Transcript The Narrow Road

The Narrow Road
"Enter through the narrow gate; for
the gate is wide and the way is broad
that leads to destruction, and there are
many who enter through it.
"For the gate is small and the way is
narrow that leads to life, and there are
few who find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
The World offers many
ways…
…but the World’s way leads
to death.
So, Which Way do we Choose to
Take?
© 2000-2006 Ain Vares.
The World’s way, or God’s Way?
Friend with World = Enemy of
God

“… do you not know that friendship
with the world is hostility toward
God? Therefore whoever wishes to be
a friend of the world makes himself
an enemy of God.”
James 4:4
Whose friends are we?

Are we friends of the World,
or friends of God?
We need to test ourselves

Test yourselves {to see} if you are
in the faith; examine yourselves!
2 Corinthians 13:5
How???

With what do we test ourselves?
Tests
Even in human testing,
we need an objective
standard!
Feelings Objective Enough?

Can’t go by our feelings, or our
heart:
Popular Song lyrics: “How can it be
wrong if it feels so right?”
NO!

Hearts are deceptively wicked - "The
heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick; Who can
understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
We Must Test Ourselves By the
Word
"Sanctify them in
the truth; Your
word is truth.”
John 17:17
Doers of the Word, not Merely Hearers

But prove yourselves doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who delude
themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of
the word and not a doer, he is like a man
who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and
gone away, he has immediately forgotten
what kind of person he was. 25 But one
who looks intently at the perfect law, the
law of liberty, and abides by it, not having
become a forgetful hearer but an effectual
doer, this man will be blessed in what he
does.
James 1
Yeshua, the Word Made Flesh
John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. 2 He was in the
beginning with God… 14 And the
Word became flesh, and dwelt
among us, and we saw His glory,
glory as of the only begotten from
the Father, full of grace and truth.
1
Yeshua, the Embodiment of Torah

If a believer wants to know how to
“walk out” Torah, then look to the
Word made flesh: Yeshua.
One Way
Yeshua said to him, "I am the way, and
the truth, and the life; no one comes to
the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
“Church” was Once Called
“The Way”


About that time there occurred no
small disturbance concerning the
Way.
Acts 19:23
"I persecuted this Way to the death,
binding and putting both men and
women into prisons”
Acts 22:4
Acts 24:14

"But this I admit to you, that
according to the Way which they
call a sect I do serve the God of our
fathers, believing everything that is
in accordance with the Law and that
is written in the Prophets”
Acts 24:22

“But Felix, having a more exact
knowledge about the Way, put them
off, saying, "When Lysias the
commander comes down, I will
decide your case."
The Way - Hebrew: “ha Derekh”

In the Bible, the word translated path
(orech) often is parallel with the word
derekh, which means, “way, road or
lifestyle”
Teach me Your way (derekh), O LORD, And lead
me in a level path (orech) Because of my foes.
Psalm 27:11
Do not enter the path (orech) of the wicked And
do not proceed in the way (derekh) of evil men.
Proverbs 4:14
Orechot Adonai (Paths of the Lord)
Isaiah 2:3

And many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain
of the LORD, To the house of the God
of Jacob; That He may teach us
concerning His ways (derekh) And
that we may walk in His paths
(orech)." For the law will go forth
from Zion And the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2 – Messianic in Orientation

Future Messianic Rule: “In the last
days”
verse 2
Yeshua will judge from Israel
verse 4
5
“Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk
(halakh) in the light of the LORD.”
How to Walk (halakh) the Way
(derekh)…

The “Word made flesh” taught us
how to walk out His ways.
We’re to Walk as He Walked

By this we know that we have come to
know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 The one who says, "I have come to know
Him,"
and
does
not
keep
His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word,
in him the love of God has truly been
perfected. By this we know that we are in
Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him
ought himself to walk in the same manner
as He walked.
1 John 2
3
So, How DO we Walk as Yeshua
Walked?
Yeshua (the Way) Showed Us

In the power of the Spirit…
And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the
Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the
surrounding district.
Luke 4:14
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will
not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
Battle of Two Natures

Flesh vs. Spirit
Law of Sin
and Death
I find then the principle that evil is present in me,
the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur
with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a
different law in the members of my body, waging
war against the law of my mind and making me a
prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
21
Romans 7
Therefore there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has
set you free from the law of sin and of
death.
Romans 8
1
Romans 8
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was
through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in
the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for
sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the
requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us,
who do not walk according to the flesh but
according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are
according to the flesh set their minds on the things
of the flesh, but those who are according to the
Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set
on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit
is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the
flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject
itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do
so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please
God.
3
Flesh vs. Spirit – Romans 8:6

Flesh = Death
For the mind set on the flesh is death,

Spirit = Life
but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace
Flesh – Hostile toward God
…because the mind set on the flesh
is hostile toward God; for it does not
subject itself to the law of God, for it is
not even able to do so, 8 and those
who are in the flesh cannot please
God.
Romans 8
7
Old Indian story:
Two wolves fighting
An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his
grandchildren about life...
He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible
fight and it is between two wolves.
One wolf is evil -- he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret,
greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,
false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.
The other is good---he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing,
serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy,
generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other
person, too."
They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked
his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
So, Which Nature Wins?
The one you feed!
Feeding the Spirit

Set your mind on the things above,
not on the things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2
Finally,
brethren,
whatever
is
true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is of good repute, if there is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise,
dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8
“Feeding the Flesh”
Anti- God’s Law
“…because the mind set on the flesh is
hostile toward God; for it does not subject
itself to the law of God, for it is not even
able {to do so,} ”
Romans 8:7
Mystery of lawlessness already at work…

Do you not remember that while I
was still with you, I was telling you
these things? 6 And you know what
restrains him now, so that in his time
he will be revealed. 7 For the
mystery of lawlessness (anomia) is
already at work; only he who now
restrains will do so until he is taken
out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2
5
Where is this “Already at Work?”

In the World?
NO!

This spirit has ALWAYS been at
work in the World!
Shaul is talking about the “Church”

The mystery of lawlessness was now
already at work in the Body of
Messiah, but was being restrained!
And you know what restrains him now, so
that in his time he will be revealed… 7 only
he who now restrains will do so until he is
taken out of the way.
6
2 Thessalonians 2
That Restraint will one day be
taken away

A Great Apostasy will occur

Man of lawlessness will be revealed
The Man of Lawlessness

Let no one in any way deceive you,
for it will not come unless the
apostasy (no faith) comes first, and
the man of lawlessness (anomia) is
revealed, the son of destruction, 4
who opposes and exalts himself
above every so-called god or object of
worship, so that he takes his seat in
the temple of God, displaying himself
as being God.
3
2 Thessalonians 2
Anti-Messiah against God’s Law

Not against man-made laws!
Spirit of Lawlessness (anomia)
Strong's Number: 459
 destitute of (the Mosaic) law
• of the Gentiles

departing from the law, a violator of
the law, lawless, wicked
You’re Always Talking about “Law”
What about Grace?
Mutually Exclusive?
For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
John 1 KJV
17
No word “but” in this Greek
passage!
For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
John 1 KJV
17
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and
truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
NASV
What difference does the word “but” have???


“But” is a contrasting word!
“But” is a conjunction (like “and”) that
connects together two words, phrases
or clauses. It is also a contrasting
word:
“But”

“John is a good boy and very obedient,
but George is not.”

“Ice cream is good, but sherbet is
better.”

Causes one to make a judgment call!
Inference from “but” in John 1:17?


For the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Causes one to make a judgment call
in contrasting values: law vs. grace!
Is there a contrast between Law &
Grace in the Scriptures?


Do we have to make a judgment call
here?
Is there something less about Law
and more about grace?
No! Law AND Grace have
ALWAYS been Co-Operatives in
the Word of God!

Grace: “Chesed”
goodness, kindness, faithfulness
Grace and Truth

And the Word became flesh, and
dwelt among us, and we saw His
glory, glory as of the only begotten
from the Father, full of grace and
truth.
John 1:14
Grace of God redeems us from our
“lawless” deeds

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing
salvation (Yeshua) to all men, 12 instructing us to
deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live
sensibly, righteously and godly in the present
age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the
appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us
to redeem us from every lawless (anomia) deed,
and to purify for Himself a people for His own
possession, zealous for good deeds.
11
Titus 2
Yeshua – Propitiation for our Sins

My little children, I am writing
these things to you so that you may
not sin. And if anyone sins, we have
an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous; 2 and He
Himself is the propitiation for our
sins; and not for ours only, but also
for those of the whole world.
1
1 John 2
Propitiation
Propitiation is a theological term
describing an atoning sacrifice. This
means the turning away of wrath by
an offering.
That which turns aside the wrath of
God from the sinner. The atonement of
Yeshua satisfies the just demands of
the righteousness and wrath of God
against sin.
Sin = Transgression of the Law

Everyone who practices sin also
practices lawlessness (anomia) ; and
sin is lawlessness (anomia) .
4
1 John 3
Balance between Law and Grace
(Love)

In the Word of God, there is a balance
between Law and Grace (Love).

If one goes too far on either side, will
have serious problems
Remember we walk a Narrow Path?
Romans 6:1,2
“What shall we say then? Are we to
continue in sin* so that grace may
increase? God forbid!”
What is Biblical definition of *sin?
“Everyone who practices *sin also
practices lawlessness (anomia); and
*sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:34
Evil Spirit on each Extreme of the
“Road”
Perversion=Legalism
Perversion=Licentiousness
Law vs. Grace/Love???


Is there an opposition between the
two!
No! God said: “Love Me” + “keep My
Commandments”
Law without Love in the extreme
results in Legalism.
Legalism: Strict or excessive adherence
to law or religious or moral code.
Yeshua sought balance: "But go and learn what this
means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT
SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the
righteous, but sinners."
Matthew 9:13

Legalism, in Christian theology, is a
pejorative term referring to an
improper fixation on law or codes of
conduct, or legal ideas, usually
implying an allegation of pride and
the neglect of mercy, and ignorance
of the grace of God.
Love without Law in the extreme
results in Licentiousness.

It is actually reported that there is
immorality among you, and immorality
of such a kind as does not exist even
among the Gentiles, that someone has
his father's wife.
1 Corinthians 5:1
(Some parents do not discipline (law)
their kids. They let them do whatever
they want, thinking that by so doing they
are actually loving their kids.)
1 Corinthians 13

Corinthians actually needed to have
Biblical “love” defined to them. They
were like the parent who did not
discipline their children.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag
and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its
own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things.
4
True love is love expressed under
discipline as opposed to that
expressed unrestrained
(licentiousness).


Best expressed in covenantal
relationships, such as marriage.
Spouses: would you have married
your spouse if they were licentious?
Licentiousness

Pursuit of sensuality
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times
will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of
money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to
parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving,
irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without selfcontrol, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous,
reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness,
although they have denied its power; Avoid such
men as these.
2 Timothy 3
1
God: Love AND Law
"Teacher,
which
is
the
great
commandment in the Law?" 37 And He
said to him, " `YOU SHALL LOVE THE
LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH
ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and
foremost commandment. 39 "The second
is like it, `YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 "On these
two commandments depend the whole
Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22
36
Galatians 5:14

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one
word, in the {statement,} "YOU
SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
YOURSELF."
Romans 13
8
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one
another; for he who loves his neighbor
has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, "YOU
SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU
SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT
STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if
there is any other commandment, it is
summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10
Love does no wrong to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
1 John 4:7, 8

Beloved, let us love one another, for
love is from God; and everyone who
loves is born of God and knows God.
The one who does not love does not
know God, for God is love.
Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness…
Galatians 5:22
Yeshua’s Walk: Perfect!
Yeshua walked in perfect Law and
perfect Love!


As the Word made Flesh – He kept
the Law perfectly!
As God (love) Incarnate, He walked in
perfect Love!
Law of God is NOT Legalism!
Yeshua Kept the Law of God perfectly!
He could not be the propitiation for
our sins if He didn’t!

My little children, I am writing these things to
you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation
for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for
those of the whole world.
1 John 2
1
Hebrews 4

Therefore, since we have a great high
priest who has passed through the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
fast our confession. 15 For we do not have
a high priest who cannot sympathize with
our weaknesses, but One who has been
tempted in all things as we are, yet
without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near
with confidence to the throne of grace, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.
14
If Keeping the Law of God =
Legalism
Yeshua was the perfect Legalist!
NOT!
Three Spirits
Legalism
R
u
a
c
h
Licentiousness
Not Legalism
Not Licentiousness
But by the Spirit

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and
you will not carry out the desire of
the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire
against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; for these are in
opposition to one another, so that
you may not do the things that you
please.
Galatians 5:16, 17
Galatians 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk
by the Spirit.
Let Us Walk…