After 3 years of ministry, at the end of the 80-100 miles journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus crests the Mount of Olives on his way into the city, the crowd breaks into song, and he breaks into tears.
Two men from very different situations in life have a desire to see Jesus. He meets them both in very different ways, but the outcome is the same: Your faith has saved you.
Jesus tells a parable about a rich man and a poor man who had very different values and purposes in their lives, and their experience of the afterlife told the story.
The Pharisees are bothered with how much time Jesus spends with sinners. Jesus tells three stories about how much rejoicing happens when something that was lost is found.
Jesus gets invited to another dinner party with the Pharisees, and talks to them about who will be invited to the banquet table in the kingdom of God.
Someone asks "How many people will get to heaven? Just a few?" Jesus pauses to reply, and teaches that only those who make every effort to enter the Narrow Door will be saved.
Jesus drills the whole conversation about being prepared for his return to three simple but powerful words: Repent or Perish.
Jesus leaves the home of the Pharisee who invited him for dinner, and prepares his disciples to face a crowd of thousands by saying, “Be on your guard against hypocrisy.”
How do I know I’m saved right now? And how can I be sure I can’t (or haven’t already) sin my way out of God’s grace? Or do I have to be a perfect Christian from now until I die in order to get to heaven?
The Doctrine of Sanctification Romans 6:15-23 INTRO Welcome back from our Sabbath break! I hope you were able to make it a restful weekend. It is our annual reminder that…