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
I’ll Be Honest features a penetrating call to repentance by Dr. Steven Lawson in the following video (transcript below):
Transcript:
The fact that this is a narrow gate
requires repentance,
it requires leaving your baggage behind.
It requires leaving behind the love of sin
and the love of the world
and love of self.
Jesus said if any man shall come after Me,
he must deny himself
and take up a cross
and follow after Me.
There is no way to come through this Narrow Gate
except you strip down
and strip away
all self-sufficiency
and all self-righteousness
and you humble yourself and you come
as a little child
into the kingdom of heaven.
And it is a narrow gate whereby you can only come one at a time.
You can’t come in a group.
You’re going to have to peal off from the group,
you’re gonna have to break off from the pack,
you’re gonna have to break even from your family
and come one at a time to the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is calling
everyone under the sound of His invitation
to leave where they are
and to leave what they are
and to come immediately to Him
and enter to through the Narrow Gate.
You need to know that the Gospel is a command,
and you will either live in obedience or disobedience
to this Christ who is calling you
to enter through the Narrow Gate,
and to fail to respond to this Gospel
is to commit the greatest sin under heaven.
It is to trample under foot the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and it is to insult the Spirit of Grace
who would be convicting.
To say no to the Gospel of Christ
is to commit the greatest sin.
For more information, please see Eternal Life.
Mitch
December 20, 2011
Amen and Amen! God Bless!
Michael Snow
December 23, 2011
Doesn’t look like anything is missing here from the path TO salvation, but in its emphasis it neglects that, on the other side, we are called to a group, to the fellowship of the Church, and the love for one another. Too many Christians mistake the personal aspect for an individualistic life style.
And, just like with Peter, Christ will continue to show us things that we must lay aside as we walk the Narrow Way.
http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Pacifism-Fruit-Narrow-ebook/dp/B005RIKH62/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1
Justin Edwards
December 23, 2011
Hi Michael,
people have to enter in through the Narrow Gate before they can be discipled. If you clicked on the Eternal Life link at the bottom of the post, you’d see your point is addressed, so nothing was neglected at all:
“Now friend, think on these things. Diligently seek after God in faith and He will reward you (Hebrews 11:6). If you have believed on the Son of God and trusted in Him alone as your Lord and your Savior, He has planted His seed in you to empower you to hunger and thirst for the things of God (1 John 3:9) that you should no longer walk in darkness (1 John 1:5-10). Begin reading your Bible and obey what you read. Spend time with God in prayer every day so that you will walk in the Spirit and be prepared for whatever comes in your path. Surround yourself with mature Christians so they can instruct you and encourage you. Find a solid, Bible-believing church so you can be shepherded in the faith, and be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Be submissive to the work of the Holy Spirit so
…by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which isyour reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:1-2”