Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. The key to entering the kingdom of heaven is humility. Look at verse 2. Unless you Turn. and become like Children.
You will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Welcome to the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. What does it take to become great in the kingdom of heaven?
Well, the kingdom of heaven runs very differently from any kingdom here on earth. And today we're studying what Jesus taught about entering and serving the kingdom of God. If you've missed a message as we continue in the Gospel of Matthew, be sure to catch up at theverdict.org. But now, let's join Pastor John Monroe for today's lesson. Do you always want to be number one?
Do you like the idea of being the smartest person in the room? Do you find yourself acting superior to others? Pride is disastrous. It leads to arguments. Lack of harmony in our relationships at home, at work, and in the church.
And as you will see today, pride had entered the ranks of the disciples. And Jesus is teaching them that the key to entering the kingdom of God is humility. A humble, repentant attitude whereby we turn from our sin and call out to the Lord Jesus for salvation. That's crucial. But now we'll learn about those who will end in the eternal fire.
Yes, Jesus talked about hell. This is a very important lesson. Not everyone will be in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew eighteen, verse one. At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And calling to him a child, he put them in the midst of them and said, Truly, I say to you. Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, It would be better for him.
To have a millstone fastened round his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. War to the world. for temptations to sin. For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes. And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you. to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet. to be thrown into the eternal Fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
Verse 10, see that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you That in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. Heaven. What an amazing. Passage of scripture, isn't it?
You say, that's a very tough passage, yes. What is Jesus saying about being great? He's saying this. Those in the kingdom of heaven are not to seek personal greatness. That's very opposite from what the world tells you, isn't it?
The disciples, like most of us, focus on Personal greatness, verse 1. At that time, the disciples came to Jesus saying, Who's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Mark, as he gives us the parallel passage in his gospel, says that the disciples were arguing who is the greatest. During World War Two The United Kingdom needed to increase its production of coal. And Winston Churchill called the Labor leaders together to enlist their support.
And at the end of the presentation, Churchill, who was a great orator, as we all know, he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would be held in Piccadilly Circus, London, the very uh heart of London uh after the war. First he said. would come the sailors. who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who'd come home from Dunkirk and had gone on to defeat Rommel.
in Africa. Then he said would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky. Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, suit-streaked men in miners' caps. And someone would cry from the w the crowd. And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?
Says Churchill, from 10,000 throats would come the answer: we were deep in the earth. with our faces to the coal. That's it, isn't it?
Some in the limelight.
Some under the spotlight, and God calls people. for thy ministry. But the servant is one who's in the shadows. Humble people have their faces to the coal. Not just when they stand up here getting applause.
That's easy to serve God. But what about when no one knows what you're doing. I thank God that we have so many of you. to use Churchill's Medaphor, who have your faces to the call. You never get a standing ovation.
You're never clapped. But you are serving God in your home. in the shadows, playing a vital role. in helping church. Maintain and expand our mission of being and making authentic followers.
of Jesus. Christ.
So what about you? Looking for Status? We're serving. In the shadows. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven, then, is not being number one.
It's not being first, but it's being willing to serve particularly the lowest. The child, the poor. The disabled. The immigrant. The little people.
People who don't fit in, the disabled. When we receive them, Did you notice what Jesus said? How beautiful this is, verse five. He says, whoever receives such One such child in my name receives. Me.
Maybe. When I receive one of these little ones, whoever they are, I'm receiving. Christ.
See, how we treat others is crucial in the kingdom of heaven. And the humblest person then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. But don't go around saying, I think I must be the most humble person at church because obviously you're not. Your focus is wrong. But serve others Now the Lord Jesus in verse six and verse Ten uses the expression little ones.
Verse 6. Causes one of these little ones who believe in me.
So, the little ones may be actual little children, but I think it will also include followers of Jesus, particularly those who are young in their faith, who believe in me.
So, in a sense, All of us are little ones who believe in Christ. But notice what Jesus is saying, something very, very important. Following Jesus with humility means We do not despise others. Look at verse 10. See that you do not despise one of these little ones.
But I tell you That in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. Heaven. Do you you tend to despise people? You look down on other people. In church life, you're the kind of individual who seems to enjoy pulling the weeds.
Rather than planting the seed or smelling the roses, Uh your your your mission seems to crack people. You're you're you're always uh critical of someone and and you may come over as despising them. That's very easy for the attitude to come, isn't it? Don't do that. Stop it.
Don't have that judgmental. self-censorious attitude. Do you realize? that you hurt followers of Jesus. When you speak like that, when we speak like that to one another, When we're mean, and you think of all of the meanness and social media and the way that even followers of Jesus speak to one another.
We're not to despise one another. Yes, there can be legitimate and should in a sense be legitimate disagreement, but do that with humility. And in particular, we must care for our children and for new followers of Jesus. Don't lead them into sin. Did you notice verse 6?
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, the picture here. Is to stumble someone, to hurt someone, to entrap someone. Can I say very, very strongly? Please listen to me. Do not hurt.
Children. in any way. Do you see what you mean, John? Do you want me to spell it out? Emotional abuse.
Shouting, cursing at your children. Man? Happens more with men, so let's just say that women don't do it. Physical abuse. Do you know that children?
are punched and hit. and kicked in some homes, yes. In some homes, which are professing Christian. Can I say also? Sadly.
Sexual abuse. Incest. In the home. Little children, little boys, and little Girls. Can I say to you, Ben?
If any of you are involved... in that listen to Jesus. Did you hear the warning? It would be better for him to be able to do it. To have a millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Some of you who are adults have been victims of abuse in the home or elsewhere as children or in teens, and you know the terrible impact that has on you.
So I say. In God's name, do not, do not hurt our children. There is a terrible, terrible warning. And we live We live in a very sick society. with pornography which includes the abuse of children.
Of which adults, mainly men, seem to get some kind of kick out of it. And that sooner or later is going to lead to some terrible actions. Listen to Jesus. Notice what he says: I tell you, in heaven, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. We wish the Lord had told us more about this.
I'm not quite sure all that this means, but it does mean that God sees it. Of course, he does. They're angels. are watching.
Now, some think each of us have a guardian angel. Not sure you can prove that from scripture, but what we can prove from scripture is this: from verses like this: that there are angels. Ministering spirits. Last verse of Hebrews 1 refers to Acts 12, we read of Peter's angel. Remember his escape from prison.
The angels of the Lord, there are angels, and they're watching. And here it said that their angels, the angels of these little ones, see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
So take note. Take notes. It'd be better if they were cast and drowned in the depth of. You say that that that seems very harsh.
Well Not everyone is in the kingdom of heaven. Do you understand that? And Jesus Christ is the chief witness to the existence of heaven and hell. Notice what Jesus is doing as well. Jesus is teaching that nothing is more important than entering the kingdom of heaven.
Your spiritual life is much, much more important than your physical life. Our physical life is important. We want to keep in good shape. There's nothing wrong with exercise, nothing wrong with having a healthy diet, nothing wrong with going for a run or working out in the gym. But it is tragic if we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are more concerned with our physical well-being than our spiritual well-being.
Notice what Jesus is saying, verse 7. And eight.
Well, verse eight: if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It's better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It's better for you to enter it with one eye than enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
Now, Jesus is not talking about self-mutilation. He's using a figure of speech to make a very, very strong point, which he does elsewhere, as we've seen in our study of Matthew. that you are to deal radically with sin in your life. This is radical. You want to enter the kingdom of heaven?
You want to be an authentic follower of Jesus Christ. There is radical surgery to be done. What's in? And your life. Has to be Put to death.
Great. Pride Lust. Covetousness. Drunkenness. Lies?
Gossip. Anger. Paul Right then to the Colossians says, put them to death. It's the old expression, mortification of the flesh. Put it to death.
As John Owens said, be killing sin or it will kill you. Deal radically with it. And Jesus is saying that it is so important that you do not enter the eternal fire. that you must deal decisively with the sin in your Life. But you know this?
That's central to the mission of Jesus. Central to the teaching of Jesus is the reality of eternal punishment. Punishment. Verse 8, he refers to the eternal fire. Verse 9, he refers to the hell of fire.
That's not my view. This is Jesus saying. that there is a reality of eternal punishment. And you say, well, if that's the case, John, that's where I'm heading because I'm a very sinful person. Praise God that you acknowledge that you're sinful.
If you don't, there is no hope for you. This is the wonder of the gospel. That into our sinful world comes a perfect man. He's described as the second man. He's described as a man from heaven.
Our marvelous Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate, He enters into our world. into our darkness. and comes as the sinless Christ. As the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. You understand, here is the divine remedy.
The divine remedy for my sin is not by myself to try and reform my character or to change my ways. That might be helpful to some extent, but it will never deal radically with the problem of sin. Our Lord Jesus Christ comes. And what what's his primary mission? To be the Lamb of God, to take away the sin of the world.
His name is Jesus, for he saves his people from their sins. And how does he accomplish that salvation? By dying on the cross, the gospel is he died for our sins, he was buried. And he rose again. He conquered death.
He conquered sin. He paid the price for our sin. And now, in our conqueror, in the victorious Christ. If I call out to him, I will be saved. My sins will be forgiven.
I'll be washed. I'll be cleansed. But this requires humility. This requires a turning from myself. And understanding that I can't do this myself, I'm entirely dependent upon the grace of God and the mercy of God.
You say, well, I I don't know if I believe. You say I don't know if I believe in hell. I don't know if I believe in eternal fire. That seems very old fashioned stuff, John. Surely churches don't believe that nowadays.
Well, many churches don't. Many churches have thrown away this. But I began by saying this is the living word of God. And whether you believe it or not, The reality is There is a heaven. and there is a hell.
And that you by yourself will never Never. Reach heaven. and your own efforts. You may be the kindest, best, most generous person. But you know in your heart and I know in mine.
There is sin. There is failure. There is darkness. And how wonderful That God so loved the world. That He gave His only begotten Son That whosoever believes in him should not perish.
There it is. I will not perish. But I will have what? Eternal. life.
And that's the only way which leads to eternal life. That teaching of Jesus rules out universalism, which says that we're all eventually going to go to heaven. It doesn't really matter what you believe, as long as you're sincere and are not a serial murderer. That's not the teaching of Jesus. The teaching of Jesus is there is a narrow way which leads to life, there is a broad road which leads to death.
destruction. He comes to open the way from heaven to earth. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father apart from him.
So, what's your response? Our response should be. to bow at his feet. to choose to bow humbly. And say, Lord, I'm totally undeserving of your grace and salvation.
But thank you for dying for me on the cross. I receive you. as my Saviour. as my lord. You're the living Son of God.
Risen from the dead. Have you ever done that? Have you ever asked Christ to come and save you? This is the way that we enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says in John 3 that unless you're born again, you will not see, you will not enter the kingdom of God.
This is something supernatural that God in His grace does what we could never do. He comes and saves us. And the reality is, if you ignore that, You're eternally lost. Personally, John, I believe in a loving God. My view of God is very different from yours.
Well, it may well be. But you must understand It's not for you to construct your own little God in your mind to suit your own prejudices and desires in the culture of this world. This is the true God, this is the living God, and the love of God is not inconsistent with the eternal punishment of the wicked. It's not inconsistent. God is loving.
Of course, He is. That's central to the gospel: that God is love. But He's a God. who is loving, that's true, but he's also just. He's also holy.
And when the judgment of God is about to come on wicked Sodom and Gomorrah in the book of Genesis. The question is asked: Shall not the judge of all of the earth do what is right? Do you think God is an unjust judge? Do you think that you're fairer and more just than God? Do you really think you're wiser than God?
Listen, no one is in heaven who should be in hell. And no one will be in hell who should be in heaven. I don't make that determination. What makes that determination is our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is his teaching.
That whoever believes on the Son has eternal life. John 3:36. Present tense. that you and I As we're sitting here today, that we can have presently eternal life. Whoever believes on the Son has eternal life.
Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see. Life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Jesus is teaching the reality of eternal. Punishment. I plead with you.
to receive Christ. As a preacher of the gospel, it's my burden, my responsibility to explain that if you do not receive Jesus as Savior, You will never be in heaven. But you will experience, as Jesus says, eternal. Fire. I'm urging you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I'm urging you, each one of you, to be reconciled to God, to repent and believe. in the gospel. And if you are trusting in Christ, if you're part of the kingdom of God. Listen to this teaching. We hold her.
This is the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World.
Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity. Get your copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org. While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry. Whether it's $5, $50, or more, your gift today helps cover the cost of sharing these gospel messages to listeners around the world. And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Verdict Podcast, featuring John's weekly podcast exclusive called Avizandam.
It's available wherever you get your podcasts, or simply go to our website. Again, that's theverdict.org. The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte. We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ, We invite you to join us for our Sunday services.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? I'm praying that you will know the Lord Jesus Christ. that you'll be in the kingdom of heaven. How wonderful to know that through receiving the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Lord, you will be part of this kingdom which will never end. This changes your life, your perspective, and your future for all of eternity.
Jesus clearly taught the reality of the hell of fire.
So Don't delay. The choice and the consequences are real. Trust Christ. Whoever believes in the Sun has eternal life. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict.
I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
