Welcome to the
Crestview Church of Christ
Marshall, Texas
When is the Narrow Way TOO Narrow?
Luke 13: 22 - 27
And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, `Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, `I do not know where you are from.' 26 "Then you will begin to say, `We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets'; 27 and He will say, `I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.'
If someone is listening to Jesus teaching & specifically asks Jesus the question:
"Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?"- what has Jesus been teaching about the kingdom of God? Here's what:
Matthew 7: 13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
What did people say when they were taught the Gospel as Jesus taught it?
"Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?"
What should people say when we teach the Gospel just as Jesus taught it?
"Good Lord! Are you saying that just a few are being saved?"
What was Jesus’ answer? Yes!
What should be our answer? Yes!
But how few is “few”? How narrow is the door?
WHEN do we make the “narrow way” TOO narrow? That’s become a common complaint:
You Church of Christ people are so narrow minded! You think YOU are the ONLY ones going to heaven! You completely dismiss the great preachers & evangelists of history such as:
Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Adrian Rodgers, David Jeremiah, today & some from the past were men like Spurgeon, Sunday, Lee, Whitefield, Edwards, Rice, Ironside, and Moody.
You're saying all of these men are lost and ALL the ones who followed them are lost too? Seriously?
Isn’t that making the “narrow way” too narrow?
How would Jesus react to the same question?
Lord, are you saying that ALL of our cherished Rabbis are wrong? Are you saying that those men who have studied their ENTIRE lives to understand the Scriptures are ALL wrong? Are you saying that all the teachings of the oral Law now have nothing to do with salvation in the kingdom of God?
WHAT would Jesus’ answer be? "Yes."
“I came to them with the Truth. They refused the Truth. They are ALL wrong.”
Jesus gave the three steps to salvation very clearly:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
How should ANYONE calling themselves Christian respond to the millions & millions of other religions that do not accept Christ as the Messiah; Jews, Muslim, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. who say: 'That view is TOO narrow a view of God!!' ?
Can you accept their Way, change the Truth, and STILL have the Life? No!