Entering By the Narrow Gate, Part 5

Mat. 7:13 Are You for Real?

In 'Entering By the Narrow Gate, Part 5,' Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds Matthew 7:13-14 and 1 John 3:4-10, arguing that true conversion (entering the narrow gate) necessitates a radical renunciation of sin's mastery and practice as a pattern of life. He uses a vivid illustration of a deluded man in Central Park to highlight the self-deception of those who profess Christ but cling to self-righteousness, self-will, and allegiance to sin. Martin presses listeners to examine themselves by God's Word, emphasizing that genuine faith involves a fundamental commitment to righteousness and a breaking of sin's chains, not merely a superficial profession.

2 illustrations in this sermon

The Illustration of the Deluded King in Central Park

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The Deluded King in Central Park

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces an extended illustration of an elderly man in Central Park who believes he is a king, mistaking a paper bag for a crown and a broomstick for a scepter, due to…

A detailed story of an elderly man in Central Park who believes he is a king, wearing a gold-painted grocery sack as a crown and a broomstick as a scepter, due to mental illness. This illustrates spiritual self-deception and being out of touch with reality.

may it be a flashing sword whose point and whose cutting edge each one of us feels applied to our hearts to the end that we may be honest in our dealings with you as we all face that day when you will be honest in your dealings with us and either welcome us into heaven or cast us into hell help us then oh God to be honest with our own hearts before your word we plead in Jesus name, Amen now I want you boys and girls along with teenagers and mums and dads to use your imagination with me this morning and imagine that you and I and circle of well-known friends have gone into New York City to take...

4:41 - 6:08 Read in full sermon

The Natural Condition of Man: Slave of Sin

palette metaphor

Man's Natural State: Cap, Map, and Chains

In this part of the sermon: He describes the natural condition of all men before the narrow gate using a vivid metaphor: wearing a 'Slave of Sin' cap, a 'Lust of Flesh/Mind' roadmap bib, and chains binding…

A metaphor describing every person by nature as wearing a 'Slave of Sin' cap, a 'Lust of Flesh/Mind' roadmap bib, and having chains from every body member attached to 'boulders' of specific sins. This vividly portrays humanity's bondage to sin.

Well, having explained the words, having seen that the emphasis of the Sermon on the Mount does indeed warrant those words, consider with me as we try to press on in analyzing this. It says, the condition of all men by nature when they come to the gate, the command to all men if they would enter the gate, and the condition of all men if they have come through the gate. What is the condition of all men by nature as they stand before the narrow gate? Well, again, use your imagination.

45:17 - 45:52 Read in full sermon

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