus but a teaching came along that said are you sure he’s enough shouldn’t you add a little good works to that shouldn’t you sprinkle in a little religious practice and some did and it caught fire and it became a widespread new way of doing things this is 20 years later so in other words they drifted quickly you don’t

have to turn to Galatians 1 I hope you’ll read it later today but listen to these three verses Paul’s saying I’m astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and you’re turning to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ but even if we or an angel from heaven should show up preaching a gospel other than the

one we preach to you let them be under God’s curse we would say they can go to another place if you know what I’m saying it’s exactly the same tone he’s not done as we have already said so now I say again if anyone is preaching to you a gospel other than believing in Jesus let them be under God’s Eternal curse that’s serious stuff wouldn’t you say really big stuff so let me ask you do you have a relationship with Jesus period Jesus period or have

you been fooled as they were in South Asia and this rebuke here by the Apostle Paul have you been fooled into thinking no it’s Jesus comma plus big deal ah plus what by the way plus anything plus being a good guy plus loving your spouse everything I put on my list to share with you right now being a good parent being a nice neighbor serving your church saying no to sin the list goes on and on supporting your church reading your Bible every single day sharing

your faith all of those are awesome things to do but they’re not finishing your salvation it’s not Jesus plus any or all of them combined together that results in Salvation so don’t miss something that I stated at the beginning these people started out right they were on the right path they got it they needed to know Jesus done now let him let him work in your life and it’ll be a journey that will change you and you’ll look at the end of the journey and go

I’m more like him and less like me it’s cool it’s a really good thing I like this image about riding a boat to Heaven I read about it Grace a lots believe in grace a lot Jesus almost finished the work of Salvation they would argue in the rowboat named heavenbound Jesus paddles most most of the time but every so often he needs your help so we give it and in the process we accumulate good works the way Boy Scouts accumulate merit badges on their sash do

good people go to heaven since the Bible says in Romans 3 there is no one good I think the answer is no that’s not what it takes it’s fine if you’re you become a good person because God’s changing your life that’s the end game there but you know him already Grace people go to heaven I found these words that I want to leave this message Mage they’ll they’ll they’ll Mark they will make sure these words are remembered by you because they I I read them and

went that is so true of me especially when you’re attempted to change it up from Jesus period to Jesus plus attempts of self- salvation guarant guantee nothing but exhaustion we Scamper and Scurry trying to please God collecting merit badges and brownie points and scowling at anyone who questions our accomplishments stop it once and for all enough of this frenzy Jesus does not say come to me all who are perfect and sinless wow I I’ve I confess to you the times when I think I’m on a

I’m on my game and he must like me More’s he’s he smiles bigger no it’s just the opposite come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest there is no fine print you have to squint to see a second shoe is not going to drop God’s promise has no hidden language let Grace happen For Heaven’s Sake that’s really a great statement No More performing for God no more clamoring after God of all the things you must earn in life

God’s unending affection

Transcript machine-generated from the sermon audio, so it may contain errors. 5,133 words.