The narrow path and ministries undone.

[BNR32FAN]

In a way, we are talking on the topic. D Taylor thinks that we simply have to believe and then we can continue habitually in the worst of sins like rape or even murder and we are still saved. So, he believes that those on the wide path, who continue in their sin are saved as long as they believe.

Yeah the only way that the path can get any wider is universalism. DTaylor’s theology does create an extremely wide path.

 

[Jan001]

So narrow is the way to life and few find it. And wide is the path to destruction because everyone's doing it.

My thoughts on application right now is, look at the scriptures and see what it says to "do for others"

Then look at your surroundings, and see what is not being done, and just go do it.

The "narrow way" requires obedience to God's commandments. If you do not obey God's commandments, you do not actually believe in Jesus Christ. The reason most people are not on the narrow way to eternal life is because they do not obey God's commandments. These people erroneously think that Jesus will save them no matter what they do, because at some time during their lives they simply decided to put their trust in Jesus to save them.


Luke 6:46-49 Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

​

Narrow way: 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

Wide way: 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”


1 John 2:4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

 

[1Tonne]

The "narrow way" requires obedience to God's commandments. If you do not obey God's commandments, you do not actually believe in Jesus Christ. The reason most people are not on the narrow way to eternal life is because they do not obey God's commandments. These people erroneously think that Jesus will save them no matter what they do, because at some time during their lives they simply decided to put their trust in Jesus to save them.


Luke 6:46-49 Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

​

Narrow way: 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

Wide way: 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”


1 John 2:4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

Well said. We should obey Jesus and do what He says. We are to do as He commanded. Though, I am going to throw a spanner in the works just for interest's sake.

Jesus said in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation". So, we are to preach to as many people as possible. This is something Jesus commanded. It is unloving to know the truth of the condemnation and then not to warn people of it. Especially when you know the way out of it. It is like seeing a blind person heading towards a cliff and then just watching him fall over. In real life, you can go to jail if you can stop someone from being hurt or killed but then you choose to do nothing. If man's court recognises this injustice, how much more would a Holy and Just God see the injustice of us allowing people to simply perish without warning them? To allow this to simply happen is not loving towards our neighbour or God. Our love for God should drive us to obey Him and our love for our neighbour should make us want to say something.
Sadly, only 2% of believers will say the Gospel regularly to the lost (Stat from Campus Crusade survey). This is really low. Do we really want to obey God or not?
So, the question should be, "Am I being faithful in the opportunities God gives me?”

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The "narrow way" requires obedience to

The sermon on the mount.

 

[Jan001]

The sermon on the mount.

Good beginning, but I think the narrow way requires obedience to everything Jesus taught.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.


Peter asks a question:

1 Peter 4:17-19 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

The answer:

2 Thessalonians 1:7a-9 when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Acts 14:21-23 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

As you can see, a person who merely accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior at some point in his life is not guaranteed eternal life.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Good beginning, but I think the narrow way requires obedience to everything Jesus taught.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.


Peter asks a question:

1 Peter 4:17-19 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

The answer:

2 Thessalonians 1:7a-9 when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Acts 14:21-23 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

As you can see, a person who merely accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior at some point in his life is not guaranteed eternal life.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

No, I've read the bible and listened to it on auto repeat while doing other tasks countless times.

Insisting on observing the law of Moses after Christ's resurrection is tantamount to saying he died in vain.

The commandments of Jesus are way harder to keep than the law of Moses anyway.

 

[1Tonne]

Insisting on observing the law of Moses after Christ's resurrection is tantamount to saying he died in vain.

Those who love Him will choose to honour Him. This is done out of love and is not a works. It is simply an overflow of being born again. Christ gives us a new heart, one that will honour Him.

 

[Jan001]

No, I've read the bible and listened to it on auto repeat while doing other tasks countless times.

Insisting on observing the law of Moses after Christ's resurrection is tantamount to saying he died in vain.

The commandments of Jesus are way harder to keep than the law of Moses anyway.

I know someone who insists on keeping the Saturday Sabbath and dietary laws of the OT even though he is not Jewish and claims that Jesus is his Savior.

I agree. The narrow way requires daily self-denial and self-control. Luke 9:23

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. 26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; 27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I know someone who insists on keeping the Saturday Sabbath and dietary laws of the OT even though he is not Jewish and claims that Jesus is his Savior.

I agree. The narrow way requires daily self-denial and self-control. Luke 9:23

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. 26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; 27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

Those who love Him will choose to honour Him. This is done out of love and is not a works. It is simply an overflow of being born again. Christ gives us a new heart, one that will honour Him.

What I had in mind is how "what a sin is" has been upgraded for starters.

For example in 1st John 3:15 one who hates, is guilty of murder. In Matthew 5:28 One who burns with lust towards someone basically has already had sex with them. Sin is dimensionally different than the old testament, going by the law can leave a lot of blind spots.

Furthermore, there is also the core need to help those in need. This is strongly emphasized in New Testament teachings, yet people still fall back on the old testament error of "technically following the rules" but not caring about anyone else, especially those in need. Faith without works is dead, is all about having a faith that isn't useless

Finally, there is this thing James invents called the law of liberty, but it is really just reiterating what the parable said about the guy who was forgiven, but couldn't give anyone a break. In Romans 1 a list of sins is written and it is followed up in Romans 2 saying you need to show mercy to sinners, since you're all sinners. God in this period of time is leading people to repentance through kindness, so we should follow his lead.

Based on how few people actually apply these nuances; I would say it is more difficult than the Moses law, since people think it's okay to fall back on it ... However, it is not. (Galatians 2:21)

 

[1Tonne]

What I had in mind is how "what a sin is" has been upgraded for starters.

For example in 1st John 3:15 one who hates, is guilty of murder. In Matthew 5:28 One who burns with lust towards someone basically has already had sex with them. Sin is dimensionally different than the old testament, going by the law can leave a lot of blind spots.

I fully agree. The New Testament is an upgrade. So, it is not only our actions that we need to keep in check, but also our thoughts.

Furthermore, there is also the core need to help those in need. This is strongly emphasized in New Testament teachings, yet people still fall back on the old testament error of "technically following the rules" but not caring about anyone else, especially those in need. Faith without works is dead, is all about having a faith that isn't useless

You mentioned faith without works is dead. This comes from James 2:14-17. I believe that many people miss the meaning of these verses.
I do think that we are to feed the hungry and clothe the poor. This is mentioned in other areas of the bible. And to leave someone hungry is not loving your brother.
But James 2:14-26 does not say that we lead with good deeds. It is saying that if we truly have a faith, then we will act in accordance with that faith. Faith without works is dead. So, if we believe that there is a God and that he will judge everyone, then we will act in accordance with that belief. We would warn people of it. It would be unloving not to.
Just as when you see a person without clothes, you believe that they will freeze, and so you clothe them. You acted according to what you believed. It would be unloving not to.

James 2:14-17 says "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Notice verse 17, uses the words, "In the same way". This means in a "likewise manner" or "similar" but not the exactly same.
So, likewise, if you saw a house on fire, you would yell and warn the people inside. You believe that the house is on fire and that the person will die if you do not urgently warn them.
And again. Likewise, in the same way, you if we see a non-believing brother or sister under God's wrath, and we say to them, “Be our friend”, but do nothing to warn them of their condemnation, what good is that? Faith without works is dead.

Yes, we will feed the hungry and clothe the poor. It would be unloving not to, but even unbelievers will do the same. They also believe that those who do not have clothes should be warm.
But an unbeliever will not tell others of His great sacrifice. They don’t tell of Him because they do not have faith in Him. If we have faith, then we will act in accordance with that faith. Faith without works is dead. So, tell others about the great condemnation that they are under and tell them of the Great sacrifice He made for us.

So, yes, feed the hungry and clothe the poor. This shows that you love and care for them.

I do not think that the Law of Liberty is made up. It is simply to honour God by leaving your sin. This will encompass the commandments that Jesus expanded. The Law of Liberty is mentioned in James 1:25 but prior to this it says "Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves." So, obey God. Choose to honour Him. It would be wrong to look into the mirror of the ten commandments and then to walk away thinking you are a good person.

So, when we are born again, God will give us a new heart. One that loves righteousness and hates evil. With this new heart, we will have a battle within us. A battle of the Spirit versus the Flesh. And this is a hard battle. Not an easy one. It is a war. But we need to let the Spirit overflow and fill us.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I fully agree. The New Testament is an upgrade. So, it is not only our actions that we need to keep in check, but also our thoughts.

You mentioned faith without works is dead. This comes from James 2:14-17. I believe that many people miss the meaning of these verses.
I do think that we are to feed the hungry and clothe the poor. This is mentioned in other areas of the bible. And to leave someone hungry is not loving your brother.
But James 2:14-26 does not say that we lead with good deeds. It is saying that if we truly have a faith, then we will act in accordance with that faith. Faith without works is dead. So, if we believe that there is a God and that he will judge everyone, then we will act in accordance with that belief. We would warn people of it. It would be unloving not to.
Just as when you see a person without clothes, you believe that they will freeze, and so you clothe them. You acted according to what you believed. It would be unloving not to.

James 2:14-17 says "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Notice verse 17, uses the words, "In the same way". This means in a "likewise manner" or "similar" but not the exactly same.
So, likewise, if you saw a house on fire, you would yell and warn the people inside. You believe that the house is on fire and that the person will die if you do not urgently warn them.
And again. Likewise, in the same way, you if we see a non-believing brother or sister under God's wrath, and we say to them, “Be our friend”, but do nothing to warn them of their condemnation, what good is that? Faith without works is dead.

Yes, we will feed the hungry and clothe the poor. It would be unloving not to, but even unbelievers will do the same. They also believe that those who do not have clothes should be warm.
But an unbeliever will not tell others of His great sacrifice. They don’t tell of Him because they do not have faith in Him. If we have faith, then we will act in accordance with that faith. Faith without works is dead. So, tell others about the great condemnation that they are under and tell them of the Great sacrifice He made for us.

So, yes, feed the hungry and clothe the poor. This shows that you love and care for them.

I do not think that the Law of Liberty is made up. It is simply to honour God by leaving your sin. This will encompass the commandments that Jesus expanded. The Law of Liberty is mentioned in James 1:25 but prior to this it says "Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves." So, obey God. Choose to honour Him. It would be wrong to look into the mirror of the ten commandments and then to walk away thinking you are a good person.

So, when we are born again, God will give us a new heart. One that loves righteousness and hates evil. With this new heart, we will have a battle within us. A battle of the Spirit versus the Flesh. And this is a hard battle. Not an easy one. It is a war. But we need to let the Spirit overflow and fill us.

Yes, so in a likewise manner, when you go out and preach the gospel in your community remember that God is using his kindness in this era to call people to repentance. In the previous era, God punished the wicked and sent prophets to tell them why seeking that they repent. Reflect on the mercy God has shown you so people will see the mercy of God in your words and actions.

The stage of "completing the obedience" is lengthy and difficult, so having a hope within helps a lot.

 

[Jan001]

What I had in mind is how "what a sin is" has been upgraded for starters.

For example in 1st John 3:15 one who hates, is guilty of murder. In Matthew 5:28 One who burns with lust towards someone basically has already had sex with them. Sin is dimensionally different than the old testament, going by the law can leave a lot of blind spots.

Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Evil thoughts can lead to evil actions if the evil thoughts are not repented of. The remedy for his evil is to immediately turn one's mind to thinking about godly things. (Philippians 4:8) Committing fornication (or adultery) in one's thoughts is not exactly the same thing as doing the actual act. A person's evil thoughts harm him. Committing the act with another person harms both people.

Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

Mark 7:20-23 And he said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Furthermore, there is also the core need to help those in need. This is strongly emphasized in New Testament teachings, yet people still fall back on the old testament error of "technically following the rules" but not caring about anyone else, especially those in need. Faith without works is dead, is all about having a faith that isn't useless

I agree. We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we do not love our neighbors, we do not love God. 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:20, Luke 10:27,

Finally, there is this thing James invents called the law of liberty, but it is really just reiterating what the parable said about the guy who was forgiven, but couldn't give anyone a break. In Romans 1 a list of sins is written and it is followed up in Romans 2 saying you need to show mercy to sinners, since you're all sinners. God in this period of time is leading people to repentance through kindness, so we should follow his lead.

I think the law of liberty (royal law, law of Christ) is the freedom to show love and mercy to your neighbor, which is what you desire for yourself.

Matthew 7:12 “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

James 1:25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

James 2:8-13 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Based on how few people actually apply these nuances; I would say it is more difficult than the Moses law, since people think it's okay to fall back on it ... However, it is not. (Galatians 2:21)

I agree. The law of Christ is more difficult because it requires love to fulfill it.

 

[1Tonne]

Yes, so in a likewise manner, when you go out and preach the gospel in your community remember that God is using his kindness in this era to call people to repentance. In the previous era, God punished the wicked and sent prophets to tell them why seeking that they repent. Reflect on the mercy God has shown you so people will see the mercy of God in your words and actions.

The stage of "completing the obedience" is lengthy and difficult, so having a hope within helps a lot.

His kindness was shown in the cross. This is the reason people should run to the cross. We show them the law and then they see how guilty they are and then, when we show them what God did on the cross, they may then understand His great love and kindness for us.
We are also to be kind to others. This can give us opportunities to share the Gospel. But sadly, many Christians simply do kind actions and then forget to say the Gospel.
Our kind actions give credibility to what we say. So, they are a witness. And we can either be a good or a bad witness.
If we do bad things, our word becomes compromised, and people will be less likely to believe what we say. The opposite of this is when we act in love, this will give our word credibility. For example, in a court of law, if you have 2 people with conflicting testimonies, one is a prostitute, and the other is a doctor. The doctor is the one most people would believe as his word is not compromised like the prostitute. He is a good witness.
So, your actions validate what you believe, and then, when you do say the Gospel, people will be more likely to believe what you say.
We need to be careful though that we do share the Gospel out aloud. Our good deeds are not the power of God unto salvation. They only give us an opportunity to share and they give our words credibility and then when we do say the Gospel, it will give glory to God. Staying silent is wrong.

Another example. If I were talking to someone downtown and a passerby heard me use God's name as a cuss word that would not be very good. Then if I were to go to a park a few days after this and say the Gospel to that same passerby, my words that I say have been tainted because of my previous conduct. He would think to himself, "This fuller does not even truly believe himself because he uses his own God's name as a cuss word." So, I am therefore not a good witness. My actions did not bring Glory to God. Instead, they were a disgrace. Our actions substantiate our words. Therefore, bringing Glory to God.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What's important is that we think on these things. Since they are distinctive to Christianity, standing out in a good way can draw a crowd.

God bless.