Jesus Warned That Few People Will Enter Into Heaven

Matthew 7:13-15, “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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Luke 13:23-24, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

I have observed an astonishing phenomena in Baptist churches my entire life—pastors and congregations embracing and tolerating the most heretical of doctrines. The Apostle Paul said that they didn't tolerate the perverse gospel even for one hour. Galatians 2:4-5, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” I wish we had more caring Christians today, like Paul, who understand the importance of nipping heresy in the bud quickly, lest it take root and spread.

Paul tells us why he refused to tolerate heresy in verse 5—that THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL might continue. Paul understood that a little leaven leaventh the whole lump. Galatians 5:7-9, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Paul is speaking about the truth of the Gospel here. The apostle is rebuking the churches of Galatia for allowing a religious cult to infiltrate and find acceptance with them. Paul warns them that a little ferment (bacteria) will eventually spoil the whole (whether it be bread, juice or a local church). Heresy is just like cancer, it spreads, destroying good tissue as it progresses. Paul is teaching believers the importance of Bible doctrinal soundness. Paul is effectively saying, “Right doctrine matters!”

With these truths in mind, it will help us to better understand the Lord's words of warning in Matthew 7:13-15. Jesus said that “few” people ever find the narrow way unto eternal life. Evangelist Ray Comfort perverts this passage of Scripture, errantly teaching that the “narrow way” refers to living a separated life from sin. Dear reader, that is not what Jesus meant. The way is narrow because men complicate everything, and the Gospel is very simple (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). How simple? Read for yourself in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do. 

Yet, Ray Comfort horribly teaches that you must turn away from your sinful behavior, and LIVE A LIFESTYLE of abstaining from sin your entire life, to prove that your faith is genuine. Ray Comfort is preaching the Devil's lies of John Calvin (aka, Calvinism). If you have to look at your life to prove that you are saved, it proves that you're not! We are saved by God's righteousness through faith alone in Christ (Philippians 3:9). My friend, you don't have to turn away from your sins to be saved, you must be 100% sinless and perfect. That is why when asked who can be saved, Jesus said it is IMPOSSIBLE!!! ...

Matthew 19:24-25, “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

So you see, you cannot save yourself, nor does God permit you to play any part in getting saved, except to get out of the way and rest in the finished redemptive work of Christ (Hebrews 4:10-11). Christ died on the cross, was buried and three days later He physically resurrected from the dead. This is the Gospel, the GOOD NEWS (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Getting saved is so free, easy and simple that even a small child can do it (2nd Timothy 3:15). Pastor John MacArthur's false plan of salvation is so costly, hard and complicated, that he says children cannot be saved. This is why Jesus called the Gospel “the narrow way,” and said “strait is the gate” which leadeth unto life. ...

“The true Gospel always points you to Christ; a false gospel always points to you.” —Pastor Dennis Rokser

Millions of phony churches around the world have been infiltrated, corrupted and destroyed by the Devil's lies of Wrong Repentance, Lordship Salvation and doing Good Works to be saved. It never ceases to frustrate me to hear advocates of Lordship Salvation (which sadly includes the corrupt Bob Jones University crowd), still maintain that salvation is by grace alone, while adding a bunch of requirements to faith that God doesn't ask. Adding anything more to God's simple plan of salvation by childlike faith is a perversion of God's grace. Please read this excellent sermon excerpt from Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995) called, 'A Perversion Of The Gospel: Lordship Salvation.' Also, I highly recommend these 100% Gospel accurate sermon videos by Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold. Thank God for free grace Gospel preachers!!!

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:13-14 that “few” people will be in Heaven in eternity. In Luke 13:23-24 Jesus said that “many” people will seek to enter into the gates of Heaven, but will be denied entrance. Can you imagine? It will be horrific. There will be lifelong missionaries, pastors and religious people by the billions, all trying to enter into the Pearly City, but won't be able to. Why? Jesus gives us the answer:

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 

What is the heavenly Father's will? I'm glad you asked my fine non-feathered friend. Jesus again gives us the answer in John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” God's will is to simply BELIEVE (rely, rest upon) Jesus to have the free gift of eternal life. That is why Jesus said the way is narrow and the gate is strait, because it is so simple to be saved that most men miss it. That is what it means to be “fallen from grace” in Galatians 5:4. Advocates of the heresies of Wrong Repentance and Lordship Salvation are fallen from grace—they have missed the only bus going to Heaven, they are subverted of themselves, hellbound in their partial faith in Christ plus: turning from sins, following Jesus, surrendering all to Christ as “Lord,” paying the cost, running the race faithfully to the end and exchanging all that you are for all that Christ is. 

Literally, all of the preceding unbiblical additional requirements to be saved are what Steve Pettit, John MacArthur, Ray Comfort and Marty Herron preach. I have all their damnable quotes!!! Oh why won't churchgoers wake up and heed the truth that I (and free grace preachers like me) preach from the Word of God? 

God does not save anyone who has partial faith in Christ. I like to use the Chair Illustration. Let's say for the sake of illustration (humor me), that you need to replace a defective lightbulb in your home. You don't have a step ladder, so you use a chair. I've often done that myself. How much faith do you need to get up upon the chair? Just enough to actually do it! Likewise, that is all the faith you need to be saved, JUST ENOUGH to obey God by believing (placing your reliance upon) the GOOD NEWS of Christ crucified on the cross, buried and bodily risen three days later for our justification. Come to God as a guilty sinner and believe the Gospel and you are saved!!! It's that simple oh sinner.

Now, it wouldn't matter if you had 99% doubt in a chair's ability to hold you up, you would be placing no less than 100% of your faith in the chair if you stood upon it unaided. Faith is not the presence of optimism, it is the presence of obedience. I may not have much confidence in a chair, but if I get up and place all my weight upon it, I have trusted it completely! The same is true with receiving God's gift of eternal life. The Lord doesn't demand that you rid your mind of all doubts and fears. It wouldn't be faith without doubts and concerns. Faith is taking God at His Word, as written in the Holy Bible, simply receiving Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins. Isn't that simple and beautiful. 

As hard as it is for many people to grasp, it is possible to serve Jesus your entire life and still burn in Hell forever. That is exactly what we see in Matthew 7:21-23. These were not bad people! They were not criminals. They tried to defend themselves at the judgment, telling Jesus that they did “MANY WONDERFUL WORKS” throughout their earthly life. They even called Jesus “LORD, LORD” (there's your Lordship Salvation crowd in the Bible). Jesus heard all their excuses. These were dedicated religious people, wholly committed to serving Christ. Yet, look at the horrifying words Jesus said to them in verse 23, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Will Jesus also someday deny knowing you as one of His sheep? YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN (John 3:7). To read more about the simplicity of the Gospel, please read the excellent book by Michael P. Bowen, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU.'

You now know THE TRUTH and can become (if you're not already), one of THE FEW. Our churches today are filled with deceived people, who think that they have a part in saving themselves, by continuing to prove that their faith is real by living a holy life. Dear friend, what would be the evidence that my faith is real to stand upon a chair? Why, it would be the very act of me getting up to stand on the chair. Likewise, the evidence of a person's genuine faith in Jesus is faith itself, and nothing else! 

The heretical notion that a professed believer is required to prove the reality of their faith, by faithfully running the race (living the Christian life) is a false gospel. This is classic Calvinist heresy! The Bible says a believer SHOULD serve Christ; Calvinism says a believer WILL serve Christ; Catholics say you MUST do good works to be saved. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!! Self has no place in God's free simple plan of salvation. We are saved by God's imputed righteousness, and not by any goodness, effort, merit, sacrifice or self-righteousness of our own. We have nothing worthwhile to offer God (Isaiah 64:6). The ONLY thing that you and I contribute to salvation is the sin that made it necessary! Between me and the flames of Hell is the precious blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross of Calvary!