Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

18  Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
19 “It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 “It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23  Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them,
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
25 “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’
26 “then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’
27 “But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’
28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
29 “They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 “And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Introduction  “Are there few who are saved?”  This is a good question many of us are asking.  Salvation is eternally important, with Heaven or Hell hanging in the balance.  We hope everyone is saved, but it seems they are not.  What are the chances people will believe?  What is the outlook for the Kingdom of God?  Will it grow large and sweep everyone in, or will it be small and attract only a few?  Or something in between?  “Are there few who are saved?”

1. The kingdom grows and spreads v18-22

18  Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
19 “It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 “It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

This is a positive message we like to hear, hope for, rejoice in.

2. Yet not all will be saved  v23

23  Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

3. What is salvation?  v23

23  Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

What is salvation?  To be rescued, saved from this corrupt generation, to ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord, your Messiah.  To be forgiven for sins, for missing the mark, for lack of love for God and people.  Then to be delivered from demonic control and empowered to love.  To be set apart, called out of the world.

4. Who is not saved?

a. They were near to Christ, heard the teaching  v26

26 “then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

b. They did not repent, continued to work iniquity  v27 

27 “But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

Iniquity = injustice, unrighteousness, not treating people right, little or no love and respect, inequity, unequal, unfair.  They are not saved who are persistent workers of iniquity, who refused to truly love God and people.

c. They never came to know Him  v25-27

25 “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’
26 “then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’
27 “But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

d. They waited too late to seek salvation, call Him Lord  v24-25

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
25 “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’

5. Many will be saved, even unexpected ones  v29-30

29 “They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 “And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

6. There will be great sorrow for those not saved  v28-30

28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
29 “They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 “And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Conclusion