The Wide Gate vs. The Narrow Gate

Before the guilt was gone, this passage was very confusing and condeming. Basically, lots of us (Christian or not) were going to Hell and only a few would find eternal life. The retreat this weekend led me to read the Sermon on the Mount again, this time with greater understanding and confidence in my salvation through Christ.

 Matthew 7:13-14
13"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. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

 The gate which leads to destruction is wide because there are thousands upon thousands of ways to sin, to fall short of God's glory and thousands of lies which, for those who believe them to be truth, will only lead to Hell.  The gate which leads to destruction is easy because sin doesn't ask anything of you, it doesn't ask you to change.

The gate which leads to life is narrow because there's only one path, the path of Christ.  The gate which leads to life is hard because Christ wants all of you, He requires that you die to yourself and live for Him. And unfortanutely only a few find it, because so few of us are willing to even start down this path.  And ironcially the very change that discourages so many from this path is not even attainable on our own, but is rather the work of the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us in order that He might chip away at the hardness of our hearts.

Just so you know how far my understanding has come and above all, how faithful and patient that the Lord is with me, the following are a couple of journal enteries which I wrote on this very same subject over 3 years ago.  While my thoughts aren't all wrong,  the difference just astounds me. In my confusion, I saw the narrow way as simply a narrow view of Christianity.

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(July 2003)

Matthew 7:13-14                       

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Luke 13:23-25

23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"

24He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

 What is the narrow way?

 Some people think that the narrow way is defined by good deeds and religious works. That if you follow a certain pattern, you're one the right path, the narrow way.

 While going to church, tithing, working in the nursery, visiting the sick, etc. are a part of a Christian's life, doing these things doesn't make you a Christian any more than living in Russia would make me Russian. Just like our heritage, being a Christian is something you have to be born into. Hence the term 'born again'.

 John 3:3

 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

 How is one 'born again'?

 John 14:6

 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 So, the question isn't really what is the narrow way, but who is the narrow way. The answer is Jesus Christ. He has to come into your heart. You have to let Him change your heart. You can know all about Him, but that's not the same as knowing Him.

 I can't say who's  Christian and who isn't. Only you can know that for sure. Only you and God know what's in your heart. Whether you've truly been born again or whether you're just going through the motions.

 Being a Christian isn't like joining a club. Membership won't get you into heaven with the rest of the crowd. That's the broad path. The narrow way is defined by having a relationship with Him, one on one. And a relationship with Christ is about so much more than heaven and hell.

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(April 2003)

The way is narrow because faith in Christ is personal. It's something you have to experience for yourself. Someone else's testimony can help, but they can't give you faith.

 The way is narrow because it's not about following the crowd no matter how good the crowd's intentions may be, not matter how strong their individual faith may be.

 On the narrow path there is ONLY room for YOU and CHRIST. It's the most personal thing there is.