1. The Journey of Faith!
“For we walk by faith” 2 Cor 5:7

2. Life is filled with choices that require “faith”.
Life’s most important choice involves where we’ll spend eternity.
Ps. 16:11 reminds us that God wants to show us “the path of life”.

3. Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who seeks to guide us on that path
Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who seeks to guide us on that path. John 10:10; 14:6

4. Satan is the “thief” who erects “barriers” to keep us from recognizing and responding to Jesus’
Invitation
Direction

6. The final barrier we’ll discuss is perhaps the most effective of all.
Some Barriers to belief include:
I Can’t believe! (2 Cor. 4:4-6; Jn 8:32, 44,45)
I Won’t Believe! Romans 1:16-32
I Don’t know what to believe!
(Gen. 3:1, 1 Cor. 14:33; James 1:8)
The final barrier we’ll discuss is perhaps the most effective of all.

7. Most of the Jews of Jesus’ day were devoted to their faith.
“I believe,
Most of the Jews of Jesus’ day were devoted to their faith.
isn’t that enough?”

8. Notice how Jesus closed his first public message! (Mt. 7:13-29)

9. and many …go in thereat:”
“I believe, isn’t that enough?”
It’s about Choice, not chance!
Vs 13,14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leads to destruction,
and many …go in thereat:”

10. and few there be that find it.”
1. Choices: Two Gates, Two Ways.
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.”
A. God’s narrow way (Acts 4:12) Requires:
1) Repentance (Mt 9:13) “I am come to call
…sinners to repentance”
2) Faith (Eph. 2:8; Ro. 5:1)

11. 1. Choices: Two Gates, Two Ways. B. Man’s “broad” way requires
nothing!
1) It’s the Natural Choice. (1 Cor. 2:14)
We’re born on the broad way! (Ro. 5:12)
2) The Disappointing choice. (Pr. 14:12)
“Leads to destruction” (apolia: ruin)

12. 2. It’s about the Nature, not the Name!
“I believe, isn’t that enough?”
2. It’s about the Nature, not the Name!
A. Superficial Spirituality is shallow.
Mt. 7:15 “Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
1) False (pseudes) Erroneous; Superficial!

13. “I believe, isn’t that enough?”
2. It’s about the Nature, not the Name!
B. Nature eventually reveals itself. v16-18
“Ye shall know them by their fruits”
“every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring good fruit.”

14. “if any be in Christ, he is a new creature!
Old things are passed (passing) away,
behold, all things are become new.”
2 Cor 5:17

15. but he that doeth the will of my Father.”
“I believe, isn’t that enough?”
3. It’s about the life, not the lips!
Faith that costs nothing,
Mt 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father.”
does nothing!

16. I never knew you! 3. It’s about the life, not the lips!
B. Religion – Relationship = RUIN
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not …in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you!
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

17. 4. It’s about the foundation, not the facade! Mt. 7:24-27
“I believe, isn’t that enough?”
4. It’s about the foundation,
not the facade! Mt. 7:24-27
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a rock:”

18. and great was the fall of it.”
Mt 7:26-27 “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell:
and great was the fall of it.”

19. “the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Jesus taught that genuine faith involves:
Choice, not chance. Mt 7:13,14
Nature, not Name. Mt. 7:15-20
Life, not lips. Mt. 7:21-23
Foundation, not Facade! Mt. 7:24-27
“the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For he taught them as one having authority”
Mt. 7:28,29

20. The heart, not the head! Ro 10:9
Conclusion: Jesus taught that the
Kingdom of Heaven is about:
The heart, not the head! Ro 10:9
“if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.”

21. The heart, not the head Vs.10 “For with the heart man believeth
Trust, Not just “Talk”!
Vs.10 “For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; (Justification: Ro 5:1)
and with the mouth confession (covenant) is made unto salvation.” (rescue, safety)

22. “For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved!”
The Kingdom of Heaven is about:
The heart, not the head!
Action, not just Admission! v13
“For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved!”
Call (epikale’ō) is a VERB!
We have to “act” on our faith!

23. The Kingdom of Heaven is about:
Being Born again not just “believing”.
“except a man be born again,
he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven” Jn 3:3
1) Nicodemus was a devout believer in
God. “a master of Israel” vs 10

24. to enter in at the strait gate:”
2) Many people who “believe”
stop short of being “born again”.
That’s why the “strait gate” is so cluttered! Lk 13:24
“Strive (Agōniz’omai: to struggle)
to enter in at the strait gate:”
(Stenos: narrow from obstacles!)

25. I Believe, isn’t that enough?
James 2:19-20 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man,
that faith without works is dead?”

26. that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
“Faith without works is dead”
John 6:28-29 “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
…This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

27. that he gave his only begotten Son,
John 3:16 “God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.”
Πιστεύω (pisteuō)
to credit, entrust, commit to.

28. Believing (Faith)+ Receiving (Works) = Becoming!
Application:
Saving Faith (being “born again”) involves:
Believing (Faith)+
Receiving (Works) =
Becoming!
(The children of God!)

29. but his own received him not. even to them that believe on his name:
“He came unto his own
but his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God.” John 1:11-13

30. and repent.” Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
be zealous therefore,
and repent.”

31. (Believe) and open the door, I will come in to him.”
”Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice,
(Believe)
and open the door,
I will come in to him.”
(Become and Belong!)
Rev. 3:20
(Receive)

32. and this life is in his Son.
Believe + Receive = Become and Belong
1 John 5:11-13 “this is the record,
that God hath given to us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life;
and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life.”

33. Do you Believe? (entrust, commit) Have you Received? (Christ by faith)
Then you’ll become and belong!
1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life”