How narrow is the "narrow way"?

[Ron Gurley]

Matthew 7:13-14...Jesus: [ on The Narrow and Wide Gates ]
“Enter through (ME) the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it,
For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to (eternal spiritual) life, and there are few who find it.

John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”

God's way TO Him ...OR...AWAY from Him.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, (Doubtful Thomas)

“I AM
the WAY, and (Greek 3598...hodos...manner of thinking, feeling, deciding (soul)
the TRUTH, and (Greek 225....aletheia...what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man (spiritually)
the LIFE; (Greek 2222....zoe.... absolute fulness of (spiritual) life...which belongs to God,

no one comes to the Father but THROUGH Me.

John 10 (Nasb)
2 But he who enters by the door is shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out....
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Enter through the Door/GATE
= ~BELIEVE / FAITH...then...
FOLLOW precepts and example of Jesus.

Jesus does not require "works" to gain or maintain salvation. He requires trust and obedience.

John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

 

[EmSw]

Job received everything twice but only 10 children because he still had 10 but they were alive somewhere else .

What is born of God does not commit single sin ,therefore it never dies and never becomes unborn .

I know, but were you ever a son of the devil? How did you 'unborn' this?

 

[EmSw]

It was not THE resurrection in which we receive glorified bodies. It was a miracle to glorify God.

“But when Jesus heard it, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby.” (John 11:4)

But you said Lazarus 'represented' being born again. How was Lazarus born again?

 

[EmSw]

Here's how it works. God saves all who believe the gospel. This is salvation by grace. But if you change the gospel into law and make salvation conditional, then God owes salvation to all who meet the conditions. This is salvation by works.

But this is exactly what Jesus said.

Matthew 19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

I don't know why so many people disagree with the Savior. I've heard so many excuses why this isn't for us. What would be your excuse?

 

[sdowney717]

Prodigal Son did not stop being Son even tho he was dead .

The Father also was waiting patiently for the son to return, as the Father knew the son would do.
Since the Father saw him a great way off in the distance, coming back, he had been looking for the son to return.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

The patience of God waiting is for the sake of His elect chosen people, whom He knows will believe.
It is not God waiting patiently for the wicked that He knows will never believe, the promise is for the sure destruction of the wicked and the salvation of the elect. None of this God waiting patiently for all people, each and single person all over the earth to repent and believe, that is nonsensical, yet people keep on pushing that idea. God's promise is to destroy the wicked, and give the earth, give the kingdom to His people, His beloved elect who will believe in th Son. 'Towards us-ward' is the beloved elect of God, foreknown to the Father as His people, not the wicked, they are reserved for fiery destruction.

2 Peter 3
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

[Chinchilla]

I know, but were you ever a son of the devil? How did you 'unborn' this?

I did not unborn again . God gave me new birth and he did not kill the old one . The old one dies and is put in some grave and the worms have feast . I can't do anything about it nor can God , it has to die because it worked the iniquity and it's wage is death . It is not punishment it's the end product of sin , the death.
The new birth which I got from God can never die because it never sin . Saying that God's seed can sin is like saying that God sinned himself . Christ made me as righteous as God that's what it means , this one goes to heaven when I die and this one will be put inside of resurrected immortal and not perishable body in future at resurrection .

 

[EmSw]

I did not unborn again . God gave me new birth and he did not kill the old one . The old one dies and is put in some grave and the worms have feast . I can't do anything about it nor can God , it has to die because it worked the iniquity and it's wage is death . It is not punishment it's the end product of sin , the death.
The new birth which I got from God can never die because it never sin . Saying that God's seed can sin is like saying that God sinned himself . Christ made me as righteous as God that's what it means , this one goes to heaven when I die and this one will be put inside of resurrected immortal and not perishable body in future at resurrection .

Then do you sin from the new birth? From where does your sin originate? From an earlier post, how did Adam and Eve sin? Were they not of the new birth?

 

[Chinchilla]

Then do you sin from the new birth? From where does your sin originate? From an earlier post, how did Adam and Eve sin? Were they not of the new birth?

Not the same my friend. I'll point few differences.

1) Adam born in Image of God but we are born of God .
2) Adam could have sex we can't have sex in heaven
3) Adam living in paradise on earth we will live in heaven and then in new earth not in new paradise but whole earth will be a paradise
4) Adam could commit sin we won't be able even if we tried because we are promised eternal life
5)Adam's body was different than resurrected body it has no blood


New birth never sin , your sin originate from old birth . That's why you are called to put the old man and put on the new man , live not in flesh but in Spirit and present this body as living Sacrifice .

Person who does not understand this is trying to teach old man new tricks but it won't work .

 

[DaveM]

Not the same my friend. I'll point few differences.

1) Adam born in Image of God but we are born of God .
2) Adam could have sex we can't have sex in heaven
3) Adam living in paradise on earth we will live in heaven and then in new earth not in new paradise but whole earth will be a paradise
4) Adam could commit sin we won't be able even if we tried because we are promised eternal life
5)Adam's body was different than resurrected body it has no blood


New birth never sin , your sin originate from old birth . That's why you are called to put the old man and put on the new man , live not in flesh but in Spirit and present this body as living Sacrifice .

Person who does not understand this is trying to teach old man new tricks but it won't work .

very interesting I would love to see some scripture that supports that

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

1) Adam born in Image of God but we are born of God .

Not all.

2) Adam could have sex we can't have sex in heaven

? So ? (that doesn't apply to anyone until in heaven; not in this life)

4) Adam could commit sin we won't be able even if we tried because we are promised eternal life

Not all.
=================================
Sounds like a set of teachings from some leader/teacher on earth, earthly and not all right, not from Scripture.

 

[Chinchilla]

very interesting I would love to see some scripture that supports that

I want sleep but okay

1) 1 John 5:4 ( Adam did not overcome the world ) , 1 John 3:9 (Adam sinned)

2) Genesis 1:28 ( Adam could have sex ) Matthew 22:30 (they are like angels and don't marry )

3) Matthew 24:35 ( heaven and earth pass away, yes heaven pass aswell because Satan can enter current heaven and speak to God , new heaven is without sin ) new heaven and earth ( Revelation 21:1)

4) 1 John 3:9 ( seed of God can't sin ) , John 10:28 ( eternal life = forever ),

5) Adam had blood because son Abel who was in his image had blood Genesis 1:27 , Genesis 4:10 ) but our resurrected bodies don't have blood ( 1 corinthians 15:50 , we are promised to be like Jesus meaning appearing in room with locked doors , not limited to physicall matter ect . ( 1 John 3:2) and (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

 

[sdowney717]

very interesting I would love to see some scripture that supports that

Those born of God can not sin, is referring to the new spirit God creates in you as a new creation in Christ.
That spirit which is the new you, is redeemed meaning saved to live with God eternally. But the body, the old man of the flesh is still dead because of its sins and goes on to corruption.

1 John 3
9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Romans 8. Those who live according to the Spirit are those who are born of God.
You can not live according to the flesh, and live according to the Spirit at the same time, you are either alive in Christ with a sin free spirit or dead in your sin laden flesh . Most people seem to think this is a daily personal choice to make, to live according to the Spirit or according to the the flesh, but its not a choice you can make, if your born of God, you are alive, and live (made alive as Ephesians 2 says) according to the Spirit who is at work in you.
You can not be carnally minded at the same time your spiritually minded, this is impossible, as v5 through 9 demonstrates. You can not be carnally minded today and tomorrow be spiritually minded.

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

 

[Dave L]

But this is exactly what Jesus said.

Matthew 19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

I don't know why so many people disagree with the Savior. I've heard so many excuses why this isn't for us. What would be your excuse?

Jesus was challenging the rich young ruler to try earning salvation by works. Proving that it cannot be done. If you want to earn salvation, sell all that you have and give to the poor. And take your own cross being willing to give your life for your enemies. Then you can earn salvation.

But the gospel is that Jesus did this for us. Do you believe this? If so God saved you. If you make salvation conditional, you save yourself through your own self-righteousness.

 

[Dave L]

But you said Lazarus 'represented' being born again. How was Lazarus born again?

Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. All believers are born-again.

 

[Bobber]

I almost started a thread like this one a few days ago, Valetic. This is the million dollar question I suppose. Just how narrow is the narrow way? None of us know the answer for certain it seems. We can only hope that it is not too narrow or a lot of posters on Christian Forums will be sadly disappointed when they die.

That's why as Christians I think we've really got to dig down with all diligence and individually make sure one gets this right about our own relationship with God. It certainly isn't something one should take with a care free attitude, like, "Oh I don't need to pray today" And that day turns into a week or month. Or "I can do this or that! No problem God's got my back!" They forget about the word, "Don't temp the Lord your God" I"m not saying God is going to knock somebody over the head and say "That's it you're done!" Over someone making a fall....but I think God looks at a pattern or a lifestyle one chooses to lead over lengthy periods of time.

If they don't cultivate relationship with him and seek to do so and maintain it through prayer and keeping one's spirit strong with his word....well let's just say that can be a scary place to be and the person may not even know it. When it reaches a place where all the so called "Christian" has are just mental concepts of God they acknowledge and don't really have relationship well alarm bells should go off, as in in WARNING! ALL IS NOT WELL.

People can believe in OSAS all they want but I've always been a little bit too fearful to just take that as a given. The most important thing in life is to hear "Well done good and faithful servant" and to hear the opposite of that would be an absolute nightmare. Every time I consider it it motivates me and I think in terms of the scripture which says, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" Philippians 2:12 No not with condemnation but with a sober respect that we're not playing a game down here. Do your upmost best to get it right.

 

[bling]

Here's how it works. God saves all who believe the gospel. This is salvation by grace. But if you change the gospel into law and make salvation conditional, then God owes salvation to all who meet the conditions. This is salvation by works.

You state a “condition” with: “all who believe the gospel”, since those who do not believe are not saved so by your own words, the condition is with belief. Does God “owe” salvation to all who believe?

A condition can be as simple as: “The family you are born into” allowing you to have a part in the inheritance, but that is not “work”.

Just because there are “conditions” to salvation does not mean you work to meet those conditions. Some people are trying to “work” to meet some man developed conditions, which has nothing to do with their salvation. But faith is not work and worship is not work.

 

[Dave L]

You state a “condition” with: “all who believe the gospel”, since those who do not believe are not saved so by your own words, the condition is with belief. Does God “owe” salvation to all who believe?

A condition can be as simple as: “The family you are born into” allowing you to have a part in the inheritance, but that is not “work”.

Just because there are “conditions” to salvation does not mean you work to meet those conditions. Some people are trying to “work” to meet some man developed conditions, which has nothing to do with their salvation. But faith is not work and worship is not work.

Did you choose to believe in Christ? You must have already believed in him or you would not have chose to. And this is salvation by grace. You believe and because faith is real you act on it. But someone along the way misled you into thinking you saved yourself by choosing to believe after you already believed.

 

[DaveM]

Jesus was challenging the rich young ruler to try earning salvation by works. Proving that it cannot be done. If you want to earn salvation, sell all that you have and give to the poor. And take your own cross being willing to give your life for your enemies. Then you can earn salvation.

But the gospel is that Jesus did this for us. Do you believe this? If so God saved you. If you make salvation conditional, you save yourself through your own self-righteousness.

I would have to disagree with that insight. IMO Jesus was showing the Rich young ruler his heart was not in the right place. For people who idolize things will not inherit the Kingdom of GOd is what the bible teaches.

The rich young ruler "things" (idols) were more important then Jesus then salvation, he was not willing to give them up. The below verse lets you know if you are going to heaven or not.

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[Dave L]

I would have to disagree with that insight. IMO Jesus was showing the Rich young ruler his heart was not in the right place. For people who idolize things will not inherit the Kingdom of GOd is what the bible teaches.

The rich young ruler "things" (idols) were more important then Jesus then salvation, he was not willing to give them up. The below verse lets you know if you are going to heaven or not.

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

That's the point. If salvation is conditional, you trust in whatever you did to save you. And it is always an act of self-righteousness on your part. It is not grace but works, and in itself a form of idol worship.

 

[DaveM]

That's the point. If salvation is conditional, you trust in whatever you did to save you. And it is always an act of self-righteousness on your part. It is not grace but works, and in itself a form of idol worship.

You seem to take out any responsibility on our part when you talk about receiving grace.

Let me ask you this do you think a born again Christian actually changes or remains the same when they become born again?