Strive to enter through the narrow gate

 

Strive to enter through the narrow gate

 

(Luke 13:23-27) “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."

Before Luke 13, numerous miracles of Jesus are introduced. The Jews were moved by the word of God. Nevertheless, the Jews ask, “Are there only a few who will be saved?” Man is such a great sinner that the Son of God had to die on the cross. This means that if a sinner is not united with the death of the cross, the sin remains. Although believers believe in the death of the cross to atone for sin, the faith that simply looks at the death of the cross cannot be associated with my death. The Bible says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” The Gospel of Matthew says, “The gate is narrow and narrow, so it is not easy to enter.” So, it is said that “few people find it.” Only those who deny themselves and repent will find this door. Those who have not repented do not like this door because it is narrow and difficult.

Once the gates of heaven are closed, it will not open. People will say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught us in the streets.” The Bible points out that this is a religious act. This means that believers will not necessarily be saved if they worship throughout their lives. Those who teach that salvation is easy are probably false prophets. A path that seems easy to salvation is likely to be a path to destruction. The Bible records, “God wants all people to be saved.” Even if the Lord wants it, people cannot be saved because they themselves do not want to repent.

Jesus said, “But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; In this sentence, “depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” The word “whence” refers to a person who has been born again. If you are not born again of water and the Holy Spirit, you will become someone who does not know Jesus. “Being born again” means not receiving a life from your parents. This is not a matter of effort and education. This is a change in character. This means resurrection. Resurrection is being born into new life from heaven. Believing this is the same faith as hoping and believing when it is impossible to hope. Just as Abraham had Isaac when he was 100 years old, life that did not exist must be created. That year, the name changes from Abram to Abraham. The meaning of the name is the father of many nations. It means, “If you are born again with a present resurrection life, you will become a person who saves countless people.” A life that cannot save others spiritually cannot be a life that can save oneself. Such people do not have present resurrection life.

Believing in a present resurrection is a very narrow path. Since most believers believe that the body is resurrected after death, present resurrection is a very narrow path. The resurrection of the body is what the physical self thinks of. However, spiritually, those who believe in present resurrection are those guided by the Holy Spirit. Only those who believe in the present resurrection will have a new temple built in their hearts. That is why the kingdom of God comes. Evangelism is preaching the present resurrection.

If a believer sows a seed and does not make it bloom into life, he or she is dead. A life that cannot save others is like a dead life. In the Gospel of Matthew, many Jews came to Jesus after seeing and hearing miracles, but Jesus chose the twelve disciples. And Jesus said to them, “Whoever wants to follow me is not worthy of me, unless he denies himself and takes up his cross and follows me.” Denying oneself means not trusting the thoughts of the physical self and following the thoughts of the spiritual self.

In many churches today, if believers see the work and miracles of the Holy Spirit, they will believe in Jesus. However, what the believer believes is important. Forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus is half the gospel. Believing that one died on the cross with Jesus and was resurrected with Christ becomes complete faith. Faith is not based on the law, but is only a faith that hopes when it is impossible to hope. This is resurrection life and the way to achieve the kingdom of God in the heart.

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