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            Numerous Scripture verses give clear warnings about sin and possible deception—as well as how we are to respond to God’s discipline.  We are saved by grace, through faith in the atonement of Christ, but this faith must be active and enduring, which is the result of believing in our heart that God will do things for us today.

            Jesus said that getting into the kingdom is like going through a narrow gate Matthew 5-6-7.  True believers will be mistreated, persecuted, and tested, but we must continue to trust God and to place all injustices before Him in prayer and in faith.  A believing faith in the Blood of Christ is the only way to escape the flames—Mark 9:48 "where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’”

            Being a scriptural example to others, by obeying the Word of God in our own life is important, because Jesus said Matthew 5:16 ”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  He said that “whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” 19.

            Jesus warned about a religious appearance on the outside, but no attitude change on the inside.  Matthew 5:20 “Unless your righteousness [greatly] surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

            Jesus warned that anger is like murder.  Matthew 5:22 “I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, "Raca", shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire.”  Repentance and forgiveness would definitely be needed.

Jesus warned that immoral thoughts are the same as immoral actions Matthew 5:28.  Drastic measures must be taken against things that cause us to sin.  Warnings are given about offensive language and taking oaths.  He said Matthew 5:34-35 “Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool.”  37 "But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

            Jesus warned—Matthew 5:39 “Do not resist an evil [wicked] person.  If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  If something is stolen from us, we are not to involve the authorities, nor attempt to retrieve what was taken.  Matthew 5:40-42 "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

            Concerning those who are hostile, Jesus said to Matthew 5:44-45 ”Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” 

Our prayers are to be short, in secret, and to God alone.  Matthew 6:6 ”When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly.  Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.”

            All giving to the poor is to be anonymous.  Matthew 6:1-6 "Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

            Jesus gave many warnings, but many professing Christians do not act on His admonitions.  Jesus had to say Mark 7:6-7, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me.”

Jesus warned of the need to forgive everyone—Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also; but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.” 

The apostle said Colossians 3:12-13, to “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility [lowliness of mind], gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances [quarrels; complaints] you may have against one another.  [Readily] Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

            The narrow road to heaven allows no stored cash on earth—Matthew 6:20 ”Amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven,” by giving it to charity on earth, 21 “For where your wealth is, there also will your heart be.”  Our heart and trust is on God, or our heart and trust is far from God Mark 7:6.

Giving to charity proves that love for God has replaced our former love for money.  Matthew 6:24 "You cannot be the bondservants both of God and of gold.”  We are to seek righteousness by a believing faith in Christ first, then Matthew 6:33 “All these things will be given to you as well.”

Jesus warned of repenting instead of criticizing.  Matthew 7:5 ”You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  It is deadly to be self-righteous, resentful, or rebellious toward God’s Word.  The unforgiving servant would be cut off and Matthew 24:51 assigned “a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

            Jesus told of the attitude that enters the kingdom.  Matthew 7:12-14 ”All things whatever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in by it.  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there are that find it.”

            Jesus warned Matthew 7:15-16 "Beware of the false teachers—men who come to you in sheep’s fleeces, but beneath that disguise they are ravenous wolves.  By their fruits you will easily recognize them.”  The issue is whether they trust God in believing faith for divine healing and not trust the medical world; or if they trust God in faith for financial needs and do not store up cash in bank accounts, real estate, insurance policies, etc. 

            Producing fruit in life, is trusting God in faith.  The warning is serious because Matthew 7:19 ”Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  Jesus warned about obeying His commands and following His teaching, because only by a trusting and enduring faith in Him will anyone get into heaven.  Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” 

The will of the Father, is to trust in faith on what His Son accomplished for us on the cross.  If a person does not believe Him; does not live by faith in His sacrifice; and does not trust His Father for things in this life, they will not enter heaven.

            Satan deceives millions to think that a decent moral life, and never intentionally harming anyone, is what God requires for salvation.  Multitudes say they believe, but have never trusted God in active faith for anything in life.  The number of eternal souls that have been destroyed by the lies of the devil is beyond counting.  Jesus said to those who never trusted Him 23 ”I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!”

            The believer is inspired and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, but the unbeliever is not.  John 14:15-17 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.”

            Satan has deceived millions to think that a religious outward appearance, counts for a true inward righteousness.  The apostle warned that many in the closing days would 2 Timothy 3:4-5 “love pleasure instead of loving God, and will keep up a make-believe of piety [form of godliness] and yet live in defiance of its power.  Turn away from [have nothing to do with] people of this sort.”

            Eternal life means we truly believe God, and we trust in faith on the atonement sacrifice of His Son for healing without drugs, for provisions without laid up money, for protection without guns, for  justice without avenging, and for everything else by faith and faith alone John 6:29.  Satan has deceived millions away from trust on God, and on to following a path of self trust like the world.  Every day is a learning process of how to trust God in faith for everything.  John 17:3 ”This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

            The Christian world in general has accepted the lie that God does not do things for people today, but a true believer will trust God every day for all things.  It is to take a risk on God’s faithfulness to do what He has promised.  Only God can expose the lies of the devil, and reveal the truth of the Bible.  John 12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes [trusts; is believing] in Me should not
abide in darkness.”

To take the warnings of Jesus seriously, is to make changes in our life where needed.  We will produce spiritual fruit, and grow in spiritual knowledge.  A believing and enduring faith in the atonement of Christ is vital.  Hebrews 12:14 ”Persistently strive for peace with all men, and for that growth in holiness—[meeting things right; forgiving from the heart; trusting God for finances, etc]—apart from which no one will see the Lord.”  Those who heed the warnings, and keep their faith on the atonement of
Christ—enter God’s kingdom.