Sermons
“Will Those Saved Be Few?”
The following transcription is computer-generated and may not accurately reflect the contents of the audio. Please verify the content before quoting.
(Transcribed by Congregate. Always check document for possible errors and inaccuracies in automated transcriptions.)
If you'd like to follow along in your Bibles this morning, the scripture reading comes from the book of Matthew chapter seven.
Matthew chapter seven, a few moments, I'll be reading from the ESV.
It's the last chapter sermon on the mount.
Uh Jesus has spent the latter half of chapter six discussing uh essentially the cure for anxiety.
How we being the chiefest of God's creation don't have to worry about basic essentials.
The beginning of chapter seven, Jesus addresses the idea of hypocritical judgment and in verse seven, he continues by saying, ask and it will be given to you seek and you will find knock and it will be opened to you for everyone who asks receives and the one who seeks finds and to the one who knocks, it will be opened or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone or if he asks for a fish, we'll give him a serpent.
If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your Children.
How much more will your father who is in heaven?
Give good things to those who ask him.
So whatever you wish that others would do to, you do also to them.
For this is the law and the prophets enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction.
And those who enter by it are many for the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few.
Good morning.
It's wonderful to see everyone here this morning.
Appreciate, uh Jared's words, uh, during the Lord's supper and I appreciate Daniel leading us some good songs this morning before I begin.
Let me just take a quick second and thank everyone for the prayers and the thoughts that you all have offered for me for the email and the text messages that you sent me for the meals that you provided to me and Angie.
Uh Thank you for the outpouring of love that you showed me before and during and after, uh my recent surgery.
If you were to ask your next door neighbor or perhaps the person sitting next to you on an airplane or just about anyone else that lives near you or that you are acquainted to you, ask him this question.
Will those who are saved?
Be few?
What do you think their answer would be?
It's an interesting question to me because of many of the funerals that I have gone to, I inevitably hear at these funerals phrases like he or she is now at peace and now with their savior or he or she has gone to a better place and they're resting people that haven't seen the inside of a church, maybe forever.
People that have no concern over what the will of God is, let alone trying to accomplish it seeming seemingly go to heaven because they were good people.
Every time a celebrity dies, that person is assumed to have gone to heaven.
People who can't spell the name of Jesus are somehow magically assumed to be in heaven because they have brought someone joy here on earth.
All this said, just who is it that will go to heaven?
And how do they get there?
And are there multiple paths that can get a person to heaven?
What I came across an article the other day from online uh article by Christian Da. I don't know much about Christian Da, but the article, the title of the article was intriguing to me and perhaps serves as the basis for my comments this morning.
As you can see, the article is entitled Majority of Generation Z. Believe that there are several ways to heaven study finds.
And it's interesting to me that this title that uh we see here on Christian Daily.
Their impetus for writing this article was based on what a research group, a Christian research group, the Barna group had discovered in one of their researches that they had done, they had done a report, they did a research report in 213.
Um and their findings showed that 218% of roughly two thirds of the respondents agreed to the perception that many religions can lead to eternal life, 2623% higher than that of their 261 survey, which recorded 61%.
So it's kind of interesting that just in a few, in a few short years, we see a number of generation Z that believe that there are multiple paths to salvation.
What's of special concern to me is what's written here, which says that the study also showed that 224% of, of uh of young adults responded or simply agree or believing that it is morally right and wrong changes.
What is morally right or wrong changes over time based on society?
That's scary to think that what we perceive what society believes is right or wrong is depends on what society believes.
It's hard for me to believe.
When you look at our society, you see what goes on around us, you see the killing of innocent babies.
You have a society that believes that this is morally right, brothers and sisters and friends.
What we're seeing with generation Z I think is the first godless generation in this country's history.
We live in a society where truth has become relative.
Our society tells us that there is no singular truth.
That truth is subjective how one feels replaces facts.
It's interesting that uh the novelist Flannery o'connor caught on to this many years ago and she said that the truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it emotionally.
And I think that's right.
While society tells us that there is no absolute truth, there actually is an absolute truth.
The only source of absolute truth is found exclusively in the Bible God himself being the origin and the altar of truth has given us the absolute truth regarding life, faith and salvation through his word.
There's a reason this current generation is the least religious generation in our country's history.
And it's because they don't know the truth.
They haven't been taught the truth.
That is God's word.
And I'll tell you something when society plants, the seeds of doubt, religion will disappear.
And as quickly as just one generation, it's not just the generation zero that believe that there are multiple paths to heaven mains, mainstream Christian denominations teach the same thing.
It's interesting that when you look and I'm sorry for always bringing up Catholicism, it's in my genes.
You have ostensibly the most powerful person in Christendom.
The Pope.
Look at his quote.
All religions are a path to God.
Can you imagine your elders teaching your Bible classes that Hinduism, Taoism Islam, all our paths to God.
But we see here with the Catholic church, as we see in many denominations around us is the art of compromise.
So it's not to offend anyone.
You have the leader of the largest denomination on earth.
Tell us that or tell them not us that all religions are a path to God, regardless of what a Christian denomination teaches.
The Bible is very clear that there are not multiple paths to heaven.
Jesus stated in John the 224th chapter, he said I am the resurrection and the life.
I, I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me though we die yet shall he live?
And everyone who lives and believes in me, she'll never die.
Do you believe this?
Based on what we see here in John 2100 chapter seems to me that the path to heaven is pretty exclusive.
It's through Jesus Christ.
Now it's suppose that instead of asking generation Xers or the Pope or your neighbor or the person next to you on the plane, this question instead of asking men, let's ask Jesus, what the answer is to this question, Lord Jesus, will those who are saved be few?
How do you suppose he would answer this question?
Interestingly, Jesus was asked this question.
He was asked this question directly.
Recall in Luther 13th chapter that a person asked him our question this morning, Lord, will those who are saved be fused?
How did Jesus answer?
Well, the Bible reads, he Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem.
And someone said to him, Lord will those who are saved be few.
I want you to notice something notice that someone that this one person asked Jesus the question and I want you to notice that Jesus answers the question, not just directly back to him, but Jesus answers the question to the entire audience.
Jesus gave his answer to the entire crowd saying strive to enter through the narrow door.
For many, I tell you will seek to enter and will not be able when once the master of the house has risen and shut the door and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door saying ward open to us, then he will answer you.
I do not know where you come from.
The answer that Jesus gets here.
It is not one that many people like to hear, but it is nonetheless the truth.
Many people will try to go to heaven, but I'm afraid that few will make it through the narrow door.
Jesus right here states that there is exactly one path to heaven and not multiple paths.
So our question this morning, I think has been answered definitively.
Few people will be saved.
That's not the opinion of Mike Eon.
It's not the opinion of the elders.
It is what Jesus himself said.
My next question is I hope almost as important, which is why will only a few be saved?
Why is it that only a few will be saved?
Well, start our answers from God's perspective.
First and foremost, it's not because God doesn't want to see people saved.
Let me repeat that.
It's not because God doesn't want to see people saved.
First Timothy two verses three and four makes this abundantly clear.
This is good and it is pleasing the side of God, our savior who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Second Peter three and nine reads, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count, slow slowness, but his patient to you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
John 316 and 17 passages at least three and 16 that we're familiar with for God so loved the world that He gave his only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world.
But in order that the world might be saved through Him, we see clearly, we see unambiguously that God wants everybody to be saved.
Secondly, it's not because God will only save a few people.
There is a common misperception due to Calvinism that God will only save a few elect people.
When you look at the Westminster confession of faith that reads God as predestined and ordained some men and angels to everlasting life out of his free grace and love without any foresight of faith or works in man or perseverance in either of them and others are for ordained to everlasting death and the number of either is so certain and definite that it cannot be increased or diminished.
There's a whole sermon with just this quote right here from Westminster confession of faith.
When I read something like this, I have a lot to say about this.
But it simply begs one question for me.
What's the point of the Great Commission?
If predestination is true, Jesus himself commanded his apostles in Matthew the 18th chapter in verse 19 to go therefore, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
When you consider this Great commission, when you read Mark 61 verses 15 and 16, you see you can't help but be impressed with the fact that there are facts to be believed, there are commands to be obeyed.
There are promises to be embraced and there is a destiny to seek and there is a destiny to avoid.
The doctrine of Calvinistic predestination is an evil one.
It's nefarious, it's wicked.
The doctrine of Calvinistic predestination makes void.
Every command of God offers no hope to the obedience and nullifies every warning of eternal punishment to prove further that neither God nor His Son only intended to save a few people.
We can go to first John second chapter in verse two where this point is made abundantly clear.
He meaning Jesus is the propitiation of our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world, not just the elect.
So does Hebrews two verse nine, but we see Him who for a little while was made lord than the angels, namely Jesus crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death.
So that by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone.
So does Matthew 1128 when Jesus says, come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
Let me ask you this question.
Can anybody, can anyone reasonably interpret this verse or the other verses as Jesus offering everyone something that they can't have?
Of course not.
It's obvious from these verses that God is not going to save only the elect as defined by Calvinism.
So why is it that few people will be saved as we just saw?
It's not because of God.
There's a number of reasons why.
And I know that undoubtedly your list will differ from mine, my list different from mine.
I've done it twice, but I'll share you with some suggested reasons and we'll start with this one.
And that is because many, many people are unwilling.
That sounds odd.
Doesn't it?
Many people are unwilling?
Well, as odd as that sounds, it's a biblical answer.
People are unwilling in a lot of ways people are unwilling to put forth the effort to develop a relationship with Jesus Note.
What said in Luke 13 and 24 notice the word strive the new living translation.
We're familiar with that paragon and translational accuracy.
The new living translation translates this as work hard and I think that's a reasonable interpretation.
You don't just stroll through the door and enter Jesus kingdom and receive salvation.
Faith takes effort.
As we just discussed, the door isn't narrow because Jesus wants to keep people from entering his kingdom.
It's narrow because the terms to enter are his terms and they're restrictive.
It doesn't matter what you think or what society thinks.
The terms of salvations are the terms of salvation are, it only matters what Jesus says.
The terms are and many people are unwilling to accept those terms.
I want you to know something else from.
Luke 13.
Many people won't be saved because the master does not know who they are or where they are from because they have no relationship with the master.
Notice that the people think that they do have a relationship with the master.
We ate and drank in your presents and you taught in our streets.
They are saying that they do know him and that he knows them.
I can't help but wonder if these words will sound familiar on the day of judgment, Jesus, we know you and you know what Jesus, we sat in your pews, Jesus, we heard your word Jesus, we went to church.
You may think that you have a relationship with Jesus.
But proximity to Jesus is not enough, it is not enough to say that you went to church that you listen to sermons, participate in the singing.
It's not enough to say that you spent some time with Jesus.
Jesus is not looking for a casual relationship.
People who are in jesus' kingdom are those that have strived to enter through the narrow door.
And once they're in his kingdom, they continue to labor and serving him.
People who are in Jesus Kingdom or those who have read and studied and believed and obeyed jesus' word and they have rejected the false doctrines taught by men and by religious institutions, there are only two choices in life.
You are either striving to enter through the narrow door and serve Jesus or you're simply working for yourself, which ultimately means that you're working for Satan.
There are many people who will hear the Gospel will not be saved because they are self righteous people.
There are a number of people that think that they're good.
They have deceived themselves into thinking that they are good.
There's all sorts of self-help books out there.
I just happen to stumble on this one that says all good people go to heaven who is good outside of God himself.
Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
No one is good, let alone good enough to go to heaven.
I know some of these people, they think that the gospel is for thieves, for murderers, for prostitutes, pervert, for perverts, for drug addicts, for alcoholics, but not them because they're nice decent people.
The irony is that is exactly who the gospel is for those kind of people and them, these people live good lives and they do good deeds.
They're even religious and I'm afraid that what happens is they're blinded.
They don't see their need of being saved because they see themselves as being good people.
The self righteous sound exactly to me like the pharisee in Luke the 18th chapter.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous and treated others with contempt.
Two men went up to the temple to pray one a pharisee and the other tax collector, the pharisee standing by himself prayed.
Thus, God, I thank you that I'm not like other men, extortioners, unjust adulterers or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week.
I give tithes of all that I get.
But the tax collector standing far off would not even lift up his eyes to heaven.
But these rest saying God be merciful to me, a sinner.
I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the others for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Some people won't, won't be saved because they don't believe that they are good enough or worthy enough.
Do you know people like this?
I know people like this and it just kills me to hear this.
Many people are deeply convicted of their sins.
Unfortunately, it appears to me that there are many people that just want to get their wives cleaned up first and then they'll come to Jesus.
Seems to me that they want to prove to themselves and to others, perhaps even to God Himself that they can live good lives and then they will deserve salvation.
Unfortunately, this is a gross misunderstanding of the grace of God as we see in Romans, the fifth chapter starting in verse eight.
But God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us since therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more.
Shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God?
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death, son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life?
No one is good enough to earn or deserve salvation.
As we see in Romans 623 for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ, Jesus, our Lord, brothers and sisters.
We need to remind people that they need to clean themselves up spiritually first with the gospel of Jesus Christ and then clean up their sexual lives.
Secondly, there are many people that will not be saved because they genuinely hate God and Jesus.
Do you know any people like this?
I work with people.
I used to work with people like this.
Why do you suppose that anyone would hate God or hate Jesus?
They hate God because they love and serve, serve something else and that something else is almost inevitably themselves and because they serve themselves, that's why they covet, That's why they boast.
That's why they are proud.
And that's why they blaspheme.
That's why they disobey parents and so forth related being lovers of self.
Many people hate God and Jesus because they just simply love pleasure.
I think that's probably most of the world that's around us.
The thing that is keeping people from being saved and the thing that is even killing some Christians spiritually is that people love pleasure more than they love God.
Similarly, many people hate God and Jesus because of their love of money.
And I realize this is not on the list up there.
However, one thing I've learned in my 61 years on earth is this, if you love money, you'll serve money and when you serve money, you will hate God.
Recall what Matthew 624 says, no one can serve two masters for either He will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money.
Let me reiterate, loving yourself, loving the world, loving pleasure, loving money will inevitably cause people to hate God, which will undoubtedly keep them from being saved.
And finally, many people will not be saved simply because they procrastinate.
Perhaps the largest category of people who are not saved.
And those who will never be saved are those who procrastinate.
I don't believe that these people intend to go to hell.
At least the ones that I know.
I think perhaps many of them sincerely intend to be saved, but not today, they put it off and refused to surrender the lives of Christ.
Now thinking that they will do it at a later date.
When you think of people like this, it's easy to think of the story of Felix.
You recall Felix's procrastination as we read in acts 24 starting verse 24.
After some days, Felix came with his wife Priscilla who is Jewish and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ, Jesus as he reason about righteousness and self control in the coming judgment or this coming.
Yeah, the coming judgment.
Felix was alarmed and said, go away for the present when I get an opportunity, I will summon you.
And what we see here is that procrastination is a thief of time.
It is the grave of opportunity and unfortunately, it will be the road to hell for many people like Felix.
Well, as you may have surmised the sermon isn't just about your neighbors or generation Z for people in denomination.
The sermon is about some of you.
Will you be one of the few that will be saved?
I wanna go back to the previous chart note that when Paul reasoned with Felix about righteousness and self control and the coming judgment, Felix became alarmed.
The Greek word here is Phobos to fear or to be terrified or frightened.
Judgment Day for all mankind is an absolute certainty.
Felix was terrified.
He was frightened.
He became alarmed because he knew what Paul said was true.
If you have not obeyed the gospel, it is my sincere hope that you will consider the words that I have spoken this morning and believe them because I believe they are true.
They are not true because of me, they are true because I've quoted you the words of God.
Moreover, I hope like Felix, you are terrified or frightened or alarmed as you consider the upcoming Judgment Day.
Unlike Felix, I pray that you will do something about your sins.
It is my prayer this morning.
The prayer of everyone in the audience that you will come forward confess that you believe that Jesus is the son of God, that you repent of your sins and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
Friends, every single one of us here is going to meet Jesus, the Christ that is 100% guaranteed Jesus, the Christ will either be your savior or your judge.
There is precisely one path to heaven and that path is through Jesus Christ.
Do not delay your decision to make Jesus your savior, make him your savior.
Right now, we invite you to come to the front as we stand to sing and encourage you.
- 2024.11.17A-FewSaved.mp3 (11.16 MB)
