This study was first taught on June 14, 2011

Topic: There Are Two Gates: The Strait/Narrow Gate

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week, we focused on the wide gate, which is one of the two gates mentioned in Matthew 7:13 and which we are advised not to enter through. Our study was with a view to avoiding it, and if we have gone through it, to make a quick retreat. We saw that the wide gate can be an immoral woman, a sweet talker, peer groups and fraternities, wayward friends and acquaintances, secret cults, ungodly counsel, the love of money, get-rich-quick schemes, the love of the world, the unrestrained eye, the unguarded heart, the over-exposed ear, and the mass media, among others. Indeed, anything that encourages us to take the road that leads to destruction is a wide gate. To many people, the wide gate always seems the right one in their minds; and this is because, it is inviting, appealing, and attractive; and lures them with promises of pleasures without inhibitions, greatness without humility, and success without morals and ethics—these are the things which the lust in man (the sinful nature) crave. We said that the wide gate is accommodating and tolerant of anything and everything: there are no restrictions—anything goes. It is an all-inclusive access point, and does not discriminate against whatsoever is brought in. The wide gate is extremely permissive, and makes no demands on a person to change his lifestyle. It also does not emphasize faith in Jesus Christ and His word alone; rather, it encourages people to seek out other alternatives. We noted that the wide gate is so wide, that virtually everybody has gone in through it; because its slogan is, ‘everyone is doing it’! We also noted that the message going out from the wide gate include; “Come as you are, and stay as you are”, “Go to church, but do your own thing”, “Heaven helps those who help themselves”, “We do not inconvenience you with dress codes”, “stolen water is sweet”, “bread eaten in secret is the best”, and “Christianity without suffering and sacrifices”, among others. In fact, the wide gate seeks to make everything easy and convenient—bible on phones, prayer sms, sending your prayer requests to ‘men of God’, “Go on to your office, we will fast for you”, and so on.

The demise of Sisera (an army General), at the hands of Jael (a housewife), served as an object lesson to us on how people are easily misled through the wide gate: Sisera was confident that he was safe in Jael’s tent because, they were not at war with her people; she was a woman (and in his estimation, she couldn’t harm him); and, she was welcoming and quite hospitable. How greatly mistaken he was, for she it was, who killed him in a most gruesome way. In much the same way, the wide gate projects a false appearance and lures its victims to their destruction, giving them a false sense of security; getting them to put their confidence in things that cannot keep them; and making it seem like there is no danger whatsoever along the way it is leading them to. It presents a façade that suggests that all is well within, whereas certain destruction is what lies ahead. But by the grace of God we shall not be so lured to destruction!

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:13-14
Tonight, we move on to study the strait or narrow gate. We pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to identify and enter through this gate, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our goal tonight is to identify the strait/narrow gate, and take a look at how to enter therein.
Psalm 118:19-20; John 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ephesians 2:13, 18; 3:12; Romans 5:2; Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22; Acts 4:10, 12; Romans 10:10-13; Philippians 2:9; John 1:4; 6:68; Psalm 24:3-4; John 3:5-8; 1:11-13; Acts 2:37-38; 3:19-20; 16:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6; Matthew 7:21-23; 25:1-13.

Conclusion
The strait/narrow gate is the Person of Jesus Christ. He is our access to favour and peace with the Father, as well as to eternal life. No matter how we look at it, Jesus is The Door; He is The Gate; and He is The Way to life, and to the Father. It was His finished work on the cross at Calvary that made it possible for mankind to be reconciled to the Father, as well as to have everlasting life—His atoning sacrifice, His shed blood on the cross, and His redemptive work, all combine to give all those who believe, access to the throne of God, the Father, where help can be obtained at any time!

It is one thing to identify the strait/narrow gate; it is a completely different thing to have the access code to pass through. The way to gain access through Christ is by faith in His name, and all that He did for mankind. As a person comes to the realization of what Christ did for mankind, and he believes in his heart and declares or confesses his belief with his mouth, he becomes born again by the Spirit of God and saved from sin. This then gives him access into all that God has kept for him and all others who choose the path of Christ. But this access must be through repentance, based on a firm assurance of faith, and a conviction from a humble heart. There are also the very vital keys of obedience to the word of God; adherence to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles/prophets; and, an ongoing vital relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

Next week, we shall address the issue of Jesus saying that the strait/narrow gate is not obvious, but something that has to be searched for and found.

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