Entering by the Narrow Gate

[Episkopos]

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"

Jesus said that to build on the rock means more than hearing and accepting (believing about). One must DO what He says. To obey is to DO the commandment. Whoever loves the Lord obeys Him.

Obeying the gospel means actually entering into what the gospel is about. One who does this carries one's cross (until crucified on Christ's). forsakes one's life, and loves as Jesus loves. One who obeys the gospel overcomes all things as Jesus also did. Obeying the gospel is about returning the love of God back to Him in a full surrender and sacrifice. He first loved us.

A superficial understanding will always take the easy believe road. But Jesus counsels against that kind of superficiality.

 

[Lizbeth]

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.



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

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.

We are not to approach scripture in a literal logical way with the natural carnal mind. That is often the natural man seeking glory for himself, wanting to be credited for figuring things out by himself. Try to notice going forward, how often scripture reiterates the same concept twice in the same passage, in slightly different ways.

By the way just want to point out also that faith is not fantasy...........what it is, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. The natural mind of man has trouble with that concept too. These things must be spiritually discerned, ie, by the Holy Spirit, and in that way God is glorified, not the natural man.

 

[Lizbeth]

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,

Amen. Believing by faith is our transformative first step in obeying, ie, being subject to, the gospel.

2Co 9:13
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

 

[Lizbeth]

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.

Aren't you forgetting that modern "American style" Christianity to this degree is a modern phenomenon? The church was doing way better than this generally prior to modern times while still believing in imputed righteousness and remission of sins. It only spoils those who ignore or wrest so many other scriptures to their peril. (Such as the ones that warn us not to use our liberty as a cloak or license to sin.) And they do this, yes I agree, to appease the flesh and for gain and fame.

 

[Episkopos]

We are not to approach scripture in a literal logical way with the natural carnal mind. That is often the natural man seeking glory for himself, wanting to be credited for figuring things out by himself. Try to notice going forward, how often scripture reiterates the same concept twice in the same passage, in slightly different ways.

By the way just want to point out also that faith is not fantasy...........what it is, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. The natural mind of man has trouble with that concept too. These things must be spiritually discerned, ie, by the Holy Spirit, and in that way God is glorified, not the natural man.

Oh, the irony.

 

[Episkopos]

Aren't you forgetting that modern "American style" Christianity to this degree is a modern phenomenon? The church was doing way better than this generally prior to modern times while still believing in imputed righteousness and remission of sins. It only spoils those who ignore or wrest so many other scriptures to their peril. (Such as the ones that warn us not to use our liberty as a cloak or license to sin.) And they do this, yes I agree, to appease the flesh and for gain and fame.

Saints have always come into being in spite of the surrounding church culture. One must always take the path less followed. The way is narrow...and that's after having been permitted entry through the narrow gate, which few can even conceptualize now. The way that is in Christ is very specific...and changeless. So the modern church teaches people to not even be able to listen to the truth....let alone attempt to enter in.

 

[Behold]

Jesus said that to build on the rock means more than hearing and accepting (believing about).

When Jesus said that, He was referencing the revelation that Peter had been given, that Jesus is the Messiah, "the Rock".

Jesus had not yet died on The for the Sin of the World... (John 3:16).

This is also found here..."And that ROCK.....,.was Christ".. .and that is OT prophecy.. that is explained by Paul in 1 Corin 10.

So, @Episkopos, you have a lot of Theology issues, and one of them is this, which is typical of a Legalist, like you.

A Legalist, who is trying to "do righteousness" because they dont understand The Cross of Christ and "the Gift of Righteousness"... also teaches this same deception..

= Its always... "what we have to do for God".........instead of "What God has done for us, through The Cross of Christ" that is WHY we are "accepted in the Beloved", and have become "The Righteousness of God... in Christ", as a 'new Creation".

 

[Ritajanice]

Only Gods Spirit can keep me on that narrow path.

Do you believe you can stay walking that narrow path permanently @Lizbeth ?

I believe I venture off at times, I have more discernment to know , when I venture off.,,..it’s the Spirit who leads me back to that narrow path...it’s really hard, if we try and do it in our own strength...I guess it’s learning to submit to the Spirit, we will be doing that imo, until the day we die.

 

[amigo de christo]

Only Gods Spirit can keep me on that narrow path.

Do you believe you can stay walking that narrow path permanently @Lizbeth ?

I believe I venture off at times, I have more discernment to know , when I venture off.,,..it’s the Spirit who leads me back to that narrow path...it’s really hard, if we try and do it in our own strength...I guess it’s learning to submit to the Spirit, we will be doing that imo, until the day we die.

set the MARK ON JESUS THE CHRIST , not on our failures and the mark men has set for the church .
SET that mark ON JESUS THE CHRIST . For ye shall not fullfill the lusts of the flesh IF WE HEED THE SPIRIT .
dont sell us short sister of the true , the pure and holy mark in CHRIST JESUS .
Rather remind all to HEED HIS INDWELLING SPIRIT and heed not the flesh . Be encouraged sister .

 

[Lizbeth]

Saints have always come into being in spite of the surrounding church culture. One must always take the path less followed. The way is narrow...and that's after having been permitted entry through the narrow gate, which few can even conceptualize now. The way that is in Christ is very specific...and changeless. So the modern church teaches people to not even be able to listen to the truth....let alone attempt to enter in.

You aren't taking into account such scriptures as "we who believe HAVE entered His rest." And "you ARE in the Spirit if you HAVE the Spirit."

In a manner of speaking, we are to seek to enter and walk in what we have ALREADY received. Otherwise we couldn't do it. But, "As ye HAVE received Christ, SO walk ye in Him."

Kind of a paradox to these things, as we have talked about before.

 

[amigo de christo]

Only Gods Spirit can keep me on that narrow path.

Do you believe you can stay walking that narrow path permanently @Lizbeth ?

I believe I venture off at times, I have more discernment to know , when I venture off.,,..it’s the Spirit who leads me back to that narrow path...it’s really hard, if we try and do it in our own strength...I guess it’s learning to submit to the Spirit, we will be doing that imo, until the day we die.

Hit the trenches dear sister . Its an all out end hour war for the souls of men .
Point to Christ JESUS and all lovely words of TRUTH HE did say and that are written for our learning in the scriptures .
The adversary has come to infiltrate any and all places . And he has come to lead all into antoher direction .
He and his minstiris do not want the people IN the scrips for themselves . But this lamb wont heed that voice .
To the trenches sister .

 

[amigo de christo]

You aren't taking into account such scriptures as "we who believe HAVE entered His rest." And "you ARE in the Spirit if you HAVE the Spirit."

In a manner of speaking, we are to seek to enter and walk in what we have ALREADY received. Otherwise we couldn't do it. But, "As ye HAVE received Christ, SO walk ye in Him."

Kind of a paradox to these things, as we have talked about before.

its the BELIEVE part epi has a problem with . He dont like it when i even remind all
about the DIRE NEED TO FIRST BELIEVE ON JESUS the CHRIST .
What is the one thing el diablo knows that will surely destroy a person .
What does the DEVIL come to do . steal , kill and destroy .
What is the one thing that the dark one knows that will surely damn a soul .
TO BELIEVE or NOT TO BELEIVE . The devil dont give a rip what one does so long as they DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS IS THE CHRST .
that is his mission . His mission is to destroy , to kill , to lead man to the second death .
To make void the fact one must FIRST BELIEVE JESUS IS THE CHRIST , is to preach nutting but vainity even if one does bring
some truths . GET EPI to even admit one must FIRST BELIEVE JESUS is the CHRIST . bueno suerte with THAT sister .
HE constantly attacks my reminders calling them religious ego and etc . Something went wrong sister . big time .

 

[amigo de christo]

To each and to all TRUST WHAT JESUS taught . Take him at HIS every word
and remember the many times they warned about the dire NEED to BELEIVE JESUS IS THE CHRIST .
The adversary does not care what one does , SO LONG as that one does not BELIEVE JESUS is the CHRIST .
That is his mission . HE cometh from the beginning to bring naught but death upon man .
That is why he convinced them to eat of the tree .
And in this last hour that is why he does all to convince all that there is no NEED TO BELEIVE JESUS IS THE CHRIST .
THE devil desires the death of man and always has . JESUS CAME TO GIVE LIFE . TIME to remind all of the dire
need to FIRST BELIEVE ON JESUS THE CHRIST .

 

[amigo de christo]

Only Gods Spirit can keep me on that narrow path.

Do you believe you can stay walking that narrow path permanently @Lizbeth ?

I believe I venture off at times, I have more discernment to know , when I venture off.,,..it’s the Spirit who leads me back to that narrow path...it’s really hard, if we try and do it in our own strength...I guess it’s learning to submit to the Spirit, we will be doing that imo, until the day we die.

Just a reminder that you already know .
Satan desires and has always desired the death of man . This is why the serpent tempted eve to begin with .
But look at what he did . HE wooed her and made it seem as though this was a good thing.
But death came upon all .
ENTER JESUS THE CHRIST who giveth life and told all of the dire necessity to BELEIVE ON HIM .
the adversary who STILL desires the death of man and not life for man
IS gonna preach any message hecan and make it soundgood and loving to convince people
ITS OKAY IF YE BELIEVE NOT . HE does not love us rita . GOD DOES
so GOD sent the SON so that who so ever shall BELIEVE on HIM shall not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE .
always remember the dire necessity of JESUS THE CHRIST and that HE said
one must believe . so did the true apostels and so have all lambs ever since .

 

[IronMaiden]

Hit the trenches dear sister . Its an all out end hour war for the souls of men .
Point to Christ JESUS and all lovely words of TRUTH HE did say and that are written for our learning in the scriptures .
The adversary has come to infiltrate any and all places . And he has come to lead all into antoher direction .
He and his minstiris do not want the people IN the scrips for themselves . But this lamb wont heed that voice .
To the trenches sister .

We need to continue every single day of our lives to study, rightly dividing the Word of God, the Bible. This way, we’ll never be deceived by false nonsense, especially in these latter days where it’s all we hear.

 

[amigo de christo]

We need to continue every single day of our lives to study, rightly dividing the Word of God, the Bible. This way, we’ll never be deceived by false nonsense, especially in these latter days where it’s all we hear.

Yes indeed my friend . yes indeed .

 

[Episkopos]

You aren't taking into account such scriptures as "we who believe HAVE entered His rest." And "you ARE in the Spirit if you HAVE the Spirit."

You are using circular reasoning here. You assume you are already seated in heavenly places because Paul describes that as a reality that is AVAILABLE to us. Laodiceans will name and claim whatever they read that appeals to them.

In a manner of speaking, we are to seek to enter and walk in what we have ALREADY received.

That only works if you understand that an empty lamp that once held oil needs now to be refilled...re-dipped.

Otherwise we couldn't do it.

It's impossible to move forward into eternal life if you believe it will always be the same thing...like a circular walk in the wilderness. As in "We are only going where we have gone before" (A line from the hymn "backward christian soldiers")

But, "As ye HAVE received Christ, SO walk ye in Him."

Kind of a paradox to these things, as we have talked about before.

This is assuming that one knows what one is talking about. Basically assuming and presuming.

 

[Episkopos]

When Jesus said that, He was referencing the revelation that Peter had been given, that Jesus is the Messiah, "the Rock".

Jesus had not yet died on The for the Sin of the World... (John 3:16).

This is also found here..."And that ROCK.....,.was Christ".. .and that is OT prophecy.. that is explained by Paul in 1 Corin 10.

That's incorrect. Jesus used the rock and sand analogy as a kingdom principle...building on sand....doing as you do. Building on the rock...working out your salvation with fear and trembling and allowing God to cause you to be a DOER of the word, not just a hearer deceiving yourself.

So, @Episkopos, you have a lot of Theology issues, and one of them is this, which is typical of a Legalist, like you.

Your fingers are pointing back at you. You ridicule an actual walk with the living God in favour of an acceptance of "Paulline" doctrine as a religious theory without any experience of God whatsoever. It is from the legalist mindset that you see your own beliefs as something that you can claim justifies you. It's all from you. The bible for you is making you worse for naming and claiming.

A Legalist, who is trying to "do righteousness" because they dont understand The Cross of Christ and "the Gift of Righteousness"... also teaches this same deception..

God accepts those who "do righteousness" but you would have to read the bible apart from your religious commentaries to get that. You think your religious beliefs and theories justify you even as you do unrighteousness. We all have works, it just depends what kind they are. Your lack of care in this is bolstered by the pride and hubris of you being above all that. Pride goes before a fall. It must be that many will be workers of iniquity. I warn people to depart from such. And I don't expect anything but abuse from those I warn...as the bible attests to.

= Its always... "what we have to do for God".........instead of "What God has done for us, through The Cross of Christ" that is WHY we are "accepted in the Beloved", and have become "The Righteousness of God... in Christ", as a 'new Creation".

You are mixing standards...claiming the high standard without any reality. The high standard is only for saints who have been empowered with resurrection life. But of course the imagination can get hold of things that are fantastical. If that was done with an understanding of the pretend then one could play that game. To to be serious about one's own self-justification???? Folly. It's all warned against in the bible. One has just to read without the blinders on.

 

[Behold]

That's incorrect. Jesus used the rock and sand analogy as a kingdom principle...

The Revelation that Peter gave to the Lord.... is the "Rock" that is the Cornerstone of the "Church".

A.) "Jesus is the Son of God". and its by HIS Cross, that any BELIEVER may become "THe righteousness of God in Christ"...

Jews, dont believe it, and Legalists wont accept it. (You).

Your fingers are pointing back at you. You ridicule an actual walk with the living God in favour of an acceptance of "Paulline" doctrine

I have an "actual walk with God", and i only Teach Paul's Doctrine.

If you knew Paul's doctrine, you would understand my posts and Threads. And if you believed Paul's Doctrine, then you would agree with them...

God accepts those who "do righteousness"

"There is none righteous, no not one" because = "ALL have sinned and fallen short"...Including you, Mr Higher walk in Zion.
So, the only righteousness a SINNER like you will ever have, is when God gives you His as : "the imputed righteousness of Christ".
There is no other, regarding a human, born "in Sin".... having the "adamic nature".

You are mixing standards...claiming the high standard without any reality.

No human, who is a sinner, and that is all of us, until we are born...again .........can match the Holiness of Jesus.
So, that you believe that you can, is your pride proclaiming it.. from the depths of your self deception, @Episkopos

Now what you can have.. .is forgiveness of ALL your sin, and.. the "imputed righteousness of God"., as this is "The Gift of Righteousness" that is "THe Gift of Salvation".

 

[amigo de christo]

That's incorrect. Jesus used the rock and sand analogy as a kingdom principle...building on sand....doing as you do. Building on the rock...working out your salvation with fear and trembling and allowing God to cause you to be a DOER of the word, not just a hearer deceiving yourself.


Your fingers are pointing back at you. You ridicule an actual walk with the living God in favour of an acceptance of "Paulline" doctrine as a religious theory without any experience of God whatsoever. It is from the legalist mindset that you see your own beliefs as something that you can claim justifies you. It's all from you. The bible for you is making you worse for naming and claiming.


God accepts those who "do righteousness" but you would have to read the bible apart from your religious commentaries to get that. You think your religious beliefs and theories justify you even as you do unrighteousness. We all have works, it just depends what kind they are. Your lack of care in this is bolstered by the pride and hubris of you being above all that. Pride goes before a fall. It must be that many will be workers of iniquity. I warn people to depart from such. And I don't expect anything but abuse from those I warn...as the bible attests to.

You are mixing standards...claiming the high standard without any reality. The high standard is only for saints who have been empowered with resurrection life. But of course the imagination can get hold of things that are fantastical. If that was done with an understanding of the pretend then one could play that game. To to be serious about one's own self-justification???? Folly. It's all warned against in the bible. One has just to read without the blinders on.

sorry but you fooling and have fooled you own self . THEIR aint TWO standards of this so called
high and low .
THERE IS GODS way or the HIGHWAY . you believe a lie epi .
I already know what you believe my friend . the lie that one does not have to believe JESUS is the CHRIST
OH they on the LOW road all right . That ROAD LEADS TO THE SECOND DEATH EPI . NOT TOGOD .
TIME to Preach JESUS CHRIST , ALL , AWLLL things , HE DID teach Epi , INCLUDING THE DIRE Most important
YE MUST BELIEVE HE IS THE CHRIST . oh wait, I NEVER hear that from you
in fact what i hear from you is , SHUT YOUR MOUTH with your religious dribble of reminding us one must believe JESUS is the CHRIST .
EPI . you aint on the high road at all . Now you THINK YA ARE . no duobt , YA THINK YOU ARE .
BUT HELLO EPI , JESUS HIMSELF preached on the dire need to BELEIVE ON HIM . EVEN JESUS HIMSELF said that
ya doctrine and your popes and yalls inclusivity AINT OF GOD at all . its a snare and a trap and its full of EGO . SELF .