Text: Matt. 5: 17- 20
Intro: The single hope of every man, woman and child in the world, is to gain entrance into heaven.  Some seem void of this
           hope because they deny the existence of eternity.  But no matter what man says, he still has a desire to live on in
           eternity.  Many ideas have been advanced about eternity and man’s future state, but no one has to wonder about
           eternity; God tells us plainly in His Word that man is in possession of an eternal soul, and that soul will exist eternally in
           heaven or hell.  Now, all who accept this revelation as truth have a desire to dwell eternally in heaven.  The quest is
           then begun.  God has provided the way and has revealed it to man in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Many have
           decided that there is some better way whereby man can gain entrance into heaven.  In the light of this foolish notion,
           Jesus notes the great divine exception.  There is but one way to heaven and all who seek to gain entrance by any other
           way will be turned into hell. Ps 9:17,  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God
           (John 14:6). Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
           Notice with me three things about salvation as it relates to man’s ideas and God’s instructions. Let me start with the
           futile attempts on man’s part to bridge the chasm of sin and make his way into heaven.
I.  The Righteousness of Man
    A. Even though God offers man the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, he goes about seeking to establish his own
         righteousness. Paul noted this in his letter to the Romans: (Ro 10:3)   For they being ignorant of God's righteousness,
         and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
    B. Jesus said that this kind of righteousness was not acceptable with God. He said to the Pharisees in Luke 16: 15,  Ye
        are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among
        men is abomination in the sight of God.
        1. It is clearly stated in our text that man’s self-righteousness is not sufficient for one to gain entrance into heaven.
    C. In this light, let us notice three major faults with man’s righteousness.
        1. The first thing wrong with man’s own righteousness is that it is built on his own ideas and is not founded on the Word
            of God.
            a. The Bible tells us plainly in (Pro. 14: 12) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are
                the ways of death.
            b. One of the basic faults of man is his lack of ability to see himself as a sinner.
            c. Man has a tendency to justify himself in his sins.
            d. He begins by seeking to place the blame for his sins on some one else, or his circumstances in life.
            e. With this idea in his mind, he can justify all his sins and feel himself free from every guilt or responsibility.
            f. God says, though: Isa 55:7, 8, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him
               return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my
               thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
            g. While man is saying that he is not all that bad, God says he is wicked and unrighteous…
                (Ro 3:10),  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
            h. While man says he will make it on his own, God implores him to return to Him for mercy and pardon.
        2. The second thing wrong with man’s own righteousness is, it is based on his opinion of others:
            a. Man has a bad habit of comparing himself with others.
            b. As men look around, they can see many people engaged in evil activities of which they are not guilty, and they
                began to feel pretty good.
            c. After all, if one doesn’t get drunk, commit murder, rob a bank, lie, live in adultery, or any other of a hundred sins,
                he must be some better than those who commit these things.
            d. But the Bible says that this is not so. In fact, Scripture says, (2 Co 10:12), For we dare not make ourselves of the
                number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves,
                and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
            e. The important matter is not how we compare with others, but how do we compare with Jesus Christ!
            f. Jesus is the standard, and all of us fall short of meeting His high standard of perfection; therefore, all are sinners and
               need to repent and receive His imputed righteousness.
        3. The third thing with man’s own righteousness is, it is biased toward God’s plan:
            a. In his fickled nature, man is prone to feel that God’s way is out of date and man needs to help God out by
                providing some “new way” for entrance into heaven.
            b. This notion leads man to think objectionable to the way provided by the death of Christ on the cross.
                a) Some call this a slaughterhouse religion; others say the idea of a death on the cross offends them
            c. But the Bible says,  “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
                remission.” (Heb. 9: 22)
            d. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin.
            e. Man is biased toward God’s plan of salvation, but it is still the only way to heaven.
II. The Requirements of God.
    A. The fact that God is holy demands that He be consistent with Himself.
        1. He has well-defined the wages of sin is death; therefore, the only way His righteous demands can be satisfied is by
            death.
        2. One of two things must be done.
            a. Man must pay for his own sins by eternally being separated from God in the devils hell, or man must have a
                substitute who will pay his sin debt and deliver him from the wrath of God.
            b. This is exactly what Jesus did on the cross.
        3. Therefore, the only way that God will accept man is through the sacrifice of His Son.  4. His requirements for
            reconciliation are plainly revealed in the Bible.
        4. It is summed up in one short statement from the lips of Jesus in (Luke 13: 3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye
            shall all likewise perish.
    B. This divine requirement does two things to and for mankind, lost in his sin and headed for eternal hell:
        1. This command to repent or perish completely destroys mans notion that he can make it on his own, according to his
            own plan. The world is full of people who believe that they have devised a way to get into heaven without repentance,
            but all these people are foolish and will be cast into hell.
        2. Bans mans  foolish substitutes:
            a. Many try to insert baptism for blood, or reformation for repentance.
            b. But as man seeks to make these substitutes, God’s Word thunders loud and clear: “Repent or perish!”  No matter
                what man thinks, or says, the fact remains that God’s way places a ban on his foolish ways
    C. God’s plan calls for repentance and faith.
        1. This is the only way that man can be released from sin and reconciled to God… (2 Co 5:18,19), And all things are
            of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit,
            that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
            unto us the word of reconciliation.
        2. Repentance is not just sorrow that one got caught in his sin, but it is real sorrow because of guilt… (2 Co 7:10) For
            godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
        3. The Word of God informs man of his sin; the Spirit of God convicts man of his sin;
            a. Jesus said, (John 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
               cast out.
        4. How foolish it is for man to continue to perish in his own ways, when the way of God is open to him.
        5. Unless man complies with the requirements of God, he is restricted from entrance into heaven.
III. God’s Restrictions to Heaven Blocks all Ways but One:
    A.   Jesus said very clearly: Mt 7:21,  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
           but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
    B. The Bible speaks emphatically that there is but one way into heaven, Jesus said, (John 14:6). I am the way, the truth,
        and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (John. 10: 9). I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall
        be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
    C. All the ways that man devises lead only to hell.
    D. God’s way into heaven is the way of the cross, the way of repentance and faith… (Acts 20:21).  Testifying both to the
         Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
    E. God’s way into heaven is restricted to those that have been born again (John 3:3) 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.
        1. This new birth is not a matter of the flesh- but is the work of God; (John 1: 13).  Which were born, not of blood, nor
            of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
        2. The new birth is the work of grace through His Word and the Holy Spirit… (1 Pet. 1: 23). Being born again, not of
            corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
        3. The most important thing in any man’s life is the matter of being born again.
        4. Unless a person is born again of the Spirit of God, he can never enter into the kingdom of heaven.  This is the great
            divine exception!  It is not a matter of how good you have tried to be, or how many churches you have joined, or
            how many  sacrifices you have made; the most important thing is this- Have you been born again?
    F. God’s way into heaven bridles all of mans  excuses
        1. None of the flimsy excuses offered by man will be accepted by the righteous God in glory.
Conclusion: The soul is to precious, eternity is too long, and hell is to horrible for any one to take a chance of missing heaven.
   A. Don’t be caught in Satan’s trap and fall victim to this divine exception.  Come to Jesus NOW while there is time…
        (2 Cor 6:2).