 | Pastor Dave grew up in northern New Jersey in a very diverse cultural area. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa received a BA in sociology and psychology. He was an offensive guard for their NCAA Div III National Championship team in 1974. In speaking for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he sensed a call to full time ministry. Meeting is future wife Sandy at Central, went to Michigan to finish her college while Dave started Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Dave married Sandy in 77 and completed his Masters of Divinity degree in 78. Pastor Dave’s first church was in Fort Lee, New Jersey, home of the George Washington Bridge. Their three children were born there and he also served as a Police and Fire Chaplain for the city. In February 1991, they came to Wichita to start Harvest Community Church. In 2006, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological (Presbyterian) Seminary in St Louis. During that year he gained a daughter-in-law with now 2 grandsons of 3 years and 6 months old. Besides Pastoring at HCC for the past 20 years, he has been Director of the SCSD & WPD Police Chaplains for 11.
|
Religion
2012-08-29 14:42:57
How many people are saved?
Q- There are several verses in the Bible that deal with how many people are saved. Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to damnation is wide, the road is clear, and many choose to travel it. But how narrow is the gate that leads to life, how rough the road, and how few there are who find it! And Luke 13:24: Try to come in through the narrow door. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and be unable. Do these mean that more than half of all people are not saved?
A- The questioner asks us a quantifying (amount) question that in the scriptures is a number only God knows. (John 17:9-25) It will be a great number no man knows. {Revelation 7:9} However, compared to what the number could be, considering all previous generations, it will be considerably less as we read the words of Jesus in these two passages. Jesus gives words that speak of exclusiveness in using “narrow,” “rough” and “few” of the way to life compared to the way of destruction as “broad,” “wide,” and “many.” Is it few because of a space problem in heaven? That the gate can’t accommodate everyone? I’m being facetious!
In studying for this question one of the commentators wrote a great summary truth, “Gods way of salvation is remarkably simple, but it is not easy.” The reason I agree with that statement is because man has difficulty accepting God’s way in everything since the beginning of time, especially when it comes to salvation.
Look at Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 who thought they could have it their way by choosing the lie of the serpent that they could be equal with God by eating the forbidden fruit. Paul talks about it in Romans 1 where mankind worships everything, even creation, but God. What caused these choices? The Bible gives us two words that have the same middle letter, “sin” and “pride” with the middle letter “I.” Inside man sin works its way out in pride and man wanting it his way. The “I” shows itselfin man doing it his way and then trying to justify his sinful patterns through religious justification. He creates his own religion or modifies it for self- justification, self –righteousness that leads to self-indulgence and self- satisfaction which is the wide, easy, attractive and self-pleasing way.
Our Matthew 7 passage is in the context of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” in which He elaborates on the 10 Commandments in chapters 5-7. When readwe see Jesus take the commands to a whole new level from outward physical to a higher inward spiritual level. For instance; He takes the 7th command of adultery from just the physical act to saying if a man looks on a woman lustfully, that’s adultery. (5:28}Jesus radically says it’s better to lose an eye than to bear the consequences of that behavior. (29-30) The religious made a mockery of this in Jesus’ day. If aman saw a hottie (cute woman) down the street that he wanted to get with, he’d write a certificate of divorceon the frivolous grounds of his wife burning breakfast. This would break the sanctity of marriage (Genesis 2:24), so he could get with the hottie, butin the religious eyes of the community it would be ok. (5:31-32)That way was not God’s way but man’s. It was a sham!
Other religious movements are harsh and have a rigorous path laden with rules and regulations that need to be met by the follower. They are well meaning people but filled with pride that man can actually think he can please Almighty God and live totally for God. This passage flies in the face of any group that tries to blend religions in “easy-going syncretism,” says writer John Stott.The problem is, no man can live perfectly. (Matthew 5:45) That is God’s standard. That is why Jesus talks about how man is unable to do it. (Matthew 19:26) Read the Sermon on the Mount and see if there is anyone who could live that way perfectly! (Romans 3:23)
That is why Jesus comes to His disciples and us saying there is only one choice between two gates that is right. One way is God’s way of salvation that leads to life and the other, man’s way that leads to destruction. That narrow way is only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Act 4:12). It is solely through what His death on the cross accomplished that gives all men grace to be saved. Nothing else! There is not one thing we can do that saves us. (Ephesians 2:8-9) This is why it is so “simple” and yet not so “easy.” Because man’s sinful pride can keep him from that grace. Many good people, church people, who follow the 10 Commandments, who do a lot of good for others and keep the Golden Rule, don’t make it. (Luke 13:24-27; Matthew 7:22-23) They trust their own self religious effort and not Christ. I’ve seen people even get upset with me about it. Look at the struggle Peter had in letting go of self -effort and trusting Christ fully. (John 13:37-38; 18:25-27; 21:15-25) It is when we let go of our self-effort and fully trust Him for our salvation, we see the selfish desires and worldly ways diminish and our desire to do His will becomes prominent. (Galatians 2:20) It is then we really need to trust Him more and more because we have declared war on our flesh, the world system and the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-20; 1 John 2:16; 1 Peter 5:8) Then it’s on and the battle is intense. So trust Him only and fully on the rough and narrow way made for only those with faith of heart in Him. I’m in the battle with you every day trusting only in Him. Pastor Dave
