Two Gates

Two Gates

“Enter by the narrow gate . . . because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matt. 7:13-15.

The usual understanding is that there isn’t a way that leads to life. Neither can you hear anyone speak about a spiritual development that results in partaking of divine nature. The understanding which people have is that by faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, they receive the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus. This is true, of course. Eph. 2:5-8; Col. 2:13. Yet it doesn’t occur to people that at that point, spiritually speaking, they are only like babies. That is why a famous actor, author, athlete, guerilla fighter, etc., can get converted to God and right away become a preacher and a leader in a religious movement. They were big-wigs in the world, and as soon as they got converted, they became big-wigs in the religious world—all in the power of their natural talents. They are looked up to as being great men of God in spite of the fact that—spiritually—they are only babies. This misunderstanding is the result of looking up to what is great in the eyes of men; they are ignorant of the new and living way into the Holy of Holies—into life—which Jesus consecrated for us. Luke 16:15; Heb. 10:19-20.

What is the gate that opens to the narrow way that leads to life? The gate is that all those who have accepted Jesus as an offering for their sins also accept Him as their Lord (Col. 2:6); in other words, they become His disciples. Only as disciples can we experience progress and growth and be conformed into the image of the Master. The entrance to this discipleship is narrow. The writing on the gate says: No one can enter in unless he forsakes everything! Luke 14:25-27, 33. Jesus cannot become my Lord unless I forsake everything. A person has to take care of whatever he has not given up—consequently, he cannot learn from Jesus. He does not accept such people as His disciples. Nevertheless, there were multitudes that followed Him to be blessed. This is also true in our days; they rejoice and praise Jesus for the miracles and His blessings. To all of them He says that if anyone comes to Him and does not forsake everything, he cannot be His disciple. We can see that not many want to do that.

Whenever a person stands in front of this gate to go through it, he is met by these wolves in sheep’s clothing. They speak so convincingly about the grace in Christ’s finished work: salvation is a gift; we must not do anything in our own strength, etc. They mislead millions of people with that kind of religious talk—away from discipleship and Jesus as Lord. Spiritually speaking they remain as newborn babies all their lives—unless they fall away, and by harboring a grudge against someone, lose the forgiveness for their sins, thus ending up in the assembly of the dead. Matt. 6:14-15; Prov. 21:16.

The narrow way is: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matt. 16:24. On that way you will be set free from sin; you will gain the victory over all conscious sin and grow up to be a servant of God. The Corinthians were not faithful on this way, which is why they had not grown. The Hebrews likewise—they were babes in Christ. 1 Cor. 3:1-4; Heb. 5:12-14.

Those who have gone on this narrow way to life, with the result that they have been set free from sin, have grown up to partake of spiritual understanding, and have been entrusted with a ministry by God, they have not come to that without having come to another gate on the way. Rom. 6:22; Eph. 4:11. An overseer, as well as the other servants in the church, is to be beyond reproach. They are to possess the mystery of the faith in a good conscience. “But let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.” 1 Tim. 3:2, 10, 1:12.

Jesus Himself had to pass through a powerful trial before He began His public ministry, and sure enough, the devil himself met Him at that gate. Then Jesus was about thirty years old. He had lived His life as a carpenter, and as the Son of Man he had gone on the new and living way to life—He had learned obedience by the things He suffered, and the fullness of the Godhead came to dwell in Him bodily. Heb. 5:8; Col. 2:9. When He was about to begin His public ministry, He was baptized. He was led about in the desert by the Spirit for forty days, and He was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-14. We can read about some of these temptations—everything revolved around signs and wonders to the end that He Himself might get the honor and gain the power.

Once we have passed through this gate and God has blessed our ministry so that great things are happening through us, it is important that we are not deceived by Satan by receiving the honor of men and striving for a position, but that “in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Pet. 4:11.

It is evident that this is a difficult area, and many people who have made a good start have been deceived by Satan. They became conceited and fell into the condemnation of the devil. 1 Tim. 3:6. Paul was one who had labored more than all of them, but he was grounded in this: “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Cor. 15:10. Nevertheless, he had to have extra help from God so as not to exalt himself. Pride is very powerfully ingrained in us. 2 Cor. 12:7.

The devil left Jesus for a time, but we can be sure that he returned later to tempt Him again. But God be praised it was in vain. However, we have had this unfortunate experience with some people in whose lives the devil has gained influence although it did go well with them for a while. “Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear . . . .” 1 Pet. 1:17.

God be praised that we have had great men of God among us who have finished their ministry and whose lives the devil has not been able to influence. There are many among us who follow after them. Heb. 13:7.