Is Jesus The Narrow Way?

[fortytworc]

There has only been one way of salvation for both Jew and Gentile, even before Jesus walked this earth in the flesh, that is by faith in the promises of God, not by obeying the Law.

I know. Salvation has always been by faith. But israel was to keep their feast day observances, and sacrifices.

 

[steaver]

I know. Salvation has always been by faith. But israel was to keep their feast day observances, and sacrifices.

But not for justification to life.

 

[fortytworc]

It sounds like you are saying that if one holds to Jesus as being the only way to the Father then that is a works based salvation in in error.

I must be doing a really poor job at communicating here. I definately believe, no, I Know Jesus is the Only way to the Father. I Know that salvation is found Only through the shed blood of Jesus. I Know that Jesus is God the Son,born of Mary, a virgin,lived a sinless life, became sin for us as He gave up His life for us while hanging o a cross.
I am at least suggesting that in THESE passages of Scripture: Matt.7:12-14 and Luke13:24 alone Jesus is talking about the Jewish way of salvation at the time and that was following the Law.
I come to that consideration when I see Jesus saying, "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. For many, I say to you will seek to enter in and shall not be able. My thinking goes like this: We are saved by grace, not by working hard. If Jesus, in these verses alone, is the narrow gate and says "work hard (strive) to enter in at the narrow gate, we have this: Jesus=narrow gate.
Strive=works
Strive to enter by the narrow gate=work to enter Jesus.
But I don't believe Any of us has to work to enter by Jesus ,so what do these verses mean?
It seems likely to me that as a Jewish Rabbi speaking to Jews that He would mean, and they would understand Him to be speaking about the Law.

Does that change what I am saying any?

 

[fortytworc]

I have been working on trying to condense and clarify what I have been attempting to propose. Here goes:

Consider that the narrow gate and door is the Law.
Why?
1.)In Luke 13:24 and Matthew 7:12-14 Jesus tells people to strive to enter in at the narrow gate or door which leads to life.
2.)To strive means to work very hard.
3.)We are saved by grace through faith and not by works.
4.)If Jesus was that narrow gate or door He would not tell anyone to work very hard to enter by it.
Therefore:
5.)The narrow gate is not Jesus.
Thus my proposal that the narrow gate is the Law.

 

[steaver]

I have been working on trying to condense and clarify what I have been attempting to propose. Here goes:

Consider that the narrow gate and door is the Law.
Why?
1.)In Luke 13:24 and Matthew 7:12-14 Jesus tells people to strive to enter in at the narrow gate or door which leads to life.
2.)To strive means to work very hard.
3.)We are saved by grace through faith and not by works.
4.)If Jesus was that narrow gate or door He would not tell anyone to work very hard to enter by it.
Therefore:
5.)The narrow gate is not Jesus.
Thus my proposal that the narrow gate is the Law.

It doesn't work because nobody could be saved by the Law. Would Jesus tell them to work hard to be saved by the Law? It is a play on their understanding, which was, if they worked really hard by obeying the Law they could enter in. Jesus said strive to enter in through Him. It's the same as when they asked Jesus what works they needed to do the works of God and Jesus said the work of God is to believe on the one whom He has sent. Well, that isn't work!!!! It's just a play on their thought process. (John6:27-28)

Scrap it! :love2:

 

[fortytworc]

Thank you for your input