Look Around, Are You On a Wide Path or Narrow One?

In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.  Here is this week’s question:Dear Dave and T. A., My question is along the line of who is and who is not a Christian.In Matthew:7:13-14 [13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
See All... we find Jesus saying that wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and that the path that many take.On the other hand, few find the narrow way which leads to life.Are these verses talking about salvation?

Dave:

It’s obviously talking eternal life.It says “the gate, the way that leads to life.”Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”So there’s no question of what it is talking about.In fact in another gospel what he just said was preceded by the question that the disciples asked.“Lord are there many that saved?”And that’s when he says no there aren’t.“Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it.”So now, what is this person getting at?

Tom:

Well I think—

Dave:

What’s their question?

Tom:

I’m not quite sure, but let me ask a question.Could this verse apply to just living the Christian life?For example, in 2 John 4, John writes, “I rejoice greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth as we have received the commandment from the Father.”So couldn’t this apply to the way you live your life, the choices that you make?Dave, in the last segment we mentioned a thoughtful Christian.It’s not hard to discover more and more, you do it all the time, asking people where they are.Do they really know the Lord?Are they real Christians, are they true Christians?Are they walking in truth and many are not.

Dave:

Look Tom, this is not about living the Christian life.This is about whether or not you have life.Whether or not you have entered into life through Christ who is the door and in contrast the broad road leads to destruction.You couldn’t say that the Christian who isn’t living the Christian life is on a broad road to destruction.It sounds like what we just had in our last segment.These are the various clergymen leading people astray.Jesus said the blind are leading the blind and they will all fall into the ditch.So this is the broad road, anything goes, any higher power.I was talking to my doctor after coming back from the hospital and he was sort of giving me a check up and follow up and so forth.Well he has watch some videos and read some books that I’ve given him and we’ve had some interesting discussions, but he said, “Well I believe in a higher power.”I said, “Doctor.Higher power?Higher than what?What do you mean by a power?A power could not create human beings.”Well he said, “Well I am a Catholic you know, and well if I am a Catholic, then that answers it.We don’t need to discuss this further, because I’ve got my faith and you’ve got your faith.”This is the broad road that leads to destruction.And Jesus is pointing out that there is a narrow way that leads to life.Why a narrow way?Tom, we’ve been over this so many times.I have a degree in mathematics.Two plus two is four.Always is, always was, always will be.You can’t say why can’t we be broad minded and let two plus two be five at least on Thursdays?It won’t work!No where, any where in this universe can you do that sort of thing!You can’t even play a game without rules, right?And the referee whistles you down and you say well I can do anything I want.No, it doesn’t work anywhere in this life and yet people think it works with God.And Jesus is saying, “Wait a minute, God has got some rules too.”He’s the Creator, he made this universe.We have offended him.We have broken his laws and that means there are serious consequences to this and you are not going to be made right with God except on his terms.We don’t dictate terms to God.Well we say, or you are going down a one way street with an arrow pointing the opposite direction and you’re going with arrows all over the place and you say yeah but I am sincere.Come on! Your conscience, the universe, everything tells you now look this is a narrow path.It is narrow because God says this is THE way.There is no other way.Why not follow it?

Tom:

Dave, let me get to that.This is THE way.

Dave:

Right.

Tom:

This is THE truth.

Dave:

Amen.

Tom:

So then everything that deviates from that, that moves away from it—I am trying to get at this idea of narrow.Truth has to be narrow or what else is there?There’s either truth or everything else is bogus.Everything else is a lie, right?

Dave:

Right.

Tom:

So if you bought into that—that’s why I was trying to see if there’s some application of this verse with regard to a Christian’s walk.Because Christian’s make choices.Yes, they are saved by grace through faith, they have the Holy Spirit within, they have all that they need to make right and proper choices, not for their salvation.God’s taken care of that, but for a life that’s fruitful and productive.We are going to get into that when we get into John 10 in our next segment.Let me add one other verse.Proverbs:“There’s a way that seems right unto a man, but the end there of is—“

Dave:

“…Are the ways of death.”

Tom:

“…Are the ways of death.”

Dave:

Yes but Tom, there again it is talking about the difference between life and death.It’s not talking about living the Christian life.There are plenty of verses talking about living the Christian life, pleasing the Lord.“If you love me, keep my commandments…” and so forth.Walking in the Spirit—Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”But here it is very clear.This is about entering into life or on the road to destruction and it’s narrow because truth does not accommodate itself to error, into lies.But that’s what people want today.We have an ecumenical mood.You’ve got your faith, I’ve got my faith.You’ve got your higher power; I’ve got mine.Well, try that with God and I guarantee you on basis of his Word and common sense it will not work.You think God is offended when you mix him up and confuse him with pagan gods and forces and so forth?And you think you can just do whatever you want and it’s going to be okay with God?Common sense would tell you that’s not right and the Bible certainly condemns it.