Posted on 06/26/2019 4:40:38 AM PDT by metmom
“‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it’” (Matthew 7:13–14).
Entering through the narrow gate makes a few demands on the person passing through. First, he must enter alone. You can bring no one else and nothing else with you. Some have suggested that the gate is like a turnstile: only one person can get through at a time, and with no baggage.
The narrow gate also demands we must go through naked. This is a gate of self-denial—you can’t carry the baggage of sin and self-will. The way of Christ is the way of the cross, and the way of the cross is self-denial: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24–25).
The narrow gate also demands repentance. Many Jews believed that merely being a Jew, a physical descendant of Abraham, was sufficient for entrance into heaven. Many people today believe that being in a church, or even being a good human being, qualifies them. But the way of repentance, of turning from their own way and their own righteousness to God’s, is the only way to enter His kingdom and therefore the only way to keep from perishing.
Ask Yourself
What are the various pieces of baggage that people want to hold on to as they enter from death to life? What are the pieces that you still have a tendency to long for, even on this side of the narrow gate?
Studying God’s Word ping
Who knew that rock n rollers were writing about the bible? There’s a highway to hell (AC/DC) but a stairway to heaven (Led Zeppelin).
Pride, the assumption that one knows that their beliefs are sufficient to enter the narrow gate.
Pride is the excessive love of one’s own excellence. It is ordinarily accounted one of the seven capital sins.
It's not the amount of our faith, its the faithfulness and trustworthiness of the God whom the faith is placed in.
It's neither pride nor presumption to take God at His word and believe His promises.
Otherwise, one is showing pride by judging that God is not going to do what He promises and effectively calling Him a liar.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
I cannot fathom why Catholics are so dead set on convincing people that their salvation is not secure.
Actually, I can. If one is sure of their salvation through faith in Christ, then one doesn't need Roman Catholicism as a stand in for Him. They lose all their customers and are out of a job and a nice income flow.
“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”
We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). And that judgment will go well for some and badly for others. For Paul in Romans 2:6-7, it goes well for those who do good works in faith and seek glory, honor, and immortality. But that’s no different than the Catholic teaching that good works, along with faith, play a crucial role in the attainment of our final salvation at the end of life.
Well, Catholic teaching is wrong according to Scripture.
Our good works are as filthy rags in God’s sight.
We have to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
The narrow gate is Jesus.
Jesus told us that we will be known by our works “A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil. 36* t I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. 37 By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12)
Baptized Catholics may use the Sacrament of Reconciliation
to repent to avoid God’s judgement “by your words you will be condemned.”
Apologies in advance for erratic posting. I’m at camp with a virtually nonexistent internet connection.
Yes, we are known by our works. That is how people recognize the genuineness of our conversion and the change of heart that happened with the new birth. The born again heart will produce works in keeping with repentance.
But those works while being the result of salvation, do not contribute to it. There’s not a work that we can do that meets God’s standard of holiness, they are all corrupted and contaminated by sin. In God’s sight, the best of out righteous deeds are as filthy rags. Our motives can never be pure enough.
The problem with works theology is that all it takes to condemn us is ONE sin. A person could live an otherwise perfect life and would still go to hell if that sin was not paid for. And the wages of sin is death. It’s a payment we cannot make ourselves. Nor do our good works do not outweigh our sin. There are not enough good works a person could do in a lifetime to pay for that one sin because it’s the wrong payment. Only the shedding of blood is the right payment.
Jesus took the punishment for your sin and my sin on the cross, all of it. When we turn to Him and ask Him by faith to apply that to our account, it is essentially throwing yourself on the mercy of the court, recognizing that there is NOTHING you can do to gain forgiveness and eternal life otherwise. Then the record of our sin is wiped clean and God does not see us as owing it any more as it has been paid for by Jesus. The judgment we deserve fell on Him when He died in our place.
But as long as a person keeps trying to gain God’s favor by works, that person is not trusting Christ to save them, but trusting themselves to save themselves.
Repentance only counts when you turn TO Christ in your turning away from sin. Lots of people are sorry enough for their sin to turn from it, but turning from sin does not by mean by default, turning to Christ. Nor is it necessary to repent of every single last sin. It’s absolutely impossible to remember it all for one thing, if you are even aware that you committed the sin in the first place.
The minute you add any other requirement to the finished work of Christ on the cross, it’s that other thing you are trusting to save you. Which means you are not trusting Christ because you don’t think His death was enough to satisfy God’s judgment and adequately pay for your sin. You have to add something to it.
What an affront to Christ!
Adding works also negates mercy and grace. If you are working, then what you get is payment due for deeds performed. Forgiveness by its very nature is freely given out of mercy. When you work for it and if God were to give it to you, it would be payment, not forgiveness and mercy.
Not sure why you switched mid-stream form *works* to *words*. What’s your point with that?
Simple question....do you wear one of the scapulars and/or miraculous medal?
I used to wear one when I was in catholic grade school, but by the time we got to catholic high school, none of us wore one. It’s been so long, that I don’t recall why we all stopped wearing it. I seem to recall it was made of wool, and was very uncomfortable.
Now, I think of it, as no different from the Mormon magic underwear. 😁
Salvation is a process for each individual.
First, Christ died for the sins of mankind, so that we could be redeemed by Christ dying for our sins. This gave us access to Heaven (opened the door) in a general way. We must hear the Knock and open the door for Jesus and the Church (the Body of Christ) to help us.
Second, we must accept Christ and His teachings through Baptism. Baptism forgives original sin and all sins that we have at that time.
Third, As Jesus said Keep my commandments. Love God and neighbor.
Fourth, we must seek the Truth as Christ established the Catholic Church and delegated the preaching of the Good News of Salvation and Baptizing all nations and leading us to eternal life with God. Other Christian religions are the product of man and spread some of the teachings of Jesus, but also false teachings of man.
Fifth, Jesus established the Mass and the Sacraments. Jesus delegated the forgiveness of sins to ordained priests and Bishops of the Catholic Church. So there is a way to seek forgiveness of our sins before death. Mortal sins not forgiven at date of death will prevent us from entering Heaven, whereas venial sins will be cleansed in Purgatory before we enter Heaven..
Sixth, As Paul explains in Philippians 2:13, “God is the one, who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.” Paul’s words presuppose that the faithful Christian is not just desiring to be righteous, but is actively working toward it.
Seventh, In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus said, “On the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Eight, But in Revelation 2:23, Jesus says, “I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.” Jesus does not render a judgment based solely on what our hearts deserve but also on what our works deserve.
Words and works are similar and indicates our will to follow God and as we will be judged by Christ for our actions and words.
Your comment: “Jesus took the punishment for your sin and my sin on the cross, all of it.” That indicates that all will go to Heaven. But Jesus said about the narrow door: “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.” Luke 13: 24 “Many are invited, but few are chosen: (Matt 22:14)
I can understand your situation at camp, as I spent a week in South Dakota with high school students without internet or phone. I hope you are relaxing and able to enjoy your time there.
Peace be with you.
One more time.....simple question....do you wear one of the scapulars and/or miraculous medal?
A judgement for SAVED BELIEVERS.
The purpose is to judge works done after salvation.
No one in this passage loses salvation. Did you read this passage, or quote some internet thing?
And that judgment will go well for some and badly for others.
But none will lose salvation at this judgement of works.
For Paul in Romans 2:6-7, it goes well for those who do good works in faith and seek glory, honor, and immortality. But that’s no different than the Catholic teaching that good works, along with faith, play a crucial role in the attainment of our final salvation at the end of life."
Totally different.
The Roman Catholic teaching perverts salvation.
Hey, Rome! You only had one job!
Made up.
Baptism doesn't give salvation.
No "sacrament of reconciliation."
I used to have one of those things too. Faded picture of some virgin that wasn’t Mary on it also.
Thank God for the love of Christ on the cross that I am Eternally Secure in Salvation.
Do I still sin? Yep....
Do I repent? Immediately...
A priest in Catholicism asserts that salvation is a ‘process’ ... not knowing that when one believes / places their faith in / trusts the Promise of The Grace of God for them in Christ ALONE, it is GOD Who puts the seal of His Holy Spirit upon the before dead spirit of that individual. And even you cannot break His seal, priest.
MHGinTN: This is a gross, grievous, demonic LIE of Catholicism, the 'other religion', as Paul identified 'it'.
As a priest, do you know the difference between the Judgment Seat (Bema Seat) of Christ and the great White Throne of Judgment? You better learn it quick, before the Rapture or dying. Your eternity is at stake!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.