What is the Narrow Path?
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To "keep" (Greek word "tereo" - guard, observe, watch over) His commandments is the demonstrative evidence that we know Him and are on the narrow path. 1 John 2:3 - By this we know that we have come to know Him (demonstrative evidence), if we keep (guard, observe, watch over) His commandments.
So how much obedience does it take? Where do you draw the line in the sand and say that you were "obedient enough" so now you will go to heaven? How many of us are "perfectly" obedient?What were His instructions on receiving eternal life?
John 3:15 - that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 10:9 - I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
The gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance -- faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6). The “wide” gate allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions that teach salvation by works.
I believe No body perfect. If you ask how obedience It take to save, my answer is you quote a verse John 3:16 If you obey this verse mean you believe in Jesus than you save.
believe in Jesus mean trust His direction.
Say I am in los angeles ca, sam ask me how to get Phoenix az
I tell him to take 10 east
If sam trust me mean he take 10 east.
If sam take 5 north mean sam did not trust me. Sam may say that he trust me, but the fact that he take 5 north proof he did not trust me. And If he take 5 north, he won't get to Phoenix, he get lost.
Not every one that say believe in Jesus mean believe in Jesus.
If you believe in Jesus than you obey His comand, If you say you believe Him and you not obey His command, you won't get to heaven.
But we make mistake, we not perfect. As long as we repent and ask forgiveness He Will forgive us.
If we are killer, every day kill people and say we believe in Jesus, we must stop kill. If we continue kill every days mean we not believe in Jesus though we go to church every sunday.
Salvation not by work, but work is sign of salvation.
"Yep if one repent, he will forgive". As far as eternal salvation (deliverance= Greek definition) is concerned forgiveness was accomplished by Christ on the cross. Even though we have been regenerated, we still carry the baggage of our fleshly nature with us until we die a natural death, as confirmed by Paul in Rom 7. The church that Jesus set up when he was on earth is called by several different names in the scriptures, such as, The little flock, The church in the wilderness, The new Jerusalem, The church of the first born, The church of Christ, The kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-10 has reference to Christ's church, not eternal heaven. Jesus did not die for all mankind, but only those that his Father gave him (John 6:37-38-39). Those that he did die for were forgiven for "ALL" of their sins.
Eternal salvation by works (any requirement for man to do) is a good example of "establishing one's own righteousness".
My righteousness, or His righteousness applied to my account?
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:7-9).
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:7-9).
So, are you saying that "keeping his commandments" is the CAUSE of our eternal salvation? If so, would that be salvation by grace?
Establishing one's own righteousness is when a regenerated person is depending upon the old law of works to save him eternally. But that which is through the faith "OF", not "IN" Christ, The righteousness which is of God by (Christ's) faith, not our faith.
No, keeping His commandments is NOT the CAUSE of our eternal salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9).
Nope . . . it is a lost sinner trying to approach a holy God on his own merits. Context . . . context . . . context.
"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:3-6).
I think Isaiah 28 goes along with this: Here are some of the key points in my opinion and also a link to the whole chapter.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+28&version=KJV
I could be wrong but I think this is talking about Jesus being the only way or the strait and the narrow.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+28&version=KJV
I could be wrong but I think this is talking about Jesus being the only way or the strait and the narrow.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
If we put any requirement for man to do, such as, our faith, our believing, our confession, our repentance, our acceptance etc. then eternal salvation would not be by grace. It would be by works.
You have probably read 1 Cor 2:14, but you should refresh your memory. It says that the "lost sinner" cannot discern spiritual things, such as, approaching a spiritual God,
I'm not a Calvinist so I reject your faulty interpretation of the verse.
https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/who-is-this-natural-man-of-whom-you-speak.179568/
1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. To make 1 John 2:4 and 1 John 1:8 harmonize, we must consider 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. 1 John 2:1 - And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Your faith is not the cause of your eternal salvation, but the evidence that you already have eternal salvation. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit and if we have faith, then we are already born of the Spirit.So how much obedience does it take? Where do you draw the line in the sand and say that you were "obedient enough" so now you will go to heaven? How many of us are "perfectly" obedient?
John 3:15 - that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 10:9 - I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
The gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance -- faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6). The “wide” gate allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions that teach salvation by works.
The inspired scriptures prove themselves, I do not study from any other source such as man's false interpretations. If you are a bible scholar then quote me scripture proof by your thoughts and not trust in outside sources.
I believe John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Whosoever believe in Him Will be save.
I believe God love all,
For God so love the world, indicate Goa love all, but not all save, because require to believe in Jesus.
whosoever believe in Jesus will be save.