why do so many people believe we are on the narrow path?

timothyu said:

The way gate and path to the Kingdom.

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Easy to be said......but how is it done...

RaymondG said:

so one must believe those words to be considered to be, on the narrow path?

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Seems like he is saying two things, one that he is the way, and two, that the way will not be easy. Is actually easier for a lot of people to think that they are saved by their Good deeds, then choosing humility and relying on Christ's sacrifice.

RaymondG said:

Easy to be said......but how is it done...

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As Jesus easily said, repent of (change from) allegiance to the concept of the self serving ways of man to the ways of servitude of God. Ways of the world rejected for ways of the Kingdom. Governance of man for governance of God. His will over ours. Original sin of self determination to obedience

RaymondG said:

Easy to be said......but how is it done...

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crucifixion

renniks said:

Seems like he is saying two things, one that he is the way, and two, that the way will not be easy.

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What is easy about realizing what we have been taught by fellow man and what we have done is totally contrary to the will of God? How easy it is to separate yourself, from family, friends, culture, the world of man in order to join the counter-culture of the Kingdom. Fear of rejection is a mighty anchor to those of the world.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

crucifixion

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You can try to crucify your rebellious nature but as the Bible shows the results are not a terminal as desired.

timothyu said:

What is easy about realizing what we have been taught by fellow man and what we have done is totally contrary to the will of God? How easy it is to separate yourself, from family, friends, culture, the world of man in order to join the counter-culture of the Kingdom. Fear of rejection is a mighty anchor to those of the world.

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It’s also a major cause of church splits.

timothyu said:

You can try to crucify your rebellious nature but as the Bible shows the results are not a terminal as desired.

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Those who were "crucified with Christ" (past tense in Scripture), might, or do, also share in His resurrection life.
The Father's Accomplishment.

~Zao~ said:

It’s also a major cause of church splits.

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good.

~Zao~ said:

It’s also a major cause of church splits.

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Churches can split as politics divide, but if the split involves a return to the division between the world of man and the Kingdom over simple division between the will of man, then so be it.

prosperity4all said:

why do so many people believe we are on the narrow path?

13 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:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and

Few there be that find it.

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And do you think you are on the narrow way, but others are not, prosperity4all?

yeshuaslavejeff said:

Those who were "crucified with Christ" (past tense in Scripture), might, or do, also share in His resurrection life.

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Of course, they have rejected the will of man for the will of God. Why would those who remain loyal to a world made in our image even fit into an opposite world? Why in their addled state of mind would they even consider themselves worthy?

Dixibehr50 said:

And do you think you are on the narrow way, but others are not, prosperity4all?

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ALL those who are on the narrow way, living in union with the Son and with the Father,
know they are on the narrow way, abiding in Jesus.
They do not know about others, unless the Father reveals that to them.

timothyu said:

What is easy about realizing what we have been taught by fellow man and what we have done is totally contrary to the will of God? How easy it is to separate yourself, from family, friends, culture, the world of man in order to join the counter-culture of the Kingdom. Fear of rejection is a mighty anchor to those of the world.

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Not worse than the fear of having all the knowledge we acquired in our religious studies be false. To be told that everything we thought we knew, about the way, needed to be striped down to its very foundation to be built anew by the Spirit. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:"

Think about it....who reading this now would be ok with one telling them "everything you know is wrong...come follow my way" ???? Who willing to give up there current deeds to try something new?

This is how hard if is to get on that path.... This is why I understand why the Pharisee crucified our Lord.

The more one knows, the harder it be to give it up.......yes, it is indeed difficult for the rich to enter in.....

prosperity4all said:

why do so many people believe we are on the narrow path?

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The word here is compressed. Mark uses this word in 3:9 when he talks about the crowd pressing in on them. In Hong Kong I ran into this a few times. Once at a night market when there were lots of people in a limited area. Then once at new year when people were going to see the fireworks. I headed in the opposite direction because I did not want to be packed in with all of those people as they tired to find room on the transportation system. I am a big guy and they go around me. but my wife is small and they just push her out of the way. Or push her ahead of them to keep her moving if she is going to slow. Even I played football but that can not compare with a crowd of people pressing in on you. It is rather scary and people do get killed in stampedes like that. Just imagine trying to get through a small turn gate and onto a subway with more people then what could fit. So that some people are going to get left behind in the hope they can fit on the next transport car. So they fight and struggle with each other to make sure there is a place for them.

Of course the idea has always been that a Christian life is Holy and Sanctified and we are to live free from sin so our life is restrictive. We are compressed and restricted. In order for God to become a part of His Creation there are restrictions. Like an adult has to talk down to a child so that the child is able to understand them. The Hebrew word for worship: Shachah - means to depress, to bow down, or to fall down flat. It is a picture of humility before Yahweh. We bow down and humble themselves before God. Jesus did not come as a King to be served. Or the Son of the King. He entered the house as a servant. to sacrifice Himself for us. He humbled Himself and accepted a lowly place in this world. When we humble ourselves and serve others then we become a join heir with Christ. Even Jesus says we will do greater works that He did.

When Jesus is lifted up we are lifted up with Him, if we humble ourselves with Him. We are to be a servant of all people. To do what we can to help as many as we can. Usually people that sacrifice themselves to serve others are happy people. They are not worried about themselves, because they put the needs of others ahead of themself. Jesus sacrificed Himself at Calvery for the Joy set before Him.

RaymondG said:

Think about it....who reading this now would be ok with one telling them "everything you know is wrong...come follow my way" ???? Who willing to give up there current deeds to try something new?

This is how hard if is to get on that path.... This is why I understand why the Pharisee crucified our Lord.

The more one knows, the harder it be to give it up.......yes, it is indeed difficult for the rich to enter in.....

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Good.

As Jesus told every disciple: IF you want to be with Me and follow Me and be MY PUPIL, you must give up EVERYTHING to be MY DISCIPLE.

Like the rich young man, most people walk away. (yes, most people walk away from Jesus)

RaymondG said:

Not worse than the fear of having all the knowledge we acquired in our religious studies be false. To be told that everything we thought we knew, about the way, needed to be striped down to its very foundation to be built anew by the Spirit. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:"

Think about it....who reading this now would be ok with one telling them "everything you know is wrong...come follow my way" ???? Who willing to give up there current deeds to try something new?

This is how hard if is to get on that path.... This is why I understand why the Pharisee crucified our Lord.

The more one knows, the harder it be to give it up.......yes, it is indeed difficult for the rich to enter in.....

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The difference is that the disciples gave up things. But Christ makes one dig up the fallow ground of the mind to the point that every thought is fear of judgement. Justification again never comes into it, unless the mind of Christ be obtained thru one’s own sacrifice.

RaymondG said:

Not worse than the fear of having all the knowledge we acquired in our religious studies be false. To be told that everything we thought we knew, about the way, needed to be striped down to its very foundation to be built anew by the Spirit. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:"

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Agree, that is why so few ever find the Kingdom. Hard to admit to the biggest con in history and the fact out of pride we have called ourselves Christians all along.. taking the wide path within the religion instead of the narrow one.

timothyu said:

Agree, that is why so few ever find the Kingdom. Hard to admit to the biggest con in history and the fact out of pride we have called ourselves Christians all along..

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A con or a testing ground?

~Zao~ said:

The difference is that the disciples gave up things. But Christ makes one dig up the fallow ground of the mind to the point that every thought is fear of judgement. Justification again never comes into it, unless the mind of Christ be obtained thru one’s own sacrifice.

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If the mind of Christ could be obtained through sacrifice without the Father granting a renewed mind freely in Christ,
then perhaps He would not have had to have been crucified !?