This is the theme for our service this morning.  If we cannot attain salvation then our other only destination is judgment in hell.

Isaiah 66:24 “And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” The worms do not die and fire does not quench. It is not easy to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Lord Jesus himself tells us it is not an easy task.  Gate of salvation is narrow.  The road is difficult.  There are few who enter through it.  How do we enter through this very difficult door?  Now we will seek the answer to this question.

The four gospels explain how we are to enter the kingdom of heaven.  There are eight categories.  The first 3 or 4 items we talked about in the past.  The first is the message of rebirth.  In John 3:3  In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of Godkingdom of God.  Lord Jesus said this is the corner stone of salvation--to be born of water and the Spirit. unless he is born again.” the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus unless you are reborn you cannot be in the

The rebirth of water and the Spirit will wash away the sins of Adam and Eve.  The second birth is the birth of the spirit.  This is the renewal of the spirit.  We have discussed this in the past.  We must make every effort so the spirit will perfect us and make us holy.  Matthew 7: 21 “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, this is a very serious matter.  All Christians call Jesus Lord Lord.  All the Christians in the world called Jesus Lord.  But Lord Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

What is the will of God? The will of God is to do good.   Thessalonian tells us we need to be holy.  It also mentions we are to be joyful always for this is the will of Lord Jesus Christ.  There are many passages in the bible that define what the will of God is.  It is not enough to be called a Christian.  We must obey the will of God.  There are matters we must conquer.

What is the will of God for you? Have you ever considered this point? Why are you an Asian in America? Most of us are Asians.  Why is it that we are Asian and here in the U.S.? When I was in my 20’s, I came to the U.S. I failed my exams.  It was only 9 years later that I finally arrived in the U.S. This helped me realize my footsteps are guided by God.

I moved to San Diego some time ago.  At the time Canoga Park church was very unhappy.  Because after a deacon established the church, he immediately leaves.  Actually, I didn't want to live in San Diego.  I wanted to live in Simi Valley with my son.  We realized that two family bid for the house we were going to buy so the owner increased the price by $10,000.  My son said to offer $1500 more to win the bid and I thought it was a good idea and told my agent to go ahead.  One Sabbath morning I was coming to church, I called the agent to tell him I will offer $1500 more.  My agent said it is not necessary for he is my friend.  He said that if both buyers bid the same asking price he'll give it to me. So surely don't worry about it.  The same price offer went in.  The other person went to talk to the agent in the morning.  The buyer and seller were involved.  The talk went well with them and even though the asking price was the same, I could've added $1500 but ended up I couldn't purchase it.  We kept looking and looking at the houses in San Diego.  Later on it was only then that I realized it is God's will for us to be in San Diego to establish a house of prayer.  For some are baptized at the San Diego house of prayer.

We really have no control over where we live. It all depends on God.  We must reflect deeply why God brought us from Asia to U.S. Why God brought us to Baldwin Park, San Francisco, & New Jersey.  God has already pre-determined the places where we are to live.  He sent us there.

There was a couple.   A sister was married to an American and he was brought to believe in Christ.  After he left the military he moved to Tampa.  There were no churches there. Both the husband and wife attend spiritual convocation in Garden Grove.  They went to inquire an elder.  Should we move here or stay there.  Elder said to live in Tampa might be the will of God to establish a church there.  He obeyed and stayed there.  Now there is a church there in Tampa and this was started by a couple.

Therefore, wherever God allows you to live it's His will.  Hence we must do the will of God and consider what it is.  Is the place where I live now where God's work can be done?  Is this God's will for me?  If this is the will of God, you must follow through with the will of the heavenly father.  Luke 10:25-28 “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"   He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."”

This is one method to attain eternal life.  Someone came to test Jesus.  “What must I do to receive eternal life?” Lord Jesus said, “What did the law say?”  His answer was to love God with your all and your neighbor as yourself.  Do this and you will live.  Therefore we must love the Lord our God with all our strength and mind.  How do we do this? How do we love the Lord our God with everything? This is the standard the Lord Jesus set.  His standard is recorded in Luke 14:26.  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”

This is the standard of Lord Jesus.  Do you love God more than your parents, brothers and sisters, children, your wife, your own life? If you can accomplish this than you truly love God.  The Lord Jesus said if you love me in this matter than you will receive life.  Therefore you must make every effort to do this.  When we have chance to decide.  It is our choice to come here to Sabbath or go out to have fun.

In San Diego there is a sister she have been demon possessed for 13 years.  Last year she received baptism and was released from her boundage.  Her husband does not believe in Christ.  Her husband is in the navy.  He spends half the time abroad and half the time at home.  When he is home he is only free on the weekends.  Her husband wants her to accompany him rather than going to church.  Her husband is not a believer and wanted his wife to stay with him at home.

According to this bible verse it is very clear.  Lord must be placed first in priority.  If you cannot love this way you cannot love God at all.  It is this simple.  This is why the Lord Jesus said it is not easy to enter kingdom of heaven.  Unless, both husband and wife are believers.

Matthew 19:17-19  "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'”

The Lord Jesus instructs us in order to receive salvation we must follow the ten commandments.  Another man asked him what he must do to attain eternal life.  Whoever will enter life will obey the commandments.  It is essential that we obey the ten commandments.  Because Lord Jesus said this is directly related to our salvation.  Even in the Old Testament in Deut. 6:1-2 states “These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,  so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.”

This is the instruction of God.  To enjoy long life is to observe God's law.  If we revere God and obey his commandment we will have long life.

Matthew 19 says if we obey God’s commandments we will obtain eternal life.  Are we obeying the commandments?  We must obey the one True God, no worshiping idols, do not use the Lord's word in vain, observe the Sabbath.

This is where we have problems.  How many of us can observe the Sabbath? Sabbath starts from Friday night until Saturday night.  In San Diego there is a truthseeker who in April said he wanted to be baptized at Irvine church.  We recommend he study the truth six more months before he gets baptized.  Friday nights we gave him a course on the basic doctrine.  Two weeks ago I was assigned to speak on the topic of Sabbath.

Isaiah 58  states on Sabbaths we cannot do our own activities.

When he came on Sabbath he said.  “Before I would watch movies at night.  After I heard your doctrine I did not watch movies but read the bible.”  He dared not to watch movie Friday nights because it's the Sabbath.  You should not speak your own words.  We must examine if we observe Sabbaths.  Fifth commandment, have we honored our parent?  I believe the youth raised in America need to work on this point.  Sixth item do not kill.  Lord Jesus said to hate someone is to kill someone.  It is easy to hate a person.  Someone has offended you and you are unhappy. Some might wish for them to be struck by a car.  This is an evil thought that comes from hell.

Seventh commandment is do not commit sexual immorality.  Do not steal in eight commandment.  Do you take things from work?  Do you take things from the hotel.  Strictly speaking, that is stealing.  Do you steal from the government? For example, asking for improper elderly assistance.

Ninth commandment, do not lie.  Can we say that we do not lie?  Lying is a very easy thing to do.  Don't think that lying is a smaller matter. Lying is very serious.  Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."”

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice lies.  Liars are categorized in the same group as murderers.  Therefore we must be careful about not lying because this is God's standard.  Lying and murdering are on the same level.  Tenth Commandment -- Do not covet.  Why did King David sin? Because he coveted other person's wife.  Because of his greed he asked for her.  He committed sexual immorality and killed her husband.  That sin started from greed.  He knew the woman was someone else’s wife.  Do not covet anyone's possession that does not belong to you.

Matthew 5:20 “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

This is a serious statement.  If your righteousness do not surpass the righteousness of Pharisees you will not enter kingdom of heaven.  What were the Pharisees’ shortcoming?  Matthew 23:1-7 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'”

You must be able to teach and practice it.  If you can practice what you preach you are better than the Pharisees.  The Pharisees just speak but do not do it.  We should not only say things, but just do it.  We should not seek status but seek to be humble.  If we are humble we are better than the Pharisees.  The Pharisees are very self-righteous and seek their own glory.  We need to give glory to God and not to ourselves.  Then we will be more righteous than the Pharisees.  If we are no better in righteousness than the Pharisees’ we will not enter heaven.  John 6:53-55  Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.”

Receiving the holy commandment is important.  If we eat his flesh and drink his blood he will abide in us.  In 1 John 3:24, “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

We know that God abides in us and we in him because of Holy Spirit.  We receive Holy Communion and God abides with us.  If we receive Holy Communion we will have eternal life.  Therefore, we must participate in Holy Communion during spiritual convocations.  We must partake in Holy Communion.  Remember you must believe.  John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

The Lord Jesus is the pathway to heaven.  He said he is the way the truth the life.  No one comes to the father except through me.  John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

Whenever the Lord Jesus said something important he would say I tell you the truth.  Whoever hears the word of God and believes in him will receive eternal life.  This is the foundation of Christianity.  We are here today because we believe in the Father and listen to the word of God.  This is why we encourage everyone to study the bible and pray.  Bible is the word of God.  Word of God is life and truth.  Reading the Bible has many benefits.  For if we believe in the Father we will receive eternal life.  We must endeavor to do this everyday.  Our church encourages us to build a daily bible reading habit, to read at least one chapter every day.  If you study one chapter a day you will finish in 3 years.  I read 3 chapters a day and finish the bible in 1 year.  A few years ago we encouraged if you finish reading bible within one year you'll receive a hymnal cd.  Truly spend time reading the bible will help your faith to be more holy.  This will help you to reach eternal life.  Hope all of us can do this because it is directly related to our eternal life.

Matthew 18:3  Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

We must be like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Why must we be like children? Babies are so cute, innocent. They do not lie, do not speak curse words, nor have evil thoughts.  They are very simple and pure.  Lord Jesus wants us to be as honest as children--not like adults that engage in evil things, lies, deceit.  They speak of lies as if they are truth.

Some are very good at deceiving people.  There's a person who was in the stock market.  He cheated people out of over $50 billion.  They were so deceived.  Many celebrities and insiders were also deceived by him.  They said he will be in prison for life.  Think about all the money he cheated others.  Children will not do this.  God want us to return and be like children.  Do no evil and not harm others.  We must be like children.  Lord Jesus said if we do not change and become like little children we will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

1. John 3:3-5 Must be reborn in water and Spirit.
2. Matt 17:21-23 He who does the will of God.  Must abide in the will of God.  Come to an understanding of His will for us.
3. Luke 10:10-28 Love God all our strength and mind, and love others as ourselves.
4. Matt 19:17-19  If you wish to enter the eternal life, you must keep the 10 commandments and not neglect any one of them.  In James it says if we transgress one we transgress all.  We should not overlook any one of them
5. Matthew 5:7 Our righteousness must surpass the Pharisees.  We must practice our faith.
6. Luke 22:14-20  Partake in Holy Communion.
7. John 14:6 Jesus is the truth, the way, the life. 
   John 5:24 Jesus said if you listen to me then you will receive eternal life.
8. Matthew 18:3 Change and be like the little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.

This is the word of God. If we can accomplish these eight items with a heart of fear and trembling, then our name will be recorded in the book of life.  1 Peter 4:17 “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

This is a terrible warning--If it is hard for the righteous to be saved.  After we are baptized we are righteous, but it is difficult to accomplish all 8 items.  Here Peter is describing that the righteous are barely being saved.  It is not easy to be saved but we must make an effort.  May we continue to pray, read the bible, and gather to worship God.  Apply what we have learned so that each of our names is recorded into the book of life.  On the day of judgment, when the book of life is opened and our name is called we will enter the kingdom of heaven.  It will be so wonderful and joyful.