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Matthew 7:12-14 then, whatever you should be wanting that men should be doing to you, thus you, also,
be doing to them, for this is the law and the prophets. (13) Enter through the cramped gate, for broad is the gate and spacious is the way which is leading away into destruction, and many are those entering through it. (14) what a cramped gate and narrowed way is the one leading away into life, and few are
those who are finding it.
Many think getting on the narrowed way and just finding that narrow way is "believing in Jesus."
But notice Jesus is talking only to the Jews about their law and their prophets. The cramped gate and narrowed way is the law but few if any were able to do all the demands of the law for it was such a cramped gate and narrowed way.
Today, under grace, it is not cramped or narrow but wonderfully wide.
Those under the law depended upon WALK for life while we today depend upon Christ. We, today, HAVE life. We are not on a path that hopefully leads to life.
Those under law, if they are not given the grace to see Jesus as their Saviour, will enter into a destroyed state. "Destruction" is just another word for "lost" or "perished" state. But lest you think perished or lost is eternal think again. Christ came to seek and to save the lost/destroyed/perished sheep of the house of Israel. So being lost/destroyed/perished is a necessary precursor to being saved!
A fine message, Eusebius. I think one can tell if he/she is on the right path by the amount of love, peace, and joy he/she has in his heart and life. If one is in bondage to looking for enemies to condemn or paranoid about being lost and/or deceived, he/she is still groping for that narrow gate. But there comes a time for some where they can go IN and OUT and find pasture, which speaks of the freedom we can have in Christ. Jesus did say it was FOR FREEDOM that he set us free.
Matthew 7:12-14 then, whatever you should be wanting that men should be doing to you, thus you, also,
be doing to them, for this is the law and the prophets. (13) Enter through the cramped gate, for broad is the gate and spacious is the way which is leading away into destruction, and many are those entering through it. (14) what a cramped gate and narrowed way is the one leading away into life, and few are
those who are finding it.
Many think getting on the narrowed way and just finding that narrow way is "believing in Jesus."
But notice Jesus is talking only to the Jews about their law and their prophets. The cramped gate and narrowed way is the law but few if any were able to do all the demands of the law for it was such a cramped gate and narrowed way.
Today, under grace, it is not cramped or narrow but wonderfully wide.
Those under the law depended upon WALK for life while we today depend upon Christ. We, today, HAVE life. We are not on a path that hopefully leads to life.
Those under law, if they are not given the grace to see Jesus as their Saviour, will enter into a destroyed state. "Destruction" is just another word for "lost" or "perished" state. But lest you think perished or lost is eternal think again. Christ came to seek and to save the lost/destroyed/perished sheep of the house of Israel. So being lost/destroyed/perished is a necessary precursor to being saved!
The law has never been the "way" or the "gate" or the "door". Those descriptors have always been used for Christ.
Nobody is even able to keep the whole law - therefore the law is NOT a way leading to life.
The narrow path is understood by prudence in the spirit , as Through the gifts of Holy Spirit will lead people on the right path , and if they get off the path , the Holy Spirit will tell those who hold His gifts of obstacles in the way ... Like if there is a demon putting sin in believers face with gifts of Holy Spirit , then Holy Spirit will say ` demons ` which prayers of authority of Christ is the lead which must be enacted ...See the salvation is not only for the ancient Jews , as Jesus came to teach the Jews as they had to change their religion to become Christians ....... Could you get up and change your religion ?...... The Disciples where called to take the Gospels to the Gentile's of the whole world, so salvation to the ends of the earth.....
Matthew 7:12-14 then, whatever you should be wanting that men should be doing to you, thus you, also,
be doing to them, for this is the law and the prophets. (13) Enter through the cramped gate, for broad is the gate and spacious is the way which is leading away into destruction, and many are those entering through it. (14) what a cramped gate and narrowed way is the one leading away into life, and few are
those who are finding it.
Many think getting on the narrowed way and just finding that narrow way is "believing in Jesus."
But notice Jesus is talking only to the Jews about their law and their prophets. The cramped gate and narrowed way is the law but few if any were able to do all the demands of the law for it was such a cramped gate and narrowed way.
Today, under grace, it is not cramped or narrow but wonderfully wide.
Those under the law depended upon WALK for life while we today depend upon Christ. We, today, HAVE life. We are not on a path that hopefully leads to life.
Those under law, if they are not given the grace to see Jesus as their Saviour, will enter into a destroyed state. "Destruction" is just another word for "lost" or "perished" state. But lest you think perished or lost is eternal think again. Christ came to seek and to save the lost/destroyed/perished sheep of the house of Israel. So being lost/destroyed/perished is a necessary precursor to being saved!
Interesting observation. I've never noticed that the narrow/wide gate verse comes right after one of the royal law of love verses. If I think about what it would really take to love your neighbor as yourself in every instance, sometimes just following the old law legalistically sounds like it might actually be easier
Very clever exigesis, but sorry, No that's not what Jesus is saying.
Note a similar text in Luke: Lk 13:23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, Lk 13:24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
You might also want to consider Jesus words, Many are the called, few are the chosen, (or elect)
What many seem to forget that in both Old and New Testaments, the only way to be saved was through faith in the Messiah and the promises of God fulfilled in Him.
Gen 15 and Romans 4. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to Him as righteousness. See also Hebrews 11. Faith is what saves, not adherence to the Law.
The UR people may also want to note that the Luke 13 text clearly teaches against any idea of UR.
Very clever exigesis, but sorry, No that's not what Jesus is saying.
Note a similar text in Luke: Lk 13:23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, Lk 13:24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
You might also want to consider Jesus words, Many are the called, few are the chosen, (or elect)
What many seem to forget that in both Old and New Testaments, the only way to be saved was through faith in the Messiah and the promises of God fulfilled in Him.
Gen 15 and Romans 4. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to Him as righteousness. See also Hebrews 11. Faith is what saves, not adherence to the Law.
The UR people may also want to note that the Luke 13 text clearly teaches against any idea of UR.
Amen. I think you are correct about the gates. Christ also wanted to know if he would find any faith when he returned. Why would he need a wide gate for people he didn't think would have faith when he returned?
Very clever exigesis, but sorry, No that's not what Jesus is saying.
Note a similar text in Luke: Lk 13:23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, Lk 13:24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
You might also want to consider Jesus words, Many are the called, few are the chosen, (or elect)
What many seem to forget that in both Old and New Testaments, the only way to be saved was through faith in the Messiah and the promises of God fulfilled in Him.
Gen 15 and Romans 4. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to Him as righteousness. See also Hebrews 11. Faith is what saves, not adherence to the Law.
The UR people may also want to note that the Luke 13 text clearly teaches against any idea of UR.
We agree that few are ABLE to enter. That much is obvious to the UR believer. The world is filled with Christians who cannot find the gate because of things they have been told they must do/say/believe, etc... FEW find true LIFE IN CHRIST in this world. A lot of people do find religion.
Matthew 7:12-14 then, whatever you should be wanting that men should be doing to you, thus you, also,
be doing to them, for this is the law and the prophets. (13) Enter through the cramped gate, for broad is the gate and spacious is the way which is leading away into destruction, and many are those entering through it. (14) what a cramped gate and narrowed way is the one leading away into life, and few are
those who are finding it.
Many think getting on the narrowed way and just finding that narrow way is "believing in Jesus."
But notice Jesus is talking only to the Jews about their law and their prophets. The cramped gate and narrowed way is the law but few if any were able to do all the demands of the law for it was such a cramped gate and narrowed way.
Today, under grace, it is not cramped or narrow but wonderfully wide.
Those under the law depended upon WALK for life while we today depend upon Christ. We, today, HAVE life. We are not on a path that hopefully leads to life.
Those under law, if they are not given the grace to see Jesus as their Saviour, will enter into a destroyed state. "Destruction" is just another word for "lost" or "perished" state. But lest you think perished or lost is eternal think again. Christ came to seek and to save the lost/destroyed/perished sheep of the house of Israel. So being lost/destroyed/perished is a necessary precursor to being saved!
So why did Christ die on the cross?
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