The Narrow Gate
How To Thrive During the Great Falling Away
Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Bible & Bible Studies, New Testament, Study, Christianity, Christian Life
| Author: | David Bergsland | ISBN: | 1230000025314 |
| Publisher: | Radiqx Press | Publication: | October 17, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | David Bergsland |
| ISBN: | 1230000025314 |
| Publisher: | Radiqx Press |
| Publication: | October 17, 2012 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
Do I believe enough to be saved?
In this day of the Modern church, the Emergent church, and the seeker-centered church with rock'n'roll singalongs and positive messages of pablum, it is time to take a look at what Jesus really requires.
Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready?
Unless you know Him personally, you are not. That's the clear message of the Gospel. It is true that salvation is free. It is true that God provides everything you need to be saved, enables you to want to do it, and empowers you to do it. But it is volunteer service to the King of kings.
- Church Membership does not count
- Charitable giving does not earn you a place
- Being a "good" guy or gal has nothing to do with it
- Having correct doctrine tends to be a hundrance in many cases
What God requires is a personal relationship. You need to believe Jesus us who He said He was—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is the only way to God. But believing that is not enough to do more than barely scrap by and get into heaven by the skin of your teeth.
You need to know Him well enough to understand what He is asking you, personally, to do with your life. Then you need to obey Him. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, but it does not include sin.
We start off this study with the words of Jesus about this narrow gate. They are words the church does not want to hear in this modern age of political correctness. But we really need to consider the implications. You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. "The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” [Matthew 7:13–14 NLT]
We must start with the narrowness. Many people are made nervous by this. It is obvious that most pastors and priests are. How can you build a church by telling the people things like this? It is not good to talk about exclusiveness. This is certainly part of the narrowness of the gate. In modern America this is where we get into trouble very quickly from the PC media police.
Jesus could not have made it more clear. This aspect of the narrowness is made clear by many things he said. If you are into the words of Jesus typeset in red ink—these are in red. He lays it out boldly—in a way that cannot be ignored. "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.” [John 10:9 NLT]
However, it is obvious to us all that today many local church pastors have trouble saying that Jesus is the gate, the door to the life abundant. It is commonly not preached because the whole approach sounds a bit narrow-minded.
But it is much stronger than that. As you will see in this book, many powerful, active church members will find themselves outside with no way to enter heaven.
You need to read this book.
Do I believe enough to be saved?
In this day of the Modern church, the Emergent church, and the seeker-centered church with rock'n'roll singalongs and positive messages of pablum, it is time to take a look at what Jesus really requires.
Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready?
Unless you know Him personally, you are not. That's the clear message of the Gospel. It is true that salvation is free. It is true that God provides everything you need to be saved, enables you to want to do it, and empowers you to do it. But it is volunteer service to the King of kings.
- Church Membership does not count
- Charitable giving does not earn you a place
- Being a "good" guy or gal has nothing to do with it
- Having correct doctrine tends to be a hundrance in many cases
What God requires is a personal relationship. You need to believe Jesus us who He said He was—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is the only way to God. But believing that is not enough to do more than barely scrap by and get into heaven by the skin of your teeth.
You need to know Him well enough to understand what He is asking you, personally, to do with your life. Then you need to obey Him. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, but it does not include sin.
We start off this study with the words of Jesus about this narrow gate. They are words the church does not want to hear in this modern age of political correctness. But we really need to consider the implications. You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. "The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” [Matthew 7:13–14 NLT]
We must start with the narrowness. Many people are made nervous by this. It is obvious that most pastors and priests are. How can you build a church by telling the people things like this? It is not good to talk about exclusiveness. This is certainly part of the narrowness of the gate. In modern America this is where we get into trouble very quickly from the PC media police.
Jesus could not have made it more clear. This aspect of the narrowness is made clear by many things he said. If you are into the words of Jesus typeset in red ink—these are in red. He lays it out boldly—in a way that cannot be ignored. "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.” [John 10:9 NLT]
However, it is obvious to us all that today many local church pastors have trouble saying that Jesus is the gate, the door to the life abundant. It is commonly not preached because the whole approach sounds a bit narrow-minded.
But it is much stronger than that. As you will see in this book, many powerful, active church members will find themselves outside with no way to enter heaven.
You need to read this book.
