Teachings of Christ (Part 26) Are Only A Few Going To be Saved by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1873

Teachings of Christ (Part 26) Are Only A Few Going To be Saved

Polio is a disease caused by tiny virus particles which attacks the brain and spinal cord. Sixty years ago polio was a kind of AIDS in American society. Why is polio not feared as it once was? Because Dr. Jonas Edward Salk, an American research scientist, announced in 1953 that he had developed a trial vaccine for polio. By 1955, his discovery was being used across the world.

No one asked why was there only one vaccine? No one asked that question for the simple reason only one vaccine was needed. Across the world, millions of people made sure they were vaccinated. Today polio is virtually no threat to world health.

Unfortunately, there is another disease which still exists today, and is far worse than polio and AIDS. This disease has infected every person who has ever lived, and is always fatal. Fortunately, there is a cure which will work for every person on earth, and it is free of charge. The disease, of course, is sin, and it has destroyed our relationship with God. There is only one cure, and one alone. And that is salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Someone once asked Jesus an important question. In Luke 13:22-30 says, “Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 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. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

The question was: “Are only a few going to be saved (v. 23)?” The assumption here is that some are not. But that’s not what people in our culture today think. Whether pop-culture or post-modern culture, the prevailing theology denies a hell and judgment. Some believe we just cease to exist at death. Some who are optimistic believe that since God is Love, there can be no judgment and all go to heaven. Others even think hell won’t be so bad; all their friends are going to be there and they think that there is going to be some kind of party there with them

When surveyed only 20 % of Adult Americans who call themselves a Christian said that living a life according to God’s will is the single most important thing in their lives. So, the flip side is that 80% of the American Christians have implied that God, and their walk with Him is not a priority. And I say that this is a dangerous way to live. I believe Jesus was letting hearers know over and over that even many who seemed religious in His day and went to church were in danger of hell.
It doesn’t seem like people fear the prospect of hell very much. Some have created a false picture of hell. Often it resembles a cavern with rocks and flames. There is a satanic figure with a tail and horns, armed with a pitchfork.

Some joke about hell, and some even dress their children up as devils on Halloween. They don’t seem to take it too serious.

I want you to push these scenes out of your mind this morning. Instead I want you to hear how the Bible describes hell.

The word “Hell” shows up 54 times in the Bible, and it is spoken of many other times in other terms. It does not always mean a place of eternal torment. Usually it only refers to “the place of the dead,” where good and evil alike go until the judgment. This is also known as Hades. It is an intermediate state for the dead.

But then there is Gehenna. Gehenna is the place of eternal damnation. There is no escape or parole from this terrible place. It gets its name from the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. II Kings 16 and 21 tell us of a time that the children of Israel allowed their culture to take precedence over the word of God. They began to do what their neighboring cultures did – they sacrificed their children, and other human beings, to foreign gods. They would then take the bodies and throw them into the Valley of Hinom and burn them. You can imagine the sight, and the smells of the burning flesh, the rotting corpses, the valley of bones. So fearful and terrible was the valley that it become a symbol used by the Old Testament prophets to warn of eternal judgment. Once in Gehenna, you never return.

Beyond Gehenna, Sheol, and Hades, the Scriptures goes on to describe Hell like this: Here in Luke 13 Jesus indicates it is a…
1. a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28)
2. In Matthew 3:12 it’s a place of unquenchable fire
3. Matthew 23:33 it’s a place of damnation & condemnation 4. In Matthew 13:42, & 50 it’s described as a furnace of fire
5. In Jude 13 it’s a place of blackness and darkness. Think about that – no color.
6. In Rev. 21:8 it’s a lake which burns with fire and brimstone
7. In Matthew 25:41 it’s a place prepared for the devil and his angels

It sounds like a pretty scary place to me. But those who died in Christ are with Him a kind of paradise, though their bodies remain in the grave, for now.
But those who died without Christ are not in Gehenna yet, but rather in Hades, the abode of the dead. From there one day they will be brought to what the Bible calls the great white throne of judgment. They will be judges and then they will then be thrown (yes, thrown) into Gehenna, also known in Revelation 20:11-15 as the lake of fire. But it is not God’s desire to see any of us end up in that place. It was a place prepared for the devil and his angels. Yet we read that Jesus said it will also be the final destiny of many people as well. That place was never meant for any of us.

Popular culture today says, “There is no Hell.” But that simply contradicts what the Bible has to say on the subject.

The question, ‘Are only a few going to be saved?’ assumes some are not saved and only a few will be saved and escape this hell and go to heaven. I don’t need to know how good heaven is to want to go there. It is sufficient to see how bad hell is to motivate us to avoid it. Regarding this question, how does Jesus respond?
When asked “are only a few people going to be saves,” He doesn’t say “yes.” Instead, He turns the question into a great lesson. In verse 24 He says “Make every effort (or Strive) to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”

I believe that the first phrase or word in His answer is paramount: “Make every effort,” or as some versions say, “Strive.” Oh, how lazy so many of us have become! So satisfied that we are “saved by grace”, so content that it is the “free gift of God” that we have neglected and ultimately forgotten our duty to “strive” in our salvation.
Many have mastered doing church but fail at living a holy life of love God and neighbor. Are you striving to enter in? Are you making every effort to enter in?

In Philippians 2:12 the apostle Paul wrote, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  He wrote that to Christians.

Why, is it necessary to strive? Because if we are “to enter” thru that narrow gate, Jesus indicates that we need to move from where you are to where you need to be. You must make every effort to do so!

This whole lesson reveals that not everyone will be saved! It debunks the pop-cultural myth that everyone goes to heaven. And Jesus lets us know that this narrow gate is difficult to enter.

Why is it so difficult? I thought salvation was free? I thought I was saved by grace? I thought all I had to do was receive Christ confess Him before others and then get baptized and that was it?

Simply put, that was just the beginning of your salvation; that was just your new birth or your born again experience. You simply took the first step in a lifelong journey of “making an effort” or “striving” to enter in. The Christian life can be a great adventure, but we also need to beware of becoming complacent.

You may say, “I don’t understand. Am I to strive to earn my salvation?” No. Jesus earned it for you. But I think we need to get better at living a holy life, or the kind of life that Father God would have us live.

It’s sad thing to see hateful and unholy behavior among Christians in God’s Church. We must “strive” and “Make every effort” to love and forgive one another. I also believe that we need to make every effort to become more generous as God would have us. We should make every effort and strive to complain and grumble less and be more thankful for what we have. We also should strive to become kinder and strive not to argue so much. In other word we need to strive to become more Christ like in every aspect of our life.
As Jesus answered the question, “Are only a few going to be saved?” He also said, “Many will seek to enter in, and but shall not be able.” 
Seeking simply is not enough!

Do you know what the difference is between “seeking” and “striving”? It’s like someone who plays the lottery, they “seek” to win money, but don’t really do anything to get it. But someone who works hard is “striving” or making every effort to get ahead and, he will be the one that makes the money.

Are you just seeking the kingdom of God, or are you striving and making every effort to enter in? Too many in churches today are like those seeking to win the lottery; they passively act religious and do church and hope for the best. But they don’t make every effort or strive to change their life or do what God wants, nor do they serve Him in any way. Outside of church they look or act like everyone else. They don’t let that light shine and they are like the salt that loses its saltiness which Jesus talked about on the sermon on the mount.

Jesus told them and I believe us, to “strive or make every effort to enter in”
Can you do that? If you don’t try one day He may simply say to you, “I don’t know you, where do you come from. Away from Me.” And you may say, “But Lord, I went to church almost every Sunday. I sang those songs and put money in the collection plate and went to Bible study on occasion.”
But He will answer you by saying,” I don’t know you. Away from Me.”

Conclusion: This is a powerful lesson for all of us about not being a Christian in name only or for show. I believe that the Lord wants genuine disciples and wants to see some growth and effort on our part. I believe He wants to see us make some positive changes in our life; changes that will benefit others, Glorify Him, and improve who we are.
Can you do that? You can if you love the Lord with all your heart. I challenge you strive and make every effort to effort to become what He wants you to be.

(Excepts from Are you seeking, or striving? by Clark Sneed)

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com