Heaven:The Slim Door to Glory
23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
Now, this is an awesome conversation that Jesus brings to light through Dr. Luke, who writes this Gospel with clarity and careful diligence. Unpacking the profound truths of Salvation and Spiritual Formation as critically needed. In Jesus’ words here, it’s super critical that each one of us be intentional about our relationship with Jesus. Our walk with Him and how we represent Christianity is very, very important.
Jesus uses a strong expression here in Luke 13:24 by saying “strive”, the Greek word is Agon, which means fight! Now, what is this fight? What does striving mean here? Do you think Jesus was saying to crawl, beat yourself, or go on a monk trip for the next five years to cultivate something good so that you can enter the Kingdom of God? Is that what Jesus meant here?
Let’s Dissect This Whole Phrase “Strive to enter through the Narrow door.”
What it Doesn’t Imply? This verse is not meant to make the audience think that entering heaven is difficult or hard. If entering the doorway of heaven were through fighting or striving, it would imply that salvation comes through works and not by grace, faith, or Christ alone. This would also mean we would need to deny the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
What is Justification by Faith Alone? It means that I don’t have to be a super saint to be saved or to enter heaven. It also means that I can’t add any righteousness or good works to be saved. Justification by faith alone is absolutely given by God through grace, faith, and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Yes, then we repent and accept that I am a sinner, and I need to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. But our salvation happens immediately when we are born again from above through the power of the Holy Spirit. This should help us see that verse 24 here is not denying or contradicting Romans 3:28. Salvation is not by works but through faith alone, by the working power of the Holy Spirit. This is why the baptism of the Holy Spirit is needed and is critical. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Unless you are born from above, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” Now this should simply help us understand that I don’t have to strive to enter the Kingdom of God to be saved. We don’t have to fight our way through the glorious gates of heaven. It’s not by striving or fighting that we secure our Salvation, it’s by faith alone through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Your performance mindset to enter heaven has no validity. Rest in the assurance that Jesus has done it for you. Repent and believe in Christ!
We can also gain some insight from Douglas Wilson. He helps us to see that this well-known phrase “Narrow is the way” should not be understood as implying that only a few people will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead, he explains that “the narrow door” (Luke 13:24, NIV) was specifically for the remnant of first-century Jews. Immediately after, in the same passage, Jesus speaks of Gentiles streaming into the Kingdom “People will come from east and west and north and south and will take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and first, who will be last” (Luke 13:29-30, NIV).
Strive or Fight for Transformation: Now, let’s flip the conversation by expounding on what Jesus was really saying in verse 24 when He said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” The word strive or fight implies that we must not take the Christian life for granted. After being given the gift of salvation, Christ calls us to put on His kingdom-Nomics. He wants us to be intentional about spiritual formation, becoming more like Him, transforming into the image of Christ Jesus, being intentional about not giving in to the works of the flesh, redeeming our time, and setting it apart for the Lord.
We need to consistently remind ourselves that in the process of transformation, where we strive through the narrow door, we must remember that our Christian notion is not a Messy Notion. We want to be changed from glory to glory, also knowing that Christianity is about meekness. Let’s watch this clip by J. I. Packer and then continue our conversation on Transformation. J.I. Packer - Weakness is the Way
In Romans 8:12–13, Paul gives a victorious explanation of the power over sin by the working power of the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus. This power from the Holy Spirit makes the children of God more than conquerors: “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
John Stott explains that this text draws our attention to the topic of mortification, which should not be neglected. Stott also explains that in the work of mortification, we are not passive, waiting for it to be done for us. Yes, the power of the Holy Spirit enables an individual with the desire, determination, and discipline to reject evil. However, it is we who must take responsibility to act against the evil deeds of the flesh.
Law of Life: There is no doubt that the work of the Spirit helps us to live victoriously over our sinful nature. But we must bring our sinful battles to the Holy Spirit. F. F. Bruce explains that “Christ dwells in them by the Spirit, and His Spirit infuses into them a new principle, the law of life, which is stronger than indwelling sin and sets them free from its tyranny.” Bruce further explains that when an individual relies on his own resources, he fights a losing battle; however, if he draws from the resources and power that are in Christ Jesus, he will be more than a conqueror.
