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“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)
We live in a day and time here in America where the majority all appear to be teaching the wide gate and the easy way as the true path to salvation from sin and to eternal life with God. And so they are refuting the idea that we must enter by the narrow gate, and that we must walk in the way that is hard as the way that leads to life everlasting. And they are refuting the notion that the wide gate and the easy way will lead to destruction, decay, and death. And so they have flip flopped these to appease human flesh.
So, if you are one who is teaching the narrow way, which is hard, versus the easy way, that is wide (broad), you are likely to be taken to task and accused of teaching works salvation and legalism, and of being hateful, judgmental, intolerant, and negative. For the easy way is what is being pushed as the true path, and those who are promoting this have managed to convince the masses to believe them and to reject those who are teaching the truth that Jesus taught and that his NT apostles taught, which is hard.
For this has become all about what makes people feel good who are still habitually and deliberately sinning against the Lord, whether what is being taught is the truth or not. And this has become all about not offending the ungodly and not making them feel bad about themselves and about their sins. So they encourage the ungodly, but then they reject, cast out, slander, and mistreat those who are truly on the path of righteousness, which is the narrow way and the hard way which leads to life with Jesus Christ.
So, what does this mean exactly by these terms narrow and hard and wide and easy? I think we can probably guess the easy one, as it signifies that there is no effort on our part required, which is what is largely being pushed as the truth these days. But they take Scriptures out of context to try to prove their case, too. And the one they often use the most is Ephesians 2:8-9, but they leave out verse 10. And so they teach “no works required” when verse 10 clearly states that works are required (see Ephesians 2:8-10).
But this is where we need to differentiate between works operated in the flesh and works commanded of us by God which are of the Spirit and which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them, as those who are his workmanship. So we must know that Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works, the works he prepared in advance that we should walk in them (see also Titus 2:11-14).
So, what did Jesus teach about the way that is hard and narrow? He taught that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience to his commands, then we have eternal life in him. But if we deny him by how we live our lives on this earth, then when he returns for his bride one day, he will deny us, and we won’t have eternal life in him (see Luke 9:23-26).
We are also taught that the life of one who follows Jesus Christ is the way of righteousness and holiness and moral purity, and honesty, and faithfulness, and obedience to our Lord and to his commands. And it is also the way of suffering for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of righteousness and holiness. Especially if we are out there in the public sharing the narrow way as the right way, and if we are refuting the wide and easy way, which leaves people still in slavery to sin, then we are bound to be persecuted and rejected and falsely accused of wrongdoing.
[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]
But Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we might live for him and no longer for self. He shed his blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now honor God with our bodies. And he was crucified on that cross and resurrected from the dead that we might be crucified with him in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience, we will not have eternal life.
[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 5:16-21; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Hebrews 10:23-31; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]
So, if you are teaching the narrow and the hard way, and not the easy and the broad way, don’t be surprised and don’t be afraid if you are rejected and accused falsely of teaching lies and not the truth. Just keep speaking truth.
Why Are You Afraid?
An Original Work / December 5, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
Do not be afraid.
Your Lord is always by your side.
Serve the Lord in righteousness
Before Him all your days.
Those who hate the light
Will not come to the Lord.
They fear their deeds
Might be noticed.
So, they hate the light,
And they embrace the night.
Do not be afraid,
Although your enemy attacks.
Dare to share your testimony
Of God’s saving grace.
Do not fear their threats,
But honor Christ, your Lord.
Be prepared to give an answer
For the hope you have,
With gentleness; respect.
Why are you afraid?
For all that’s hidden will be shown.
What I tell you, speak in daylight.
Let the truth be known.
Do not be afraid
Of those who’ll take your life.
Fear the Lord with understanding.
Trust Him with your life,
And give not up to strife.
Do not be afraid.
Take courage, it is I, your Lord.
Bow before Me; now adore Me.
Oh, why do you doubt?
Listen to the Lord.
Get up and bear His name!
Run and tell the world He loves them.
Jesus came to save.
Give Him your all today.
