I believe only a few Christians will go to Heaven

chad kincham said:

Jesus died for the sins of the world.

God offers salvation to whosoever will come.

Faith comes from hearing the word of God, then the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, and draws men unto Jesus, but man can resist the Holy Spirit.

God intends to save all who respond to the word and the Holy Spirit, and whoever receives (verb, action word, requires action) Jesus becomes a child of God John 1:12.

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Never said anything else. It's just that the majority of people is not interested in Jesus.

chad kincham said:

I disagree. The swine is washed but then goes back to the muck and mire, etc.

Here’s a short excerpt that says it succinctly:

In view of the biblical teaching that the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ (John 15:6); in view of the Bible’s call to a life of holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:16); in view of the clear teaching that a man may have his part taken out of the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19); and in view of the fact that one who believes for a while can fall away (Luke 8:13); The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost. (Bylaws, Article IX.B.1)

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I prefer to believe scripture...

Jer 32:

39 I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from Me.

chad kincham said:

First of all, we have to consider all scriptures on judging, then we find Jesus never says not to judge, but to judge righteous judgment, and not hypocritically

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Thanks for saying this.

After studying the matter on & off over years, I came to the conclusion that Christians should be the best judges on the planet. Our maturity in Christ, which we are all commanded to become, is identified as having our faculties well-exercised in judging both good & bad - being learned & skilled in the Word of Righteousness (Heb5:13-14...). Paul also wrote several things re: our being qualified judges (1Cor5, 6 for example).

Nice work.

chad kincham said:

Mat 7:13 "Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it.

Mat 7:14 But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.

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I get that it's easy to think Jesus is talking about either going to heaven or going to hell. But that's probably a very anachronistic way of approaching it. Jesus' point is that the way of the world is easy, but His way is difficult. His way is to take up our cross and follow Him, to be His disciple.

From a Lutheran POV, it is absolutely critical to make the distinction between the Coram Deo and the Coram Mundus; that is how how we are before God and how we are before the world. Coram Deo the only righteousness we have is the passive righteousness that comes from God through faith, it is the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ which is ours purely as a gift. That is why we are justified by grace alone through faith. Coram Mundus the only righteousness we have is the active righteousness that comes by being obedient to the commandments of God, loving our neighbor, carrying our cross, etc.

God doesn't need our good works, but our neighbor does. Thus good works are not about our righteousness before God, because we have no righteousness of our own before God, we are altogether unrighteous before the Law on account of sin; and so the only righteousness we can have that matters before God is the righteousness God Himself gives us. God does not go out and find that which is pleasing, but goes out and finds that which is ugly and makes it pleasing to Himself.

The way is narrow, not because God is trying to keep people out; but because the way of Christ, of what it means to carry our cross of discipleship in this world, is hard. If it were up to us to walk the narrow way in order that we might be at all saved, then nobody would be saved. After all, recall,

"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" - Matthew 19:25-26

Who has walked the narrow way? You? Me? Of course not. We are, without a doubt, total and complete failures. But Christ, Christ is the victor.

If we look at "narrow is the way" and think "Ah, most won't make it, but I will." We show that we are the ones on the broad way.

If we think we are somehow better than "them", then we can recall the Lord Himself who would say to us, "The tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom ahead of you."

The way of Christ is narrow, because His way doesn't leave any room for such foolish pride. Pride which the cross we must carry crucifies daily.

-CryptoLutheran

ViaCrucis said:

That is why we are justified by grace alone through faith.

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Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Carl Emerson said:

I prefer to believe scripture...

Jer 32:

39 I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from Me.

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The first covenant was an everlasting covenant, too.

It was a marriage covenant, yet God divorced Israel for spiritual adultery in Jeremiah 3:8

Sin always cancels out promises.

God promised the Israelites they would enter the promised land (hence the name PROMISED land) but when they sinned by murmuring, God cancelled their entry into that land, until everyone who murmured against Him died.

Marriage between mortals is a lifetime covenant, until death, but the sexual sin of adultery breaks the marriage covenant, and the injured spouse is free to remarry.

The new covenant is also a marriage between believers and Jesus, and just like always, continuing in sin breaks the marriage covenant.

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Jer 32:40 refers to the New Covenant in which He promises to indwell the believer and seal them against falling away by His indwelling Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.

You will see the seven Spirits of God that indwell us (and rested on Jesus) in Isaiah 11 these are the same seven spirits of God referenced in Revelation.

Carl Emerson said:

Jer 32:40 refers to the New Covenant in which He promises to indwell the believer and seal them against falling away by His indwelling Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.

You will see the seven Spirits of God that indwell us (and rested on Jesus) in Isaiah 11 these are the same seven spirits of God referenced in Revelation.

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It is very reassuring to know that.He who begun a good work in you will.complete.it

Roy Taylor said:

I wrote this about 15 years ago and still believe it.


Years of reading the bible has raised questions inside of me if I am going to heaven when I die. For instance look at this in Luke 13:
23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

That makes me wonder if most Christians are lost. Jesus says many will seek to enter in. I would believe this is Christians because non believers are not seeking to get in.

And what about this one in Matthew 22:
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
This has to be the church because they are bidden. Why couldn't they come?

5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
To me it sounds like the church was not worthy for the marriage supper of the Lamb after all, so he went outside of the church and invited non Christians to the marriage. Am I understanding this correctly?
Almost reminds me of the last will come first and first will come last scripture.

Here is another one that troubles me. Matthew 7:
21Not 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. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
They prophesied in his name and cast out devils and many wonderful works. Isn't this the Fathers will? Or maybe they were doing it for their own ego. What is the Fathers will and how do we do it? Do they teach this in church?

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Yes. This is speaking of believers. I say believers because this describes both Jews and Christians.

The first group is the Jews, those originally bidden but found unworthy. (Although God reserved for himself a remnant from among them)

Those who were bidden from the highways - as many as we can find, both good and bad - these are people from the post Resurrection era or under the New Covenant - aka Christians.

On the day of Judgement those true in Christ will be separated from false Christians.

Your key in the verse in question Matthew 7:21, is that Jesus rejects some on the day of Judgement and in order to defend themselves against what they see as being cast out unjustly, they point to their works.

They say didn't we do 'x' in Your Name or 'y' in Your Name or 'z' in Your Name..all acts they did...

That is not true faith, or true humility, according to Jesus and the Apostles. While we have acts or deeds that we do as Christians, those are NOT what justifies us before God - Christ is - just as it is Christ - through His Holy Spirit - who makes all deeds the Christian does possible.

So in closing, it is the blood of Christ which justifies us... no amount of deeds we can do in and of ourselves will ever justify us. So all you have to do, is never ever lose sight of that. Easier said than done sometimes...

chad kincham said:

Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

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Yes, this is righteousness Coram Mundus, not righteousness Coram Deo. The entire point James makes in his letter is how we ought to act in regard to our fellow man, especially the poor and least of these. St. James is not talking about the righteousness that makes us righteous before God, which is what St. Paul talks about in his letters.

Two kinds of righteousness.

-CryptoLutheran

SeventyOne said:

All Christians will go to heaven. All those playing Chrisitan will not.

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But, a lot of people playing Christian think they are "true Christians". I think I'm a true Christian but I sin every day. I don't want to or set out to do it, but it just happens.

Michael Hawk said:

But, a lot of people playing Christian think they are "true Christians". I think I'm a true Christian but I sin every day. I don't want to or set out to do it, but it just happens.

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Yes, they do think that, and it's tragic. These will be those in Matthew 7:21-23 who will cite their works as the reason why they deserve to be saved.

Roy Taylor said:

I wrote this about 15 years ago and still believe it.

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Hello Roy Taylor. I would point to this scripture that is repeated in the bible:

'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' (Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32)

To call on the name of the Lord you must know that name and believe in your heart that he can save you. It's powerful and it's simple. So simple only a clever person could miss it.

The Lord knows who are his, on the day of the Lord I believe we will be in for a pleasant surprise. God Bless

SeventyOne said:

Yes, they do think that, and it's tragic. These will be those in Matthew 7:21-23 who will cite their works as the reason why they deserve to be saved.

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Yes. Our salvation depends on God, not on ourselves.

Psalm 62: 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Michael Hawk said:

But, a lot of people playing Christian think they are "true Christians". I think I'm a true Christian but I sin every day. I don't want to or set out to do it, but it just happens.

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You ought to work on that (Phil2:12-13)

Roy Taylor said:

I wrote this about 15 years ago and still believe it.


Years of reading the bible has raised questions inside of me if I am going to heaven when I die. For instance look at this in Luke 13:
23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

That makes me wonder if most Christians are lost. Jesus says many will seek to enter in. I would believe this is Christians because non believers are not seeking to get in.

And what about this one in Matthew 22:
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
This has to be the church because they are bidden. Why couldn't they come?

5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
To me it sounds like the church was not worthy for the marriage supper of the Lamb after all, so he went outside of the church and invited non Christians to the marriage. Am I understanding this correctly?
Almost reminds me of the last will come first and first will come last scripture.

Here is another one that troubles me. Matthew 7:
21Not 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. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
They prophesied in his name and cast out devils and many wonderful works. Isn't this the Fathers will? Or maybe they were doing it for their own ego. What is the Fathers will and how do we do it? Do they teach this in church?

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The "kingdom of heaven" is one of many names that the scriptures refer to as the church that Jesus set up. Other names are, The church of Christ, the church of God, the new Jerusalem, the few, Zion, the church of the first born, the church in the wilderness, the remnant, the 144,000, etc.

There is a visible church (those, of the elect, that have been revealed the truths in Christ's doctrine), and the invisible church (those of the elect that are practicing and preaching a false doctrine)

I believe that the two gates in Matt 7 and Isaiah 28:9-10 harmonize with this theory.

Isaiah 28:9-10, Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.

When we are quickened by the sovereign grace of God, without any assistance from man, we are newborn babes is Christ and exist by the mik of the word, until we mature, by being fed the meat of the word enough to understand the doctrine of Christ.

The straight gate that only a few find, are those of the visible church that have been revealed the truths of Christ's doctrine, whose purpose is to teach those newborn babes in Christ the doctrine of Christ. and the wide gate is the invisible church (babes in Christ) who are teaching and preaching a false doctrine.

The people that go into both gates are regenerated children of God, and will be in heaven.