Enter by the Narrow Door

Introduction and Prayer for Understanding

0:00 Now will you turn with me in your own Bibles please to the Gospel according to Luke, Luke chapter 13, and follow as I read in your hearing verses 22 through 30, Luke chapter 13, and I begin the reading at verse 22. As Luke continues his narrative of the life and activities of the Lord Jesus, he writes,

0:58 For many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able when once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us. And he shall answer and say to you, I do not know you whence you are. Then shall you begin to say, We did eat and drink in your presence, and you taught in our streets. And he shall say, I tell you, I do not know whence you are. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac. And Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without.

2:10 And they shall come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last. Let us pray. Let us pray now and ask God by the Holy Spirit to give us understanding of these words of Christ.

2:41 We have sung in the previous hymn that we are seated, gathered in this place before the Lord Jesus, the great prophet of his people. And now let us ask that the Holy Spirit, who is promised as the teacher and revealer of the things of Christ, will do his work. He will do his work powerfully, not in someone else's heart, but in each of our own individual hearts. Let us pray.

3:12 Our Father, we bow in your presence, conscious that what we are is fully known to you. The thoughts that even now run through our minds are completely known by you. And if you chose to, you could speak them in an audible voice in the hearing. And we pray that out of your perfect knowledge of our hearts, the deepest thoughts of our hearts, that you will come and speak with clarity and with power to each and every one of us. May there not be a man, woman, boy or girl who leaves this place tonight wondering what this gathering was all about. But may each one leave saying in his or her own heart, whatever your purpose was for another, surely the living God spoke to me this night. Hear us, O God, we plead for the good of our souls and the glory of Christ.

The Signpost: Strive to Enter by the Narrow Door

4:33 Amen. The preaching of the word of God tonight is the ninth message in a relatively brief, series which I have entitled, Simple Signposts to the Celestial City. And that terminology is taken, first of all, from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, in which he describes heaven as the celestial city. And I have combined with that the imagery of a day when people would find their way from one place to another by signposts that would be fixed.

5:15 At critical junction points, and they would know if they were going to Dodge City, they had to go left and travel so many miles by foot, by stagecoach, or by horseback. And so we've sought to bring together that imagery of those texts of Scripture that act like clear and simple signposts, for a signpost is intended not to cause a wayfarer, to scratch his head, and to wonder what it is all about, but it is clearly and explicitly to point him in a given direction. And we are contemplating texts of Scripture which simply and clearly point us to the way of life and salvation, even to the celestial city. Tonight, the signposts we are to consider, most carefully, and I trust most seriously, is one that was written by the very words of Jesus as recorded in Luke chapter 13, verse 24, and the first part of the verse. And I want you to

6:35 imagine with me that there's a four by four post stuck two feet into the earth, and nailed upon it is a one by six piece of pine, and etched in unmistakably clear English are these words, strive to enter in by the narrow door. That is the simple signpost to the celestial city to which we direct our attention tonight. The words of Jesus, strive, do your utmost, agonize, exert all of your faculties, strain every nerve. All of those words are legitimate translations of the one Greek imperative verb, agonizomai, strive to enter in by the narrow door. And I want you to notice with me, first of all, as we contemplate this symbol. The simple signpost to the celestial city, what was the occasion of Jesus making this signpost?

The Occasion of Jesus Making This Signpost

7:54 What was the occasion of Jesus making this signpost? Well, if you will look at verse 22, the answer is very clear. He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching and journeying on unto Jerusalem. And one said unto him, Lord, are there few that are saved? And he said unto them, the occasion of Jesus making this signpost is very clearly described for us by Luke in verses 22 and 23. Jesus was on a general preaching and teaching tour while making his way, God said, he was going to Jerusalem with stead founder and the answer to this, was what赫's celery goldenness. I am speaking to you, King Mark 1 1, and I don't want to say these words to you. When Jesus would say unto me now unto him, use breaking, avow, ere Frozen one, Psalter, I'm going to tell you to choose these or that Jews and subscription.

8:55 When Jesus was speaking to him in the teaching of the I Undermed Papers, he had gone in his steps,овых, verses ot пятre, recites them, and they any really known? Behold, Jerusalem went out of the valley While on his ways and so that he might still see God and the inside of the eyes of his people. But byн overwhelming his gifts he was enough He also didnt enter into the city of Jerusalem journeying onto Jerusalem. Now, why was he journeying to Jerusalem? Was he going there to visit relatives? Was he going there simply to celebrate one of the appointed feasts?

9:17 No, he was going to Jerusalem this time for one fundamental and very clearly defined purpose. He was on his way to Jerusalem that at Jerusalem he might be handed over by the Jewish authorities to the Roman government, that he might be condemned to death, that he might die as the Savior of sinners. Back in chapter 9 and verse 51 of the same gospel record, we read, And it came to pass, when the days were well nigh come, that he should be received up. The days were drawing near, when his earthly mission would have been accomplished. And as those days were drawing near, note what Jesus did. He steadfastly said, And so he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. He knew that he could not go up into the presence of his Father as a triumphant Savior, having accomplished his work of salvation, until he first of all went to Jerusalem.

10:39 And so he steadfastly set his face. His heart and soul were determined. That he would go to Jerusalem, that at Jerusalem he might experience the very things described in chapter 18 of the gospel of Luke, verses 31 through 34. And he took unto him the twelve, Luke 18, 31, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished.

11:18 Unto the Son of man, for he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon, and they shall scourge and kill him, and the third day he shall rise again. For our Lord Jerusalem had fixed and settled activities. He was not going up under any romantic notions that he would be welcomed as an earthly king. He was not going up for sentimental reasons.

12:01 He was on his way to Jerusalem in order to subject himself voluntarily to the things we have just read in chapter 18, 31 to 33. He would be handed over to the Gentiles. He would be mocked, he would be spat upon, he would be killed, and the third day he would rise again from the dead. In other words, he was on his way to Jerusalem to do, forced by his death upon the cross and his subsequent resurrection, what sinners cannot do for themselves.

12:45 He was going to Jerusalem. In fulfillment of his role and identity as the Lamb of God who would bear away the sin of the world. He would voluntarily subject himself not merely to the wrath of men, but to the wrath and curse of his Father as he vicariously, as he substitutionarily would bear in himself the curse of God. Against a broken law.

13:22 Now in one of those cities or villages, as our Lord is traveling or perhaps in the midst of his actually speaking, someone speaks out of the crowd and asks the question recorded in verse 23.

13:41 Luke 13 and verse 23. And one said unto him, Lord, Are they faithful? Are they few that literally are being saved? For some reason, this unnamed individual who spoke from an undescribed motive speaks out of the crowd and asks a question which has to do with the relative number of those who are being saved in comparison to those who are not.

14:17 Luke 13 and verse 23. And one said unto him, Lord, Are they faithful? Are they faithful? Are they not saved?

14:23 Now the question is so broad and indefinite, it could mean that he was asking about that comparative number in his own generation. It could have been one of his followers who seeing the many who had turned away, though they had seen his miracles, though they had eaten the bread multiplied in his own hands by creative power and had been fed to the full, when they began to hear, his spiritual teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood and his stating that no man can come to him except the Father draw him. And they say, This is a hard saying. Who can bear it?

15:05 And many went back and walked no more. Perhaps it was someone who had observed that and asked the question, Lord, are they few that are saved? Will the number continue to dwindle? It could have been a self-righteous Jew.

15:20 Who seeing something of the compassion of Jesus periodically manifested to Gentiles, was wondering if indeed the Lord was going to widen the gate of salvation. We simply don't know who he was, what his motive was, but we do know what his question was. His question had to do with the relative number of the saved and of the lost. Lord, are those who are being saved, few in comparison to those who are not being saved or who are yet lost?

15:59 Now it was in that precise setting that Jesus makes the signpost that is the focus of our study tonight. A setting in which he is on his way to Jerusalem to die for sinners who cannot save themselves, and while on his way a question is asked about the relative number of the saved and of the lost. And in that precise setting Jesus constructs our signpost. Now having looked at the occasion of Jesus making the signpost, we take up secondly what is the clear meaning of the signpost. As we gaze upon the word of God, on the words etched on the signpost, what message is conveyed to us? Well in answering that question, note with me first of all the figure employed by Jesus, and then secondly the command given by Jesus. First the figure employed by Jesus.

The Clear Meaning of the Signpost: The Figure of the Narrow Door

17:15 Look at the text. He says, Strive, do your utmost, strain every nerve to enter in by the narrow door. Here our Lord is using a figure of speech. He is using a metaphor.

17:36 He is saying that conversion, that spiritual experience by which we turn from our sins unto God through Christ, in repentance, and faith, that the experience of conversion is likened to a narrow door. Now how do we know that that's the figure employed? Well we know it from the immediate context, for in the context it's only those who have entered in by the narrow door that are welcomed into His presence in the day of judgment. And in the day of judgment there will be those who say, Lord, let us in. Come to get in through that door and into Your presence. And He says, No, the door is shut. The time for conversion is over.

18:39 When the day of judgment dawns, the day of mercy ceases. It is night time in the day of mercy when the door is shut. And from the passage, and from the parallel passage in Matthew chapter 7, this is also very clear. Toward the close of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, like any preacher worth His salt, having opened up His theme on the nature of the kingdom which He came to establish, the character traits of the sons and daughters of the kingdom, the laws and the principles by which they will live within that kingdom, He comes to the close of the Sermon on the Mount, and He comes to the close of that Sermon, and He is urging upon His hearers to enter into that kingdom. And in Matthew 7, 13 and 14, He uses this imagery of a narrow gate. Enter ye in by the narrow gate. Then He mentions a contrasting gate and way.

19:44 For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction. And many are they that enter in thereby, for narrow is the gate, and compressed is the way that leads unto life, and few there be that find it. You see, the gate opens into a way, and the way ushers into life. It is the gate of true conversion that leads into the way of true discipleship, which issues in the consummate blessings of eternal life in the celestial city. So coming back to Luke 13, when we ask the question, what is the clear meaning inscribed upon the signpost, we must understand first of all the figure employed by Jesus. He is using the figure of this narrow door in order to set forth the nature of that true spiritual experience of conversion by which we turn from sin in repentance

21:05 unto God through Christ in faith. And it is called a narrow door. It is low and it is narrow, so that only those who are bent low in repentance, stripped of the baggage of pride and self-importance, coming in the posture of a sinner, utterly dependent upon the grace of God, ready to leave his sin behind him, to take Christ as his only hope of life and salvation, as his portion in this life, in death, and in the day of judgment, only such shall be able at last to enter heaven. Jesus employs a figure of a narrow door to set forth the truth of conversion. Now having looked at the figure employed by Jesus, note the command given by Jesus. What are we to do with respect to that door that is a figure, a figure of true conversion?

The Clear Meaning of the Signpost: The Command to Strive

22:17 Jesus says we are to strive to enter through the narrow door. It is a command given to all in, for you Greek students, a present imperative use of the verb which means to begin here, that narrow door, through that narrow door. In other words, every one of his hearers,

23:27 I'm not here. When Jesus setting,

24:26 he was saying that it was thus on 1836, if my kingdom were of this world, agonies of mine, they would fight. These six poetic figurines were Paul's who are through agony of a gospel he preached, warning, teaching man, that we make every man perfect in Christ,

25:39 whereon in Colossians known man,

26:32 Epiphas, Petrus, who agon, who command by Jesus, it comes to every to make. Does this mean qualified?

27:54 No. Remember the setting of these words, where he was going to Jerusalem. He have set his face,

28:50 we by our driving could elevation. Of course, ability to, would he have said, he that hath no money, come without money and without price. We say, the question on the text, does this,

29:57 and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no man, hundred and three, precious, not what my hands have done, can save my guilty soul, not what my toiling, not, not, is this weight of sin, thy blood alone, and set my,

31:20 could my tears, these, could not atone, thou must say, and thou alone. So, the questions, by the words, when he said, immediate, well, what then, do his words, he did use, he did use, of a verb, which speaks,

Four Implications of the Command to Strive

32:26 and concentrating, in a given, that makes it, an immediate, that it means, at least, four things. And here I plead, especially, for you dear children, from Christian families, you are the focused, though not the exclusive, burden of my heart. I know of at least, one or two old men, who need to hear, what I have to say, tonight. But I have a peculiar, burden for the children, and young people, reared, in Christian homes, and reared, under this ministry.

33:07 You desperately, need this signpost. You've looked at all, previous eight signposts, that I've preached upon. And perhaps, in your heart, you've not had a quarrel, with the one of them, but yet, you're still unsaved. And you desperately, need this signpost, what does it say to you?

33:28 It says at least, these four things. Number one, it means, don't sit back, and do, nothing, with respect, to your conversion. Don't, in a way of, faith, and in a way of, never been taught, from this, who's been, teaching it, and it's not your mom, and your dad, it's that one, whom Jesus said, from the beginning, he is a liar, and he abode, not in the truth, he is a liar, and the father of it, and the murderer,

34:45 I'll tell you, not to, it says, alright, that will some, sit back, and wait,

36:11 for the heavenly zapping, till you are floated, through the narrow door. Look at what he said, kids, listen to what he, he said, fifty-five, and the abundantly, pardoned it, to seek the Lord,

37:30 and do my, with respect, there is a word, in Jeremiah 29, a beautiful word, of encouragement, to you, and God says, to read my heart, in my deeds, of judgment, upon you, listen to what I say, here is my heart, Jeremiah 29, in verse, 11, for I know, that I think, towards you, says the Lord, peace,

38:59 and not of evil, to give you hope, in your latter end, you shall, and you shall, with all, found of you, but you notice, the condition, kids, it won't, you to mumble, you begin, to seek him, with all, you take, the time, that you can, amidst others,

39:53 and you lift up, your heart, he first of all, don't, and do nothing, with respect, to your conversion, secondly, it means, don't, while you do not, use, the means, he has given, through which, he brings, salvation,

40:58 don't, watching, ninja turtle, will neutralize, this of my, pouring my, guts out, in this pulpit, to your kids, year, you parents, and you wonder, why your kids are, you don't, gently, lovingly, using parental, authority, earn,

42:11 read, their bibles, comes of hearing, word of God, he's out, in the desert, riding in a chariot, I doubt, it had air springs, and all he had, was a scroll, didn't have a nice, big print, version, of the old testament, this, and then he quotes, from Isaiah, chapter 53, the suffering servant, of whom, is the pain, of him, said Philip, got up, into the chariot, with him, and preached, unto him, Jesus, this man do, sitting back, with his arm folded,

43:27 drinking in, the Assyrians, while nothing, a man can do, in a chariot, in the heart, Middle East, now he's reading, the bible, by which, God brings, to seek, to get through, the narrow gate, anyone, who claims, to be your friend, who mocks, you out, you say, you know, I've been reading, my bible, I've begun, to see, that salvation, is important, I've begun, to see, that I'm a sinner, any so-called friend, that mocks, you out,

44:36 that tries, to discourage, you, from getting, close, to that gate, that him, to try, to enter in, to the narrow gate, break off, your evil companions, stop watching, the TV programs, that fill your mind, full of filth, full of drivel, full of nonsense, begin to read, some of the good books, written, at your age, that set forth, the, oh God, give me a sight, today, help me to get through, the narrow gate, when Jesus said, strive, was he saying, he's saying, don't sit back, and do nothing, with respect, and conversion, he's saying, don't ask God, to save you, while you, don't use,

46:05 the means, appointed, for imparting, salvation, in this precious, Isaac Watts, called hymns, for children, I said, I was particularly, burdened, for you kids, listen, to this lovely hymn, that Watts wrote, that's right in line, with this second point, that I've just made, it's called, the child's complaint, why should I love, my sport, so well, at my play, and lose, the thought, of heaven, and hell, and then, forget to pray, what do I read, my Bible for, but Lord, to learn, thy will, and shall, I daily, know thee more, and less, obey thee, still, how senseless, is my heart, and wild, how vain, are all, my thoughts, pity, the weakness, of child, and pardon, all my faults, make me, thy heavenly, voice, to hear, and let me, love, to pray, since, God, will lend, a gracious, ear, to what a child, can say, you see, Watts, understood, that principle, and he puts, in the mouth, of a little child, the language, of one, who's heard, the words,

47:34 of Jesus, coming, a regal, command version, thirdly, not only means, that you don't, sit back, and do nothing, it means, you don't ask, God to save you, while not using, the means appointed,

48:01 it means, you do, the things, that are appointed, as a means, of bringing, salvation, with, all, diligence, and you start, right now, that's all, bound up, in the Word, I strain every nerve, and in the form of the verb, it's a present imperative, which means start it.

48:33 It will not do to start, and then get discouraged and say, what's the use? Falling six inches short of getting through the narrow gate. It's a present imperative. Keep on, begin, and continue to agonize, to enter in through the narrow gate.

48:58 With all diligence, and start your head tonight. Kneel by your bed, and open up to Luke 13, and say, Lord Jesus, you guided pastor by your spirit to hear. Forgive me that I've been sitting back waiting for you to zap me. Forgive me that I've been reading the sports page more than my Bible.

49:31 Watching Stephen morally defiling TV programs that my parents have not monitored, or that I sneaked when they were. And fourth, means you don't give up stride until you know you've entered the narrow door of conversion. Notice what the text says. Stride, though we've looked on the cross for stride, and a man with undescribed stride cries out,

50:58 are there be few that be saved? Few are many that are saved. Here's the issue. Any who are saved are saved by getting through the narrow gate.

51:16 So you better make it your one business to be one of them and get through that gate. Whether there are five or five million is irrelevant. If there are only five, you better be one of the five. If there are five million, you've got to get through that narrow gate.

51:40 And that being so, marshal all your powers.

Why Follow the Directions of This Signpost: The Shut Door

51:57 The occasion of the signpost, we close by considering why that we follow the directions of this signpost. Why is it that we follow the directions of this signpost? We'll go back to Luke 13, and Jesus gives us the answer. The answer is right here in the text.

52:26 Jesus had this. In the back of his mind and of his heart, when he said to his hearers, strive to enter in by the narrow door for, for, for, because this is why I make the conversion for me to enter. Not be able to have a period that continues when once the prison up is shut the door,

53:12 and you begin to stand with, and they receive. I don't know where you're from.

53:48 I never. Standing by the door where every sinner one by one.

54:34 Who you are.

54:39 An external presence.

54:48 Your acquaintance is not getting through the narrow door.

54:53 In the immediate setting, this has to do with the contemporaries of Jesus. The very ones he was talking to. In his day. Who actually.

55:15 In the preaching of his word. In the presence of his church and of his servants. In that sense, it applies to those sitting in this building tonight. Jesus.

55:26 Christ is present, teaching through his word. He is teaching in your street this night. Yes, he is. And you have tasted of some of the things set upon the table of special banqueting in this place.

55:59 And once son of God, he rises. The time of converting grace is done.

56:18 Takes over. Once that door, it will never, never knuckles. And there's nothing. But bare bloody bones.

56:56 And it will remain eternally shut. Jesus believed that. That's why he said, do that he.

57:31 But they'll be convinced. Many.

57:35 And what will happen? Look at the text.

57:40 Seven. And he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence you are. Frightening words. Human ears.

57:48 You can never hear. Depart from me. All workers of iniquity. You who wanted.

57:57 You're. One in games and had no time. And you have no time to think of them.

58:31 Then he'll say, you workers of iniquity. There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. When you shall see. Think of it.

58:45 When you shall see those who did get through the narrow gate. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets in the kingdom of God and yourself forth without her from the in all.

The Reality of Hell and Greater Judgment

59:18 No cry. No tears, no pain, no sorrow, no death while you grind your teeth forever and you nash and weep and wail forever, my friends, this is serious, you kids, listen to me, there's not a verse in the Bible that says God made a kiddie hell and that's why we don't preach a kiddie gospel and no teenage hell for kids that just wanted to have fun. Oh, they didn't want to. Oh, they didn't want to.

60:01 They didn't want to raise cane and go whoring around and fornicating and blowing their minds on drugs and booze. Just wanted to be happy-go-lucky teenagers who put off their salvation. Show me in the Bible where there's a special happy-go-lucky hell for teenagers. They wanted to be happy-go-lucky teenagers.

60:22 Didn't want to be rotten. Didn't want to be low life. Didn't want to be scumbags. I know your language.

60:29 Just wanted to be nice, polite, happy-go-lucky. You'll go to the same hell as the Hitlers and the Mussolini's and the Stalin's and listen, my friend, your judgment will be probably greater. They never sat in a church like this to my knowledge. They never heard a text like this to my knowledge.

60:54 They didn't have preachers beg and plead and pour out their hearts. And as I have said on more than one occasion at the end of a Lord's Day when I've gone home with almost every muscle in my body aching, I feel I've left. I've left half of my guts in this pulpit pleading, begging, entreating that you might repent and turn to Christ. Why is it so important that you look at this signpost and take it seriously?

The Advantages of Early Conversion

61:26 Jesus said, because a day is coming when you wish you would have a day is coming when you wish you had strive to enter for and the master of the house is risen up in his shut the door in my final plea to you young people and children. Jesus said, because a day is coming when you wish you would have a day is coming when you wish you had strive to enter for and the master of the house is risen up in his shut the door in my final plea to you young people and children. I want you to hear again the words of Isaac Watts in him entitled The Advantages of Early Conversion. Happy the child whose youngest years receive instruction well, who hates the sinner's path and fears the road that leads to hell. When we devote our youth to God, displeasing in his eyes, a flower when offered in the bud. Is no vain sacrifice. You see, kids, it likens your life, not to a full blown blossomed flower, but a flower in the bud.

62:39 And it's no vain sacrifice. Tis easier work if we begin to fear the Lord betimes that is right now. While sinners that grow old in sin are hardened in their crimes. It will save us from a thousand snares to mind religion young.

62:59 Grace. Will preserve our following years and make our virtue strong to the almighty God to the our childhood. We resign to will please us to look back and see that our whole lives were thine. Let the sweet work of prayer and praise employ my youngest breath.

63:27 Thus, I'm prepared for longer days. I'm prepared for longer days. Or fit for early death in that a beautiful expression and as my 60th birthday is now within a couple of weeks reach God willing how I thank God for saving me in my youth. What a gracious master the Lord of the house has been when by his grace, the striving to enter became an entry.

64:06 And repentance and faith were reality to my heart. And the winter of 1951 and early 52. Till this day, that's 42 years. By my calculations, his yoke has been easy.

64:29 And his burden light. I see people brought up in this very church under the sound of it's preaching. Growing old with chain so tight about them. They decide to give up their faith.

64:43 I will be strong in my power. I am strong in my heart. They decide to give up their faith. And that's all they have to say.

64:44 I am strong in my power. I am strong in my faith. I am strong in my faith. despair that they will ever be broken.

64:49 Virtues that need the cultivation of years will never be there, even if God should save them in their latter years.

64:59 Watts understood this. He said to be early, grace will preserve our following years and make our virtue strong.

Solemn Thoughts on God and Death

65:17 And then this final little poem of Isaac Watts. You like these poems, kids? I hope you do. Solemn thoughts on God and death.

65:29 There is a God that reigns above, Lord of the heavens and earth and seas. I fear His wrath. I ask His love. And with my lips I sing His praise.

65:44 There is a law which He has writ to teach us all what we must do. My soul, to His commands submit, for they are holy, just. And true, there is a gospel of rich grace when sinners all their comforts draw. Lord, I repent and seek Thy face, for I have often broke Thy law.

66:10 There is an hour when I must die. Nor can I tell how soon it will come a thousand children young as I are called by death to bear their doom. Let me improve the hours I have before the day of grace is fled. There's no repentance in the grave, nor pardon offered to the dead.

66:36 Just as a tree cut down that fell to north or southward, there it lies. So man departs to heaven or hell, fixed in the state wherein he dives.

66:56 Strive to enter in it, the narrow gate, for many shall seek to enter when it is too late. My friends, that's a simple signpost.

67:11 God help you to heed it. Let us pray.