Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

According to funeral sermons preached by preachers of the Christian faith, Jesus had it wrong in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:13-14). According to the Gospel of Positivism, Christ should have said, "Enter in at the wide gate: for wide is the gate, broad is the way, that leads to Heaven, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to destruction, and few there be that find it." Most everyone gets preached into Heaven and regardless of how reprobate of character, it would be politically incorrect to mention the fact the unrighteous and ungodly (Romans 1:16-18ff) are lost and will spend eternity in Hell.

The truth is that when we make life's decisions, there are but two roads from which to choose. The wide gate and freeways of life lead to destruction. Paul pointed out that those that take the freeways of this life and sow to the flesh reap corruption (Galatians 6:7-8). On the other hand, those that believe in the God of the Bible, that Jesus is his only begotten son, and that the Bible is God's revealed will; have chosen the strait gate and the narrow way that leads to Heaven. Of course, this belief must be followed by being born again (John 3:1-6). Further more we must continue to travel this narrow way and be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10) in order to spend eternity in Heaven and receive the crown of life.

It is unfortunate that at the present stage of Western Civilization it is necessary to remind ourselves of the "works of the flesh" that tell us we have chosen the broad way that leads destruction. The apostle Paul gives a list these unrighteous and ungodly life styles in Galatians 5:19-21. He writes, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Among seemingly acceptable behavior patterns in America today, to highlight a few, are: Adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, hatred, envyings, drunkenness, and revellings. He also warned them about the fact that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:" "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness," "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies," "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."