The Narrow Gate

[OneAccord]

In the verse in question it appears that we are to strive for our entry into the kingdom, if you don';t make the gate you are on the broad road to destruction. It doesn't appear to be suggesting striving for rewards because you are already saved and granted access to the kingdom.

[gypc]

The best way to understand scripture is with other scripture.

Mat 7:13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Notice that the many were claiming to be in the name of Jesus. Ya see many will try to build the house called Jesus but only he who does the will of God enter in!

[Guest shiloh357]

In the verse in question it appears that we are to strive for our entry into the kingdom, if you don';t make the gate you are on the broad road to destruction.  It doesn't appear to be suggesting striving for rewards because you are already saved and granted access to the kingdom.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, the rewards ARE what we strive for AFTER we are saved. We don't get rewards for being saved. Salvation is itself a free gift. (Rom. 6:23) If we have to work for it, it is neither free, nor is it a gift. The verse cannot be telling us to work for entry into the Kingdom.

Rewards are given for faithful service. Our works will be judged at the judgement seat of Christ, and we will be rewarded in accordance to what we have done for Him here on earth.

[larryt]

 

I guess it's the word STRIVE that is tripping me up here.  According to a Greek lexicon STRIVE means: 

 

1. to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games 

2. to contend with adversaries, fight 

3. metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers 

4. to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something 

 

The act of being saved is not a striving and contending as this word suggests.  It is a simple act of faith on our part and grace on God's part.  It would seem that this idea of striving and struggling and contending must refer to something other than our salvation. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hi OA,

Take a look at the word translated "strive." It is the word from which we get the word "agonize."

Col 4:12  Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Here we see the word "strive" translated "labouring fervently" in something that is done subsequent to salvation. Epaphras put his all into his prayers. We are commanded to love God with our whole being and might. The idea that comes across is that we put our whole effort into serving the God who saved us thus showing that He has in fact saved us.

LT

[apothanein kerdos]

Strive to enter in at...in other words, there is a certain point where we have entered in. Just giving you that to keep in mind

As for OSAS...understand that if we are able to lose our salvation due to works then there is literally no difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.