Entering by the Narrow Gate

[Episkopos]

How are we to harmonize a divine equation like...all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved... with... many will say Lord, Lord, (and yet be rejected)? Why are these not mutually exclusive? Is Jesus really under obligation to receive all who claim Him as Lord? Does it matter how we go about appropriating the salvation that is found in Christ? Join me in this episode as we explore the importance of entering in by the narrow gate and what that entails.

 

[Ritajanice]

I haven’t listened to your video yet, Epi.

If we enter through the narrow gate ,it can only be by divine heart revelation.

Matthew 7:14In-Context 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Not by speaking words out of the Bible, anyone can do that.

No one can talk their way into heaven just by quoting scripture.

1 Corinthians 12:3New King James Version (NKJV) Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned

I pray that your thread remains peaceful ,calm, let the Lord lead us and not our old man.
Just my thoughts,

 

[Taken]

Entering by the Narrow Gate

Yes…Absolutely..

OBSERVE…conniving mans meddling in CORRUPT food production…leading to OBESITY…
AND…the Gate Narrow…get it?
“Mind, Body, Soul”…Narrow gate!!

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[amigo de christo]

I haven’t listened to your video yet, Epi.

If we enter through the narrow gate ,it can only be by divine heart revelation.

Matthew 7:14In-Context 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Not by speaking words out of the Bible, anyone can do that.

No one can talk their way into heaven just by quoting scripture.

1 Corinthians 12:3New King James Version (NKJV) Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned

I pray that your thread remains peaceful ,calm, let the Lord lead us and not our old man.
Just my thoughts,

just always remember GOD reveals JESUS THE CHRIST unto us .
That we BELEIVE HIM TO BE THE CHRIST and The born again Confess him by mouth
believing from the heart that GOD rose Him from the dead .
And by that same SPIRIT they will do and even have the desire to do good .
For many have come to try and plant the idea that even those who DENY HE IS THE CHRIST
as do all other religoins , are just as born again as we who do confess him . Always remember dear sister
NO LIE IS of THE TRUTH . And that HE who BELIEVES NOT the TESTIMONY the FATHER GAVE OF THE SON
is calling GOD a LIAR . if a man calls GOD a liar , DOES IT MEAN GOD IS , OR THEY ARE . THEY ARE .
you remember this .

 

[Ritajanice]

believing from the heart that GOD rose Him from the dead .

Yes, and believing in one’s heart / spirit, can only come by divine heart revelation.

The Holy Spirit witnesses Gods truth to our heart/ spirit.

Only the Spirit can witness that Jesus died and rose from the dead..to our spirit and no other.

 

[amigo de christo]

Yes, and believing in one’s heart / spirit, can only come by divine heart revelation.

The Holy Spirit witnesses Gods truth to our heart/ spirit.

BINGO . THE HOLY SPIRIT witnesses the TRUTH OF GOD to our heart .
WHO does the SPIRIT testify of again . JESUS THE CHRIST , TO BELIEVE ON HIM

 

[Ritajanice]

BINGO . THE HOLY SPIRIT witnesses the TRUTH OF GOD to our heart .
WHO does the SPIRIT testify of again . JESUS THE CHRIST , TO BELIEVE ON HIM

Of course Brother..In Jesus Name. Amen!

 

[Behold]

How are we to harmonize a divine equation like..

What exactly is the Narrow Gate, that we are to enter through, so that God will accept us, forgive us, and give us the New Birth.?

This "narrow way".. is Jesus The Lord... who said... "I am THE Way... John 14:6....= to God, and no person comes to the Father, but by ME".

See that "way? That is the only ONE... vs, all the heresies, (cult teachings) and worldwilde religions that present many other FALSE Paths... to God.

However, Jesus is the ONLY Way.. .the ONLY ONE...so, that is why its 'NARROW.. vs the "broad way, (every other religious means) that lead to destruction" and not to Heaven.

Jesus Himself is the NARROW WAY... the ONLY ONE... ""the ONLY WAY...to the Father'.

My Guess is that this TRUTH< regarding Jesus as THE ONLY WAY (narrow) To Heaven...John 14:6....as The CROSS OF CHRIST... is nowhere to be found in Epi's Video. (again.)

 

[Ritajanice]

@amigo de christo .

◄ John 14:6 ►

Audio Crossref Comment Greek Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. New Living Translation Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. English Standard Version Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Berean Standard Bible Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me

 

[Ritajanice]

@Episkopos ..do you believe Gods word here , Brother.?

Just looking for confirmation my friend ,that is all.

​

◄ John 14:6 ►

​

Audio Crossref Comment Greek Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. New Living Translation Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. English Standard Version Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Berean Standard Bible Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me

 

[Lizbeth]

How are we to harmonize a divine equation like...all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved... with... many will say Lord, Lord, (and yet be rejected)? Why are these not mutually exclusive? Is Jesus really under obligation to receive all who claim Him as Lord? Does it matter how we go about appropriating the salvation that is found in Christ? Join me in this episode as we explore the importance of entering in by the narrow gate and what that entails.

Yes.....and so if it is hard even for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the unbelieving and ungodly?

Jesus being both the narrow gate and narrow way are by the same token as you are mentioning, not mutually exclusive either. We need to both receive Christ as well as follow/obey Him on the narrow way which leads to life, which is the way of the Cross. We are to follow in His footsteps, as He leads us, to the death of......something......the soul life of our old man I believe. That our old man has already died and been crucified with Christ from heaven's point of view is likewise not mutually exclusive of the fact that we need to also apprehend and walk this out in our experience. If it hadn't already been accomplished in heaven we could not apprehend it on earth. Labouring to enter into His rest of resurrection life. Labouring as in labour pains....it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of heaven. As I understand this. Seeking or at least allowing the Lord to judge and pour out His wrath on our old man of the flesh and burn it away. Judgment begins with the house of the Lord.

 

[Episkopos]

Yes.....and so if it is hard even for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the unbelieving and ungodly?

The righteous are scarcely saved. But the holy are abundantly saved. People have to learn to make distinctions.

Jesus being both the narrow gate and narrow way are by the same token as you are mentioning, not mutually exclusive either. We need to both receive Christ as well as follow/obey Him on the narrow way which leads to life, which is the way of the Cross. We are to follow in His footsteps, as He leads us, to the death of......something......the soul life of our old man I believe.

That being true, Jesus is speaking of entering into the narrow gate, the subject of my present episode. We can follow Christ from a distance OR enter INTO Him to walk as He walked.

The striving is to enter in...not follow Christ. You are again missing the distinction here. Very few will succeed in entering in though they try hard to. Why do most fail at this? Like the rich young ruler, they have too much to lose.

That our old man has already died and been crucified with Christ from heaven's point of view is likewise not mutually exclusive of the fact that we need to also apprehend and walk this out in our experience.

There is no fantasy in the kingdom. There is no make-believe. We receive the initial grace as a sample. A real sample with a real experience. A sample that runs out...like the oil in a lamp given time and a lack of knowledge. The key is to seek the Lord and BUY a fresh supply,,,at the throne of grace. Of course the namers and claimers will rail at this...what? they will think...Why do I have to seek God since I'm already saved????

If it hadn't already been accomplished in heaven we could not apprehend it on earth.

Or...if it is not being presently experienced here on earth it's because it has not taken place in heaven...yet.

Labouring to enter into His rest of resurrection life. Labouring as in labour pains....it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of heaven. As I understand this. Seeking or at least allowing the Lord to judge and pour out His wrath on our old man of the flesh and burn it away. Judgment begins with the house of the Lord.

Amen

 

[Lizbeth]

The righteous are scarcely saved. But the holy are abundantly saved. People have to learn to make distinctions.

Oh dear, only one post in and already we have a problem Epi. To start with you are ignoring or missing the point. I was pointing out that if it is hard for those who know the Lord to be saved, what will become of those who are still in their sins? And I will also point out that anyone who is holy must surely be righteous (if a distinction is to be made). But we can easily see anyhow by the context that this passage is talking about Christian believers in general, not only a select few:

1Pe 4:16

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.


Those who are on the narrow path, the way of the cross, are being judged now through the chastisements/suffering as sons (as we follow in the footsteps of the Son who likewise also learned obedience to the Father as a Son by the things which He suffered)....but unto life, not death. We will not be judged with the world which is on the broad way that leads to being judged unto destruction/death (the second death).

I'm not going to comment on the rest right now except to say you greatly diminish what Jesus accomplished on the cross. You mean to say His victory has not been accomplished in heaven? The devil has not been defeated yet after all? What is the meaning of praying that God's will be done on earth, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN? And the meaning of "All things HAVE been put under His feet, but we do not yet SEE all things put under Him."

You do need to go back to the drawing board on some things.

 

[Episkopos]

Oh dear, only one post in and already we have a problem Epi. To start with you are ignoring or missing the point. I was pointing out that if it is hard for those who know the Lord to be saved, what will become of those who are still in their sins?

You are missing the "and" in the verse. Peter is not calling the saints righteous. He is calling the righteous of the nations righteous...who will be judged together with the wicked at the GWT.

And I will also point out that anyone who is holy must surely be righteous (if a distinction is to be made). But we can easily see anyhow by the context that this passage is talking about Christian believers in general, not only a select few:

Yes, the holy must also be righteous...or be filthy. There is no half-holiness. We will be judged by what we claim to be. That's where humility is far wiser than making outrageous statements based on theories.

1Pe 4:16

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Here, the ungodly and sinner is not meant to be believers...and the righteous comprise anyone else who isn't a saint...whether believer or not.

Those who are on the narrow path, the way of the cross, are being judged now through the chastisements/suffering as sons (as we follow in the footsteps of the Son who likewise also learned obedience to the Father as a Son by the things which He suffered)....but unto life, not death. We will not be judged with the world which is on the broad way that leads to being judged unto destruction/death (the second death).

That's right. There is a specific training for the saint. Judgment is coming. Many will claim to be among the saints but will be rejected. The righteous fear God. The filthy are certain in their delusion.

I'm not going to comment on the rest right now except to say you greatly diminish what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

The opposite is true. People will settle for a sinful holiness...a low calling. And the worst of it is that these same diminishing ones will claim to be saints. That is the very sin of the Pharisees. And one would think that modern bible readers could see that.

You mean to say His victory has not been accomplished in heaven? The devil has not been defeated yet after all? What is the meaning of praying that God's will be done on earth, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN? And the meaning of "All things HAVE been put under His feet, but we do not yet SEE all things put under Him."

You do need to go back to the drawing board on some things.

Your championing of your own cause causes you to deflect the truth away from your own condition. Anybody can name and claim things. But the victory is being experienced by saints all over the world....even without your say so or participation. You really need to get over yourself.

The truth stands without our participation. But the truth can only be related to others IN our participation. We are to be translated to walk in heaven now...to preach an eternal gospel...a gospel of access into eternal life...now.

Far too many are SOOOOO confused based on self-interest. Everything for these is about them being saved.

We can discern who has climbed in another way (and not through the narrow gate) by the way the flesh reacts. The flesh HATES the idea of having to meet and please God personally.

 

[Episkopos]

Why are there so many pretenders in Christ in our time? Why are people so hostile to the narrow door and narrow path? The American style churchianity has opened up the narrow door as wide as can be, even offering free coffee and daycare, attracting crowds....and people are hoodwinked into making false claims about their true condition before God. The flesh is being catered to in unprecedented ways. Why? Well, to fill in t he pews. Success in church circles is about popularity, numbers and money. And the false teachings are so seductive to carnal ears that people who see through the religious system retain those terrible doctrines as if they were something to preserve rather than to discard with the whole rotten mess. The American can-do spirit has infected the gospel to re-direct it to the rich and spoiled...away from the poor and needy. At least in the West.

The devil wants to immunize people against the truth by "reforming" the bible to suit the flesh. Changing the meaning of words like "impute" and "remission"...and getting things jumbled up in a quest to make everything appear to be about a personal guarantee of salvation. And a society based on being served as a middle class of pampered ones...eats it up. What is now popular is warned against in the bible is many places. The genius in the dark forces that seek to render the gospel powerless is the connection it has within the souls of the uncrucified. But a few will escape the pull and allure of an easy-believism. The indoctrinated ones are there to give truth-seekers a hard time of it. Hence the tribulations one must go through on the path to becoming like Christ.

 

[Lizbeth]

You are missing the "and" in the verse. Peter is not calling the saints righteous. He is calling the righteous of the nations righteous...who will be judged together with the wicked at the GWT.

The "And" is simply repeating the same idea as the verse above.......a common thing with scripture.

 

[Episkopos]

The "And" is simply repeating the same idea as the verse above.......a common thing with scripture.

Like heaven and earth? The same thing? I have found the and in scripture to mean something very different being compared against. Like light and darkness. Good and evil.

I'll break it down for those who are interested.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Pet. 4:17

(This is speaking of the Bema judgment for believers. Many modern believers haven't an idea about obeying the gospel.)

And..... if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. 4:18

This about the GWT for all nations.

There are 4 destinies here. The first resurrection is for the house of God. The saints obey the gospel, the filthy do not. Then there is an AND... the righteous are scarcely saved (no glory in the nations) and the ungodly and sinners are cast into the lake of fire. That is the second death.

There are two judgments. For the house of God AND for the nations.

Who has any discernment of these things?

 

[Behold]

what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Pet. 4:17

To "obey the Gospel" is to BELIEVE IT. = That is how you obey it as.. "ALL that believe in Jesus shall be saved"..

"All who call on the name of Jesus shall be saved"

Understand... that to "receive Christ as your Savior" is to have BELIEVED ""the Gospel of the Grace of God"

Once you do that, you are born again by the Holy Spirit, and have entered through "the Narrow Gate" = who is Jesus, Himself.

"I am the ONLY WAY... (narrow way) to the FATHER.."""

This is the : CROSS of CHRIST

There is your "Narrow Way".....and all other "ways" are the "broad WAY .. that leads to destruction"... =(Hell) .

-------------
King James Bible
But as many as received (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

New King James Version
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

American Standard Version
But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Berean Study Bible
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

Douay-Rheims Bible
But as many as received (Jesus), he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name.

English Revised Version
But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:

World English Bible
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:

Young's Literal Translation
but as many as did receive him to them he gave authority to become sons of God -- to those believing in his name,

 

[Lizbeth]

Like heaven and earth? The same thing? I have found the and in scripture to mean something very different being compared against. Like light and darkness. Good and evil.

I'll break it down for those who are interested.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Pet. 4:17

(This is speaking of the Bema judgment for believers. Many modern believers haven't an idea about obeying the gospel.)

And..... if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. 4:18

This about the GWT for all nations.

There are 4 destinies here. The first resurrection is for the house of God. The saints obey the gospel, the filthy do not. Then there is an AND... the righteous are scarcely saved (no glory in the nations) and the ungodly and sinners are cast into the lake of fire. That is the second death.

There are two judgments. For the house of God AND for the nations.

Who has any discernment of these things?

Horsefeathers, oh my. Who is this talking about then?:

2Th 1:7-9
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Those who obey not the gospel are them that know not God.....the unbelieving who are still in their sins. The context is the trouble/tribulation of persecution, and the believing are not persecuting the believing are they?

1Pe 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

This is simply juxtaposing “us” as in believers, the church (house of God is the believing church).....against unbelievers, people of the world.

1Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

And this above is repeating the same idea in slightly different words, as we so often see all over the scriptures.

 

[Episkopos]

Horsefeathers, oh my. Who is this talking about then?:

2Th 1:7-9
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

The ones who are cast away from the presence of the Lord are the pretenders in the house of God...and they are saved. Where do you see the lake of fire in the statement? The casting away into outer darkness is a destiny of the saved ones.

And you are missing the "and" again. There are two destinies that involve loss. The wicked AND the filthy. The wicked are cast into the lake of fire. AND the filthy are cast away from God's presence (I never knew you).

To NOT see this is based on eisegesis...not being careful in one's reading, but rather reading into the text what one has been taught to believe.

Those who obey not the gospel are them that know not God.....the unbelieving who are still in their sins.

What about the believers who have iniquity imputed to them? Is God that black and white? The bible is not a kid's book.

The context is the trouble/tribulation of persecution, and the believing are not persecuting the believing are they?

1Pe 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

This is simply juxtaposing “us” as in believers, the church (house of God is the believing church).....against unbelievers, people of the world.

1Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

And this above is repeating the same idea in slightly different words, as we so often see all over the scriptures.

As you misread here and elsewhere. You are stuck in English. You are leaning on a surface understanding in the wrong language. In Hebrew we can see the definite article with the word (et) that denotes another separate article.....like et hashamyim ve (AND) et haaretz.... the heavens and the earth. The "and" separates things to compare other things. In English, people will use more than one adjective for one noun...as well as in Hebrew and Greek. You are stuck here. But you are not being careful to see that 2 nouns separated by an "and" is speaking of two separate things.

The saints AND faithful brethren in the bible...is speaking of two classes of people. Notice the two nouns and there is an adjective attached to the second noun.

If you can't listen and learn something, then so be it. Remain as you are.