How narrow is the "narrow way"?

xefere · Feb 16, 2019

Living a holy live after repentance is a must, you are a new creation in Christ and God hates sin. If you love God, you cannot live in sin anymore. Col 3:5-12. Repentance is a must, living a holy life a result. I'm not saying we will never sin again but we strife for it.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 NIV
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Hebrews 10:26‭-‬27 NIV
We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
James 3:2 NIV

As far as how narrow the way is, I guess it would depend on your definition of sin although the bible clearly defines and gives numerous examples.

As far as losing salvation goes:
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 6:4‭-‬6 NIV
And in the same breath, the parable of the 10 virgins. Only 5 were ready for the bridegroom.

DM25 · Apr 3, 2019

The narrow way refers to Jesus Christ. According to Google, 30% of the world are considered Christians. That's narrow already. You can bring that number down a bit to not include those who trust in their works to save them or believe in a false version of Jesus.

DM25 · Apr 3, 2019

xefere said:
Living a holy live after repentance is a must, you are a new creation in Christ and God hates sin. If you love God, you cannot live in sin anymore. Col 3:5-12. Repentance is a must, living a holy life a result. I'm not saying we will never sin again but we strife for it.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 NIV
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Hebrews 10:26‭-‬27 NIV
We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
James 3:2 NIV

As far as how narrow the way is, I guess it would depend on your definition of sin although the bible clearly defines and gives numerous examples.

As far as losing salvation goes:
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 6:4‭-‬6 NIV
And in the same breath, the parable of the 10 virgins. Only 5 were ready for the bridegroom.

False teaching. And stop using the NIV.

BCsenior · Apr 9, 2019

xefere said:
Living a holy live after repentance is a must, you are a new creation in Christ and God hates sin. If you love God, you cannot live in sin anymore. Col 3:5-12. Repentance is a must, living a holy life a result. I'm not saying we will never sin again but we strife for it.

You could give dozens of NT verses proving this!

But, to what avail ... because some here are just
NOT ready to accept the Truth ... for whatever reason.

DM25 · Apr 9, 2019

God calls us to holiness in reasonable service to him. We should do it because we love God because we are already saved. God will know you are not being genuine if you do it to try to get saved. Salvation is an event in the belief of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not our works. We can't lose our salvation either. If you live in a bad way there will surely be bad earthly consequences and God will discipline you. But you can't say you must do good works to be saved or to maintain salvation. The focus should not be on ourselves. All glory goes to God for our good works.

DM25 · Apr 9, 2019

BCsenior said:
You could give dozens of NT verses proving this!

But, to what avail ... because some here are just
NOT ready to accept the Truth ... for whatever reason.

I think you misunderstand us. No one here is saying you should live whatever way you want, or promoting sin, or saying God doesn't call us to walk in his ways especially to be seen by others in what Jesus can do in our lives. We are simply saying salvation should not be mixed up with sanctification and discipleship. The more you focus on Jesus and less on yourself, you probably won't even think about sin all that much and it won't have power over you and you can sin less that way. But for salvation it's not works, it's faith alone. That's important to teach when preaching the gospel to others.

BCsenior · Apr 9, 2019

DM25 said:
I think you misunderstand us.

I think you misunderstand us.

We iz sayin' that you really need to be able
to read and understand the English words,
which clearly say in many NT verses that
der iz a reel possibility of losing salvation,
i.e. eternal life. Some of these verses make
it mucho more than blatantly obvious that
salvation can be lost. It is great wisdom
that this not be ignored, forgotten, etc.!

DM25 · Apr 9, 2019

BCsenior said:
I think you misunderstand us.

We iz sayin' that you really need to be able
to read and understand the English words,
which clearly say in many NT verses that
der iz a reel possibility of losing salvation,
i.e. eternal life. Some of these verses make
it mucho more than blatantly obvious that
salvation can be lost. It is great wisdom
that this not be ignored, forgotten, etc.!

You are sadly mistaken. I will pray for you.

BCsenior · Apr 9, 2019

DM25 said:
You are sadly mistaken. I will pray for you.

It's the same-o same-o with the opinions.
Why not be real for a change ...
and show us why the dire warnings
are NOT about losing salvation!

You don't understand what the NT words
"believe" and "faith" actually mean.
They don't mean what baby believers think.

John 3:16, etc. are the little hooks to catch
the little fishes ... to just get them started.
Then, the Holy Spirit begins to reveal
what it's all about, e.g. getting rid of sin!

FredVB · Jan 10, 2020

WordSword said:
I forgot to include what were discussing, those going to destruction. So instead of "it's His will if they choose to disbelieve," I meant it's His will (not desire, which is a different sense here) that they perish (He can't act against His own will) if they choose to disbelieve. Thanks for pointing that out!

Though the words will and desire can be interchangeable, I believe there are times when differentiating between them are helpful.

God really is love, as Creator, God does not make any whose only destiny is destruction. All have opportunity to respond to God, while it is God's work which gives any people the opportunity to respond.

WordSword · Jan 10, 2020

FredVB said:
God really is love, as Creator, God does not make any whose only destiny is destruction. All have opportunity to respond to God, while it is God's work which gives any people the opportunity to respond.

It can seem a bit rough that God will bring one into this life full-well knowing he's going to choose disbelief, but this shows His love for those He knows will choose faith. A love that is willing to loose the majority of mankind for the sake of the "few" (Mat 7:13, 14).

Danthemailman · Jan 11, 2020

Either we are trusting 100% in Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation or else we are 100% lost. That is the narrow path. (Romans 3:22-28)

FredVB · Jan 13, 2020

FredVB said:
God really is love, as Creator, God does not make any whose only destiny is destruction. All have opportunity to respond to God, while it is God's work which gives any people the opportunity to respond.

WordSword said:
It can seem a bit rough that God will bring one into this life full-well knowing he's going to choose disbelief, but this shows His love for those He knows will choose faith. A love that is willing to loose the majority of mankind for the sake of the "few" (Mat 7:13, 14).

Not only is it rough, that is not in the gospel that I know. The passage referred to is saying enter in by the narrow gate. It is telling those willing to hear to choose the narrow way. It is all about choosing in response, while God, who is not willing that any just perish, provides for that. Yes, God already knows us, as in relationship, before we who choose this do so, but God makes all for that opportunity to be reconciled to God. So the gospel is for sharing to every creature.

WordSword · Jan 13, 2020

FredVB said:
It is telling those willing to hear to choose the narrow way.

I like your comment here, but to me the passages (Mat 7:13, 14) are (most sadly) revealing a comparison between the lost and saved when this life is completed, and in comparison to the lost, the saved will be few, meaning most will not be willing to choose the Way provided.

FredVB said:
So the gospel is for sharing to every creature.

True, "the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men," and I think it's more obvious all the time that most do not desire to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts," and "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11, 12).

FredVB · Jan 15, 2020

FredVB said:
It is telling those willing to hear to choose the narrow way.

WordSword said:
I like your comment here, but to me the passages (Mat 7:13, 14) are (most sadly) revealing a comparison between the lost and saved when this life is completed, and in comparison to the lost, the saved will be few, meaning most will not be willing to choose the Way provided.

FredVB said:
So the gospel is for sharing to every creature.

True, "the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men," and I think it's more obvious all the time that most do not desire to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts," and "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12).

It is sad indeed so many are lost and would perish and suffer in eternity, it is not though that Yahweh God made any for that, so all have some opportunity for coming to restoration to God, and any of us who are believers should help them to have more opportunity. Many are those who still reject the way shown to be restored to God. Though God knows already, knowing what will come does not cause what comes, and it does not mean not all are given opportunity. That God is not willing that any of them perish means all are given some opportunity, with righteous fairness that God has, with God being love.

WordSword · Jan 15, 2020

FredVB said:
It is sad indeed so many are lost and would perish and suffer in eternity, it is not though that Yahweh God made any for that, so all have some opportunity for coming to restoration to God, and any of us who are believers should help them to have more opportunity.

I think it's just a matter of understanding His omniscience!

God bless.

LightLoveHope · Jan 16, 2020

Danthemailman said:
Either we are trusting 100% in Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation or else we are 100% lost. That is the narrow path. (Romans 3:22-28)

This is a bit of an absolute statement. How do we know we are 100% trusting Jesus?
And you are either lost or saved which only God knows who is written in the Lambs book of life.

What if we have an assurance problem, and need to find security in our lives, does that mean we are lost until we have this assurance?

Paul says the Holy Spirit is our seal, and provides us with the reassurance we have put our trust in Jesus and He has saved us. The fruit of this salvation is our desire to walk His way and His path.

If our hearts told us being of the world is perfectly ok with God, then though we have assurance of salvation we are enemies of God and still lost.

corinth77777 · Jan 18, 2020

Valetic said:
I believe I am a born again Christian. I came to a point in my life where The Holy Spirit moved upon me, I recognized it, I acknowledged it, I was convicted of my sin BY the Holy Spirit, I was sorry, I desired to get to know this being - this person - this Holy Spirit, He accepted me, and I was born again. I went to bed that night full of fire and having a heart for God I never thought would come into my life in my dizziest daydreams. I felt so cool the next day at school because I personally had met the one true GOD almighty! I wondered who else around me possibly had this rebirth, and I had a yearning for everyone I knew to come to this same knowledge, to experience God personally in that way which would change their lives forever.

Regardless of my own testimony, how many Christians are actually going to find the narrow way? I wonder myself, "Am I walking along the path that Jesus himself calls the 'narrow way that leads into eternal life'?"

What about lukewarmness? Jesus said, I would rather you be hot or cold, for if you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.

What about intentional sin? If I step on your toe and then apologize, and you say it's okay, but then I do it again, and you forgive me again, and I continue to do it because I know I can get away with it, what of the "narrow way" then?

1 Corinthians 6

(NLT) 9Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

What about born again Christians who continue to walk in some of these ways? Obviously the actions listed above are not in accordance to the "narrow way". I will be honest. I am guilty of at least one of these wrong doings. I know I ought to repent of it, maybe I struggle with it and maybe I have not yet been corrected of it. But when I do it, I know I am committing a wrong doing that is not in line with the "narrow way" which has led me to start this thread to seek out how all of this comes together.

1 Corinthians 3 Paul writes...

(NLT) 10Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

12Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

16Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

In verse 15 above, it says we will saved, but we will be like someone escaping through the flames. Could this be the consequence to our sin even after we have been born again? Is the "narrow way" simply BEING born again? Or is the narrow way being born again AND building with a "material" that survives the fire so that we are rewarded, like in verses 13 and 14 above?

As Narrow as it is to let go of trusting your life.

FredVB · Jan 19, 2020

FredVB said:
It is sad indeed so many are lost and would perish and suffer in eternity, it is not though that Yahweh God made any for that, so all have some opportunity for coming to restoration to God, and any of us who are believers should help them to have more opportunity.

Many are those who still reject the way shown to be restored to God. Though God knows already, knowing what will come does not cause what comes, and it does not mean not all are given opportunity. That God is not willing that any of them perish means all are given some opportunity, with righteous fairness that God has, with God being love.

WordSword said:
I think it's just a matter of understanding His omniscience! God bless.

I don't think that's it. How so? I understand this, Yahweh God knows every true thing, always, as the unlimited being, and it leaves no true thing unknown. No limited being can have a meaningful fraction of that knowledge, but God knows it all. This knowledge itself does not cause things, and we are still responsible in choices we make, while God gives opportunity to all to respond to God, and come to God then, while certainly not all do, and fewer do with this a narrower way than the way the rest then go instead.

Bible Highlighter · Jan 28, 2020

Valetic said:
I believe I am a born again Christian. I came to a point in my life where The Holy Spirit moved upon me, I recognized it, I acknowledged it, I was convicted of my sin BY the Holy Spirit, I was sorry, I desired to get to know this being - this person - this Holy Spirit, He accepted me, and I was born again. I went to bed that night full of fire and having a heart for God I never thought would come into my life in my dizziest daydreams. I felt so cool the next day at school because I personally had met the one true GOD almighty! I wondered who else around me possibly had this rebirth, and I had a yearning for everyone I knew to come to this same knowledge, to experience God personally in that way which would change their lives forever.

Regardless of my own testimony, how many Christians are actually going to find the narrow way? I wonder myself, "Am I walking along the path that Jesus himself calls the 'narrow way that leads into eternal life'?"

What about lukewarmness? Jesus said, I would rather you be hot or cold, for if you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.

What about intentional sin? If I step on your toe and then apologize, and you say it's okay, but then I do it again, and you forgive me again, and I continue to do it because I know I can get away with it, what of the "narrow way" then?

1 Corinthians 6

(NLT) 9Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

What about born again Christians who continue to walk in some of these ways? Obviously the actions listed above are not in accordance to the "narrow way". I will be honest. I am guilty of at least one of these wrong doings. I know I ought to repent of it, maybe I struggle with it and maybe I have not yet been corrected of it. But when I do it, I know I am committing a wrong doing that is not in line with the "narrow way" which has led me to start this thread to seek out how all of this comes together.

1 Corinthians 3 Paul writes...

(NLT) 10Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

12Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

16Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

In verse 15 above, it says we will saved, but we will be like someone escaping through the flames. Could this be the consequence to our sin even after we have been born again? Is the "narrow way" simply BEING born again? Or is the narrow way being born again AND building with a "material" that survives the fire so that we are rewarded, like in verses 13 and 14 above?

Paul says before the parable, "you are God's building." So we are the materials that make up the building.

I believe Paul and the other apostles are a part of the foundation with Christ being the chief cornerstone or the ultimate baseline foundation (Ephesians 2:20), and that Paul's work in the gospel are the result of the Corinthians being initially saved by the gospel. However, Paul is now concerned that his labor in the gospel (concerning them) is now in vain because the Corinthians are now working the sins of strife and envying (Note: Paul condemns the sins of strife and envying when writing to the Galatians (Galatians 5:19-21). Paul says that they which do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God). In Galatians 4:11, Paul was concerned for the Galatians in that they were going back to the Old Law so as to be justified or saved. He was concerned that his labor for the gospel was in vain for the Galatians.

So the parable speaks of how Paul's labor for the gospel (concerning the Corinthians) was now possibly in vain for them, too.

The chief cornerstone foundation = Jesus Christ.
Built as a part of the foundation on top of Christ = The apostles (including Paul) (Ephesians 2:20).
The actual building materials of the tower or building = God's people (In this instance it would be the Corinthians).
The Corinthians would be like: Wood, hay, and stubble in this particular point in time within their life while they abided in their sins of strife, and envying (Which are sins that will cause a person to not inherit the Kingdom of God).
Wood, hay, and stubble are not materials that could survive a fire.
Paul (the soul winner, and builder of the gospel and builder upon the foundation of Jesus Christ) would be saved through the fire (despite his work - i.e. the Corinthians being his work) would be burned up because of their sins. For Paul then says that if any man defiles the temple, God will destroy them. We are the temple of God. Our bodies are the temples of God. If we as believers defile our temples by sin, God will destroy us.

So I don't believe it is in reference to the Eternal Security Proponent's belief that says that they will just loose rewards because of their sinning. That makes absolutely no sense in light of the entire context.

Conclusion:

In Corinthians 3: Try reading the parable as if you were Paul being the builder. Try re-reading the parable as if it was Paul referring to himself as the builder and the works are the Corinthian believers who are now wood, hay, and stubble (i.e. Paul's work in the gospel is now in vain concerning them) because they are now justifying the sins of strife and envy (See: 1 Corinthians 3:3 and compare with Galatians 5:19-21). Paul concludes in his parable that if any man defiles the temple of God, they will be destroyed.

How does it apply to our life?
Well, if you teach men the gospel and they later decide to justify certain sins, your work in the gospel involving them would be at a loss of their own souls later on the account of their justifying certain sins. The believers you taught the gospel to in this particular instance would be like wood, hay, stubble that would be burned up, but you yourself would be saved if you remain faithful to the Lord until death. They would not be saved, but you would be.

How narrow is the "narrow way"?

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