The Way That is Narrow

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV’84)

This word “narrow” means, “restricted, limited, confined, controlled.” It is the opposite of “broad” or “wide” which mean, “wide-ranging, eclectic, assorted, diverse, all-encompassing, varied, inclusive, off the mark.”

In a spiritual sense this is speaking of the way to God and to salvation and to eternal life with God in heaven. Some people are entering via the way that is restricted, limited, and controlled. And this is the way of holiness, righteousness, godliness, moral purity, uprightness, honesty, faithfulness and obedience to our Lord, which are all by-products of genuine God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, but is only by the grace of God and as gifted to us by God.

And this is the narrow way because it is the way of the cross via us dying with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily, and us walking in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in practice. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. He died that we might live for him and no longer for self. And he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now become slaves of God and of his righteousness, and honor God with our bodies.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

But the majority of people are on the broad road which leads to destruction, and many of them are people who also profess faith in Jesus Christ but who are not walking the narrow road which is restricted and controlled by God with regard to what we are allowed to do and not allowed to do. For they prefer the broad road because it does not restrict them with regard to how they ought to live, and it does not warn them of divine judgment if they continue on that path which is “off the mark.”

The problem here is that so many people today are flip-flopping these two roads (ways of life) and so they have turned the broad road into the road to heaven and they have turned the narrow road into a lie, essentially. For they are teaching a salvation message absent of the cross of Christ in our lives, for it does not require death to sin and walks of obedience to the Lord. All they require is an undefined “faith” that is of the flesh of man and not of God, for it does not submit to God’s will and purpose for our lives.

And so many people, thus, are getting this impression that they can make that profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and now all their sins are forgiven, and they are on their way to heaven, but regardless of how they live. But Jesus said if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. So if we keep on in walking in sin and not in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord, then we will not inherit eternal life with God, but hell will be our destiny.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31] 

Full Release  

An Original Work / April 15, 2012

Walking daily with my Savior 

brings me joy.

Loving Father; precious Jesus; 

He’s my Savior and my Lord.

Gently leads me; follow Him.

I’ve invited Him within.

Now abiding in His presence, 

oh, what peace.

From my self-life 

He has brought me,

By His mercy, full release.

Hope and comfort, 

peace and safety Jesus brings

When I daily bow before Him;

Obey freely; do His will.

Follow Him where’er He leads.

Listen to Him; His words heed.

Now obeying his words fully, 

oh, what love

That He gives me 

through salvation,

By His Spirit, from above. 

Loving Father; precious Jesus, 

He’s my friend.

With my Savior, by His Spirit, 

I will endure to the end.

Share the gospel, tell what’s true.

Witness daily; His will do.

Tell the world of how their Savior 

bled and died.

On a cruel cross He suffered 

So that we might be alive. 

https://vimeo.com/115169203