Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30 audio video notes. Do you think everyone who attends church is “saved?” Do you think everyone who calls their self a Christian is “saved?” Historically, there have been many occasions when more people attending church were not “saved” than saved. Of course, even Jesus himself labeled many as “hypocrites.” These were people who actually believed God saved them because of who they were (Jews) or what they did (Pharisees) but unfortunately were not saved.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE CHAPTER 13
By Delbert Young
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
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Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
Scriptures: Luke 13:22-23, Luke13:23-30, Matthew 7:13-14,
Initially, I dreaded teaching today’s lesson. The reason is it’s not a “happy” passage, but when we go verse by verse (expositional preaching), I don’t get to pick and choose. Initially, I dreaded it until I realized this could be one of the most important lessons I’ve ever taught and could be the best day for you to be here.
Let’s begin with a few questions. Do you think everyone who attends church is “saved?” Do you think everyone who calls their self a Christian is “saved?” Historically, there have been many occasions when more people attending church were not “saved” than saved. For example, Constantine, the Roman emperor (306-337 AD), forced people to convert to Christianity. The Roman Catholics attempted to force people to become Christians. Wars have taken place to force people to convert to Christianity, but there is no real relationship with Christ when forced to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
Also, there were/are times when it’s been fashionable to be a Christian. “All my friends are doing it, so I should too.” I experienced this when I was young. We’ve all heard of, or perhaps know, people who openly say they go to a “First” church to make business and social connections, not because of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Again, this is not true salvation.
We’ve all known people who “prayed the prayer” because of an emotional moment or hoping God would get them out of a mess. Still, their prayer didn’t last as no genuine relationship developed with Jesus Christ and no salvation.
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
Of course, even Jesus himself labeled many as “hypocrites.” These were people who believed they experienced salvation because of who they were (Jews) or what they did (Pharisees) but, unfortunately, were not saved. So, today, we read,
Luke 13:22-23 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “LORD, ARE ONLY A FEW PEOPLE GOING TO BE SAVED?”
Wow! That’s an excellent question! We’ve likely each asked a similar question. What do you think? Will there be few or many saved? How is Jesus going to answer this? Let’s find out.
Luke 13:23- 30 He said to them, “MAKE EVERY EFFORT to ENTER THROUGH the NARROW DOOR, because MANY, I TELL YOU, WILL TRY TO ENTER AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO. 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.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
“But he will reply, ‘I DON’T KNOW YOU or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “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. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
Characteristically, instead of giving a simple “yes, there will be few” or “no, there will be many” answer, Jesus told a story, meaning the answer is not that simple. When Jesus tells a story or parable, it’s so we can find where we are in it. Where am I? Where are you? How horrible it would be to assume I am saved but awake in hell.
I was attempting to find a way to engage you and make it interesting. Since Jesus was asked a question concerning quantity, let’s try to put some numbers on what Jesus said. We don’t think this way, but this concerns millions of people alive this minute. Let’s use America, where 73-76% of the people say they are Christians. This means that of the 315 million people in America, there are about 230 million Christians. If this is true, 85 million are doomed for hell, but do you believe there are 230 million people in America with a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, loving him, serving in the kingdom, giving, and worshiping? I have a problem with this number.
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
Georgia has about 10 million people, which means there are 7.5 million Christians. Do you believe there are 7.5 million people in a true relationship with Jesus Christ, serving, giving, and worshiping in Georgia?
Realizing that maybe 10% of those are not saved means 90% are saved. So, 207 million Americans and 6.75 million in Georgia are saved, and 108 million Americans alive today will go to hell. But Jesus didn’t say many would enter. What did he say?
Luke 13:24 …MANY, I tell you, will try to enter and WILL NOT BE ABLE TO.
Sadly, the word for many is polus {pol-oos’} – many, much, large, great. So, to get a more accurate quantity, let’s reverse our numbers to 10% saved and 90% not saved. This means there are something like 23 million saved in America, but are there 23 million people in America and 730,000 in Georgia who love Jesus, have a relationship with him, serve, give, worship, etc.?
I pray there are. But sadly, if only 1 out of 10 of the 230 million Americans who believe they are saved and are alive at this moment, 207 million of them, and 292 million Americans total, will go to hell. What about this room? What if many in this room will not be able to enter, and what if only 1 out of 10 in this room is saved?
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
Do you think Jesus was using “scare tactics” on us or showing us the seriousness and magnitude of this issue? So, if the purpose of Jesus’ stories and parables is to find ourselves in them, where are we? Where am I, and where are you? Where do the people I love stand according to this parable and what can I, am I, doing about it?
What a heartbreaking passage! Sadly, this wasn’t the only time Jesus said this. Earlier, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the NARROW GATE. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and MANY {polus} enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ONLY A FEW FIND IT.
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
“Only a few?! No one told me this when I signed up. I was told if I recited ‘this prayer’ I was in.” You weren’t told that here, but this is frequently said, although Jesus never said it. This is not what we want to hear. We all think, “Certainly Jesus doesn’t mean me, or you or our children, does he? Certainly, I made it through the door/gate. He’s referencing all those other people, right?” Is he?
This is why it is a narrow door, small gate, and narrow road/path. It’s a door/gate you enter alone. It’s a road you walk alone. This passage is intended to cause us all to take an evaluation, and the great thing is that you’re here today to do it. So, how do I evaluate?
In the remainder of our time together, I want to emphasize two thoughts Jesus gave to ensure we know how to enter through the narrow door.
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
(NIV) Luke 13:24 “MAKE EVERY EFFORT to enter through the NARROW DOOR, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
(KJV) Luke 13:24 STRIVE TO ENTER in at the strait gate…
(NLT) Luke 13:24 “The door to heaven is narrow. WORK HARD TO GET IN…
(TMB) Luke 13:24 Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life–to God!–IS VIGOROUS AND REQUIRES YOUR TOTAL ATTENTION.
The word translated as “every effort” in the NIV is agonizomai {ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee} – to enter a contest, to contend with adversaries, fight. We get our English words “agony” and “agonize” from it, but who makes a narrow door so narrow we have to agonize to enter through it? God does. It’s a work in our hearts.
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
Years back, we had a man here to minister. Once while here, he wanted to go to Rock City. Lance and I took him. While walking through Rock City, we came to a place called “Fat Man Squeeze,” a cave-like passage through rock. This person was a huge man. We looked at it. I said, attempting not to embarrass him, let’s go back the way we came. Knowing what I meant, he said no and wanted to attempt to get through it. He told Lance and me to go on through. We did, or began, staying close enough to him to see how he did. It was tight on us, and I thought he would never get through.
He began but couldn’t make it. He took off his coat and tried, but didn’t make it. Then he unbuttoned his shirt so it wouldn’t rip, sucked his belly in, and pushed, and pushed, and grunted. Finally, agonizingly, he popped through like a cork out of a bottle. He was determined to make every effort to enter through the narrow door.
What is your “Fat Man Squeeze?”
What do we need to strip off to get through to have a relationship with Jesus Christ? So what flesh needs to be dealt with that hinders your getting to him? How much grunting and pushing and agonizing do you need to do?
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
For some people, it’s a little tight. For some people, there’s a lot of flesh to deal with, but for all, we enter through it alone. It’s a narrow door. It’s a small gate and a narrow road. This is the thought. You do this alone. You can’t depend on anyone else to get you through, and you can’t let anyone stop you if they won’t go. Jesus said, “Make every effort,” “Strive to enter,” “Work hard to get in,” and “Put your mind on your life with God.” Agonize to enter.
Luke 13:25-27 “…But he will answer, ‘I DON’T KNOW YOU or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will reply, ‘I DON’T KNOW YOU or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'”
Jesus has got to know you and know where you live. Not your address, your heart. Where does your heart live? He wants to know where you’re coming from. Jesus wants to talk to you through his word. Do you ever let his word speak to you? He wants you to talk to him in prayer. Do you talk to him in prayer? There is no relationship if there is no communication. He wants to commune with you in communion. That’s why he gave it – “Remember me.”
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
When was the last time you met him in communion? Jesus wants to sing with you in praise. He wants to hear you tell him you love him in love songs. He wants to tell you he loves you. Jesus wants to have some alone personal time with you where you can express your triumphs and failures to him. When was the last time you set aside time to only be with him? Do you make every effort to enter through the narrow door?
Jesus ended answering this most excellent question with,
Luke 13:29-30 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
The Jews thought/think they were God’s first and in the kingdom of God. They were not. Gentiles – other people from the east and west and north and south will come. Jesus wants you there at the feast in the kingdom of God. Let’s make certain we are.
Are Only A Few People Going to be Saved Luke 13:22-30
Are Only A Few Saved Luke 13:22-30 audio video notes
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