The Parable of the Narrow Door Part 1 and 2

Part 2

Part 1

The parable

29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”He said to them,

25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Door of Humility
and Church of Nativity

In that passage, the narrow door is contrasted with a broad one, and a broad and a narrow path are added to the basic image.
That is what Jesus says to us also. There are 3 parts of this message:

  1. There is only one door, and it is a narrow one;
  1. That door is now open, though it will one day close;
  1. Our duty is to enter it.

the truth at the heart of Christ’s illustration—is that salvation is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. That is what the imagery of the door is all about. It tells us that we should trust in the lord so that we can fit into the door. The narrow gate means that it would be hard to pass through the door , we will try to make very effort to make it in the door

The time is coming when the door will be closed and locked. The time for repentance is not endless. But there is time for repentance now, while the door is open. Today anyone may enter and be saved.

But you must enter by the door. To enter is not hard; there is no complicated course to follow. If Jesus had compared Himself to a wall, we would have to climb over, and it might be hard work.

If He had compared Himself to a long, dark passageway, we would have to feel our way along it, and some might be afraid to try. But Jesus said He was a door, and a door can be entered easily and instantly.

But it must be entered. There is no way of getting around that.

  1. Trust in Christ - Faith
    STRIVE TO ENTER

There is one last point to this parable, found in the word with which Jesus introduces His answer to the original question.

The Greek word agōnizomai, from which we get our word “agonize.”

It means to “strive” or to “make every effort” (NIV). By this word Jesus tells us that there is something for us to do in the matter of salvation and that we must make it our supreme business to do it.

  1. The Judgement

Jesus does not delight in speaking of this judgement, it does not give him joy to think of those being eternally cast out, but what he is doing with all passion and tenderness is urging us to repent

Most of us today are gentile Christians

Entrance into the kingdom is not our birthright

“Strive to enter through the Narrow Door”

Narrow door or narrow gate connected to repentance
Jesus is saying to this questioner, “Repent. Enter through the narrow door, through the narrow gate, for there are so many people who claim to know God, there are so many people who claim to follow God, there are so many people who claim to have a relationship with God, but if you have not repented you don't understand your fundamental problem, you don't understand the provision of the Lord in Jesus Christ for your sins, you have not responded in the way that everyone must respond to Jesus’ message who will be saved.”

Grace and Repentance

Paul explain “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God”

Ephesians 2:8

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

Protestant Reformation Slogan

Sola Fide → by faith alone

Sola Gratia → by grace alone

Soli Deo Gloria → to God alone the glory

Sola Scriptura → the Bible

Qutoes

“This life, no matter how long it lasts Is a momentary affliction Preparing us for eternal glory”

“We shouldn’t pray for an easy life but the strength to endure a difficult one”

“Because the experience of suffering is the fullest expression of God’s love”

“It is a chance to be closer to Christ”

“Even Christ felt bertrayed”

“You see in that moment He who sinless took on all our sins and got judge by God He took what deserve ’cause He loves us“

“And that love it could make the baddest man a believer”