No Greater Love Than His
  • In The Son of His Love--a blog
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  • Relational Theology 101
  • Mystery of Godliness I Tim. 3:16
  • Galatians- Learning to Rest
  • The Body of Christ
  • Romans 1:16-17 The Gospel
  • Ephesians, the Father's adopted family
  • Prevailing Intercession-Henry Law
    • Psalm 2 Henry Law
  • A Practical Study of Hebrews
  • Satan's Hatred of Women
  • Quotes from old authors
  • John Welch on Romans 8:1
  • Topical Analysis of the Bible
  • LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
  • The Kingdom of God in Christ
    • The Kingdom Foretold
    • The King and His Kingdom Come
    • The Kingdom in its Biblical Context
    • The Kings introduction-the wild man and the real man
    • The Ultimate Test of the Father's Word-The Temptation
    • The Goal of the Kingdom Conquest
    • The Blessed of the Kingdom
    • Blessed are they that mourn
    • Blessed are the meek
    • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness
    • Blessed are the Merciful
    • Blessed are the Pure in Heart
    • The Blessed of the Kingdom are the Salt & Light of the World
    • Kingdom Righteousness
    • Sermon on the mount-Getting the Law Right
    • Restoring God's Most Reflective Relationship
    • Being Sons and Daughters of the Heavenly Father
    • Understanding our Lord's Father Context
    • Breathing Pure Air in a Polluted World
    • Living in the Presence of the Secret Benefactor
    • What Serving God Looks Like
    • Self Righteous need not apply, but beggars can't be losers
    • Final Warnings From Our King
  • Audio Studies
    • Audio & Outline--On Spiritual Gifts
    • From the Futility of the Human Mind-to the Mind of Christ
    • Audio Study: I Corinthians 6:1-11
    • AUDIO-Waiting On God
    • Audio-Gospel of John
    • AUDIO-A Relational Discussion of the Holy Spirit
    • Audio-Studies on the Sermon on the mount
  • From Death to Life
  • All Creation Groans
  • Traveling down the ladder of self knowledge
  • Zions' hymn
  • Power in Weakness
  • What's In A Name?
  • The Heavenly Father's Pity/Spurgeon
  • On Affliction
  • Christ Our Intercessor
  • Spurgeon's Dream
  • Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
  • Stomping Among Lillies
  • The More Excellent Way
  • All Creation Sings Praise to the God of Heaven and Earth
  • The Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Ruler of the Nations
  • From Captivity to God's plan for peace, a future, and an eternal hope
  • Man Looks on the Outward Appearance, but the Lord of Hosts Looks upon the Heart
  • The Earth is the Lord's
  • The earth is the Lords
  • A Wedding Meditation-The Gospel Mystery
  • Be Strong in the Lord
  • The Girdle of Truth
  • Having feet shod with Gospel of Peace
  • Shield of Faith
  • Helmet of Salvation
  • Praying with all prayer & supplication
  • Sword of the Spirit
  • A Wedding Meditation
  • The Power of the Gospel is the Resurrection
  • What is this Mystery
  • A letter of encouragement to faith
  • Great is Mystery Part 3
  • The Mystery of Godliness part 4
  • Mystery of Godliness part 5
  • Seen of angels part 2
  • Preached among the nations
  • Great is Mystery of Godliness Part 8
  • Mystery of Godliness part 9
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 10
  • A Father's Hand--on Affliction
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 11
  • Mystery of Godliness part 12
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 13
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 14
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 1
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 2
  • It is the Power of God
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 4
  • Christ, the Glorious Hybrid of God
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 5
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 6
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 7
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 8
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 9
  • Romans 1:16-17 Pt 11
  • The Necessity of the Body of Christ
  • The Perfection of the Body of Chhrist
  • The Role of the Holy Spirit
  • The Application of Body II Pet 1:1-4
  • application of body of Christ #3
  • Practical application body #4
  • Part 5 The application of the body
  • Application of body of Christ #6
  • The Application of the Body #7
  • application of body of christ #8
  • Application of body of Christ #9
  • application of body of Christ #10
  • The Kingdom of God
  • Galatians 1:1-6
  • Galatians 1:6-9
  • Abraham's Gospel-Melchizedek
  • cutting the covenant
  • The Mark of the Covenant
  • Gospel to Abraham-resurrection
  • Galatians 1:10-17
  • Galatians 1:18-2:10
  • Galatians 2:11-21
  • Galatians 3:1-9
  • Beholding the Glory of God
  • Intro to Gospel of Abraham
  • Melchizedek Gen. 14:18-20
  • Melchizedek #2
  • God's cutting the Covenant
  • Mark of the Covenant
                                            Final Warnings From Our King  Matt.7:13-29

I.  Vs 13-14 The Narrow Gate:                                                                                                                                         Narrow— #4728/stenos’—“narrow from obstacles standing close about, used figuratively of the gate that provides entrance to eternal life; narrow because it runs counter to natural inclinations”  (flesh).  New Strongs Expanded Dictionary                                                                                                                                                                                                            Difficult--#2346/thlee’bo—“to suffer affliction, to be troubled,” has reference to suffering due to the pressure of circumstances, or the antagonism of persons.  Translated “affliction” in II Cor. 1:6; Heb.11:27.  Almost invariably refers to affliction that comes upon believers from without.” (NSED)                                                                                          A.  These two descriptive adjectives describing the gate leading to eternal life bring to mind our Lord’s parable of the soils in Matt.13:1-23.  What characterizes the good ground hearer?  He has strong roots, withstands tribulation, perseveres in the midst of the cares of this life and shuns the deceitfulness of riches.                                                                  1.  In our text, that is the description of the narrow gate into and the path of eternal life.  In reality, this gate is only wide enough to admit One Man, the Man Christ Jesus.                                                                    John 14:6  “I am the WAY, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.”                                            Phil. 3:7-9  “and be found IN HIM, not having my own righteousness……….but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”  Vs 9                                                                                                                      Col. 2:9-10  “For IN Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete IN HIM.”                                                                                                                                                                                          B.  The broad way is as wide as the flesh, whatever our “brand of flesh” may be.                                                                            John 3:6  “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I say unto you, You must be born again.”  Remember, Jesus said this to a self righteous, “good” Pharisee!                                                                                                                                                                                      Rom. 7:18  “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.”  This was said by the Pharisee of the Pharisee’s.  He was a really good guy!!                                                                                                         C.  We conclude therefore, that the path to eternal life is surrounded by every possible conflict and difficulty that the world, the flesh, and the devil can throw at it, and only those born from above, those placed in Christ Jesus by His Redemptive Blood and Righteousness shall be able to enter in.  This is the perilous path marvelously described in Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”.

II.  Vs 15-20  “Beware of false prophets.”                                                                                                                           A.  These are “flesh generated” teachers, governed by fleshly lusts for power and glory and who use whomever they can seduce to get it by making merchandise of them.  II Pet. 2:1-3                                                                                                                         Col. 2:8 (Read with the narrow gate context in mind)  “Beware lest anyone cheat you through (their methodology) philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST.”                                                                                            B.  “Therefore by their fruit you will know them”.                                                                                                                                                1.  Follow the “Price Chopper” method.  Their ads say that they triple inspect their fruit three times! Do these "prophets"  allow people to praise them or their achievements? (Remember Paul in Phil. 3:7-8)  Do they look to earthly standards as evidence of God’s blessing, size and glamor?  Are they emphasizing the need for finances “to do the work of God”?   Have they found some “secret” that we need to know to be “successful” either       materially or spiritually?  This may be through emphasizing some obscure scripture or   isolating a passage from its context.  Is the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ the very core of their life and teaching or is His Name merely “window dressing” to make them sound “spiritual”?

III.  Vs 21-23  This is the “end” of the false prophets.                                                                                                        A.  Note that they are very religious, and probably think they are doing God a great service!  “In your name” phrase repeated 3 times.                                                                                                                                                                                          B.  “but he who does the WILL of My Father in heaven”.  This alone is God’s passport.  All else is wood, hay, and stubble.  And what is that Will?                                                                                                                                                        Matt. 22:36-38  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.”  
              And how do we sinful creatures do this will?                                                                                                                                                John 6:29  “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He has sent.”                                                                                                                                                     II Tim. 2:19  “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
           John 6:40  “And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

IV.  Vs 24-29  So make sure of your foundation!!!  What are you built upon???                                                Eph. 2:20  “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF (not just stuff about Him) being the chief cornerstone, in Whom the whole building being joined together into a holy temple in the Lord.”  (Rev. 21:9-14)                                                                                                                                                              I Cor. 10:1-14 The Rock is Christ Jesus!!!   “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”                                                                                                  

Vs 29  “For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”   Beware of scribes who see a job to be done, and not a Lord to be loved!  Christ’s authority came from His heart, not his head.  He delighted in His Father’s will in His innermost being.