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Jesus taught--a single path. the narrow gate that Few will find.
Jesus taught no such thing.
Someone asked Jesus a question just like this, "Teacher what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
If ever Jesus was going to teach a single path and narrow gate then that would have been the time. But that was not His answer at all. His response was to keep asking things until the man turned away disappointed. Why? Because there was something wrong with the question in the first place. There is no good deed you can do to have eternal life. The man wanted to know what was enough. He wanted a ticket. But there is no enough and there is no ticket. That is why even the disciples were disappointed by Jesus answer to the man and they asked, "who then can be saved?"
Jesus answer was, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." And right there you see Jesus teaching salvation by the grace of God ALONE!
It is men who want to use religion as a tool of power who pile on their own legalisms and conditions because that is how you twist all this into a tool for controlling people as the JWs have done. When that is your agenda then it is inevitable that your image of God also alters to share your own obsession with power and control. Thus the God of love taught by Jesus and the disciples is transformed into this dictator demanding obedience OR ELSE! But if God was really like that then why would He create life and free will in the first place. It makes no sense.
Someone asked Jesus a question just like this, "Teacher what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
If ever Jesus was going to teach a single path and narrow gate then that would have been the time. But that was not His answer at all. His response was to keep asking things until the man turned away disappointed. Why? Because there was something wrong with the question in the first place. There is no good deed you can do to have eternal life. The man wanted to know what was enough. He wanted a ticket. But there is no enough and there is no ticket. That is why even the disciples were disappointed by Jesus answer to the man and they asked, "who then can be saved?"
Jesus answer was, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." And right there you see Jesus teaching salvation by the grace of God ALONE!
Amen, the point is not our works. Those have to subside to make place for the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. All our own righteousness are as filthy rags, and only Jesus Christ can cover us with His Own Righteousness when we come to Him in faith, with a repentent heart and empty hands so He can fill us with His Spirit.
Luke 18v9/14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Someone asked Jesus a question just like this, "Teacher what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
If ever Jesus was going to teach a single path and narrow gate then that would have been the time. But that was not His answer at all. His response was to keep asking things until the man turned away disappointed. Why? Because there was something wrong with the question in the first place. There is no good deed you can do to have eternal life. The man wanted to know what was enough. He wanted a ticket. But there is no enough and there is no ticket. That is why even the disciples were disappointed by Jesus answer to the man and they asked, "who then can be saved?"
Jesus answer was, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." And right there you see Jesus teaching salvation by the grace of God ALONE!
It is men who want to use religion as a tool of power who pile on their own legalisms and conditions because that is how you twist all this into a tool for controlling people as the JWs have done. When that is your agenda then it is inevitable that your image of God also alters to share your own obsession with power and control. Thus the God of love taught by Jesus and the disciples is transformed into this dictator demanding obedience OR ELSE! But if God was really like that then why would He create life and free will in the first place. It makes no sense.
Jesus words at Matthew 7:14
A rich man asked Jesus what it took to enter Gods kingdom, he said I keep all of the commandments-- Jesus said--sell all you have and give it to your poor brothers.( sounds like doing a good deed to me)
The rich man could not do it---Jesus was showing the kind of love it takes. The kind of love that is the new covenant.
It is God who demands that kind of obedience. This kind--Matthew 16:24--one must disown themselves to follow Jesus.
Someone asked Jesus a question just like this, "Teacher what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
If ever Jesus was going to teach a single path and narrow gate then that would have been the time. But that was not His answer at all. His response was to keep asking things until the man turned away disappointed. Why? Because there was something wrong with the question in the first place. There is no good deed you can do to have eternal life. The man wanted to know what was enough. He wanted a ticket. But there is no enough and there is no ticket. That is why even the disciples were disappointed by Jesus answer to the man and they asked, "who then can be saved?"
Jesus answer was, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." And right there you see Jesus teaching salvation by the grace of God ALONE!
It is men who want to use religion as a tool of power who pile on their own legalisms and conditions because that is how you twist all this into a tool for controlling people as the JWs have done. When that is your agenda then it is inevitable that your image of God also alters to share your own obsession with power and control. Thus the God of love taught by Jesus and the disciples is transformed into this dictator demanding obedience OR ELSE! But if God was really like that then why would He create life and free will in the first place. It makes no sense.
And a closer look at the question reveals the emphasis of the questioner: what good deed must I do and the answer reflects such emphasis that doesn't included Jesus.
And despite the self analysis of the questioner and all of his achievements and command keeping awards ... it - was - not - enough !
And so it will be for those who view Jesus as an example to follow rather than a 100% substitute by faith.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him "I am the way the truth and the life" No one comes to the Father except through me. If you men had known me you would have known my Father also from this moment on you know him and have seen him. Just like the saying the apple never falls far from the tree a son can reflect his father in the way he acts and his demeanor and personality. That's why John 3:16 God loved the world so much he gave his only begotten Son. 17:3 This means everlasting life their coming to know you the only true God and the one whom you sent Jesus Christ. Regards jw.org
John 14:6 Jesus said to him "I am the way the truth and the life" No one comes to the Father except through me. If you men had known me you would have known my Father also from this moment on you know him and have seen him. Just like the saying the apple never falls far from the tree a son can reflect his father in the way he acts and his demeanor and personality. That's why John 3:16 God loved the world so much he gave his only begotten Son. 17:3 This means everlasting life their coming to know you the only true God and the one whom you sent Jesus Christ. Regards jw.org
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