Thursday, July 14, 2011

Bible Truth #63 - Luke 13:23-24

23  Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them,
24  “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Many will try but not be able? That’s what Jesus said. How many are trying to get to God, or get to Heaven their way? You could look at Muslims or Jews or other religions who try to get to God their way who fail. Every one of them will try, but they aren’t ABLE (emphasis on ABLE).

However, even within the Christian faith there are many who try to enter the narrow door but aren’t ABLE. For example, they go to mass every day, they receive communion, they go to confession - or those who aren’t Catholic, they go to worship services, they pray, they obey the 10 Commandments, etc. They believe the Bible, they believe Jesus is Who He said He is, they believe that Jesus died, etc. They live good lives...

The problem is they are convinced (in the flesh), but they are not convicted (in the spirit). And conviction comes only from the Holy Spirit, a man can’t convict himself. They are lost and they are DEAD. A dead man WON’T come into the Light (John 3:20), a dead man can’t believe, a dead man can’t repent, a dead man can do NOTHING pleasing to God (Romans 8:8).

Don’t forget the previous Bible Truth, #62. There are even those who have prophesied (teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort), cast out demons, and performed miracles - all in Jesus’ Name - who are going to Hell (Matthew 7:22-23). Why? Not because they didn’t believe. They believed so well that they even fooled the demons they were casting out of people. But Jesus called them  workers of iniquity, which means He hated them (Psalm 5:5). They went to Hell because Jesus said He never KNEW them, and He didn’t know them because He didn’t foreknow them, they weren’t chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

Now let’s talk about “able.” These are Jesus’ own words here! They try to enter through the narrow door but they aren’t ABLE. WHY? I’m sure you know people who claim to be Christian who aren’t saved, and every one of them believe the Bible. I’m sure you’ll say they have head knowledge but not heart knowledge. They give “intellectual assent” as to Who Jesus is but they don’t know Him in their heart. Jesus said they try to enter through the narrow door and will not be ABLE to. WHY??

Because God did not enable them (John 6:65). God must ENABLE them and God must draw them (John 6:44), but because they weren’t chosen they aren’t drawn! God did not choose them in Christ before the foundation of the world to be the Bride of Christ. Just as God opened Lydia’s heart which enabled her (Acts 16:14), He must open every man’s heart. Man can NOT open his own heart. God does the choosing and He chooses few - and thank God He does because He didn’t have to choose ANY!!!

I know there will be some who disagree with my interpretation and to them I ask, “How do YOU understand Jesus saying many will try to enter but are not ABLE to?”

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