“Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NET)
I used to think this was referring to those who don’t know the Lord taking the wide path that leads to destruction, but that is not what the Word of God says. (John 3:18 says that those who don’t believe in Jesus are already condemned.)
The Word is talking about professing believers ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD – and that there are many who enter through the wrong gate. (Note: the Kingdom of God starts now, which is His reign and rule in your life and the fellowship of believers is His house/body/church).
So there are at least 2 gates to entering the kingdom of God. One is the spacious path and wide gate that leads to destruction. These would represent those who enter the church and hear but do not do the Word of God, yet are still in His house, even doing miracles in His name. (“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NET)). But unless they repent they are the ones who will be thrown out eventually for practising lawlessness.
I asked God where is the narrow gate? And He said “at the back of the house”. The narrow gate is hard to find, and few find it. It’s a lonely journey finding the narrow gate because it’s the path of holiness.
You see, a slave (to sin) does not have a permanent place in the house of God but a son does. (Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever. (John 8:34, 35 NET)).
Let us find the narrow gate and enter the house of God as sons!
Life by the Spirit 