Enter by the Narrow Door

Driving home: strive to enter in by the narrow door. That is the simple signpost to the celestial city to which we direct our attention tonight. The words of Jesus, strive, do your utmost, agonize, exert all of your faculties, strain …

The sermon series title uses the analogy of old-fashioned signposts that clearly direct travelers to a destination (the Celestial City, or heaven), emphasizing the clarity and directness of biblical texts for salvation.

Amen. The preaching of the word of God tonight is the ninth message in a relatively brief, series which I have entitled, Simple Signposts to the Celestial City. And that terminology is taken, first of all, from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, in which he describes heaven as the celestial city. And I have combined with that the imagery of a day when people would find their way from one place to another by signposts that would be fixed.

4:33 - 5:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: strive to enter in by the narrow door. That is the simple signpost to the celestial city to which we direct our attention tonight. The words of Jesus, strive, do your utmost, agonize, exert all of your faculties, strain …

Martin asks the audience to imagine a physical signpost with the words 'strive to enter in by the narrow door' etched upon it, making the abstract command concrete and unmistakable.

imagine with me that there's a four by four post stuck two feet into the earth, and nailed upon it is a one by six piece of pine, and etched in unmistakably clear English are these words, strive to enter in by the narrow door. That is the simple signpost to the celestial city to which we direct our attention tonight. The words of Jesus, strive, do your utmost, agonize, exert all of your faculties, strain every nerve. All of those words are legitimate translations of the one Greek imperative verb, agonizomai, strive to enter in by the narrow door. And I want you to notice with me, first of all,...

6:35 - 7:53 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is low and it is narrow, so that only those who are bent low in repentance, stripped of the baggage of pride and self-importance, coming in the posture of a sinner, utterly dependent upon the grace of God, ready to le…

The narrow door is described as low and narrow, illustrating that only those bent low in repentance, stripped of pride and self-importance, can enter, symbolizing humility and dependence on God's grace.

unto God through Christ in faith. And it is called a narrow door. It is low and it is narrow, so that only those who are bent low in repentance, stripped of the baggage of pride and self-importance, coming in the posture of a sinner, utterly dependent upon the grace of God, ready to leave his sin behind him, to take Christ as his only hope of life and salvation, as his portion in this life, in death, and in the day of judgment, only such shall be able at last to enter heaven. Jesus employs a figure of a narrow door to set forth the truth of conversion. Now having looked at the figure employed ...

21:05 - 22:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't sit back, and do, nothing, with respect, to your conversion.

Martin warns against passively waiting for a 'heavenly zapping' to be 'floated through the narrow door,' emphasizing that conversion requires active striving, not passive waiting.

for the heavenly zapping, till you are floated, through the narrow door. Look at what he said, kids, listen to what he, he said, fifty-five, and the abundantly, pardoned it, to seek the Lord,

36:11 - 37:30 Read in full sermon

The point: You parents, and you wonder, why your kids are, you don't, gently, lovingly, using parental, authority, earn, read, their bibles.

Martin uses the example of children watching 'Ninja Turtle' programs to illustrate how worldly entertainment can neutralize the impact of preaching, urging parents to monitor their children's media consumption.

don't, watching, ninja turtle, will neutralize, this of my, pouring my, guts out, in this pulpit, to your kids, year, you parents, and you wonder, why your kids are, you don't, gently, lovingly, using parental, authority, earn,

40:58 - 42:11 Read in full sermon

The point: You parents, and you wonder, why your kids are, you don't, gently, lovingly, using parental, authority, earn, read, their bibles.

The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is used to illustrate diligent engagement with Scripture as a means of grace, even in challenging circumstances, leading to salvation.

read, their bibles, comes of hearing, word of God, he's out, in the desert, riding in a chariot, I doubt, it had air springs, and all he had, was a scroll, didn't have a nice, big print, version, of the old testament, this, and then he quotes, from Isaiah, chapter 53, the suffering servant, of whom, is the pain, of him, said Philip, got up, into the chariot, with him, and preached, unto him, Jesus, this man do, sitting back, with his arm folded,

42:11 - 43:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Anyone, who claims, to be your friend, who mocks, you out, you say, you know, I've been reading, my bible, I've begun, to see, that salvation, is important, I've begun, to see, that I'm a sinner, any so-called friend, th…

Martin quotes Isaac Watts' hymn to illustrate the principle of actively seeking God and using the means of grace, putting the language of repentance and prayer into the mouth of a child.

the means, appointed, for imparting, salvation, in this precious, Isaac Watts, called hymns, for children, I said, I was particularly, burdened, for you kids, listen, to this lovely hymn, that Watts wrote, that's right in line, with this second point, that I've just made, it's called, the child's complaint, why should I love, my sport, so well, at my play, and lose, the thought, of heaven, and hell, and then, forget to pray, what do I read, my Bible for, but Lord, to learn, thy will, and shall, I daily, know thee more, and less, obey thee, still, how senseless, is my heart, and wild, how vain,...

46:05 - 47:34 Read in full sermon

The point: I want you to hear again the words of Isaac Watts in him entitled The Advantages of Early Conversion. Happy the child whose youngest years receive instruction well, who hates the sinner's path and fears the road that lea…

Martin quotes this hymn to highlight the blessings and ease of early conversion, likening a young life devoted to God to a 'flower when offered in the bud,' which is a pleasing sacrifice.

Jesus said, because a day is coming when you wish you would have a day is coming when you wish you had strive to enter for and the master of the house is risen up in his shut the door in my final plea to you young people and children. Jesus said, because a day is coming when you wish you would have a day is coming when you wish you had strive to enter for and the master of the house is risen up in his shut the door in my final plea to you young people and children. I want you to hear again the words of Isaac Watts in him entitled The Advantages of Early Conversion. Happy the child whose younge...

61:26 - 62:39 Read in full sermon

The point: I want you to hear again the words of Isaac Watts in him entitled The Advantages of Early Conversion. Happy the child whose youngest years receive instruction well, who hates the sinner's path and fears the road that lea…

Martin shares his personal testimony of being saved in his youth (winter of 1951-52), expressing gratitude for God's grace and the ease of Christ's yoke over 42 years.

Thus, I'm prepared for longer days. I'm prepared for longer days. Or fit for early death in that a beautiful expression and as my 60th birthday is now within a couple of weeks reach God willing how I thank God for saving me in my youth. What a gracious master the Lord of the house has been when by his grace, the striving to enter became an entry.

63:27 - 64:06 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Let me improve the hours I have before the day of grace is fled. There's no repentance in the grave, nor pardon offered to the dead.

Martin concludes the sermon by quoting this poem, which powerfully summarizes the themes of God's sovereignty, His law, the gospel, the certainty of death, and the finality of one's eternal state.

And then this final little poem of Isaac Watts. You like these poems, kids? I hope you do. Solemn thoughts on God and death.

65:17 - 65:28 Read in full sermon