Saturday 3 December 2016

The Gate

The Gate
“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.
I as a Christian believe Jesus is that small gate and narrow road.
Jesus speaking to one of his apostles said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. 
No one comes to the Father except through me.”  
John 14:6.
Jesus speaking of Himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
These are clear statements saying Jesus is the way to heaven. Christians believe we cannot work our way to heaven. That we cannot live a life good enough to get to heaven.
Put simply this is how Christians believe you get to heaven,
  Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 and are justified freely by his grace 
through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
 Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
 The apostle John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins 
and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, 
we make him out to be a liar
 and his word has no place in our lives.” 
1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
 not by works, so that no one can boast.”  
 Ephesians 2:8,9
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 
because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 
and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 
and certain of what we do not see.” 
 Hebrews 11:1
This indeed is a narrow road to heaven and I know many in the world today do not believe it is the only way to heaven. However if I am wrong about it, no one has to worry. If on the other hand I am right then there is a lot, to at the very least think about.
As C. S. Lewis states,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

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