Christ Leads The Way

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” – Matt. 7:13

Hey readers! Thank-you for staying along for the ride of this journey with me as I follow Christ. I appreciate you!

There are the ideas in the religious world today that God has already picked out who He wants to be saved while everyone else is going to be condemned to hell and that God only sent His Son Jesus to save just a limited number of people.  The concepts are from Calvinism and deal with unconditional election and limited atonement. I submit that Christ died for all people and that anyone who obeys Him will be saved.

It’s not the easiest life to lead, following Christ. Jesus said that “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:14). His disciples asked in Luke 13:23, “Are there few being saved?” Many will try but won’t be able to enter the narrow door to salvation was Jesus’ response paraphrased (Luke 13:24).

But many won’t be able to enter because they refuse to obey Him. It’s not because Jesus or God the Father has set aside certain people to be damned. God is not willing that any man should perish but wants all men to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). That’s why He sent His Son – so that we might have eternal life.

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” – John 3:17

God desires for everybody to be saved. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). “This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4). Christ is not just the Savior of a select few; He came to save all men.

He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe (1 Tim. 4:10). He gives us free will to choose to follow and obey Him. Everybody has the opportunity to repent (Acts 17:30). God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but He delights when they turn from their ways and live (Ezek. 18:23).

Any person has the chance to repent and be saved. Jesus shed His blood and died so that we might be able to do it. And that blood that He shed was to purchase His church – those who are saved by being obedient to His will (Acts 20:28). He predetermined that He would have a kingdom – His church – and that it would be established forever with those who faithfully serve Him.

The church is His people set aside for His glory. And anyone can be a part of His church if they are born again (John 3:5). When you obey the truth of the gospel, you become born again (1 Pet. 1:22-23). Obey Christ today: believe that He is Lord, repent of your sins, confess His sweet name, and be immersed for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will be born again and a part of His kingdom, the church – the called out, the saved.

Enter in at the narrow gate. Will you obey Christ today?

“‘For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore turn and live!’” – Ezek. 18:32

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