I feel like it has really been long since I wrote something. To begin with here is something I found helpful. It is a Sunday sermon by Yesu ndiye njia and I hope it will minister to you just the way it did to me.It also helped to shed some light to what I already know.
The Two Gates
Matthew 7:13,14
One of the most startling teachings of
Jesus is his teaching about the two
gates. It is startling because few have
really understood its true meaning.
People that attend any kind of church
usually believe that the wide gate is
reserved for the godless and those...
who are not interested in serving God.
Let's look at what Jesus taught in
Matthew 7:13-14 about these two
gates.
Matthew 7:13 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.
The Strait Gate
Look at the strait gate and narrow way.
What do we know about this gate?
First, Jesus says that it is the gate that
leads to life. This obviously means that
it is the gate that leads men to heaven.
Second, Jesus says that it is a "strait"
gate. The word "strait" means difficult.
Jesus tells us that entering heaven will
not be easy. This is a surprise to most
people, because they have been taught
that the way to heaven is easy. They've
been taught, " All you have to do to be
saved is believe in Jesus." There is a
great difference between what men
teach today and what Jesus taught
then.
Third, Jesus tells us that there are not
many people going in through this
strait gate and narrow way. He says,
"Few there be that find it." This too, is a
surprise to many folks, because they
believe that most people will be saved
because most people believe in God.
Jesus has told us three things about
the strait gate.
1. It is the gate that leads to heaven.
2. It is difficult to enter.
3. There will not be many people who
go in the strait gate.
So far, we have no trouble
understanding what Jesus has said.
While it may not agree with what most
have been taught and believe, it is
clear and easy to understand.
Let us imagine, for a moment, that
there is a sign over the strait gate.
What would it say? Obviously, it would
say, "To Heaven." It would mean that
because those entering in know the
truth and have heaven as their
destination. Remember though, Jesus
says that there are only a few that will
find it and go in? Why is that? Do you
have an answer for that question?
Who are those who find and enter the
narrow way? Give some serious
thought to that question while we
consider what Jesus taught us about
the wide gate.
The Wide Gate
Consider the wide gate now. Jesus tells
us some things about it, also.
First, it is a "wide" gate. It is a gate that
is easily seen. Perhaps it is attractive. It
surely draws people to it.
Second, Jesus tells us this gate is the
entrance to a broad way. Some
translations say it is the "easy way."
In other words, it is not hard to enter
this gate nor walk the road it covers.
Third, Jesus tells us that it is a gate that
leads to destruction or Hell. Those who
go in that gate are bound for
destruction.
Fourth, Jesus told us there are going to
be "many" who go in this gate.
Remember, there are going to be only
a few who go in the narrow gate to
Heaven, but many will go in the gate to
Hell. Many! Why is that? Do they want
to go to eternal punishment? Is that
what people desire? This is a question
that also bears serious consideration.
Let us again summarise the points that
Jesus has made about the wide gate
and the broad way.
1. It is a wide gate.
2. It is easy way to go.
3. It is the gate that leads to Hell.
4. There will be many people who go in
the wide gate.
Most people consider this the be the
way of the world, the way of those who
do not try to serve Jesus. Generally, it is
taught that sinners and those who do
not love God and the "un-churched"
are the ones going in this gate. We are
told they are living an "easy" life, hence
we are to understand that they are
going down the broad way. Why would
anyone ever go in this gate? Surely you
would not choose to go in this gate.
Let's use our imagination again, and
ask ourselves:
"What does the sign over the wide gate
and broad say?"
What do you think?
Most people, when asked this question
say that the sign over the wide gate
would say "To Hell." It is true, that Hell
is where those who go in that gate will
end, but is that what the sign would
say?
No! That sign over the broad gate says
"To Heaven!"
It is a lying sign. It is a sign that gives
false directions. Think about it a
moment. People going through the
wide gate and broad way actually
believe that they are going to end up in
heaven. Prove it to yourself.. Read what
Jesus says in the next verse.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves.
"BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS...."
False Prophets! These people who are
going in the wide gate and broad way
believe they are going to heaven! They
are following men who claim to be
men of God. They are following men
who say that they will tell them the way
to go to heaven! Never-the-less, they
are following false prophets! Do you
know what the really sad part of this
is? Many are sincere in their beliefs.
They do not want to follow a false
prophet. In fact, even some of the false
prophets may be sincere.
Notice, however, in Matthew 7:22, what
they will say to Jesus on the day of
judgement.
Matthew 7: 22 Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?
Look what their claims mean!
1. They called Jesus their Lord!
2. They prophesied (taught the word of
God) in Jesus authority.
3. They claimed to have cast out
demons in Jesus' authority.
4. They did many wonderful works by
Jesus' authority!
Those are pretty good credentials, and
today, if we meet someone who makes
these claims, we would probably be
impressed! Most people would
consider them to be saved.
After all, look at what they are doing!
They call Jesus their Lord, they preach
and teach, they cast out demons, and
they do many other works that man
considers to be great works.
But look at Jesus' evaluation of them.
Jesus says to the false prophets and
those who are following them:
Matthew 7:23 "And then will I profess
unto them, I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity."
These religious people with such great
credentials are to depart from the
presence of Jesus and God. They are to
go to Hell. Why is that? Why would
Jesus tell people who call Him their
Lord, who preach, who claim to cast
out demons, and who do great works
for humanity, that He never knew
them?
In spite of their claims, they are not
Christians and are not going to be in
heaven. Look back to verse 21. It tells
you why!
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.
What is Jesus point? Simple. In spite of
popular belief, saying you are a
Christian, even believing, is not all that
God requires of us. Jesus says we must
do the will
of God.
We must not just believe in God, but
we must also believe God! We must
believe God enough to do His will.
That is the problem with the teaching
of many who are false prophets and
teachers today. They are telling people
that all one must do is believe in Jesus
in order to be saved. They say we are
saved by "faith only." This is a false
teaching. God has never said it, but
men teach it. In fact, we have seen that
Jesus has said just the opposite.
Jesus clearly and carefully warns man
about going in the wide gate. He
proclaims the wide gate delivers men
to Hell. The other gate is the one that
takes men to
Heaven.
Which gate are you entering? The
decision, the choice is yours. Are you
going to believe men, or Jesus? Don't
be misled by false teachers who are
leading people into the wide gate and
down the easy road. Remember Jesus
words:
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.
(Yesu ndiye njia)
