“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV).
Why?
After reading this passage, the natural question is: why is the way narrow? Why aren’t there lots of paths and options that all ultimately lead to the same place?
The answer to this question is found in the pages of scripture: the way is narrow because we are following Jesus (Matthew 16:24). When you are following in the footsteps of someone, the way isn’t broad.
The gospel doesn’t encompass every whim and desire of the human heart. Jesus doesn’t teach a broad way where our choices don’t matter and every roads lead to salvation. The gospel is particular. Salvation is specific. Forgiveness through Jesus our Messiah is the foundation of salvation. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the new covenant! (Luke 22:20).
Fruit that abides
What are we called to as believers? To be a branch in the true vine (Jesus Christ) because Jesus said that apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:5)! No fruit for the Kingdom of God can come from our own efforts in our fleshly nature. We learn from the Apostle Paul that the fruit in our lives is grown out of the presence of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc. that a believer exhibits does not originate from their own personal nature. The fruit produced that abides is produced through our abiding in the presence of Christ!
There we see that mystery at work again! The cooperation God desires from the believer within his gospel of grace! He holds us steady in our firm salvation in him, and also makes it clear that we are to listen to his word.
Works based salvation is wrong.
But telling people that repentance is negotiable is also wrong.
He did talk about sin
Jesus spoke about sin in his earthly ministry. He told the woman caught in the act of adultery to “go and from now on sin no more.” John 8:11 (ESV). He told the man who had been healed of blindness to “stop sinning” John 5:14 (ESV). We don’t know what specific struggles the man had, the scripture is quiet on that subject- but we do know that Jesus told him to stop. We also know for certain that the apostles confronted sin, they were not afraid to talk about it.
That’s not what he did
I heard a song recently that really bothered me- mostly because it painted Jesus as a person who sits comfortably within sin and offers only acceptance and love. Why is this dangerous? Because there is a mixture of truth and untruth here. The truth: Jesus absolutely seeks us when we are off the path and in the brambles. I’ve experienced this in my own life. He listens, he comforts, and he loves us when we 100% do not deserve his attention or faithfulness (not that we could ever earn it in the first place!). In a season of wandering, he leaves the 99 sheep to come after the one that’s wandered away. Here’s the thing though, he doesn’t leave his sheep in the brambles. He is patient? Yes. Will he change a heart that is surrendered through belief in his name? Yes. But will he expect our cooperation in his new work to get rid of sin and change our behaviors? Also, yes. The Lord will not allow his sheep to set up camp permanently outside of his pen.
Repentance isn’t passive
Repentance isn’t something that happens passively. It the process of Godly sorrow that comes in response to the light of God’s truth in the gospel (2 Corinthians 7:10). To discount repentance and turning away from sin is to discount most of the prophets in the Old Testament and the entire ministry of John the Baptist (not to mention the reproofs of the apostles and Lord himself).
The sheep know their Shepard
Jesus said that his sheep know his voice, and when they hear the voice of another, they will run (John 10:3-5). We respond to one voice, the voice of Christ. We walk after the footsteps of one, the Son of God. It isn’t a broad way because the gospel makes it clear that we are walking after a single example, Jesus Christ!
- What are the main differences (besides physical width) between a wide path and a narrow path?
- How does a wide path make the journey easier? How does a narrow path make a journey hard?
- Name some Biblical figures who walked both paths. What were their hardships? What were their outcomes?
