Which path have you found?

[BGMCFAR]

:confused: Matt.713-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the way that leads to dsetruction, and there are many who go in by it . Because narrow is the gate difficult is the way , which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Which path or gate have you found ?

[Tavita]

Interesting topic. I believe there are quite a few 'other' paths. I've believed for a long time there is a path that travels parallel to the real path, and that path is deceptive and false. The real path will always lead to the cross and is the path that Jesus travelled.
Do you remember Pilgrim in Pilgrims's Progress travelling to 'Christian City'? It reminds me of all the christian 'things' we can get involved in... ministry, programs, traditions, church laws, etc etc, that we can become so engrossed in, thinking that by being so engrossed we are living the true christian life. And in doing these things we must realize that even a non-christian can perform them.

Quite often I have had to take stock and realize that I've travelled over to the wrong path. Then I must get back to Jesus Himself and learn His walk.. the walk of dying to self, of overcoming, of loving others as He did. But most of all by coming to the cross and laying down my life to Him and walking that path in the Spirit.

[AllTalkNoAction]

:confused: Matt.713-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the way that leads to dsetruction, and there are many who go in by it . Because narrow is the gate difficult is the way , which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Which path or gate have you found ?I've found the Way Jesus laid down for his disciples (the Gentiles then came the same way), I didn't know there is any other way to Life.

People need to know exactly what to do to get from point (A) - "in sin" / "in the flesh" / "separated from God", to point (B) - united with God.

Matt.16:19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Jesus is the Door, a locked door until we turn the right Key, the right message.

What message did Peter give people ?

Acts 2:37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So, people need to repent (turn from whatever else they have been doing, however religious), be baptised (immersed in water, as a believer) and receive the Holy Spirit (which has just beed detailed, evidenced by speaking in tongues).

[Harlan Norris]

The path is clearly laid out. We just refuse for the most part to walk it. Two commandments to follow for salvation. We all have good reasons why it's just not practicle. The fact is though,that crucifying the flesh in spirit,may need to be followed by it's actual destruction at the hands of an enemy or neighbor or even friend. This, while at the same time loving these people. We have Jesus and the apostles and the martyred saints for examples. Nothing has changed. This is still required,when necessasary. It means giving up this world,in favor of the next. How are we going to do it? What if a decree came down from the president,that said, any and all who pray tward mecca, must be identified and rounded up,for reasons of national security. Do we comply by betraying our neighbor? Or do we offer him and his family safe harbor in our own home? This scenerio is not at all far fetched. What do we do?

[ivory]

:confused: Matt.713-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the way that leads to dsetruction, and there are many who go in by it . Because narrow is the gate difficult is the way , which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Which path or gate have you found ?
Jesus said "I am the way ,the truth , and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me !."John 14:6.

[holo]

Jesus isn't narrow and difficult. Perhaps he was talking about the old way of the written code. After all, the new covenant, which was made in HIS blood, wasn't in effect yet.

It's not hard to be saved. It's a free gift.

[whatfor]

Jesus isn't narrow and difficult. Perhaps he was talking about the old way of the written code. After all, the new covenant, which was made in HIS blood, wasn't in effect yet.

It's not hard to be saved. It's a free gift.
I didn't think it was a hard path either.
It just took me a long time to find the path.

[calidog]

post six and seven, amen

[Kelly]

I think the path is in regards to the world. If you take the narrow path, you may be more at odds with society.

In terms of our personal development with God, His yoke is easy and burden is light.

[ydouxist]

Didn't Peter say salvation was hard??:scratch:

[ydouxist]

1Pe 4:18 (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=1pe+4:18&version=niv&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) -
(http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?passage=1pe+4:18&version=niv&context=1&showtools=1)And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

[Tavita]

1Pe 4:18 (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=1pe+4:18&version=niv&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) -
(http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?passage=1pe+4:18&version=niv&context=1&showtools=1)And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"


Exactly!

Jesus didn't say it would be easy to follow Him.

Many shallow people will fall away, as in the parable of the sower...

Mat 13:18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
Mat 13:20 "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
Mat 13:21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Mat 13:22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

[holo]

And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"It may be hard for us to be saved, but thankfully we don't save ourselves. We've been bought with a price, and it was a high price, but it's already been paid.

It's not hard for anyone to be saved. Chances are you will reject people long before Christ ever rejects them.

[calidog]

Didn't Peter say salvation was hard??:scratch: yes, and Paul says "
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling":scratch:

[Kelly]

"with fear and trembling" - used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty.

Basically we can't do it but try our best?

[holo]

Personally, I don't do a thing to be saved, but I'm am saved. Thoroughly. :)

[Tavita]

Personally, I don't do a thing to be saved, but I'm am saved. Thoroughly. :)


But yes you do. You repent, and you believe. These are given you by God, as apart from Him you can do nothing. But YOU still have to take it up and repent, and YOU still have to believe, and YOU still have to work at your relationship with Christ. YOU could have said no to what Christ has given you, and said no to Him in some regard on a daily basis (it's called disobedience), as YOU still have freewill. You are not a robot that has been programmed to just automatically believe and do His will.

We were saved when we were born from above. And from then on we have to work out that salvation. Without Holy Spirit we can't do it, but it's still a process that we need to work together 'with' Him. He supplies the power and the means to do so. :)

[holo]

But yes you do. You repent, and you believe. These are given you by God, as apart from Him you can do nothing. But YOU still have to take it up and repent, and YOU still have to believe, and YOU still have to work at your relationship with Christ. YOU could have said no to what Christ has given you, and said no to Him in some regard on a daily basis (it's called disobedience), as YOU still have freewill. You are not a robot that has been programmed to just automatically believe and do His will.

We were saved when we were born from above. And from then on we have to work out that salvation. Without Holy Spirit we can't do it, but it's still a process that we need to work together 'with' Him. He supplies the power and the means to do so. :)No, I don't do anything to be saved. I accept it. I believe it. But even my faith is a gift - "... Christ, the originator and perfector(!) of our faith..."

Even the works that I do, are prepared beforehand so that I may walk in them. And I am still and the Lord fights for me. I can't take credit for anything.

[Tavita]

No, I don't do anything to be saved. I accept it. I believe it. But even my faith is a gift - "... Christ, the originator and perfector(!) of our faith..."

Even the works that I do, are prepared beforehand so that I may walk in them. And I am still and the Lord fights for me. I can't take credit for anything.


Yes, I agree with you.. but you still did things to be saved too... you repented (I hope), and decided to believe. You responded by accepting. And the works that were prepared beforehand for us to walk in still take our humility, response, consecration and willingness to walk in them. These are gifts, yes, but we still have to carry them through to their conclusion. I agree that we can't take credit for anything. :)

But getting back to the OP's question, do you agree that as a christian our hearts can sometimes not be with Him? That we can religiously walk a path that looks on the outside to others like we are walking with Him, when in fact we're not? There are many people who think they are saved by going to church, or doing good works etc, but refuse to bow their knee in humility and repentence to be saved by Christ's blood; this is also trying to get into the kingdom by another gate, or another way.

[calidog]

"There are many people who think they are saved by going to church, or doing good works etc, but refuse to bow their knee in humility and repentence to be saved by Christ's blood; this is also trying to get into the kingdom by another gate, or another way"

I agree, but I believe it is Jesus who brings us to repent.

I don't think we have the capacity to repent untill Jesus brings us there.

[ivory]

"There are many people who think they are saved by going to church, or doing good works etc, but refuse to bow their knee in humility and repentence to be saved by Christ's blood; this is also trying to get into the kingdom by another gate, or another way"

I agree, but I believe it is Jesus who brings us to repent.

I don't think we have the capacity to repent untill Jesus brings us there.
I agree!! It's the Holy Spirit that brings us to repent. We would never repent of our own.

[ydouxist]

No, I don't do anything to be saved. I accept it. I believe it. But even my faith is a gift - "... Christ, the originator and perfector(!) of our faith..."

Even the works that I do, are prepared beforehand so that I may walk in them. And I am still and the Lord fights for me. I can't take credit for anything.


Would reject Christ to save your life or be martyred?

[calidog]

the sting of death is swallowed up.

It is much harder to live for Christ (on our own strength)

[holo]

Yes, I agree with you.. but you still did things to be saved too... you repented (I hope), and decided to believe. You responded by accepting. And the works that were prepared beforehand for us to walk in still take our humility, response, consecration and willingness to walk in them. These are gifts, yes, but we still have to carry them through to their conclusion. I agree that we can't take credit for anything. :)

But getting back to the OP's question, do you agree that as a christian our hearts can sometimes not be with Him? That we can religiously walk a path that looks on the outside to others like we are walking with Him, when in fact we're not? There are many people who think they are saved by going to church, or doing good works etc, but refuse to bow their knee in humility and repentence to be saved by Christ's blood; this is also trying to get into the kingdom by another gate, or another way.Sure, I don't think we're sort of robots - I make all my own decisions. I don't know exactly how that fits in with God's foreseeing and power, though. And as long as God looks to, and lives in, people's hearts, we probably misjudge people by their outward, religious appearance.

[holo]

Would reject Christ to save your life or be martyred?



I don't dare try to answer a question like that. I have no idea what it's like to stare into a gun or being tortured.

[holo]

the sting of death is swallowed up.

It is much harder to live for Christ (on our own strength)True. I'm trying the best I can to stop trying. Or to put it another way, instead of trying to live for the Lord, I'm trying to let him live through me.

It's not as easy as it sounds, even though it's the opposite of struggling :)
More of Jesus inevitably means less of me.