Christian Message Boards: The Strait Gate

This version of the message boards has closed.
Please click below to go to the new Christian BBS website.

New Message Boards - Click Here

You can still search for the old message here.

| | search | faq | forum home

»	Christian Message Boards » Bible Studies » Bible Topics & Study » The Strait Gate

Author

Topic: The Strait Gate

oneinchrist
Advanced Member
Member # 6532

posted

Hi Eden,
Im not so sure its about "doing anything for Him with that gift" as much as it is allowing God to transform our lives by His Word and by His Spirit.

With love in Christ, Daniel

Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

quote:
The person looking for rewards in Heaven will probable never got there unless they have a change of heart!

We're not talking about material rewards here! By rewards we mean more ministry, greater responsibility. A closer relationship to the Lord. These are the rewards of Heaven.

Matthew 25:21 (NLT)
21“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Mark 9:35 (KJV)
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Forgiving others is important, as you brought out.

Matthew 18:33 - 35 (NLT)
33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt [Not forever].

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Luke 7:41 - 48 (NLT)
41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87

posted

hello Eden, you know I'm not sure...when I wrote that thought, I had the 2 disciples who wanted to sit on Yahshua's right and left side in Yahshua's Kingdom in mind....

I know they had rewards on there mind at that point but later their minds were completely changed.....

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

becauseHElives wrote

quote:
The person looking for rewards in Heaven will probably never got there unless they have a change of heart!

Can a person who has not had a change of heart, look for rewards in heaven? Or are they mutually exclusive?

love, Eden

IP: Logged |

becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87

posted

The person looking for rewards in Heaven will probable never got there unless they have a change of heart!

"Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made."

"So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt."

"But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.'"

"So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'"

"He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place."

"Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt."

"So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." (Matthew 18:21-35 RSV)

the man in Yahshua's story owed a debt he could not pay.....

He paid a debt He did not owe,
I owed a debt I could not pay,
I needed someone to wash my sin away
And now I sing that brand new song: Amazing Grace
For Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay

now you tell me....was the man's debt forgiven or not....

now this forgiven man goes from the presence of the King that just forgave him this great debt only to find a fellow servant who owes him a tiny debt but this forgiven man refuses (act of his free will) to forgive the tiny debt....

when the King hears of the forgiven mans actions what does the King do?

the King withdraws His forgiveness and cast the forgiven man into jail.

This parable is not about loss of reward...it is about loss a the free gift of forgiveness because of the refusal to walk in the Spirit by a man that had been freely given pardon for a debt he could not pay!

Yahweh is not a sugar daddy....

Yahweh is the righteous King of the Universe whose ways are far above mans.

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

dear oneinchrist (may God bless you exceedingly), I (Eden) had written

quote:
" A free gift just needs to be accepted , but no work of any kind needs to be done for a free gift, does it?

And you answered

quote:
I would agree that we do not work for the free gift and that there must be a personal acceptance of that free gift, but I would add that there must also be an acceptance of what comes with that free gift.......and that being Jesus' claim on our lives for service according to the will of God.

Your sentences above made me think of the free gift, of what the free gift was. It is eternal life, i.e., the capacity that Jesus had (and has), so, sure, one can accept the free gift, but if one never does anything with the free gift, what was the point of accepting it?

What's the point of accepting a free digital Nikon camera if thereafter I put it up into the closet for the rest of my life? [roll on floor]

However, the free gift DOES belong to me and I can do with it what I want to. It is mine.

It may be similar with accepting the free gift of Jesus of dying for me on the cross. If I accept the free gift but then don't DO anything with it, does God than knock on my door and take the gift back?

Mark 4:25
For he who has, to him shall be given: and he who has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.

I've thus far interpreted Mark 4:25 to mean that if someone is saved (i.e., has accepted the free gift?), that salvation can be taken from them if they "act as if they have never received the gift".

Because the "gift of Jesus" is a DOING gift, the gift of a concerned, loving, kind, sweet, and considerate gift of God", so that if someone ends up never "doing anything for God with the gift", that shows God that they never meant that acceptance of the "free gift"?

May the Lord Jesus bless you exceedingly, oneinchrist. The Lord loves you for participating on this BBS.

love, Eden
"so help me the God of Israel and His Son Jesus of Nazareth" [type]

IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

I'm not becauseHElives, but I'll toss in my two cents worth while I can.

Salvation is a free gift based on the grace of our wonderful Lord and Savior. But rewards are earned.

This does not suggest punitive measures at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because there we will have glorified bodies. But it does suggest loss of reward and loss of opportunity.

Jesus did not amplify the truth here, but from other Scriptures we learn that one reward for obedient service will be ministry in the kingdom that He will establish on earth (Luke 19:11ff). The reward for obedient service is the capacity for greater service. Not to have a place of ministry in His kingdom would, to me, be a tremendous loss.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

Hello, becauseHElives, I (Eden) had written:

But, is believing that Jesus died in my place just 100% free, or not?

And becauseHElives answered:

quote:
Hello Eden, Carol and others... there is no question about it.... salvation is 100 per cent free, and, of and by Yahshua.....

but believing that is our part, now free will comes in sight...

believing is a continuous action verb, when Yahshua speaks of those that enduring till the end shall be saved, He is saying believe till the end shall be saved.....

Dear becauseHElives, okay, but it seems to me from having read many of your posts, that after you admit the above, you start to add behavior as a precondition to being able to receive this free gift, are you not?

But, I have done it too, I’m concerned about the parable of the unprofitable servant (and a few others like it), which seems to say that even if one has received salvation, if one does not read the Word of God and does not listen to the Holy Spirit inside and one does nothing to help the work of the family of God along (i.e. preach/teach the gospel to the nations), that God will then consider it non-faith and will appoint that person who had accepted the free gift as a hypocrite.

Now, my question is, how can something that is a free gift being taken back again by God? A free gift is a free gift, period?

How can we add our behavior subsequent to accepting this free gift as a precondition to being able to receive this free gift?

Love, Eden
“so help me God”

IP: Logged |

oneinchrist
Advanced Member
Member # 6532

posted

Hi Eden,
May I jump in on this conversation with you and becauseHElives? Eden, I would like to adress a couple of things you stated above.

You said: "Im still undecided about whether it takes "both parts" to receive eternal life.

I believe that Jesus speaks about the "both parts" that are necessary in this passage.....

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive FORGIVENESS OF SINS and an inheritance among those who are SANCTIFIED by faith in Me.'

Now I believe that the appropriation of forgiveness of sins and sanctification is in "two parts" also. Forgiveness of sin which is appropriated by faith in Jesus as Savior, and sanctification which is appropriated by faith in Jesus as Lord.

You also said: " A free gift just needs to be accepted , but no work of any kind needs to be done for a free gift, does it?
I would agree that we do not work for the free gift and that there must be a personal acceptance of that free gift, but I would add that there must also be an acceptance of what comes with that free gift.......and that being Jesus' claim on our lives for service according to the will of God.
After all, He went from the crown of thorns(which we put on Him) to the crown of glory(which God bestowed on Him).

With love in Christ, Daniel

Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged |

becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87

posted

quote:
But, is believing that Jesus died in my place just 100% free, or not?

Hello Eden, Carol and others... there is no question about it.... salvation is 100 per cent free, and, of and by Yahshua.....

but believing that is our part, now free will comes in sight...

believing is a continuous action verb, when Yahshua speaks of those that enduring till the end shall be saved, He is saying believe till the end shall be saved.....

again I say study the "Parable of the Sower" ...Yahshua said if you don't understand this parable, you will not understand any of His doctrine....

the believing part is the walking in the Spirit part, it is the free will part, you chose when persecution comes will you deny Him before men or will you confess Him before men...

if the scriptures are true and I believe they are, if you deny Him before men, He must deny you before the Heavenly Father....

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

quote:
But, is believing that Jesus died in my place just 100% free, or not?

Romans 5:18
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

A free gift just needs to be accepted, but no work of any kind needs to be done for a free gift, does it???

Don't confuse the gift of Salvation with the gifts (talents, abilities) we are given to serve with.

Ephesians 2:8 - 10 (NLT)
8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done , so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

Matthew 24:45 - 51 (NLT)
45“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When Jesus Christ returns and takes His church to heaven, He will sit on His judgment seat and judge His own people (Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:8-11). He will not judge our sins, because these have already been judged on the cross (Rom. 8:1-4). But He will judge our works and will give rewards to those who have earned them (1 Cor. 3:9-15). These parables suggest that Jesus will judge three different groups of professed believers.

Obedient and disobedient servants (vv. 45-51).

God’s people on earth are called a household (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19). God has put servants over each household to feed the members. This suggests to us the local church family with its spiritual leaders. The purpose of spiritual leadership is that the leaders feed the people, not that the people feed the leaders! The Apostle Peter caught this truth and emphasized it in his first letter (1 Peter 5:1-4).

It is a serious thing to be a pastor or other officer in a local church. We must take care that our motives are right and that we serve Christ and His people in love. Both in word and deed, we must lead the family in the right way (Heb. 13:7-8). The members of the family should submit to spiritual leadership, because one day both people and leaders will face the Judgment Seat of Christ (Heb. 13:17).

The servant’s task is not to be popular, but to be obedient. He must feed the family the food that it needs, when it needs it.

If the spiritual leader is obediently doing his job when the Lord returns, he shall be rewarded. But if that leader is not doing his job when the Lord returns, he will be dealt with in a severe way. I prefer to translate Matthew 24:51: “And shall punish him severely and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.” (Even in that day of despotic rule, it would be unthinkable for a master to cut his servant in half.) The whole picture is one of pain and loss. This does not suggest punitive measures at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because there we will have glorified bodies. But it does suggest loss of reward and loss of opportunity.

Jesus did not amplify the truth here, but from other Scriptures we learn that one reward for obedient service will be ministry in the kingdom that He will establish on earth (Luke 19:11ff). The reward for obedient service is the capacity for greater service. Not to have a place of ministry in His kingdom would, to me, be a tremendous loss.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

love, Eden

IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

Romans 12:6 - 8 (NLT)
6In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability given by Christ through the Holy Spirit to the believer at the moment of his salvation. At this point two distinctives should be made.

a. The distinction between the gift of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. The gift occurred at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came in answer to the promise of Christ. The gifts occur today.

b. The distinction between gifts and talents. A talent is a human and natural ability given at birth. It may be in the area of music, speech, organization, etc. But no natural talent, however great it might be, can be used by its owner to glorify God until it is sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. When this occurs, the talent then may become a gift.

To illustrate this, let’s consider an individual who is a brilliant and talented musician. His ability is acclaimed by millions. But the performer is not a Christian and thus his talent can never be used by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God. But let us assume the man hears the gospel and accepts Christ as Savior. Now the Holy Spirit may determine to transform the man’s natural talent into a supernatural gift. As there is no specific gift of music as such, the musician’s new efforts for Christ would probably fall under that of exhortation, which is a listed gift.

The extent of the spiritual gifts

a. Each believer possesses at least one spiritual gift.

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet. 4:10).

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Eph. 4:7).

“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that” (1 Cor. 7:7).

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12:7).

“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Cor. 12:11).

b. No believer possesses all the gifts.

“Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret (1 Cor. 12:29, 30).

The purpose of the spiritual gifts

a. To glorify the Father.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11).

b. To edify the church.

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

The abuse of the spiritual gifts

a. Not using those gifts imparted to us.

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Tim. 1:6).

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery” (1 Tim. 4:14).

b. Attempting to use those gifts not imparted to us.

c. Not using the gifts in love.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1).

How often are those blessed gifts abused. Only eternity will reveal the number of men in the ministry who should never have been there. On the other hand (and just as tragic) there has doubtless been a great company of men who were called into God’s service, but never answered it. But perhaps the greatest abuse of all is the use of gifts without love.

If one rightly comprehends the material given thus far on gifts, he can understand why God sometimes seems to use a carnal Christian in a great way in spite of the glaring (or often secret) sins in his life. However, in such cases God is only blessing the gift and not the man personally. At the judgment seat of Christ (see 1 Cor. 3) there will doubtless be many surprises as perhaps a number of world-famous Christian leaders receive so little actual personal reward from Christ because of their sins and carnality.

In three main passages, the Apostle Paul lists eighteen separate spiritual gifts for us. These passages are: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:11.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

hello, becauseHElives, hope all is well with you. You wrote

quote:
Eden do you think walking after the Spirit is filthy rags living....

I don't think so...

no, I meant what I said....

Yahshua is the straight gate and he is also the narrow way...

I believe in walking after the Spirit, it is a great blessing and privilege to be able to do so.

With the help of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of life of Jesus inside of me, I expect to become a sweeter, kinder, person. God and Jesus were sweet and kind and I expect to move and be moved in that direction too. I'm sweeter now than I used to be. [type]

The Spirit is not filthy rags living....it is great living, the abundant life that I was looking for, I'm living it now.

And becauseHElives, I'm still undecided about whether it takes both parts to receive eternal life.

Part of me thinks that salvation is 100% free simply by believing that Jesus died for my sins in my place, but that rewards are received only by what we do for the Lord AFTER we are saved.

1 Corinthians 3
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 But if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: [/b]but he himself shall be saved[/b]; yet so as by fire.

On the other hand, becauseHElives, I’m also concerned about the parable of the unprofitable servant in which what I take to be a Christian believer who “buried his talent in the ground” and “gave his talent back to Jesus when Jesus came again”, while the one whose 5 talents made 10 talents got rewards and was passed into the kingdom of God.

But Jesus called the believing Christian man who did nothing after believing a hypocrite:

Matthew 24
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.

47Verily I say to you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming;

49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

But the question I have, becauseHElives, I believe in the 10 commandments and loving my neighbor as something to aim at in my behavior, but when Matthew 24:45 above says that the faithful servant of Jesus “GIVES THEM MEAT in due season”, what is that referring to?

It can not be referring to my behavior, it seems to refer to helping in the vineyard of the Lord Jesus, meaning to help preach the gospel on earth for and with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

While I seek to do the 10 commandments and loving the God of Israel and loving my neighbor as much as is now in me, the hypocrital servant apparently DID NOT GIVE SOMEONE THEIR MEAT IN DUE SEASON.

Dear brother becauseHElives, what do you think it was that they DID NOT DO?

Love, Eden
"so help me God"

IP: Logged |

The Beauty of Holiness777
Advanced Member
Member # 7380

posted

Thank you becauseHElives, Daniel, and Carol your replies summed up my answer very well.

I am a true believer if we Love the Lord Thy God with ALL our heart and with ALL soul and with ALL our mind the strait gate even with adversities will not be hard to enter. Our love for God must precede anything else in our lives even our families God should always be first.

All the other commandments deal with man and man but this one deals with God and His creation. Many honor God with their lips but their hearts are far off.

--------------------
In God I'am Complete.
I am a "Spiritual Being" living in a physical body.
{Prayer - a force that reaches people and places when we can't}

Posts: 192 | From: God's Universe | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged |

becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87

posted

Eden do you think walking after the Spirit is filthy rags living....

I don't think so...

no, I meant what I said....

Yahshua is the straight gate and he is also the narrow way...

Yahshua plainly said He was the Door, He was the entrance to the kingdom of Yahweh, He was the straight gate, He said there was no other way that men could come to the Father....

But the narrow way is the walk of the Spirit spoken of in Romans, there is therefore now no condemnation to them that walk after the Spirit...

Yahweh the Heavenly Father is looking for one thing and one thing only when it comes to salvation...

that is Yahshua....

the beginning and the end, the author and the finisher of my Faith, your Faith, all the faithful...

and those that have hearts to understand must understand all this in light of the parable of the sower to find the Truth....

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

John 14:15 - 21 (NLT)

15“If you love me, obey my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

18No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.

20When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

John 13:34 - 35 (NLT)

34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

Have you ever thought of the journey of life?

Where is it taking you?

We are all on a journey to an eternal destination. The Bible tells us of only two destinies and teaches that we must decide which we will be in before death ends our journey.

There are two ways - ‘The Narrow Way’ leading to Heaven, and ‘The Broad Way’ which if remained on, will lead you to Hell. There is no third option.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9v27)

The Bible says: “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3v22)

This means that we have been born as sinners and are automatically on the Broad Way. This way leads to destruction.

For “Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at.” (Matthew 7v13)

This ‘Destruction’ means the eternal punishment of sins. But – we can be in Heaven, because of Jesus Christ.

A Substitute

The Lord Jesus Christ bore the punishment for sin when He died at Calvary – “He bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2v24)

A Suffering Saviour

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3v18)

How can we be saved?

To be in Heaven we must enter the Narrow Way, which leads there, but how do we change from the Broad Way to the Narrow Way?

As sinners there is nothing we can do, as the Bible says – “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2v8,9)

We must enter through the door. The Lord Jesus Christ said – “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14v6)

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11v 28)

We must place our trust, and dependence on Him, and Him alone for eternal salvation and enter the Narrow Way.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him”. (John 3v36)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”. (Acts 4v12)

Are you still on the Broad Way leading to destruction? Have you ever had a time when you placed your trust on the Lord Jesus Christ?

Remember – what you do with Christ on this journey, will determine your eternal destination.

“Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4v12)

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

Hello, becauseHElives, good to hear from you. You wrote: "they are one in [sic] the same, Eden". Then you also quoted

quote:
Matthew 22:34-40, " But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." (RSV).

So let me see here. The moslems love their "God" as much as we love our God, and the hospitality of the moslem Arabs is legendary. Does this therefore mean that since you said that they are "one and the same" (they love their "God" and are very hospitable), that they can enter into eternal life?

I don't think so. It seems to me that the Bible is very clear, and very strict, that the God must be the God of Israel, and that the sacrifice must be the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and that only by those two can one enter into eternal life.

Now, becauseHElives, when you said "they are one and the same", you probably meant that BOTH are required to enter (belief in the God of Israel, belief in Jesus AND doing what is right in life).

But normally, when someone says that they are "one and the same", if they are the same, then they are interchangeable, i.e., one can enter in by EITHER of those, and that surely is not the case, is it becauseHElives?

love, Eden

IP: Logged |

oneinchrist
Advanced Member
Member # 6532

posted

Hey Eden,
Perhaps if 777 had said "the Righteous way" (with a capital R) instead of the "righteous way" then maybe you would not have thought that she was suggesting two ways to enter in. I dont know.....just a thought.

With love in Christ, Daniel

Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged |

becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87

posted

They are one in the same Eden....the two can not be separated!

All who seek to be true footstep followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ today will be continually tested by the workers of iniquity, the religious creed list, just as their master was in his day on earth.

This was testified to by Jesus (Yeshua) at John 15:20, "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also." (RSV).

OR as one individual so well put it: Fact...Jesus was the son of god Fact...religious people did not believe it. Fact...they found god in the way and not on the way.

Now let's look at how they tested Jesus (Yeshua) to get an idea of how this same type would test His footstep followers of today. Matthew 16:1-4 , "And the Pharisees and Sad'ducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed." (Revised Standard Version; RSV).

Matthew 22:15-22 , " Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away." (RSV).

Matthew 22:34-40, " But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." (RSV).

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

Hi, The Beauty of Holiness777, you wrote

quote:
It is said that the road to hell is broad many travel constantly on this road. For many of years past and even today of rejecting and disobeying the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also said that the road to heaven is a straight and narrow road every now and then you see a traveler.

There is truly only one way to enter into heaven and that is the righteous way the strait and narrow way. (No excuses, no exceptions).

In the last paragraph you seem to propose that by living righteously we enter thru the strait and narrow gate.

But in the first paragraph you seem to say that "rejecting and disobeying the gospel of Jesus Christ" prevents people from entering the strait gate. Which implies that "accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ" is the way INTO the strait gate.

So which is it? I have believed thus far that believing the gospel of Jesus" is what gets me in, not my own "filthy rag living":

Mark 1:15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.

So, which of the two is it?

love, Eden

IP: Logged |

yahsway
Advanced Member
Member # 3738

posted

What a powerful post becauseHeLives!

The 10 days of awe have started and this post came right on time, for me anyway.

Thank you for your faithfulness and may Yahweh bless you and keep you.

Posts: 1238 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Aug 2004 | IP: Logged |

becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87

posted

The author and finisher of salvation is speaking in these verses, listen to His words....

Luke 13:23-24
And someone asked Him, Lord, will only a few be saved (rescued, delivered from the penalties of the last judgment, and made partakers of the salvation by Messiah)? And He said to them,

Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

these are companion scriptures, they speak of the same thing...

the exhortation, which is, to strive to enter in: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate." These words are fitly added; for since the gate is strait, it follows that they who will enter in must strive.

"Strive." This word strive supposeth,

(1.) That great idleness is natural to professors; they think to get to heaven by lying, as it were, on their elbows.

(2.) It also suggesteth, that many will be the difficulties that professors will meet with before they get to heaven.

(3.) It also concludeth, that only the laboring Christian, man or woman, will get in thither. "Strive," etc.

Three questions I will propound upon the word, answer to which may give us light into the meaning of it:

(1.) What doth the word strive import?

(2.) How should we strive?

(3.) Why should we strive?

First, What doth this word strive import?

Answer: When he saith, Strive, it is as much as to say, bend yourselves to the work with all your might:

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest," Ecclesiastes 9:10.

Thus Samson did when he set himself to destroy the Philistines, he bowed himself with all his might, Judges 16:30. Thus David did also, when he made provision for the building and beautifying of the temple of God, 1 Chronicles 29:2. And thus must thou do, if ever thou enterest into heaven.

Secondly, When he saith, Strive, he calleth for the mind and will, that they should be on side, and on the side of the things of his kingdom; for none strive indeed, but such as have given the son of God their heart, of which

their mind and will are a principal part; for saving conversion lieth more in the turning of the mind and will to Christ, and to the love of his heavenly things, than in all knowledge and judgment. And this the apostle confirmeth, when he saith,

"Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving," etc. Philippians 1:27.

3. And, more particularly, this word strive is expressed by several other terms; as,

(1.) It is expressed by that word, "So run that you may obtain," 1 Corinthians 9:24, 25.

(2.) It is expressed by that word,

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life," 1 Timothy 6:12.

(3.) It is expressed by that word,

"Labor not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat that endureth to everlasting life," John 6:27.

4. It is expressed by that word,

"We wrestle with principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world," Ephesians 6:12.

Therefore, when he saith, Strive, it is as much as to say, Run for heaven, Fight for heaven, Labor for heaven, Wrestle for heaven, or you are like to go without it.

The second question is, How should we strive?

Answer: The answer in general is, Thou must strive lawfully:

"And if a man also strive for the mastery, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully," 2 Timothy 2:5.

But you will say, What is it to strive lawfully?

Answer:

1. To strive against the things which are abhorred by the Lord Jesus; yea, to resist to the spilling of your blood, striving against sin, Hebrews 12:4. To have all those things that are condemned by the word; yea, though they be thine own right hand, right eye, or right foot, in abomination; and to seek by all godly means the utter suppressing of them, Mark 9:43, 45, 47.

2. To strive lawfully, is to strive for those things that are commanded in the word. But thou, O man of God, fly the world, and follow after (that is, strive for) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, etc., 1 Timothy 6:11, 12.

3. He that striveth lawfully, must be therefore very temperate in all the good and lawful things of this life. And every one that striveth for the mastery, is temperate in all things; now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we in incorruptible, 1 Corinthians 9:25. Most professors give leave to the world, and the vanity of their hearts, to close with them, and to hang about their necks, and make their striving to stand rather in an outcry of words, than a hearty labor against the lusts and love of the world, and their own corruptions; but this kind of striving is but a beating of the air, and will come to just nothing at last, 1 Corinthians 9:26.

4. He that striveth lawfully, must take God and Christ along with him to the work, otherwise he will certainly be undone:

"Whereunto (said Paul) I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily," Colossians 1:29.

And for the right performing of this, he must observe these following particulars: —

(1.) He must take heed that he doth not strive about things, or words, to no profit; for God will not then be with him.

"Of these things (saith the apostle) put them in remembrance; charging them before the Lord, that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers," 1 Timothy 2:14.

But, alas! how many professors in our days are guilty of this transgression, whose religion stands chiefly, if not only, in a few unprofitable questions, and vain wranglings, about words and things to no profit, but to the destruction of the hearers!

(2.) He must take heed that whilst he strives against one sin, he does not harbor and shelter another; or that whilst he cries out against other men's sins, he does not countenance his own.

(3.) In the striving, strive to believe, strive for the faith of the gospel; for the more we believe the gospel, and the reality of the things of the world to come, with the more stomach and courage shall be labor to possess the blessedness, Philippians 1:27; Hebrews 4. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

(4.) As we should strive for, and by faith, so we should strive by prayer ( Romans 15:30), by fervent and effectual prayers. O the swarms of our prayerless professors! What do they think of themselves? Surely the gate of heaven was heretofore as wide as in these our days; but what striving by prayer was there then among Christians for the thing that gives admittance into this kingdom, over what there is in these latter days!

(5.) We should also strive by mortifying our members that are upon the earth:

"I therefore so run (said Paul), so fight I, not as one that beats the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached the gospel to others, I myself should be a cast-away," 1 Corinthians 9:27.

But all this is spoken principally to professors; so I would be understood.

I come now to the third question, namely, But why should we strive?

Answer:

1. Because the thing for which you are here exhorted to strive, is worth the striving for; it is for no less than for a whole heaven, and an eternity of felicity there. How will men that have before them a little honor, a little

profit, a little pleasure, strive? I say again, how will they strive for this? Now, they do it for a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. Methinks this word heaven, and this eternal life, ought verily to make us strive, for what is there again either in heaven or earth like them to provoke a man to strive?

2. Strive, because otherwise the devil and hell will assuredly have thee:

"He goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8.

These fallen angels, they are always watchful, diligent, unwearied; they are also mighty, subtile, and malicious, seeking nothing more than the damnation of thy soul. Oh, thou that art like the heartless dove, strive!

3. Strive, because every lust strives and wars against thy soul. The flesh lusteth against the spirit:

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you (said Peter), as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul," Galatians 5:17.

It is a rare thing to see or find out a Christian that indeed can bridle his lusts; but no strange thing to see such professors that are not only bridled, but saddled too, yea, and ridden from lust to sin, from one vanity to another, by the very devil himself, and the corruptions of their hearts.

4. Strive, because thou hast a whole world against thee. The world hateth thee if thou be a Christian; the men of the world hate thee; the things of the world are snares for thee, even thy bed and table, thy wife and husband, yea, thy most lawful enjoyments, have that in them that will certainly sink thy soul to hell, if thou dost not strive against the snares that are in them, Romans 11:9.

The world will seek to keep thee out of heaven with mocks, flouts, taunts, threatenings, gaols, gibbets, halters, burnings, and a thousand deaths; therefore strive. Again, if it cannot overcome thee with these, it will flatter, promise, allure, entice, entreat, and use a thousand tricks on this hand to destroy thee; and observe, many that have been stout against the threats of the world, have yet been overcome with the bewitching flatteries of the same. There ever was enmity between the devil and the church, and

betwixt his seed and her seed too; Michael and his angels, and the dragon and his angels, these make war continually, Genesis 3; Revelation 12. There hath been great desires and endeavors among men to reconcile these two in one, to wit, the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman; but it could never yet be accomplished. The world says, they will never come over to us; and we again say, by God's grace, we will never come over to them. But the business hath not ended in words; both they and we have also added our endeavors to make each other submit; but endeavors have proved ineffectual too. They, for their part, have devised all manner of cruel torments to make us submit; as, slaying with the sword, stoning, sawing asunder, flames, wild beasts, banishments, hunger, and a thousand miseries. We again, on the other side, have labored by prayers and tears, by patience and long-suffering, by gentleness and love, by sound doctrine, and faithful witness-bearing against their enormities, to bring them over to us; but yet the enmity remains: so that they must conquer us, or we must conquer them. One side must be overcome; but the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God.

5. Strive, because there is nothing of Christianity got by idleness:

"Idleness clothes a man with rags, and the vineyard of the slothful is grown over with nettles," Proverbs 23:21; Proverbs 24:30-32.

Profession that is not attended with spiritual labor cannot bring the soul to heaven. The fathers before us were not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord:

"Therefore be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises," Romans 12:11; Hebrews 6:12.

"Strive to enter in." Methinks the words, at the first reading, do intimate to us, that the Christian, in all that ever he does in this world, should carefully heed and regard his soul, — I say, in all that ever he does. Many are for their souls by fits and starts; but a Christian indeed, in all his doing and designs which he contriveth and manageth in this world, should have a special eye to his own future and everlasting good; in all his labors he should strive to enter in:

"Wisdom (Christ) is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and in all thy gettings get understanding." Proverbs 4:7.

Get nothing, if thou canst not get Christ and grace, and further hopes of heaven in that getting; get nothing with a bad conscience, with the hazard of thy peace with God, and that in getting it thou weakenest thy graces which God hath given thee; for this is not to strive to enter in. Add grace to grace, both by religious and worldly duties; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:8-12. Religious duties are not the only striving times; he that thinks so is out. Thou mayest help thy faith and thy hope, in the godly management of thy calling, and mayest get father footing in eternal life, by studying the glory of God in all thy worldly employment. I am speaking now to Christians that are justified freely by grace; and am encouraging, or rather counseling them to strive to enter in; for there is an entering in by faith and good conscience now, as well as our entering in body and soul hereafter; and I must add, that the more common it is to thy soul to enter in now by faith, the more steadfast hope shalt thou have of entering in hereafter in body and soul.

"Strive to enter in." By these words also the Lord Jesus giveth sharp rebuke to those professors that have not eternal glory, but other temporal things in their eye, by all the bustle that they make in the world about religion. Some there be, what a stir they make, what a noise and clamor, with their notions and forms, and yet perhaps all is for the loaves; because they have eaten of the loaves, and are filled, John 6:26. They strive indeed to enter, but it is not into heaven: they find religion hath a good trade at the end of it; or they find that it is the way to credit, repute, preferment, and the like; and therefore they strive to enter into these. But these have not the strait gate in their eye, nor yet in themselves have they love to their poor and perishing souls; wherefore this exhortation nippeth such, by predicting of their damnation.

"Strive to enter in." These words also sharply rebuke them who content themselves as the angel of the church of Sardis did, to wit, "To have a name to live, and be dead," Revelation 3:1, or as they of the Laodiceans, who took their religion upon trust, and was content with a poor, wretched, lukewarm profession: for such as these do altogether unlike to the

exhortation in the text, that says, Strive; and they sit and sleep; that says, Strive to enter in, and they content themselves with a profession that is never like to bring them thither.

"Strive to enter in." Further, these words put us upon proving the truth of them now; for if the strait gate be the gate of heaven, and yet we are to strive to enter into it now, even while we live, and before we come thither, then, doubtless, Christ means by this exhortation, that we should use all lawful means to prove our graces in this world, whether they will stand in the judgment or no. Strive to enter in; get those graces now that will prove true graces then; and therefore try them you have; and if, upon trial, they prove not right, cast them away, and cry for better, lest they cast thee away, when better are not to be had." "But of me gold tried in the fire:" mark that, Revelation 3:18. Buy of me faith and grace that will stand in the judgment; strive for that faith; buy of me that grace, and also white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of thy wickedness doth not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. mind you this advice; this is right striving to enter in.

But you will say, How should we try our graces? Would you have us run into temptation to try if they be sound or rotten?

Answer: You need not run into trials; God hath ordained that enough of them shall overtake thee to prove thy graces either rotten or sound before the day of thy death: sufficient to the day is the evil thereof, if thou hast but a sufficiency of grace to withstand. I say, thou shalt have trials enough overtake thee, to prove thy graces sound or rotten. Thou mayest, therefore, if God shall help thee, see how it is like to go with thee before thou goest out of this world; to wit, whether thy graces be such as will carry thee in at the gates of heaven or no.

But how should we try our graces now?

Answer: How dost thou find them in outward trials? See Hebrews 11:15, 16. How dost thou find thyself in the inward workings of sin? Romans 7:24. How dost thou find thyself under the most high enjoyment of grace in this world? Philippians 2:14.

But what do you mean by these three questions?

Answer: I mean graces shew themselves at these their seasons, whether they be rotten or sound.

How do they shew themselves to be true under the first of these?

Answer: By mistrusting our own sufficiency, by crying to God for help, by desiring rather to die than to bring any dishonor to the name of God, and by counting, that if God be honored in the trial, thou hast gained more than all the world could give thee, 2 Chronicles 20:12; 2 Chronicles 14:11; Acts 4.; Acts 20:22; 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18; Hebrews 11:24, 25.

How do they shew themselves to be true under the second?

Answer: By mourning, and confessing, and striving, and praying, against them; by not being content, shouldst thou have heaven, if they live, and defile thee; and by counting of holiness the greatest beauty in the world; and by flying to Jesus Christ for life, Zechariah 12:10; John 19; Hebrews 12:4; Psalm 19:12.

How do they shew themselves to be true under the third?

Answer: By prizing the true graces above all the world, — by praying heartily that God will give thee more, — by not being content with all the grace thou canst be capable of enjoying on this side heaven and glory, Psalm 84:10; Luke 17:5; Philippians 3.

"Strive to enter in." The reason why Christ addeth these words, to enter in, is obvious, to wit, because there is no true and lasting happiness on this side heaven; I say, none that is both true and lasting, I mean as to our sense and feeling, as there shall; for here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come, Hebrews 13:14. The heaven is within; strive therefore to enter in: the glory is within; strive therefore to enter in: the Mount Sion is within; strive therefore to enter in: the heavenly Jerusalem is within; strive therefore to enter in: angels and saints are within; strive therefore to enter in: and to make up all, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that glorious Redeemer, is within; strive therefore to enter in.

"Strive to enter in." For without are dogs, sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Without are also the devils, and hell, and death, and all damned souls; without is howling, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth; yea, without are all the miseries, sorrows, and plagues that an infinite God can in justice and power inflict upon an evil and wicked generation: "Strive therefore to enter in at the strait gate," Revelation 22:15; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:9; Isaiah 65:13, 14; Matthew 22:13; Deuteronomy 29:18-20. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

4. We are now come to the motive which our Lord urges to enforce his exhortation.

He told us before, that the gate was strait; he also exhorted us to strive to enter in thereat, or to get those things now that will further our entrance then, and to set ourselves against those things that will hinder our entering in.

In this motive there are five things to be minded.

(1.) That there will be a disappointment to some at the day of judgment, — they will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

(2.) That not a few, but many, will meet with this disappointment; "for many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

(3.) This doctrine of the miscarriage of many then, it standeth upon the validity of the word of Christ: "For many, I say, will see to enter in, and shall not be able."

(4.) Professors shall make a great heap among the many that shall fall short of heaven. "For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

(5.) Where grace and striving are wanting now, seeking and contending to enter in will be unprofitable then: "For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

But I will proceed in my former method; to wit, to open the words unto you.

"For many," etc. If he had said, For some will fall short; it had been a sentence to be minded; if he had said, For some that seek will fall short, it had been very awakening: but when he saith, Many, many will fall short, yea, many among professors will fall short; this is not only awakening, but dreadful.

"For many," etc. I find this word many variously applied in Scripture.

1. Sometimes it intendeth the openly profane, the wicked and ungodly world, as where Christ saith,

"Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat," Matthew 7:13.

I say, by the many here, he intends those chiefly that go on in the broad way of sin and profaneness, bearing the tokens of their damnation in their foreheads, — those whose daily practice proclaims, "that their feet go down to death, and their steps take hold of hell," Job 21:29, 30; Isaiah 3:9; Proverbs 4.

2. Sometimes this word many intendeth those that cleave to the people of God deceitfully, and in hypocrisy, or, as Daniel hath it,

"Many shall cleave unto the church with flatteries," Daniel 11:34.

The word many in this text includeth all those who feign themselves better than they are in religion; it includeth, I say, those that have religion only, for an holy-day suit to set them out at certain times, and when they come among suitable company.

3. Sometimes this word many intendeth them that apostatize from Christ; such as for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away, as John saith of some of Christ's disciples:

"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him," John 6:65.

4. Sometimes this word many intendeth them that make a great noise, and do many great things in the church, and yet want saving grace: "Many (saith Christ) will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not

prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Mark, there will be many of these.

5. Sometimes this word many intendeth those poor ignorant deluded souls that are led away with every wind of doctrine; those who are caught with the cunning and crafty deceiver, who lieth in wait to beguile unstable souls:

"And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of," 2 Peter 2:2.

6. Sometimes this word many includeth all the world, good and bad:

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt," Daniel 12:2;

compare with John 5:28, 29.

7. Lastly, Sometimes this word many intendeth the good only: "Even them that shall be saved," Luke 1:10; Luke 2:34.

Since then that the word is so variously applied, let us inquire how it must be taken in the text. And,

(1.) It must not be applied to the sincerely godly, for they shall never perish, John 10:27, 28.

(2.) It cannot be applied to all the world, for then no flesh should be saved.

(3.) Neither is it to be applied to the open profane only, for then the hypocrite is by it excluded.

(4.) But by the word many in the text our Lord intendeth in special the professor; the professor, I say, how high soever he seems to be now, that shall be found without saving grace in the day of judgment.

Now that the professor is in special intended in this text, consider, so soon as the Lord had said, "Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able," he pointeth, as with his finger, at the many that then he in special intendeth; to wit, then among whom he had taught; them that had eat and drunken in his presence; them that had prophesied, and cast out devils in

his name, and in his name had done many wonderful works, Luke 23:26; Matthew 7:27. These are the many intended by the Lord in this text, though others also are included under the sentence of damnation by his word in other places. "For many," etc. Matthew saith concerning this strait gate, That there are but few that find it. But it seems the cast-aways in my text did find it; for you read, that they knocked at it, and cried, "Lord, open unto us." So then, the meaning may seem to be this, — many of the few that find it will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. I find, at the day of judgment, some will be crying to the rocks to cover them, and some at the gates of heaven for entrance. Suppose that those that cry to the rocks to cover them, are they whose conscience will not suffer them once to look God in the face, because they are fallen under present guilt, and the dreadful fears of the wrath of the Lamb, Revelation 6:16; and that those that stand crying at the gate of heaven, are those whose confidence holds out to the last, — even those whose boldness will enable them to contend even with Jesus Christ for entrance; them, I say, that will have profession, casting out of devils, and many wonderful works, to plead: of this sort are the many in my text: "For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." "For many," etc. Could we compare the professors of times with the everlasting word of God, this doctrine would more easily appear to the children of men. How few among the many, yea, among the swarms of professors, have heart to make conscience of walking before God in this world, and to study his glory among the children of men! How few, I say, have his name lie nearer their hearts than their own carnal concerns! Nay, do not many make his word, and his name, and his ways, a stalking-horse to their own worldly advantages! God calls for faith, good conscience, moderation, self-denial, humility, heavenly-mindedness, love to saints, to enemies, and for conformity in heart, in word, and life, to his will: but where is it? Mark 11:22; 1 Peter 3:16; Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:5; Matthew 10:37-39; Colossians 3:1-4; Micah 6:8; Revelation 2:10; John 15:17; 1 John 4:21; Matthew 5:44; Proverbs 23:26; Colossians 4:6.

"For many, I say unto you." These latter words carry I them a double argument to prove the truth asserted before: First, in that he directly pointeth at his followers: "I say unto you:" Many, I say unto you, evento you that are my disciples, to you that have eat and drank in my presence. I know that sometimes Christ hath directed his speech to his disciples, not so much upon their accounts, as upon the accounts of others: but here it is not so; the I say unto you, in this place, shows it immediately concerned some of themselves: "I say unto you, ye shall begin to stand without, and to knock, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are; then shall ye begin to say, We have eat and drank in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets: But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity;" it is you, you, YOU, that I mean. "I say unto you." It is common with a professing people, when they hear a smart and a thundering sermon, to say, Now has the preacher paid off the drunkard, the swearer, the liar, the covetous, and adulterer; forgetting that these sins may be committed in a spiritual and mystical way. There is spiritual drunkenness, spiritual adultery, and a man may be a liar that calls God his Father when he is not, or that calls himself a Christian, and is not. Wherefore, perhaps all these thunders and lightnings in this terrible sermons may more concern thee than thou art aware of: "I say unto you;" unto you, professors, may be the application of all this thunder, Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9. "I say unto you."

Had not the Lord Jesus designed by these words to shew what an overthrow will one day me made among professors, he needed not have you'd it at this rate, as in the text, and afterwards he has done; the sentence had run intelligible enough without it; I say, without his saying, "I say unto you." But the truth is, the professor is in danger; the preacher and the hearer, the workers or miracles, and workers of wonders, may be all in danger of damning, notwithstanding all their attainments. And to awaken us all about this truth, therefore, the text must run thus: "For many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

See you not yet that the professor is in danger, and that those words, "I say unto you," are a prophesy of the everlasting perdition of some that are famous in the congregation of saints? I say, if you do not see it, pray God your eyes may be opened, and beware that thy portion be not as the portion of one of those that are wrapped up in the 28th verse of the chapter: "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of heaven, and you yourselves thrust out."

"For many, I say unto you." These words, I told you, carry in them a double argument for confirmation of the truth asserted before: First, That professors are here particularly pointed at; and, secondly, It is the saying of the truth himself: For these words I say, are words full of authority; I say it, I say unto you, says Christ, as he saith in another place, It is I that speak; behold, it is I. The person whose words we have now under consideration was no blundering raw-headed preacher, but the very Wisdom of God, his Son, and him that hath lain in his bosom from everlasting, and consequently had the most perfect knowledge of his Father's will, and how it would fare with professors at the end of this world. And now hearken what himself doth say of the words which he hath spoken:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away," Matthew 24:35.

"I say unto you."

The prophet used not to speak after this manner, nor yet the holy apostles; for thus to speak, is to press things to be received upon their own authority. They used to say, Thus saith the Lord, or Paul, or Peter, an apostle, or a servant of God. But now we are dealing with the words of the Son of God; it is he that hath said it; wherefore we find the truth of the perishing of many professors asserted, and confirmed by Christ's own mouth. This consideration carrieth great awakening in it; but into such a fast sleep are many now-a-days fallen, that nothing will awaken them but that shrill and terrible cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him." "I say unto you."

There are two things upon which this assertion may be grounded.

1. There is in the world a thing like grace, that is not.

2. There is a sin called the sin against the Holy Ghost, from which there is no redemption. And both these things befall professors.

First, There is in the world a thing like grace, that is not. That is evident, because we read that there are some that not only make a fair shew in the flesh, that glory in appearance, that appear beautiful outwardly, that do as God's people, but have not the grace of God's people, Galatians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 5:12; Matthew 23:27; Isaiah 57:2, 3. It is evident also from those frequent cautions that are everywhere in the Scriptures given us about this thing: "Be not deceived: Let a man examine himself: Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith," Galatians 6:7; 1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:3. All these expressions intimate to us, that there may be a shew of, or a thing like grace, where there is no grace indeed.

3. This is evident from the conclusion made by the Holy Ghost upon this very thing:

"For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself," Galatians 6:3.

The Holy Ghost here concludeth, that a man may think himself to be something, may think he hath grace, when he hath none, may think himself something for heaven and another world, when indeed he is just nothing at all with reference thereto. The Holy Ghost also determines upon this point, to wit, that they that do so deceive themselves: "For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself;" he deceiveth his own soul, he deceiveth himself of heaven and salvation. So again:

"Let no man beguile you of your reward," Colossians 2:18.

4. It is manifest from the text, "For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Alas! Great light, great parts, great works, and great confidence of heaven, may be where there is no faith of God's elect, no love of the Spirit, and so consequently, no saving grace. But,

Secondly, As there is a thing like grace, which is not, so there is a sin, called the sin against the Holy Ghost, from which there is no redemption; and this sin doth more than ordinarily befall professors.

There is a sin called the sin against the Holy Ghost, from which there is no redemption. This is evident both from Matthew and Mark; "But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him,neither in this world, nor in the world to come. But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation," Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:29. Wherefore, when we know that a man hath sinned this sin, we are not to pray for him, or to have compassion on him, 1 John 15:16; Judges 22.

This sin doth most ordinarily befall professors; for there are few, if any, that are not professors, that are at present capable of sinning this sin.

"They which were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, that were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the power of the world to come," Hebrews 6:4, 5,

of this sort are they that commit this sin. Peter also describes them to be such, that sin the unpardonable sin:

"For if after they have escaped the pollution of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning," 2 Peter 2:2.

The other passage in the 10th of Hebrews holdeth forth the same thing:

"For if we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, that shall devour the adversaries," Hebrews 10:26, 27.

These, therefore, are the persons that are the prey for this sin: this sin feedeth upon professors, and they that are such, do very often fall into the mouth of this eater. Some fall into the mouth of this sin, by delusions and doctrines of devils; and some fall into the mouth of it, by returning with the dog to his own vomit again, and with the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire, 1 Peter 2:22. I shall not here give you a particular description of this sin — that I have done elsewhere; but such a sin there is, and they that commit it shall never have forgiveness. And I say again, there be professors that commit this unpardonable sin, yea, more than most are aware of. Let all therefore look about them. The Lord awaken them that they may so do; for what with a profession without grace, and by the venom of the sin against the Holy Ghost, many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Will seek to enter in.

This kingdom, at the gate of which the reprobate will be stopped, will be at the last judgment the desire of all the world; and they, especially they in my text, will seek to enter in; for then they will see that the blessedness is to those that shall get into this kingdom, according to that which is written, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city, Revelation 21:14. To prove that they will seek, although I have done it already, yet read these texts at your leisure, Matthew 25:11; Matthew 7:22; Luke 13:28. And, in a word, to give you the reason why they will seek to enter in.

1. Now they will see what a kingdom it is, what glory there is in it, and now they shall also see the blessedness which they shall have that shall then be counted worthy to enter in. The reason why this kingdom is so little regarded, it is because it is not seen; the glory of it is hid from the eyes of the world: "Their eye hath not seen, nor their ear heard," etc. Ay, but then they shall hear and see too; and when this comes to pass, then, even then, he that now most seldom thinks thereof will seek to enter in.

2. They will now see what hell is, and what damnation in hell is, more clear than ever. They will also see how the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. O the sight of the burning fiery furnace, which is prepared for the devil and his angels! This, this will make work in the souls of cast-aways at that day of God Almighty, and then they will seek to enter in.

3. Now they will see what the meaning of such words as these are, Hell-fire, Everlasting fire, Devouring fire, Fire that never shall be quenched. Now they will see what Forever means, what Eternity means; now they will see what this word means, the Bottomless Pit; now they will hear roaring of sinners in this place, howling in that, some crying to the mountains to fall upon them, and others to the rocks to cover them; now they will see blessedness is nowhere but within.

4. Now they will see what glory the godly are possessed with; how they rest in Abraham's bosom, how they enjoy eternal glory, how they walk in their white robes, and unspeakable happiness that now God's people shall have! and this shall be seen by them that are shut out, by them that God hath rejected for ever; and this will make them seek to enter in, Luke 16:22, 23; Luke 13:28, "Will seek to enter in."

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged |

The Beauty of Holiness777
Advanced Member
Member # 7380

posted

{Carol}
The invitation still stands: Those who recognize that they have entered the Wide Gateway that leads to destruction may still enter the way of life through Jesus Christ. [thumbsup2]

Amen! Thank God for Mercy [clap2]

--------------------
In God I'am Complete.
I am a "Spiritual Being" living in a physical body.
{Prayer - a force that reaches people and places when we can't}

Posts: 192 | From: God's Universe | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

Ephesians 2:8 - 10 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

John 6:27 - 29 (ESV)
27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:39 - 40 (ESV)
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 15:4 - 5 (ESV)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929

posted

John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, “ I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Matthew 7:13-14(NRSV)
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

This gate leading to life is narrow not because it is difficult to become a Christian but because there is only one way and only a few decide to walk that road. Believing in Jesus is the only way to eternal life because he alone died for our sins and made us right before God. The road is hard because true discipleship calls for sacrifice and servanthood. Following the crowd along life’s easy path results in destruction. Choosing the narrow way of difficulty and sacrifice ultimately leads to eternal life.

Sometimes Christians receive harsh treatment from people who don’t understand or are plainly hostile. Sometimes Christians give up a lot in order to follow Christ. Sometimes Christians are called to endure terrible pain, even death. But through it all we have God’s promise: Jesus is with us, hour by hour, hand in hand. That is the secret of a Christian’s strength.

Two Gates

One of Jesus’ self-descriptions was of a gate: “ I am the gate ; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9 NIV). In Jesus’ invitation to enter the narrow gate, he described two lives. Each life has a “gate” consistent with its “way.” People take the wide gateway, but they find the narrow gateway. The wide gateway that leads to destruction defines the normal human experience, except for the few who find and enter the narrow gateway. Jesus’ invitation to enter confronts the disciples with the gate itself. They have found the gate; he is standing before them. They can enter by trusting him completely.

The invitation still stands. Those who recognize that they have entered the wide gateway that leads to destruction may still enter the way to life through Jesus Christ.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

The Beauty of Holiness777
Advanced Member
Member # 7380

posted

This verse also apply to the ones that calls themselves his people as well. All the woes in the Word of God does not apply to sinners only.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God is talking about His people who has forsake His statues and kept not His Commandments.

God will keep His Children saved who wants to truly be saved. He gives them that choice as well. If one truly wants to be saved they will through the Holy Spirit working in them. If they do not truly want to be saved then that too is there choice not God's. He will never force anyone to accept Him or live by His Laws the choice is theirs.

We choice our own destiny.

--------------------
In God I'am Complete.
I am a "Spiritual Being" living in a physical body.
{Prayer - a force that reaches people and places when we can't}

Posts: 192 | From: God's Universe | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged |

Betty Louise
Advanced Member
Member # 7175

posted

Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged |

The Beauty of Holiness777
Advanced Member
Member # 7380

posted

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

It is said that the road to hell is broad many travel constantly on this road. For many of years past and even today or rejecting and disobeying the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also said that the road to heaven is a straight and narrow road every now and then you see a traveler.

There is truly only one way to enter into heaven and that is the righteous way the strait and narrow way. (No excuses, no exceptions)

It is true again that there are many ways you can enter into hell. (Excuses are welcome so are exceptions all are accepted)

Our soul's security depends on the lives we live on this earth. We chose our own destiny.

God's grace is a sure thing, but the final decision is based on how diligently we seek Him and serve Him here on this earth

Matthew 7:20-21
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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.

Whatever false teachers may assure them to the contrary if they do not the Will of God and live by His Laws they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

For strait and narrow is the way God has standards and conditions and if one's ID is not valid they will not enter in the Gate of Heaven.
WE must follow the straight path toward eternal life.

Treating the "Gift of Salvation" lightly will not be overlooked.

Hebrews 10:26-31 says;
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

But a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnessed: (found guilty)

Of how much sorer (more) punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace.

For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompence, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

Again, our soul's security (Salvation) depends on the lives we live on this earth. God has given us the "Gift of Salvation" through Jesus Christ our Lord. But it too has standards and conditions and that standard and condition is "Holiness".

God has given us all the freedom of choice "Freewill" we chose our own destiny.

WE who are called His Children will be judged by those standards and conditions:

1 Peter 4:17-19 says;
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house God: and if it first begin with us, what shall it be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Judgment must begin at the house of God, the false teachers, preachers, the tares, and all those professing but not processing for God said if you have not His Spirit you are not of His.

The highway to heaven is strait and narrow but it is the right way and the better way. Therefore, we are to make our calling and election sure that we too can have a testimony like Enoch.

That through out our walk with God that we please Him!

Matthew 12:36
But I say unto you, that every idle (careless) word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

It's not always the big things we do that causes us to miss the mark but the little things we think is nothing can cause us to miss out as well.

Love and peace to you All [Smile]

And to God be the Glory [clap2]

--------------------
In God I'am Complete.
I am a "Spiritual Being" living in a physical body.
{Prayer - a force that reaches people and places when we can't}

Posts: 192 | From: God's Universe | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged |

Printer-friendly view of this topic

New Message Boards - Click Here