Bible Study - Confidence (5) - Matthew 7:13-23 - November 12, 2023

 

Bible Study – Confidence (5) – November 12. 2023 - Won’t All People Ultimately Go to Heaven?

GOD’S kingdom is reserved for those who obediently follow HIM.

Our focus scripture is Matthew 7:13-23.

JESUS was teaching that the way to everlasting life is narrow. HE tells us about two gates – one gate is narrow and reveals to us that the narrow gate is the gate all people and especially HIS followers should choose. The other gate is wide and enticing but it leads to destruction.

Entering the Kingdom

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

Life offers two (2) gates for a person to enter. The narrow gate, JESUS Himself offers for those who want to be born-again/Spirit-born through faith in JESUS. JESUS being the sinless person, HE was qualified to give HIS life to atone for all sin. This is because HE willingly shed HIS sinless blood and was and is the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD. Faith in JESUS opens the way to GOD by removing the sin barrier. When a person accepts JESUS as his/her Savior, his/her sins are forgiven and the person immediately becomes GOD’S eternal Son or Daughter.

Question – Is this something only GOD can do? YES! For every person to become a member of GOD’S Family, all it takes is asking JESUS to forgive him/her for his/her sins and for JESUS to come into his/her heart believing that JESUS is the true Messiah.

Therefore, is there any other way for a person to get to Heaven? NO!!!

A person cannot work hard enough, long enough or give enough of his/her wealth to earn his/her way to Heaven. Why should any person even try because JESUS has already redeemed all who place their faith in HIM from spending eternity in Hell.

Satan will do all he can to prevent a person from going through the narrow gate, therefore he makes the broad passage that leads to destruction look very attractive. Do not fall for Satan’s lures and lies.

I urge you to choose GOD’S path, the narrow way, through faith in JESUS. JESUS paid for all sin, in full, but a person must accept HIS atonement for sin that JESUS has already given by asking HIM into his/her life. Once you are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family it is for eternity.

But how does a person know that they are GOD’S Son or Daughter?

When someone accepts JESUS as his/her Savior, GOD gives him/her an inner witness, the indwelling Holy Spirit as a security deposit.  

In 2 Corinthians 1:22 - ²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

The Holy Spirit is our guarantee and assurance that those who place their faith in JESUS belong eternally to GOD.

Is there any other way for a person to be Spirit born, other than through JESUS? NO!!! Do you recall what JESUS told Nicodemus in John 3? A person must be born-again. A person’s first birth is human and their second birth is Spiritual through faith in JESUS. Faith in what JESUS did to pay for the penalty for sin, in full, for all who place their faith in JESUS to be Spiritually born into GOD’S Family.

Let’s read Matthew 7:13-14:

Entering the Kingdom

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

JESUS taught those following HIM to choose the “narrow gate.” HE points the way but leaves it up to the person to choose.

Since, the passion of JESUS, the Holy Spirit also urges a person to choose the narrow way by accepting JESUS as his/her Savior. Salvation is through faith in JESUS, since HIS death, burial, resurrection, ascension, has the wooing of the Holy Spirit to help a person choose the narrow gate through faith in JESUS to being born-again.

Let’s read Matthew 7:15-20:

¹⁵ “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. ¹⁶ You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

JESUS quickly cautioned HIS audience to be on their guard because Satan will do all he can to prevent a person from being born-again in his/her spirit.

Satan loves to give a person a false sense of security. So, how does a person know that he/she is truly GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of Spiritual birth?

Are we led by the Holy Spirit or self?

The spirit of the world is that all will people will go to Heaven? That is Satan’s lie. Many who follow other religions will tell you that they picture a mountain with GOD at the top of the mountain. There are many ways to climb to the top but all will arrive at its top where GOD resides. That is a lie. Do you want the truth? First, do you believe JESUS is GOD’S only SON? Did JESUS death on the cross pay in full the penalty for my sins, your sins and the sins of all who come to HIM and seek forgiveness for their sins? A person must know the truth!

What does JESUS teach?

Let’s read Matthew 7: 21-23:

²¹ “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 in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ ²³ Then I (JESUS) will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’^[b][c]

JESUS knows that Satan has imposters who are in the world and will do the work of Satan. That is why all Christians must know the truth by studying and applying what they read in GOD’S Word, The Holy Bible.

In John 14:6, -Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Please do not give up on GOD because GOD has not given up on you.

Finish the race you have started.  

Will all people go to Heaven? According to GOD’S Word, only those who have been born-again through faith in JESUS.

Please do not give up on GOD - ask because GOD has not given up on you.

Finish the race you have started. Know the truth in GOD’S Word because as we get closer to the return of JESUS, there will be those who will distort GOD’S truth’s

Will all people go to Heaven? According to GOD’S Word, only those who have been born-again through faith in JESUS.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins? If so, your destination is Heaven.

Blessings!!!