Entering The Gate
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.
Titus 3:5
When you enter the narrow gate of salvation, you must do so alone. A turnstile perhaps best represents the concept of the narrow gate. Just one person at a time—with no baggage—can pass through a turnstile. God has ordained that people enter His kingdom singly, not in groups. You can’t ride in on the coattails of your church, your family, or your friends, no matter how godly those people are.
God’s gate is so narrow that you must go through it not only alone but naked. You can’t go through the gate clothed in sin and self–will. As the hymn writer said, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” That’s the way of the cross, which is the gospel. And the gospel is the narrow gate, which involves self–denial. Jesus said, “‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Mat 16:24-25).
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 238). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: We cannot earn our salvation by works no matter what we do. How good is good enough? Unless we achieve perfection, which will never happen, we can't be righteous enough. It is only by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. But, after He chooses us, we must still choose Him. We must be willing to make Him our Lord and Master. We must strip ourselves of all our worldly baggage, take up our cross as He did, and follow Him through the narrow gate.
Applications: Separate from the world and put down your idols. Do not love the world. Do not crave the sinful desires and lusts which come from the world and not from God (1 John 2:15-16). You must put Christ first, ahead of all worldly things, even above your own family, and even above yourself. You must deny yourself and follow Him where He leads as your primary goal.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for wisdom and guidance in seeking God's ways and not my own. Pray for a heart to love God above myself, and to put Him first in my life, even in the midst of chaos and distractions.
Listen to this entry
Titus 3:5
When you enter the narrow gate of salvation, you must do so alone. A turnstile perhaps best represents the concept of the narrow gate. Just one person at a time—with no baggage—can pass through a turnstile. God has ordained that people enter His kingdom singly, not in groups. You can’t ride in on the coattails of your church, your family, or your friends, no matter how godly those people are.
God’s gate is so narrow that you must go through it not only alone but naked. You can’t go through the gate clothed in sin and self–will. As the hymn writer said, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” That’s the way of the cross, which is the gospel. And the gospel is the narrow gate, which involves self–denial. Jesus said, “‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Mat 16:24-25).
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 238). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: We cannot earn our salvation by works no matter what we do. How good is good enough? Unless we achieve perfection, which will never happen, we can't be righteous enough. It is only by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. But, after He chooses us, we must still choose Him. We must be willing to make Him our Lord and Master. We must strip ourselves of all our worldly baggage, take up our cross as He did, and follow Him through the narrow gate.
Applications: Separate from the world and put down your idols. Do not love the world. Do not crave the sinful desires and lusts which come from the world and not from God (1 John 2:15-16). You must put Christ first, ahead of all worldly things, even above your own family, and even above yourself. You must deny yourself and follow Him where He leads as your primary goal.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for wisdom and guidance in seeking God's ways and not my own. Pray for a heart to love God above myself, and to put Him first in my life, even in the midst of chaos and distractions.
Listen to this entry
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