Two Gates, One Way Series

“I am the bread of life; (John 6:35)

“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)

"I am the door" (John 10:7)

"I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11)

"I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25)

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life." (John 14:6)

“I am the true vine (John 15:1)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5)

Secondly, you must enter alone. When Jesus said the gate is narrow, he meant it is very narrow - think of a turnstile. Only one person can get through. In other words, there is no group admission to heaven. You don’t get to heaven just because you are Jewish. You will not get to heaven because you belong to any nationality. You will not get to heaven because you belong to a denomination or even a church. All of our lives, we follow a crowd. Not so with heaven. The road to salvation is through Jesus and Jesus alone.

For to this end, we toil and strive because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)

Thirdly, you must enter through the gate with great difficulty. The reason is because it requires you to let go of all the worldly possessions. All the idols. All of the things of this world. Think of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus.

?And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (Mark 10:17–18)

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:21–23)

There is no mass salvation. No, raise your hand, and you are in the club. You must work out your salvation and wrestle with the things of this world in order to let go of them and enter through the gate.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession...Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luke 13:24)

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1 Corinthians 9:25)

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)