14 June 2025 – Sermon – Four Times Three (is not 12)
We all know that 3 times 4 is 12, and obviously 4 times 3 is also 12. This is basic mathematics. But today I am going to show you that 4 times 3 is more than 12, it is an answer to some serious questions about God’s character.
We start by looking at a passage from Matthew chapter 7, verses 13 and 14.
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (NKJV)
In many Bibles these words are in red, an indication that these are words spoken by Jesus Christ. They are part of what is commonly known as the “Sermon On The Mount”.
Because they were spoken by Jesus as part of His major sermon, and that they talk about eternal destinies, and how to get there, we should pay attention to what is being said.
Jesus is clearly teaching two gates to two paths. A narrow gate and a narrow path. A wide gate and a wide path. The narrow way leads to eternal life, whereas the wide path leads to destruction. The choice is stark, the consequences extreme – life or destruction. Who would not choose life? Well the wide path is very popular, and also very easy. The narrow path in contract is not so popular, and has some difficulties, a few hills to climb possibly.
A superficial reading of these words suggests that God has made it easy to be lost and hard to be saved. God has made the path to life narrow and difficult. It seems He is trying to keep people out of Heaven by making it hard to get there. But is this a true representation of the character of God?
Id God running some form of a sniff test? If you stink, you’re out. Even a faint whiff of some undesirable smell and you are out. If in doubt, you’re out. Only if you come up smelling sweet like roses are you in.
What this means is that heaven and eternal life is the ultimate exclusive club, where only the clean and pure and holy can enter. Only the squeaky clean are allowed in.
Everyone else is out. And you will be forced out, driven out, never allowed to enter the Heavenly City.
But is this really true? Is God in the business of looking for any little reason to EXCLUDE people? Or is He looking for any little molecule of faith in the heart that would be a reason to INCLUDE them in His Kingdom?
So to recap:
Is God
- Looking for people’s flaws, no matter how minor, to keep them OUT of Heaven. Based on a superficial reading of the passage from Matthew 7 of the narrow and broad ways. What this looks like in practice is seen in some countries at the moment, labelling immigrants as undesirables/illegal/criminals etc and driving them out. Is God like this?
- Or, A God who is doing everything He can to get people IN, even if it’s just a few grams of faith (ie size of a mustard seed)
A look at the 4 times 3 show a clear answer. Now the three is a group of verses from the Bible that are found in a block of 3 chapters. And there are four of these blocks of three.
Group 1 is Genesis chapters 1, 2 And 3. In the first two chapters of Genesis we see that God creates a perfect paradise for the human race. Then along comes the devil and paradise is lost. The devil’s agenda is sowing seeds of Doubt, to Distrust God and Disobey Him leading to Death and Destruction. (The 5 D’s)
God’s agenda is the exact opposite, it is life, love, joy, peace and fulfilment. He created a paradise for humans, a special garden as a home and eternal life in this beautiful place. There was scope for growth and development and discovering more about God and the wonders of His creation. There was loving relationships as Adam and Eve expanded their family.
Group 1 – Genesis chapters 1, 2 and 3 is Paradise created, Paradise lost.
Our second group of three is Revelation chapters 20, 21 and 22. Here we see satan and his deluded followers seek to war against God and to overthrow Him. But God ends the rebellion and sin is gone forever. Then paradise is fully restored, and access to Tree of Life is restored again. God’s agenda is realised. There is no more pain, death, sorrow or crying.
Group 2 – Revelation 20, 21 and 22 is Rebellion ended, Paradise restored.
I have often told people to read these 2 blocks of 3 chapters to get an overview of the Biblical message. The first three chapters of the Bible, and the last three.
But this week I realised that there was a bit more needed to provide context. Especially HOW this restoration was made possible, and also the criteria for entry into God’s Kingdom.
So we come down to our third block of three. My preference is the Luke version. Luke chapters 22, 23 and 24. Some things that are unique to Luke is Jeus showing compassion on women wailing for Him and also the prayer of forgiveness. Feel free to substitute similar chapters from Matt, Mark or John if you like those better.
Group 3 – Luke 22, 23 and 24 is sin and satan defeated, God is vindicated, and the price is paid in full by Jesus’ death on Calvary.
And finally to give a truly complete picture we also need to add in the Sermon on the Mount. Our fourth block of three. Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7. Here we find the criteria for citizenship to the heavenly Kingdom. (there are other good passages that also show this but this is the best and most complete version in the Bible.) Now this does not come naturally, we need to yield our hearts and lives fully and completely to God. Our sins are forgiven, but they need to be acknowledged and turned over to God for cleansing. Our hearts need to be made new. Only then can we live holy lives, pleasing to God, with love for enemies, with putting into practice the words of Jesus in these verses.
In these 4 blocks of 3 chapters we see a clear picture of God’s agenda and Satan’s. We see a God who sets a very high standard for citizenship, but has also made a way for us who fall way short of that standard, through Calvary. A God who is more powerful than evil and will win in the end.
The 4 blocks of 3 are:
Genesis chapters 1, 2 and 3
Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7
Luke chapters 22, 23 and 24
Revelation chapters 20, 21 and 22
These four blocks of three chapters clearly show God who has our best interests at heart. He loves us with an everlasting love, a sacrificial love. Surely He is looking for the chance to save as many as possible, where His lovely agenda can be realised.
God – who wants to get people in, not keep them out. He is not willing that any should be lost, He is doing all He can to save as many as possible.
Will you respond to this God of Love? Place your allegiance with the God of Love? Give Him your heart?
May God bless you as you do this.
