The Church Series - Part Fifteen - The Way Is Straight And Narrow
Writer Author Sylvia Huffnagle
Christian Article
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Exhortation
- Fiction No
Matt: 7:13-14: 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: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(I am here to proclaim that the way to eternal life is straight and narrow. Why would I want to do that when it seems that everyone is happy to proclaim God’s love, grace, and mercy? Because Jesus thought it was important and I see a need for it. Jesus not only said the way was straight and narrow, He also was the one who said, in Matt: 16:24-25: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. In the Amplified Bible it says, whoever is bent on saving his temporal life--his comfort and security here, shall lose eternal life . . .
That is profound and not at all how the church talks. What I mean by that is that the church has definitely conveyed the message that if you say you are a Christian and they don’t know of any dark sins in your life, they are content to count you as one of them.
This is so common that almost everyone who reads this will be perplexed as to what I am trying to say. I am saying that Jesus is responsible for the gospel. He provided the way to salvation and it is in applying His teachings that one walks out their salvation.
I am saying that Jesus is the whole nine yards here. It’s His plan. He executed it and He is the overseer to its getting done. I am saying that the plan the church is using right now is not His. The next verses will tell you how to judge if what I’m saying it true or not.)
15-20: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire 20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(The fruit that the church should be producing is Christians who look and act like the New Testament image of them. What God says in Ezekiel 43 is instruction that we need to heed today.
Ezek: 43:10-11: Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11: And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
(God had Ezekiel measure the temple and everything of it and everything in it, then He said the verses above. God is saying, He laid out the whole form of the transformed life in Christ and He expects it to be followed fervently.
If we don’t heed God’s instructions now, many will have to go through the fire spoken of in verse 19 of Matthew 7. The fire that will consume many is spoken of in Isaiah 50: 10-11: Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 11: Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. In the Amplified Bible it says that the fire is teaching man’s plan of salvation instead of God’s)
21-23: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(This statement of Jesus’ is pretty much being ignored now, but it is clear and it will not be obscured on judgment day. It will not be all those who say they are Christians that will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but those who do His will. Most of us know that there are some who swear by His name falsely, but I say according to Jesus’ teachings many are going to say, “Lord, lord, have we not attended church regularly and even put nice sums in the collection plate?” and He will say, “I never knew you.”)
24-27: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26: And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
(These verses explain the difference. Many go to church and many say they are Christians, but it will be the ones who practice what Jesus and the whole New Testament teach who will make it. But I am writing this article about the church. It is the church that must know and understand what I am emphasizing here. And it is the church who must convey the truth to the congregation.
Sylvia Huffnagle
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