Matthew 7:13-29
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Reflection
Jesus explains that some who claim to follow him are not, in fact, true disciples. True Christian discipleship is genuine when it arises from a heart and mind transformed by God’s grace. Jesus wants us to recognize that this inner transformation will inevitably bear good fruit (Matt. 7:17–20). True Christians have been transformed, and their lifestyles prove it. This does not mean that believers are flawless. They will have to battle and turn from sin until the day they die. It does mean, however, that their pattern of life now suggests that they have started down a new path (v. 14). It would no longer be accurate to describe genuine Christians as “workers of lawlessness” (v. 23). They have entered into an authentic relationship with Jesus, and are now laboring to build their lives upon what he has said (v. 24).
Romans 5:12-21
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Reflection
Paul has just shown how Christ’s death brings us peace with God through reconciliation. Now he sketches details of how Christ restores what was lost when Adam sinned.
Every human being is represented by the actions of either Adam or Jesus Christ. We are all born in Adam, but God graciously brings many into Christ through faith. Adam’s sin led to the reign of death in our lives and in the world (Rom. 5:14, 17), but the obedience of Jesus Christ brought grace (vv. 15, 19) to those who believe in him. Christ’s obedience is considered an “act of righteousness” (v. 18) that actually counts for the believer, allowing Christians to be considered “righteous” (v. 19) before God. Because of Christ’s faithful obedience on our behalf, we have become heirs of eternal life through him. This is the strongest possible reversal of all the damage that came into the world through Adam.
Psalm 43:3
3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
True Christians not only listen to Jesus, but they build their lives upon his words. Ask God to give you and your church family a heart for his truth and a lifestyle of obedience to your King.