Only Few will go to Heaven?

[thenomad415]

Here it says "Matthew 7 (Amplified Bible)
13Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
4But the gate is narrow (contracted [k]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it."

but here he says

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

– John 3:16"

I am confused which one is true. People who believe in him will have everlasting life or few will go to heaven?

 

[chilehed]

They don't contradict; both are true.

Everyone who dies in friendship with God will go to heaven, and many people choose to not be in friendship with God.

 

[LWB]

I think the subject of the Sermon of the Mount is the Kingdom of Heaven, and how one goes about finding it. This is the inner Kingdom of Heaven (of the heart), rather than the place of Heaven. It is a state of mind and way of life, rather than the fate of one's soul. It puts aside concerns for the future, concerns of the self and family, and is only concerned with the present, with all people, not just close family and friends. It is about seeking God for its own reward, not merely to avoid death or impress men.

Only a few find the Kingdom of Heaven in their life upon Earth. Look around: the Earth would be a very different place otherwise. If only 1% of those who profess to be Christians followed the teachings of the Sermon , the world would be transformed.

When someone finds the narrow gate, they become fully alive to the Kingdom, and dead to the world. The concerns of the flesh mean nothing to them anymore. Those in the wide gate are dead to the Kingdom of Heaven, and alive to the concerns of the flesh.

Everyone who repents and believes in Jesus will find life eternal. But not many seek to be a disciple of Jesus here and now. You have to give everything you have to enter the narrow gate. EVERYTHING.

It seems terrible to contemplate such a radical position, and clearly Jesus doesn't expect it of everyone. If one has a nice home, a pleasant family, a rewarding job, good health, no financial worries, even if they attend church every Sunday - they won't find the Kingdom. Those who are desperate, homeless, grief stricken, terminally ill - those who have nothing invested in this world anymore - they are so very, very close.

Those who find the Kingdom of Heaven realise the world is but a dream, and real life is with God. They have woken up.

 

[pilgrimgal]

I agree that both of these are true. Notice in John 3:16..that he sent his son "for whosoever believeth in him." Not every one in the world believes in Him. Some travel another path..which is not the gate to eternal life.

It helps me to think of the millions and millions of people on the earth and the many who have lived before this time. The number of those who have made the choice to be with and are with him is "few" compared to that.

 

[Crosssword]

Yeah, one can be a Christian for a while and not have really found it.

It is as you say, a way of life not of the flesh, where the concerns of this world are abandoned for God's ways.

Even so, salvation is impossible for man, but nothing is impossible through Jesus, but we must come to forgive those who are against us from our hearts.

 

[Aibrean]

I've seen many people on here who said they grew up in a Christian family, said the plan of salvation, but never really believed it.

There are many players. You'd be surprised how many have played pretend before they found God.

 

[SavedbyGod12]

I've seen many people on here who said they grew up in a Christian family, said the plan of salvation, but never really believed it.

There are many players. You'd be surprised how many have played pretend before they found God.

How would we really know

if you have found God. I mean you say you know who has believed and who hasn't. So tell us how you know, so we will know.

 

[Aibrean]

THEY say they haven't believed. I will take their word for it.

 

[TheGuide]

There are many who have confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. However, I have read in the Book of Revelations that names are being written in the book of life, but names are also being blotted out. So, to me, that doesn't sound like "once saves always saved."

All I can say is read how Jesus told you to live in God's word and work daily on doing so. It doesn't happen all at once and it doesn't always stick, but we work to get back on course and asked God to forgive us when we fall. Also, get God's word inside your heart and refresh yourself often by reading Jesus' instructions for daily living. Also, pray when you arise in the morning and before you lay down at night, and anytime in between when you feel the urge or have something to pray about.

Sometimes (like now) I am ready to just crawl in my bed, so a few words that gives God praise and thanking Him for His grace and blessing may be it tonight. But it's better then nothing and it lets God know that He is on my heart.

God bless,

The Guide

 

[Husky7]

Here it says "Matthew 7 (Amplified Bible)
13Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
4But the gate is narrow (contracted [k]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it."

but here he says

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

– John 3:16"

I am confused which one is true. People who believe in him will have everlasting life or few will go to heaven?

Both are true, the bible doesn't contradict itself. What it's saying is that people who believe in him WILL have immortality. However, the number of those who believe in him, and are granted eternal life, is small.

 

[LWB]

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

This seems to suggest that the number who believe in Christ and are redeemed to enjoy eternal life compose a number so vast, that not even super intelligent angels could count their number.

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

Jesus is the narrow gate, and when you look around, there are few who accept Jesus. Most in the world are lost in there trespass and sins, and even when they are shown the narrow gate, they reject and continue down the path of destruction. Very sad, breaks my heart.

 

[Aibrean]

There are many who have confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. However, I have read in the Book of Revelations that names are being written in the book of life, but names are also being blotted out. So, to me, that doesn't sound like "once saves always saved."

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Jesus' parable also supports that you can lose faith.

 

[Harry3142]

There's no narrower 'gate' than putting your trust in the work of one person, namely, Jesus Christ, and then depending totally on the efficacy of his sacrifice to save us. People don't want to be dependent on someone else for their welfare. Too many of them would rather put together a set of laws that benefit their own egos, and then follow those laws to their own destruction.

 

[Hishandmaiden]

God offered his salvation to everyone in the world, but sadly, few people choose to receive his salvation.

Therefore,the scriptures which you quote do not contradict each other. Both are equally valid, both are equally true.

 

[Emmy]

Dear thenomad415. In Matthew, chapter 22, verses 35-40, Jesus tells a Lawyer: " the first and great Commandment is: love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: love thy neighbour as thyselves." Then Jesus says: " on these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Love is what God wants from us, selfless and beneficial. There are many Christians in this world, and they live accordingly, loving Jesus and loving each other. God is Love, and Jesus died for All, out of Love for us. He is our Saviour and the Way, and Jesus reconciled us to God. We are told to Repent: to change our selfish and unloving character for: loving God with all our beings, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy to share with each other, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love. Jesus told us to " ask and we will receive," that is a promise to us. We might stumble and fail often, but we get up again, ask God to forgive us, and carry on. Jesus also taught us to pray: " Father forgive us our trespasses as we will forgive those who trespass against us." We have much time to get better and better, nomad, and we will get better. Love is catching, and others will treat us as we treat them: kindly and always ready to help, be a good neighbour. God will see our sincere efforts and will approve, and we follow God`s Commandments, to love as He wants us to. God loves us and God wants us back again, and Jesus is waiting to lead us all the way, in fact Jesus is The Way. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[papaJP]

If you have any doubts then you need to go to God and seek His help in becoming a true believer. Yes you can ask but if you are not serious and seeking truth you will only believe in your head and not your heart. It is a heart matter. Your head will lead you the wrong way and decieve you into believing you are a believer when you have not made the true heartful decision to be a servant, slave, and follower of God.

 

[fm107]

Jesus' parable also supports that you can lose faith.

Yes, we can lose faith but we cannot lose salvation. Our faith can also increase.

The gospel never took root in those people - they were never saved to begin with.

.......................................................................

In answer to your question, there will be an uncountable amount of people saved.

Revelation 7:9
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

However if you put this number in contrast with how many people have lived and rejected God, the number (which is a massive multitude) pales in comparison to how many people had the opportunity of being saved.

As Jesus himself said:

Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.


Hope this helps, May God bless you.

 

[Crosssword]

Jesus IS the narrow gate, you can't get any narrower then one man. Those who find it, have found him. They have crucified the old nature and put on Christ, they love him and try to be as much like him as possible.

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Now God knows the future, so to him much is predestined. This being the case, I cease to comprehend how names would be blotted out of the book of life. Since God knows ultimately who will be saved, then why would the names be written to begin with? It would be wasteful of God to write in names he knew would be blotted out.

If the Holy Spirit perfectly leads us into biblical truth, then why so many interpretations? If false doctrines can be used as evidence one is without the holy spirit, then there should be someone who can interpret the whole bible perfectly based on the holy spirit. We've had the Bible around long enough to settle questions like these, that is IF it were possible to settle them.

 

[Goodbook]

Because not everyone has the Holy Spirit or listens to the Holy Spirit.

Do you have the Holy Spirit? When we have the Holy Spirit, he helps us. So listen to him! Stop trying to figure out everything for yourself. Humble yourself toward God!

As for God, his ways are not our ways. Our understanding is finite, his is infinite. You presume to know what God thinks? Has he revealed that to you? No.

What you must do is ask God for wisdom. Do not doubt at all. Have faith.
Those who have the Holy Spirit DO recognise false doctirne. When we are born again, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Make sure you are not following a false gospel of man but the true gospel of Jesus Christ.