The Narrow Way (Luke 13:24,25)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
1 August 2021
Jesus spoke much about salvation. This prompted the question from hearers “are there few who will be saved?” Jesus taught that the way of salvation is a narrow way and few people find it (Matthew 7:13,14).
Most people choose to go the broad way. It is the way of the world and of Christ-rejecting ungodliness. The broad way leads to destruction and sadly, most people go its way.
The narrow way is the way to strive for. There are many distractions but the person who enters the narrow way must put aside all distractions and strive to enter salvation. Strive to put away doubts, unbelief, the love of the world. No striving; no entry.
Also, the narrow way is the only way to heaven. The Christian teaching that Jesus is the only way is backed by the fact that Jesus is the only perfect human being, the only person to satisfy the perfect requirements of God, the only person of whom God the Father said, “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” If you wish to have eternal life you dare not trust anyone other than Jesus Christ.
The narrow way is a marked way. A pilot landing his plane must have a marked runway. Similarly people seeking salvation need a clearly marked way. The Bible makes it clear Jesus is the only way to heaven. He is the only way for a safe landing.
The door will one day be closed and no one may enter. Just as in the days of Noah the Lord shut Noah into the ark, so one day the Lord will shut the narrow way to salvation and those who remain outside will be shut out.
Why should we enter the narrow way? Because God has opened it in order that all who wish to enter may do so. It is an opportunity. Enter today and be saved.
Why is it a narrow way? It is narrow to show its focus. Many ways confuse the issue. But one clearly identified way, a narrow way, will stand out by its exclusiveness. It is the focus. It is not so narrow that no one may enter, neither is it so broad that everyone may enter. Only believers may enter.
Jesus himself chose the narrow way. He could have succumbed to the devil's temptation or the clamour of his own people to be their champion but he chose to obey the Father and went the narrow way of death on a cross. If you enter the narrow way you follow Jesus in choosing it.
Are there few who will be saved? The answer is yes and no. Yes, in so far as few people at any point of time seek to enter as seen by the fact that Christians are a minority in the world. But the answer is also no, in so far as at the end of the age the accumulated number of believers shall be great. It will be a multitude that no one can number from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues (Rev.7:9).
Jesus came to save sinners and lead them to heaven. He is doing this even today. Enter into eternal life. The way is open. But it is a narrow way.