Few Will Enter

[Cody]

Isn't it weird how about everyone thinks they're saved? I can ask people, why do you think you're saved? They mostly reply, "because I believe". The Bible tells us even the devils believe in God. Anyone can say they believe in Jesus, but does that make them saved? No. If our salvation does not bring works, we are not truly saved.

James 2:17-19
17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." KJV

There are so many people that say a little prayer and then go out living just like they use to. If people do that, they are not saved. Why do I say that? Because Jesus makes us a new creature when we are saved. After we are saved we will change and our salvation will bring forth good works.

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." KJV

I've seen people go to little kids and tell them to say a prayer and then tell them they're saved. So that little kid goes their whole life thinking they're saved and then when they doubt their salvation, what does the preacher say to them? He says, "Look in your Bible where you wrote the day you got saved and don't let the devil lie to you." Well I'm here to tell you that a date or believing in Jesus does not save you. I know someone is going to get mad when I say that, but the devils believe and they're not saved.

If you do not go your whole life striving to live by God's will, you're not saved. Yeah, we're going to sin, but we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. The Bible tells us Jesus will never leave nor forsake us. Some of you are probably saying, Jesus doesn't leave us, we leave Jesus. What kind of god do you believe in? If your god gave you a temporary Holy Spirit that just leads you for a week or a month, you're not believing the true gospel of Christ.

Ephesians 1:13
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," KJV

Hebrews 13:5
"..I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." KJV

Saying a prayer will not save us. What saves us is putting our total trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and continually living by God's will. A true believer will always strive to live by God's will. To be saved we must truly believe and repent. Repent means to turn away from our sins. I'm not saying when we're saved we're going to live perfectly, but when we're saved we receive the Holy Spirit and we will be led by God.

John 10:3
"To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." KJV

There will be some that say they believe in Jesus and they will do things to make other people think they're a true believer. The fact is, if that person does not strive to live by the Bible their whole life they're not saved, no matter what good work they do. If we do not continue to live by God's law, we are not saved.

Matthew 7:22
"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?" KJV

1 John 2:19
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." KJV

There are very few people that truly get saved. There will be few to be saved because not everyone will want to live on the narrow path that God has commanded us to live on. This is not my opinion, it is the Bible. So I plead with you today, trust the Lord Almighty and put your total trust in Him and nothing else. Repent of your sins and you will be saved. If you truly get saved you will receive the Holy Spirit and Jesus will never leave you nor will you ever turn you back on God completely.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 "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." KJV

Luke 13:23-24
23 "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." KJV

God Bless you all. Your Brother in Christ, Cody

 

[willb]

I couldnt agree more

Jesus says if we are in the vine we will produce fruit....if we are not then something is amiss.

 

[Cody]

Amen, willb.

John 15:1-2
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." KJV

 

[Woz'umoya]

I agree, Cody2, that as you say, what is required for salvation is a change in attitude, focus and lifestyle and this must produce good works if a person is really in Christ. It is a new life of constant striving to follow the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, showing the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).

It is so vital to curb all aspects of our fleshly nature such as the tendency to be proud, quarrelsome, argumentative, and judgmental and to get angry if we don’t get our own way or if things don’t go smoothly or if people disagree with us.

Some other points about salvation come to mind:
John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

The Lord Jesus says we must worship in spirit and in truth. So we are warned about beliefs that are contrary to Scripture. We must make sure that our beliefs are solidly based on Bible teaching and not on the teachings of men who think they know what the Bible teaches but in fact are in error. We have to test our beliefs against what the Bible says and constantly seek to really know its true teaching.

Linked to this is the Apostle Paul’s warning to the Galatians: “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:9)

And we have to really know the true God and the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Lord Jesus Himself says: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).

So our salvation also depends on truly knowing the Almighty God and His only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

Woz'Umoya

 

[Faithful Son]

I somewhat disagree with a few things in this thread. What are these so called works we have to perform? I think Jesus made it plain here:

John 6:26-29 NKJV
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Jesus is saying that we should NOT work for food and clothing, but we should work spiritually. How do we achieve that? By placing faith in Jesus. When we believe in Jesus every single day of our lives, no matter what the circumstances, then we are doing the works of God. There are no other works of God. Helping the poor or doing physical work that men can see is not doing the works of God.

The entire gospel of Jesus is based on faith in Him and Him alone.

John 6:30-40 NKJV 30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

We cannot produce fruit: note what the Word says:

John 15:1-8 NKJV 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

If we say we produce fruit, then we are giving no glory to Jesus. The fruits of the Spirit are beared by the branch, it's not produced. A tree grows and it's branches bear the fruit, it grows the fruit. When we believe in Jesus He helps us to grow, He doesn't help us to produce, for that is being false.

It's all about faith in Jesus. True, devils believe too, but we are not devils and can't be compared to them. They believe there is a God, but they don't believe in God, there is a huge difference.

So, narrow is the way for sure. But you can't say it's not about faith in Jesus, that's exactly what it's about.

 

[Woz'umoya]

I agree with you, Teraside, that it is by grace we are saved through faith, not works. Works on their own cannot save. (Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.)

However, I believe Cody2 is correct in saying faith without works is dead. If we do not show our faith through works (such as caring for those in need) our faith doesn’t exist. James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jam 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jam 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Woz'Umoya

 

[Faithful Son]

Note what James 2 says here brother:

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

It's not saying a man is saved by works is it? No, I agree that works are important, but there seems to be a missunderstanding of works it seems. If you read James 2 and completely understand, then you see that even Abraham sacrificing Isaac counts as a work. But Jesus told us out of His own mouth what works He wants. He wants use to believe in the one who was sent, in Him.

Salvation is faith in Jesus, not through works.

 

[Cody]

Through true faith in Jesus Christ comes works. If you believe in Jesus Christ you will do good works. I'm not saying you have to do works to be saved, but if you don't do any good works and keep on living the same life style, you are probably not saved.

 

[Faithful Son]

Matthew 13:1-9 NKJV
The Parable of the Sower
1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

I think this needs to be added to this thread.

Matthew 13:18-23 NKJV
The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

 

[Abigail]

The branches need the life flowing into them to produce the fruit. God is love and w/o love everything is done in vain. Love is the (sap) lifeblood, and that is what's evidenced in the believer. Love can't help but give out of love.

 

[Word of Life]

I think the word "works" has really been misunderstood in the world today. People interpretate it, like as if it's a mundane job that one needs to do, so they can gain favour with God, most people see it as that kind of attitude. But this is so far from the truth, and it's not like that at all. Since I got saved, my whole heart has changed, totally changed. I enjoy being in the word, I enjoy witnessing to people, I enjoy helping people when they need help, but they will get a biblical answer and biblical help, not a worldly one or a materialistic prosperity wealth one. But unfortunately, most people don't want to hear the truth.

There are so many people that say a little prayer and then go out living just like they use to. If people do that, they are not saved.

This is so true, most people that are around me say, "they can't commit themselves that far" By having that daily relationship.

Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity

In the above verse, He wants us to get to know Him.

But you know what, if more people were born in spirit, the town which one lives in, would be a far better place, and there would not be so many attacks from the devil. But God looks after His children, He will put a hedge around them to protect them.

Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Living water, is God Word. True believers, will love God's Word, and will constantly be speaking it, teaching it and edifying other Christians.

1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

If 90% of a Christian conversation is still of this world, and speaking of mostly materialistic things. This is the scripture, one should look at.

1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

One needs to sow Gods seeds, and we need to start walking as Jesus walked.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

And we must not be just hearers only, but doers of the Word.

Jam 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

[jari]

I think there's one problem with this thread and that is the statements such as "If you do not go your whole life striving to live by God's will, you're not saved". Jesus took childs as example of those who will get to heaven. But they are the one's who strive the least to live by God's will.

I also think that one other important point is, like mentioned already, the way we think works. It's fruit of the spirit like said and we don't always have to strive for one single fruit but the fruit actually comes in patience.

We labor in patience and we all have our different roles and positions. Some are apostles some teachers and some have entirely different role. But if you don't know how to read and can't read the Bible or are handicapped and incabable to witness in the same way than others, then, if God wills, Jesus still saves you.

Rom 8:16
Joh 3:7

 

[Cody]

If a child does not know sin, it will go to heaven. If a child comes to the knowledge of sin and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ, it will receive the Holy Spirit just like an older person would. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us, I don't know of a Holy Spirit in the Bible that does not. You either have the Holy Spirit or you don't, you're either saved or you're not. The Bible teaches the believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." KJV

Ephephians 1:13-14
13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." KJV

Ephesians 4:30
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." KJV

2 Corinthians 1:22
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." KJV

I am not saying we must have works to be saved. I would never say that nor believe that because the Bible does not teach that. We are saved by grace through faith alone. But let me ask you something, is there a believer here that does not have a strive to do the will of God? If so examine yourself by the Bible and check to see if you're really saved. No, we're not always going to be in the will of God, but any believer strives to live by God's Holy Word. Our works will show our faith and faith without works is dead. A believer will have works to back up his or her faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast." KJV

 

[jculver]

If a child does not know sin, it will go to heaven. If a child comes to the knowledge of sin and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ, it will receive the Holy Spirit just like an older person would.

I agree with what you have posted so far on this thread, until this point. Children are not innocent. God redeems them if they die, it is not as if they are not guilty of sin. All are guilty of sin since the fall of man. God redeems the children out of his grace, they are not saved by their innocence.

I'm not sure if that's what you were indicating, so feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I agree that "Dallas Theology", or the theology of "I believe so I'm saved, I said my prayer and now I can do whatever I want" is largely propagated throughout the United States and other countries, and is false, and leads many down the broad road.

A book that really goes in depth on this issue in a very scholarly way is:

Hard to Believe: The High cost and infinite value of following Jesus by John Macarthur.

It's a very good read for any Christian.

 

[Cody]

I don't believe babies go to hell. Consider what David said after his baby had died. He says that he will go to his baby. So where would that be? I believe he is talking about a place called heaven.

2 Samuel 12:23
"But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." KJV

 

[jculver]

I don't believe babies go to hell. Consider what David said after his baby had died. He says that he will go to his baby. So where would that be? I believe he is talking about a place called heaven.

2 Samuel 12:23
"But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." KJV

They don't go to hell, that's no where close to what I said. They go to heaven because God Redeems Them Out of His Grace not because They are innocent. All have sinned and fall short. Even an infant. They are redeemed, not innocent was my point.

 

[willb]

I am not saying we must have works to be saved. I would never say that nor believe that because the Bible does not teach that. We are saved by grace through faith alone. But let me ask you something, is there a believer here that does not have a strive to do the will of God? If so examine yourself by the Bible and check to see if you're really saved. No, we're not always going to be in the will of God, but any believer strives to live by God's Holy Word. Our works will show our faith and faith without works is dead. A believer will have works to back up his or her faith.

I agree with that

We are saved by grace and grace alone the works we do are not even ours they are predestined to us...its God using us...cause we are His servants in Christ.

Works is something we just do! not even always consiously, remember the reaction of the redeemed when Jesus speaks of judging peoples deeds - they did not know what He meant when Jesus spoke of all the times they had helped Him.

 

[Cody]

Ok, thank you for correction, jculver. Can you show me the verses that support your answer here; about God redeems babies out of His grace?

 

[jculver]

Ok, thank you for correction, jculver. Can you show me the verses that support your answer here; about God redeems babies out of His grace?

I feel like this is really getting off the thread topic here, but here it goes


-------------------------------------------------

Do babies and others incapable of professing faith in Christ automatically go to heaven?

People often wonder about the eternal destiny of the unborn, babies, and those unable to intellectually understand the gospel. That question is a difficult one. Unfortunately, the Bible offers us no explicit answer. However, based on several passages, as well as an understanding of God's character and His dealings with men, we can develop a good idea of how He works in such situations.

Second Samuel 12:23 is one of the passages often quoted to imply that babies go to heaven. Though the verse doesn't explicitly say that, David clearly does expect to one day be reunited with his departed child. Since we know David is a believer whose destiny was heaven, we can infer that his hope of reunion means he expected his child to be in heaven. Thus, 2 Samuel 12:23 suggests strong evidence for a heavenly destiny of the unborn and children who die young.

If this were all we had to support our position, it would be admittedly less than stalwart. However, there are other evidences that point us to the same conclusion. First, the Bible clearly teaches that God cares deeply for children. Passages like Matthew 18:1-6 and 19:13-15 affirm the Lord's love for them. Those verses don't state that children go to heaven, but they do show God's heart toward children. He created and cares for children, and beyond that, He always accomplishes His perfect will in every circumstance.

The psalmist reminds us that God is "full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth" (Ps. 86:15). He is the God who became flesh that He might carry our sins away by His death on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). He is the God who will comfort Christians in heaven, for "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death; nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain" (Rev. 21:4). We can be assured that God will do what is right and loving because He is the standard of rightness and love. Those considerations alone seem to be evidence enough of God's particular, electing love shown to the unborn and those who die young.

However, another point may be helpful in answering this question. While infants and children have neither sensed their personal sin and need for salvation nor placed their faith in Christ, Scripture teaches that condemnation is based on the clear rejection of God's revelation—whether general or specific—not simple ignorance of it (Luke 10:16; John 12:48; 1 Thess. 4:8).

Can we definitely say that the unborn and young children have comprehended the truth displayed by God's general revelation that renders them "without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20)? They will be judged according to the light they received. Scripture is clear that children and the unborn have original sin—including both the propensity to sin as well as the inherent guilt of original sin. But could it be that somehow Christ's atonement did pay for the guilt for these helpless ones throughout all time? Yes, and therefore it is a credible assumption that a child who dies at an age too young to have made a conscious, willful rejection of Jesus Christ will be taken to be with the Lord.


© 1996-2007. Grace to You. All rights reserved.

----------------------------------------------

Basically Romans 1:18-20 renders them without excuse. However God's word makes it clear that they will in fact be in heaven, so this is the conclusion drawn The conclusion I agree with anyway.

 

[Chad]

I think the Scripture about David is a great example. Yes, GOD "redeems" the babies the same way He redeems everyone else. In this case, the babies without knowledge of sin are given the exception of just that: no knowledge of sin.

We believers with knowledge of our sins are redeemed by GOD's grace.

Let us not get off topic anyway. If you wish to discuss the issue of babies going to heaven or hell, feel free to start a separate thread to avoid confusion and disrupting the original topic of this thread.