“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.” Matthew 7:13
Dear Ones:
Why does Jesus speak of a strait, or narrow gate and way, as opposed to the wide and broad gate and way? It has to do with the singular significance and truth of God’s way as opposed to all the ways and means of men. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes: “Therefore being justified by faith we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (5:1) What does he mean? He is declaring in the clearest terms possible, that in light of the fact that God is holy and we are not, that there is only ONE means by which we can be accepted, rendered “just” and “righteous” before Him. It is by the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Paul even becomes more specific later on declaring, “…much more then being NOW justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (v.9) The narrow gate and way is such because there is only ONE, by Christ Jesus, by the worth and power of His precious blood. Why is this so? God has provided, in the most demonstrable and complete terms for us to see and understand, His ONLY, singular, and sufficient answer and provision for the sin of man. Not only did a debt have to be paid for this sin, but also its wages. The suffering and death of the Lord Jesus dealt with both. Not only this, but Christ is the only human being that ever died without sin. His perfect life, His “absolute and pure righteousness,” is that which is given to the one who will truly receive it by faith. This is the ONLY path, and certainty, of knowing peace with God. It is narrow because it is singular. It is more than sufficient because of its Divine Essence and Power…Jesus Christ our salvation, our power, our justification and redemption.
The contrast to God’s answer for the eternal need of man is a fixed attitude that He has towards all unrighteousness. He calls it His wrath. His holy nature is repulsed by that which is unholy. It is for this reason that John writes: “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.” (3:36) In Isaiah’s day, he wrote concerning the essence of “unbelief” in the existence of God, and consequently, in His sole provision for sin. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN WAY; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” 53:6) The wide gate and broad way is everyone’s individual way and means by which they think to meet their own eternal need. That way may be the result of not knowing the way of God, or neglecting it. It might be the deliberate rejection and refusal of it. The fact is that the narrowness of the gate is such because Christ is the ONLY way to God. The way is also narrow because it is only by Christ’s sacrifice, and His shed blood, that we can be accepted by a holy God. He, and He alone, must clothe us with His righteousness, if we would know Him, having peace with Him.
Dear Father, give us grace to see as You do, and to be overwhelmed by the solemnity of the greatness of the issues at hand. Open our eyes to see man’s lost estate, and Your antagonism to his sin, and yet, to grasp something of the incalculable worth of the giving of Your Son in love, to save us from our sins. Give us to be receivers of Your grace, Your free gift, Your Son by the Spirit. Then we shall live, and have Life to give to others for whom Christ died. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad