THE GRACE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: Text: Matthew 5:17-20 Intro: “There is nothing free” To enter a simple castle here in UK, you have to pay. For what? Maybe pleasure, leisure, glory, curiosity, etc. AIM: For us to be in the kingdom of God and not be disqualified.

I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN ENTER HEAVEN Gen 3:22Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- Gen 3:23therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.

Gen 3:24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. There is no way we can fulfil the law. Jam 2:10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point], he is guilty of all. Rom 5:19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Hebrew 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus God provided us the way thru Jesus II. PEOPLE’S MISINTERPRETATION OF GRACE Rom 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

They think they’re not obliged to obey the law because of the grace of God. Rom 5:20Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Rom 6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

A very good example is there are people who do not pay tithes thinking they under the grace of God. Worst, there are those who conduct wedding ceremony to a divorcee believing they are under grace. III. WHAT IS A GRACE? the free and unmerited favour or beneficence of God 1Pe 5:10But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle [you].

1Pe 5:12By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. The grace of the Lord is what enables us to obey Him. IV. TRANSGRESSION REPRIMANDED Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments will be least in the kingdom of heaven To break means to disannul them, ignore them, thus violate them. Jesus told him that he answered wisely. Mat 6:22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. Mat 6:23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great [is] that darkness! Concrete example is parable of the good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37.

Deut 22:6 "If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; Deut 22:7 "you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and [that] you may prolong [your] days. Even the least we’re not supposed to ignore.

How much more when it comes to the Ten Commandments? Worst if they don’t just simple break the commandments but teach others to do so. Rom 1:32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Jesus said, they will be least in the kingdom of heaven.

They are far from entering heaven. Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. V. OBEDIENCE AND TEACHING OF GOD’S WORD COMMANDED Whoever does and teaches shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to obey it ourselves but teach other people to boey as well.

Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mat 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen. VI. OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. If not, will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Their righteousness is for pretence sake. Mat 15:8'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And [fn] honour Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. Mat 15:9And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.‘ Mat 5:46"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Mat 5:47 "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more [than others]? Do not even the tax collectors do so? CHALLENGE: Are you inside the kingdom of heaven? Does your righteousness exceed the Pharisees’ righteousness?

CONCLUSION: Mat 5:20 "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven..