Why is the road to salvation so narrow?

[jonahmano]

You've gotten some good answers here. But I would add that the road is not said to "become" narrow. It is (already) narrow as is 'the gate'.

As Gregg has pointed out quit effectively, neither The Road, The Gate or The Gospel "becomes" narrow after one enters into/onto it. Else, you've changed the Gospel/Gate/Road from what it was originally. The old bait and switch tactic. Or you've attempted to in vain. It's impossible for the Gate/Road/Gospel to be actually changed into a narrower path that it has always been. Some try though.

That is my question. If it's already narrow? How it is already narrow?

1. Christ chose us

2. We are saved through faith and not of works.

So if all works are done by Christ for us and if we don't have to do anything then why does Christ say the road to salvation is narrow?

 

[eddif]

Jesus used parables to conceal things to the multitudes . If we do greater works, can we use parable like stories to reveal?

I hope none freak.
When God and Adam talked, Adam was on the correct road.

When Eve ate the fruit (so did Adam) the way into the garden was blocked by an angel. Mankind had failed to follow the map provided by God (metaphorically speaking). The Law on stone provided a description of what the road kind of looked like but the Law did not provide eternal righteousness.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus (confessing sins / repentance). Pretty narrow, but John added and believe in the one who comes after me (more narrow still).

The last stretch of the road to heaven is a toll road. The toll road payment is paid by the life, shed blood, etc. of Jesus. Belief is the token.

The sin of man narrowed the road (IMHO).

The Way. By grace. During repentance. During accepting Jesus. During receiving power to be a witness. We can't bulldoze through the tollbooth. No token no entrance.

I hope none took offence.

eddif

 

[eddif]

While I was writing others were posting.

Adam's way had one restriction (do not eat of the tree of good and evil).

Adam had access to everything to eat, except the fruit of the tree of good and evil.

Heaven had Satan removed at some point (narrowed access due to rebellion). Angels were removed with Satan. Evil was not welcome in heaven. I would think that this is a narrowing of access (book of Job had Satan visit, but things change).

Mark 4:12
Parables were used to prevent access to some things.

If you cut up on the toll road, there is the final gate / door (judgement throne).

I can see narrow being other thoughts.

eddif

 

[chessman]

That is my question. If it's already narrow? How it is already narrow?

As others posted previously; because Christ is the only Way. Always was and will be.

Matthew 3:2-3 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” For this is the one who was spoken about by the prophet Isaiah, saying,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight.’”

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it, because narrow is the gate and constricted is the road that leads to life, and there are few who find it!

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you [Pharisees] in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. And when you saw it, you did not even change your minds later so as to believe in him.

John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you know him and have seen him.”
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This narrow Road/Gate/Way point of Jesus' is found in all four Gospels. The early Christians, who were almost exclusively converted Jews, who were working hard to maintain their way (yet converted in a flash from it to another way), actually called their Christ following (non-sacrificing) group "The Way" based on this point. Only later did the term "Christians" come into use. That Jesus Christ is The Way to salvation and it's narrow, always was and will be, is extremely fundamental to Christianity. Really. If anything anybody teaches you conflicts with The Way being narrow, jump ship.

Saul, for example, wasn't on this narrow way until he met The Way, 1/2 way on the Damascus way. But Jesus put him on His Way anyway.

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[Kidron]

Grace is actually not narrow.
Grace is open to all.

What is "narrow' is that God has only provided one means to receive this grace, and this is what conflicts with the world's idea of how God should behave.
The world's idea of joining God is to try to do "good deeds" and "personal sacrifice" and based on this, hopes to achieve right standing with God.
God however, is not interested in the opinion of the world, and has created a means to rejoin him and this means is singular and is not open to interpretation.
Christ is the door and faith is the Key.

The "Cross', is the end of the discussion regarding how to become a part of God's eternal family.