bdavidc
Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2023
- Messages
- 146

Deceived by Religion, Shut Out by Christ
As Jesus made His way to Jerusalem, a profound question was posed to Him: Jesus Christ was questioned as He journeyed to Jerusalem with "Lord, will only a few be saved?" (Luke 13:23). Instead of providing a numerical answer, He issued a compelling directive, urgent, significant, and deeply personal: “Strive to enter through the narrow door. The statement reveals that many people will attempt to enter yet they will fail. Striping away misleading beliefs about eternal life and expose the reality that many who think they will achieve it ultimately will not.
The belief that only a select portion of people will achieve salvation causes unrest. The statement questions our safe beliefs while opposing the simple religious standards that many people have embraced. Jesus teaches that the path to salvation is restricted and selective rather than open and inviting. It calls for effort, not complacency. The verb "strive" implies an intense battle similar to what an athlete experiences when competing for an award. Salvation is not purchased by deeds but is received through authentic and committed faith that submits to Christ and takes His direction. The narrow door only allows entry to those who reject their sins and dead rituals and understand Christ as He is described in Scripture, not as they wish Him to be.
Jesus paints a chilling picture: People stand at the entryway while knocking and requesting entry but falsely assert they know Him. Our interactions with you included shared meals and teachings on your streets but you say that you do not recognize us. These individuals addressed by Jesus believed they belonged to His group. They believed in their own importance and achieved recognition among religious circles. However, they were misled. Their confidence depended not on Christ's finished work and His transformative grace but on their closeness to Him along with their personal experiences and distorted teachings from those who misled them.
Today's world presents comforting words alongside open gates to people everywhere. Countless individuals have become entangled with teachings from numerous false religious figures who promoted easy faith and self-centered versions of Christianity that require no real effort. Their message provides salvation without repentance requirements and grace without consequences while promoting a faith that lacks genuine dedication.