Bible Study WELCOME TO AN IN DEPTH STUDY OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL.
- Thread starter Chopper
- Start date
-
Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
-
Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
-
You are more than welcome friend, I will keep you in prayer until I hear that you're Ok.
Thank you Chopper and all who are praying for me, I'm home, the doctor said everything went well without any complications, I return tomorrow at 7 AM to remove the bandage and will have seven days of paid medical leave, Praise the Lord for French socialized medicine!
That gives me seven days to prepare for Thanksgiving, we'll celebrate on Saturday with Tania's family.
Lord bless you all,
Karl
So glad for you that your surgery went well. Keep us informed if there are any post surgery problems. You can count on our prayers. In this Bible Study, we are like a little family and we love each other no matter what our thoughts are, we are family and we are delighted that a man of your character has joined us. Get well Brother, soon.
Last edited:
Day 68 Saturday 11/22/14 Matthew 7:13,14 A Narrow, hard Gate.
Matthew 7:13 "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:
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
This is a rather simple portion of Scripture at first glance, but is pregnant with God's Truth about Biblical Salvation. My experience as a preacher, pastor, evangelist and Christian psychologist has been to observe people's lives who claim to be Christian. It makes my Wife and I sick over people who claim to follow Jesus yet live such worldly, opposite to what we will study today. We grieve over this and is very difficult to attend our "club-like Assembly.
The gate to supposed Salvation that is wide and easy is not the true gate. I call this gate the "Do good way" where people who claim to be Christian hope that their works will out weigh the bad. The gate that these people enter produces worldly pleasures. This gate is very "easy" to enter and millions of so-called Christians have entered thru, only to enter hell as their future reward.
The "narrow gate", like Luke 13:24 says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Wow, what a statement that God makes, not man! To strive means to, as JFB commentary says, "Strive — The word signifies to “contend” as for the mastery, to “struggle,” expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in.
strait gate — another figure of the same. (See on Mat_7:13, Mat_7:14).
for many ... will seek — “desire,” that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor.
and shall not be able — because it must be made a life-and-death struggle."
I have witnessed the difficult decisions some have to make before I'm convinced that that person is really born again. The "social gospel" says, "if it feels good, do it." Where as the Biblical Gospel says, "if it feels good, don't do it." The strait or narrow gate and "way" is hard because it takes a lifetime of commitment to learn & study the Word of God....I have preached in a few pastor's conferences over the years. In several, I was approached by a few pastors who did not like my message. They said basically, You make the born again experience to hard! Jesus makes it easy not hard. Oh man, I discovered later that they were prosperity preachers, it's no wonder to me that they are so worldly.
In the early Centuries, there were "seekers", those who were being drawn to Salvation by the Holy Spirit. A deacon of the local assembly would spend seven days with the seeker. The deacon would explain all the reasons that the life of a true believer was hard, not easy. One of those reasons was persecution. The believers at that time met in secret because of it. Once that deacon was sure that he had sufficient time explaining repentance from the old life and commitment to the new life in Christ, the seeker would make a public profession before the assembly. After a time, proving his new life in Christ to the satisfaction of the deacons, and instruction of what Baptism was, he would be baptized. (they would not wait too long because they wanted this person to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
I can't emphasize enough caution in witnessing to an individual. All of us want to see folk saved. Unfortunately, in our enthusiasm to even get a chance to witness, we make the plan to easy and even though the person agreed to be born again, later they fall away for one reason or another. There are certain trials that come into every born again person's life, either to strengthen their walk, or to reveal a false profession. Then there are the unanswered questions of why bad things happen to God's people. Some go with the flow and trust God that it is for their good in some way, or it devastates some, and they walk away in disgust. Friends, God is building His special children. He does not want robots, He wants children who have come thru a life of a balance of adversity and Christian joy. All along, God created us for fellowship or something along those lines. Our decision to believe in Him and walk the walk as best as we can to please only Him, that is what He has wanted from the beginning. And guess what? You are that child! Bravo!
Matthew 7:13 "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:
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
This is a rather simple portion of Scripture at first glance, but is pregnant with God's Truth about Biblical Salvation. My experience as a preacher, pastor, evangelist and Christian psychologist has been to observe people's lives who claim to be Christian. It makes my Wife and I sick over people who claim to follow Jesus yet live such worldly, opposite to what we will study today. We grieve over this and is very difficult to attend our "club-like Assembly.
The gate to supposed Salvation that is wide and easy is not the true gate. I call this gate the "Do good way" where people who claim to be Christian hope that their works will out weigh the bad. The gate that these people enter produces worldly pleasures. This gate is very "easy" to enter and millions of so-called Christians have entered thru, only to enter hell as their future reward.
The "narrow gate", like Luke 13:24 says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Wow, what a statement that God makes, not man! To strive means to, as JFB commentary says, "Strive — The word signifies to “contend” as for the mastery, to “struggle,” expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in.
strait gate — another figure of the same. (See on Mat_7:13, Mat_7:14).
for many ... will seek — “desire,” that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor.
and shall not be able — because it must be made a life-and-death struggle."
I have witnessed the difficult decisions some have to make before I'm convinced that that person is really born again. The "social gospel" says, "if it feels good, do it." Where as the Biblical Gospel says, "if it feels good, don't do it." The strait or narrow gate and "way" is hard because it takes a lifetime of commitment to learn & study the Word of God....I have preached in a few pastor's conferences over the years. In several, I was approached by a few pastors who did not like my message. They said basically, You make the born again experience to hard! Jesus makes it easy not hard. Oh man, I discovered later that they were prosperity preachers, it's no wonder to me that they are so worldly.
In the early Centuries, there were "seekers", those who were being drawn to Salvation by the Holy Spirit. A deacon of the local assembly would spend seven days with the seeker. The deacon would explain all the reasons that the life of a true believer was hard, not easy. One of those reasons was persecution. The believers at that time met in secret because of it. Once that deacon was sure that he had sufficient time explaining repentance from the old life and commitment to the new life in Christ, the seeker would make a public profession before the assembly. After a time, proving his new life in Christ to the satisfaction of the deacons, and instruction of what Baptism was, he would be baptized. (they would not wait too long because they wanted this person to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
I can't emphasize enough caution in witnessing to an individual. All of us want to see folk saved. Unfortunately, in our enthusiasm to even get a chance to witness, we make the plan to easy and even though the person agreed to be born again, later they fall away for one reason or another. There are certain trials that come into every born again person's life, either to strengthen their walk, or to reveal a false profession. Then there are the unanswered questions of why bad things happen to God's people. Some go with the flow and trust God that it is for their good in some way, or it devastates some, and they walk away in disgust. Friends, God is building His special children. He does not want robots, He wants children who have come thru a life of a balance of adversity and Christian joy. All along, God created us for fellowship or something along those lines. Our decision to believe in Him and walk the walk as best as we can to please only Him, that is what He has wanted from the beginning. And guess what? You are that child! Bravo!
Charles Spurgeon, in one of his sermons, tells a true story about Christian missionaries who went to Greenland to bring the Gospel message. They spent several weeks teaching and preparing the locals but not one person received the Lord as their Savior. One day after a meeting a man questioned a missionary. The missionary gave him the straight forward Gospel message scriptures such as John 3:16 and "Believe and you shall be saved."
The man said something like this, 'Why didn't you just say so? That I understand." After this many, many received the Lord.
One is not saved without acknowledging they have sinned against a holy God and that they need a Redeemer. This is the straight gate.
One cannot climb over the fence, go under it, or find a way around it, or buy their way in. One must enter through the gate, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the holy One, the Redeemer.
The man said something like this, 'Why didn't you just say so? That I understand." After this many, many received the Lord.
One is not saved without acknowledging they have sinned against a holy God and that they need a Redeemer. This is the straight gate.
One cannot climb over the fence, go under it, or find a way around it, or buy their way in. One must enter through the gate, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the holy One, the Redeemer.
The "strait" or "narrow" gate is the Cross of Christ, and the blood of Christ shed on that Cross. That Gate has a Door, and there is a Way beyond that Gate, directly into God's presence.
This Scripture should be linked to John 10:9 (the words of Christ): "I AM THE DOOR; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture".
Also with John 14:6 (the words of Christ): "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".
Also, with Hebrews 10:19,20: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by A NEW AND LIVING WAY, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh".
Malachi, you are another rather new member of our little family of Bible study lovers. We cherish your involvement, and look forward to your posts. I really like the fact that you add supporting Scripture that I have not added. When I started these Bible studies, I was in hopes that folk like you would help me with added supporting Scripture. You are doing exactly what I had hoped. I just wanted you to know how much we value your commitment to our study and family. Whatever your views are, even if their a little contrary to my thoughts, as long as they are Scriptural, it does not upset us. We are family, and love each other as we should. We want to be a witness to others that less than loving responses are not needed and not what we do. Again, thanks for your friendship and good solid instruction. We love you!
I found this. It might not be the best but it is very interesting.
The Sheep Gate, the only one the High Priest dedicated and pronounced holy.
http://gatesofjerusalem.99k.org/html/7fdivn.htm
I have something in the back of my mind about a city King David had something to do with that had a real narrow passage through the rocks.. any help out here?
On that site maybe the Fountain Gate or the Water Gate?
"The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King's Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David."
"The Water Gate led from the old City of David to the Gihon Spring located adjacent to the Kidron Valley."
Think i found it.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra inside the 'gate' is a city carved out of a rock..
What an amazing place that is.
I see what you mean by the narrow gate that protects the city.
Yes, it does. There's always something more.Scripture sure goes in circles ..
Isn't great!I didn't know that the area of Petra is believed to be where Aaron was buried. I need to be thinking on a much broader scale.