The Narrow Gate
Enter by the narrow gate.
Matthew 7:13
Many people have admired the principles taught in the Sermon on the Mount, but most have not followed those principles. Many have respected Jesus as a great teacher but have never received Him as Savior and Lord. That’s because they failed to enter “the narrow gate”—God’s right gate, the only one that leads to eternal life.
The path to the narrow way of Christian living is through the narrow gate of Christ Himself. “‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6). Have you gone through the narrow gate?
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 236). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: If the way to eternal life was easy, then everyone would take it. Christ is the only way and the only truth that leads to eternal life, but His way is not an easy way for most to accept. It requires us to swallow our pride, and admit that we are not in control. We must recognize that God is sovereign and we must put our faith in Him. If we are to be saved, it is "not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5). The "narrow gate" seems easy enough, but so many refuse to give all the glory to God and want to feel like they can earn what they deserve. We want to find "another way".
Applications: Do not seek to honor yourself, but glorify God in all you do. Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and He is the only way. Don't waste time looking for "another way" and enter by the narrow gate. Proclaim the gospel so that you may lead others to see and enter by that same narrow gate.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for humility, so that I would not seek to "earn" my salvation, or feel indebted to God in a way that I think I can repay. Pray for my salvation to be based on an understanding of grace and that I would produce the fruit of "good works", not out of guilt, or obligation, but out of heartfelt thanksgiving to God and a true desire to glorify Him.
Listen to this entry
Matthew 7:13
Many people have admired the principles taught in the Sermon on the Mount, but most have not followed those principles. Many have respected Jesus as a great teacher but have never received Him as Savior and Lord. That’s because they failed to enter “the narrow gate”—God’s right gate, the only one that leads to eternal life.
The path to the narrow way of Christian living is through the narrow gate of Christ Himself. “‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6). Have you gone through the narrow gate?
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 236). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: If the way to eternal life was easy, then everyone would take it. Christ is the only way and the only truth that leads to eternal life, but His way is not an easy way for most to accept. It requires us to swallow our pride, and admit that we are not in control. We must recognize that God is sovereign and we must put our faith in Him. If we are to be saved, it is "not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5). The "narrow gate" seems easy enough, but so many refuse to give all the glory to God and want to feel like they can earn what they deserve. We want to find "another way".
Applications: Do not seek to honor yourself, but glorify God in all you do. Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and He is the only way. Don't waste time looking for "another way" and enter by the narrow gate. Proclaim the gospel so that you may lead others to see and enter by that same narrow gate.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for humility, so that I would not seek to "earn" my salvation, or feel indebted to God in a way that I think I can repay. Pray for my salvation to be based on an understanding of grace and that I would produce the fruit of "good works", not out of guilt, or obligation, but out of heartfelt thanksgiving to God and a true desire to glorify Him.
Listen to this entry
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