“Are There Few Who Are Saved?”

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’” “And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able’” (Lk. 13:23, 24) 0 Strive = “Agonize”  To struggle with difficulties and dangers (cf. 1 Cor. 9:25; Col. 4:12; 1 Tim. 6:12)  Many seek to enter but are not able

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’” “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’”(Lk. 13:25) 0 Must strive because of the limited time to enter 0 Those who wait too long are not known by the Lord

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’” “Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. …’” (Lk. 13:26, 27a) 0 The folly of an idle acquaintance—privileges not valued 0 How many are here but not here?  Striving “to know Him” (Phil. 3:10)  “Fellowship” and an obedient member of His body (Mk. 3:33-35)

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’” “ ‘Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out” (Lk. 13:27b, 28) 0 “Thus pleading avails not. The door would not be narrow if it opened to excuses” (J. W. McGarvey, Fourfold Gospel, p. 489) 0 Matthew 8:11, 12

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’” “They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last” (Lk. 13:29, 30) 0 “The saved Gentiles are noted for their ambition to come from far places to enter the kingdom (cf. Jer. 16:19) 0 What of me (Matt. 21:28-31; 3:10; 20:16)?

“Are There Few Who Are Saved?” A n s w e r : Y E S

There Were Few Saved “who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Pet. 3:20)

Why Will There Be Few Saved? 1. Because many do not believe (Lk. 8:11, 12) 0 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is…” (Heb. 11:6) 2. Because many do not diligently seek Him 0 “…and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6) 1. They do not strive to enter (Lk. 13:24) 2. They do not seek Him with the whole heart (Jer. 29:13) 3. They do not test the spirits (1 Jn. 4:1)

Why Will There Be Few Saved? 3. Because many do not remain faithful (Rev. 2:10) 0 Will not endure temptation or trial (Lk. 8:13; Mk. 4:16, 17; Ps. 106:12-14) 0 Enamored with worldly cares/pleasure (Lk. 8:14) 0 Grow opposed to truth (Gal. 4:15, 16; 2 Tim. 4:3, 4) 4. Because many do not obey him (Matt. 7:21)

Acts 2:37, Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Believers “He who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:16b) Unbelievers

BaptizedBelievers “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk. 16:16a) Not Baptized Wrong gospel Wrong baptism

Unbelievers FaithfulBaptizedBelievers Again Entangled in the pollutions of the world (2 Pet. 2:20-22) Not Baptized Worldly Fallen Away Truth

To Be Saved 0 Seek the Lord whole heartedly 0 Locate the original church which Jesus built without being derailed by denominationalism 0 Obey the pure gospel of Jesus Christ without being detoured by false doctrine 0 Remain faithful despite the lure of worldliness, the trial of temptation and the threat of persecution

Matthew 7:13, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.