Facebook on Saturday, 22 January 2011 at 08:28
For years we have preached about the “small gate” and the “narrow path” that leads to heaven. However, this is not the message of the Gospel!The narrow path is exchanged for a new and living road! For years we have preached of “the narrow path” and “the small gate” and that “few will find it” from the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:12-14 and Luke 13:23-40.
If we read a little closer, we will see that this describes the Law’s way to salvation. This way was not only difficult but actually completely impossible. But the message is still: “The person who does these things shall live by them.”
The way of the Law was actually narrow and salvation by works was such a small gate that few were able to get through. There were so few that there were actually NONE!
Luke 13:24 says: “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Why not? Because they met the stumbling block, Jesus Christ. HE is an open door and a new and living way, so by going through Him the way would have been easy. But because the Jews didn’t want to bend down under the justice of God, they sought to build their own justice. You see, it was the Jews that Jesus was talking to in these messages! (See Matt. 15:24)
If you take a closer look at Luke 13, you will find in this chapter that He speaks of the hardened hearts of the Jews and the salvation of the Gentiles. The way of works was so difficult that those who tried to achieve salvation by it were not able to.
“For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the Law.” (Gal. 3:20)
Salvation by works was completely impossible. It was a small gate and narrow path, full of statutes and laws containing both great and minor details. Not one detail could be forgotten! Therefore, Jesus had to open a NEW AND LIVING WAY when He died on the cross! By the blood of Jesus we have received a completely new way to enter into the presence of God. (Heb.10:19-20).
Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
Paul said: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
(Rom.10:13) This is not a difficult path or a small gate.
The Crooked Path is Now Straightened Out!
Jesus came to straighten out the crooked paths that were so difficult to walk on.
Luke 3:5-6 says: “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.”
Under the Law “no flesh could be justified,” while now, “all flesh will see the Lord’s salvation.” Talk about a big difference!
The way of the Law was crooked and impassable.
The way of the Law was crooked and impassable. Jesus has now, through His salvation, made the crooked places straight and the uneven roads smooth. Now all flesh can see the salvation of God!
It’s not difficult anymore. Now there is no one seeking to enter in without being able to. Salvation is finished and whoever wants to receive it will receive it for free. Whoever receives Him will be born again. “He justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Rom 3:26) The real tragedy in many Christian settings is that God’s Word has not been studied in this most important area. Therefore, the message of a narrow path and a small gate is still being preached. This makes the Christian walk difficult even though Jesus has said it’s easy!
Jesus said: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30)
The Apostolic gathering in Jerusalem passed a resolution to not make it difficult for the Gentiles who turned to God! (Acts: 15:19)
Still there are those who want to make it difficult, so that it only becomes a message for those especially interested. But the Word said that ALL FLESH will see the salvation of God. The angel in the fields of Bethlehem said: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
A Highway, Not a Small and Crooked Path
“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’ ” (Luke 3:4-6) This is a prophecy referring to John the Baptist, but even deeper down, it’s a prophecy referring to Jesus.
Look at this picture being drawn: The road was impassable and had to be cleared. The paths were crooked and had to be straightened. The roads were uneven and had to be smoothed out. A bulldozer had to fill in every valley and lower every high point for the roads to be smooth.
Jesus himself cleared the way, straightened out what was crooked and made the roads smooth.
Now the job is finished, Jesus himself cleared the way, straightened out what was crooked and made the roads smooth. The result is a tidy, easy, passable, and smooth way.
The Way
Therefore, it was natural that the first Christians were called ‘The Way’. For the way was now cleared and all flesh could see the salvation of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.”
The message is: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.” It is about Him and not about a lot of religious acts.
The Prophet Isaiah prophesized of this way: “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
This is a highway, a main road, not a narrow and crooked path.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Is. 35:8-10) This road applies now! This is a highway, a main road, not a narrow and crooked path.
A Highway For the People of God
Therefore, it’s a joy to present what the Word calls “A Highway for the Lord!” The highway the Lord has opened is straight with no turns, corners or defects!
No travelers will get lost, and the way has already taken us all the way into the Holy of Holies. (Heb.10:19-20)
By the blood on His cross, He has now joined what’s on Earth and what’s in Heaven. And in His body by death, He has presented us holy and irreproachable and perfect to Himself.
This message is totally different from the traditional message.
We have almost preached the opposite of the perfect work of Jesus.
We have almost preached the opposite of the perfect work of Jesus. We’ve preached of a narrow way and a small gate, crooked paths and uneven roads.
We’ve obviously forgotten that now the way is cleared, the valleys filled, the peaks lowered, and the crooked places straightened out. Now we have a smooth main road - A HIGHWAY FOR THE LORD’S PEOPLE. It’s easy to find and it’s easy to travel on. Even the fool will not get lost.
A highway that’s cleared, straight and even, that’s the salvation for all flesh.
Not a Few, But Many
This is not just for a few chosen anymore. Now it’s for all flesh. The starting point is that He has reconciled the world with Himself and removed all the world’s sins. The sin problem was solved by Him atoning for our sins, not just for ours but for the whole world’s sins. Jesus didn’t come to judge the world, but for the world to be saved by Him. People must hear about this reconciliation; therefore, we have the gift of reconciliation.
Because of the reconciliation, people can now receive and make use of His favor and benevolence and be restored to have His benevolence and grace.
But God has given man a free will; therefore the message is: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” Whoever hears it say, “Come! Whoever is willing can come and have the water of life for free!”
This is our great mission - this is our missionary command in the light of the revelation of Paul.
no longer will few find the way and the gate; the Gentiles will arrive “in full number.”
Therefore, no longer will few find the way and the gate; the Gentiles will arrive “in full number.” (Rom. 11:25)
God has a number He’s working towards and we know He wants all men to be saved. Therefore, Jesus has not yet returned. God wants the door of salvation still to stay open. (2.Pet. 3:9 and 15)
HIS house will be FULL of guests. (Luke.22:10)
There will be a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people and language… (Revelations 7:9)
All generations, families, languages and dialects will be represented. God wants all men to be saved….
THANK JESUS THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO OPEN A HIGHWAY. A NEW AND LIVING WAY HAS TAKEN OVER THE NARROW PATH THAT WAS BOTH CROOKED AND UNEVEN….
THIS WILL END IN A GLOBAL HARVEST FOR HEAVEN!
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10 people like this.
Richard Epps SO TRUE and SO Blessed by Your sharing GODS WORD OF TRUTH
Yesterday at 08:34 · Like · 1 person
Chris Welch What I've come up with is this Linda.I think when Jesus talks of it being a narrow way,He is talking to "the independent self delusion" that as Proverbs 1 talks about,thinks it can scoff its way through a life of choices with absolutely no accountability.In the law of sin and death wisdom ends up scoffing at the mess of the scoffer.What you are presenting is the Truth of God's life in the Spirit.As soon as we are not talking about the independent self delusion of Genesis 3 we're into a whole new ballpark where everything that Francois and Andre Rabe are digging out of the word becomes true.God Himself by calling and direct mandate laid on the 60s 70s crowd these precise scriptures.Most of these hearers didn't hear in faith and rationalised the highway prophecies into the charismatic experience they'd received.But since that had already happened,that would have required zilch response whatsoever.As we look back now, we see precisely what you have written is occurring.God meant what He said back then.That is what He has done through us.Yes a whole gazillion more have found Jesus,but our generation was targeted prophetically to unearth more of what we're saved to.And if by the Spirit are unearthing a Highway....guess what it's for? Well I guess just to look at and admire I suppose.....NO.......its for the LOADS to come in.The HIgHWAY is not a flesh highway.The Way is narrow for the flesh,the wacky delusions of the "independent self",but we are born again, we have died and are now born again to a completely different HOPE altogether.The other scripture you could have slotted in is when David came through his trials and said "You have brought me out into a wide place and enlarged the steps under my feet.
Yesterday at 09:08 · Like · 1 person
Richard Epps AND Chris,, the best part is IT IS GODS Perfect Plan!!
He chose to do the WORK! AMEN :)
Yesterday at 09:10 · Like · 1 person
Chris Welch Would it be OK to post this on the blog?
Yesterday at 09:16 · Like
Chris Welch Richard,did that come over as if our generation achieved it by our selves.The Truth is we forgot most of the time what He had said and it was Him driving it through in spite of and including our failures...but I guess that's how He was able to show it is not I who live...and Christ living our life becoming more real
Yesterday at 09:21 · Like · 1 person
Richard Epps John 15:27
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Read Proverbs 8 and see that LOVE, came up with the Plan before he created anything at ALL!
Yesterday at 09:23 · Like · 1 person
Richard Epps Yes the TRUTH is,,IT IS ALL HIS PLAN AND WE CANNOT CHANGE ONE JOT OR TITTLE!
Yesterday at 09:24 · Like · 1 person
Bill Paddock wow, amen, love it!!!! this is so liberating!!
Yesterday at 09:27 · Like · 1 person
Linda Morrison Hey Chris sorry its Linda's husband here. We use this account together as i initially never wanted to EVER go onto fb ha ha ha. Then i realized "wow" this is an incredible way to grow with others in Christ. I have loved reading Francois and Andre's writing and resding the blog. God is truly doing an amazing work in His body worldwide. God bless you guys for what you are doing. Love stuart.
Yesterday at 10:12 · Like
Chris Welch that's lovely Stuart. I was exactly the same. My dear Kenya friend said Chris are you on facebook, way back when it was mainly girls. I remember rolling my eyes. I also "missed it" I feel, cos unknown to me the subtext was...in Kenya each email costs so many pence...so this drove Facebook forward there because it was ONE PRICE for all the people you could contact in a time period.
Yesterday at 10:16 · Like
Chris Welch You are the expression of the greatest idea that ever was!
Every invention begins with an original thought. You are God's original thought. You are his initiative; the fruit of his creative inspiration, his intimate design and love-dream.
The first Hebrew word in the Bible, bereshet, literally means ‘in the head.’ You are His work of art, his poem says Paul in the Greek text of Eph.2:10. thru Francois du Toit
Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’Acts 13 :41 thru Cathy Rheeder
Richard said "we cannot change one jot or tittle" The amazing context of all this is our freewill, and "being wooed" by the One who says "Stir not up love nor awaken love til it please."
It's one thing to have all power and by a Fiat declare what will be will be, but only our God can do this in the context of a freewill love relationship.....Kind of....this is what is going to happen folks...and you're going to love it. freewill and determinism together???well yes actually...this is how it works
http://080808onnowto.blogspot.com/search?q=cracking+the+Jersak
Yesterday at 10:25 · Like · 1 person
Linda Morrison AAAh Norman Grubb have read a lot of his writings and learned a huge amount from him. Thanks for the link and have a great day, love stu.
Yesterday at 10:31 · Like · 1 person
Richard Epps GREAT WORDS OF TRUTH CHRIS! ROMANS 9:15 SAYS EXACTLY THIS!!
WE ARE GONNA LOVE IT AND NOT BE PERPLEXED IF WE JUST TRUST HOW MUCH GOD ACTUALLY LOVES US. PLEASE ADD ME AS A BROTHER AND FRIEND !
Yesterday at 10:40 · Like · 1 person
John Michaud > is a Norman Grubb student! TY for friend.
Yesterday at 10:53 · Like
Linda Morrison Now we look at this word, beresheet, and recognize that its first consonant is a prefix "b" for "in" and its end is a suffix "it" for the construct "of" — which leaves us with "Rosh" — which means head. Thus Beresheet is "in the beginning" ...See more
Yesterday at 10:55 · Like · 1 person
John Michaud i hope no ufo's show up this year.......He may have had some second thoughts as well....:(
Yesterday at 10:57 · Like
Richard Epps 22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abou...See more
Yesterday at 10:58 · Like · 1 person
Paul Evans Ndabiah Thanks Linda, the way to the Kingdom is through only Jesus( HE is THE WAY, maybe can be "narrow" since there are others that claim to be ways to th Father) Also John 1:51... but the road in the Kingdom is limitless, soooo broad. Once through th WAY, then no need to bother whether or not you are in the Kingdom!
Yesterday at 11:08 · Like · 1 person
Mindy Thorn AWESOME! thanks much! I reposted. I was tired of hearing those verses abused by legalists. God bless
Yesterday at 11:17 · Like · 1 person
John Michaud The IC teaches Law+Grace all mixed together - confusion! - (Wide Gate) - Grace - simple uncomplicated and certain - (The Narrow Gate)
Yesterday at 11:22 · Like · 2 people
John Michaud Law = Death - of the Spirit.
Yesterday at 11:23 · Like · 1 person
Thomas Chakkalackal Yes Linda, I used to wonder about this narrow path, I got the same revelation like what you have written here. After the Cross of Jesus, it is a high way to heaven, called GRACE HIGH WAY, with a free driver JESUS, who already know the directions and destiny.
Yesterday at 13:05 · Like · 2 people
Elizabeth Lizz Smith @Stu-wow! And 2 think that I wrote a song in 1991 (3years in2 being a believer) called 'The Highway to Heaven'! This I think is y I find it so difficult 2 understand that there r believers out there that still don't get it? Weird....just weird!
Yesterday at 13:26 · Like · 1 person
Andrea Garzón I like your note very much. I thought Jesus meant it was narrow cause we can only enter through Him. We see that people today try to go to the Father through religion, good works, good behaviour, repentance, sacrifices, etc. The "gospel" has become so complicated, they've forgotten Jesus, the only door. I think the gate is still narrow. Lol!
Yesterday at 13:40 · Like · 2 people
Thomas Chakkalackal Yes, the gate is still narrow because of the religious view about God. For us who understand a little bit of Grace, is a broad way to heaven.
The perfect work of Jesus on the cross made the "worst of the world" to be qualified in HIM, at t...See more
Yesterday at 13:46 · Like · 1 person
Linda Morrison Narrow = Jesus + Nothing = Eternal Salvation!!, Wide = Jesus and....or Jesus +.....or Jesus but now you....or Jesus. Jesus + Nothing just seems to simple and thats why he was a rock of offense to the Jews and now to many Gentiles. @ Tom "Grace is a broad way to heaven" amen to that. love stu
Yesterday at 14:14 · Like · 2 people
Andrea Garzón "Grace is a broad gate" I like that!
Yesterday at 14:24 · Like · 2 people
Jeffrey J. Messenger I suppose the tendency, via human nature, is to continually glorify oneself... and "earning" your own way into Heaven (in one's own mind, for we know that no one but Christ was perfect) is just another manifestation of putting ego before Go...See more
Yesterday at 14:31 · Like · 3 people
Jeffrey J. Messenger "If it be possible, let this cup pass me by." This one anguished prayer of Jesus says it all for me... if any possible path, road, moral and religious law, alternative god, or discipline could get man into Heaven...THEN the cross was not a NECESSITY! The only way the cross can make any sense... is if the cross was needed and is the only thing that can pry open the gates of Heaven for imperfect humanity.
18 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Michael Ted Bérichon Thanks so much for posting it Stu,
I receive all correction with absolute joy!!!!
Im gonna share this note if u dont mind :-)
17 hours ago · Like
Linda Morrison Amen Jeffrey, yes there was no other way.....but Jesus DID IT FOR US!!! Thank you Jesus ,You are amazing and Your sacrifice well.... You did it, it is finished!! Thanks for all your comments and WOW what a pleasure to havesuch uplifting and encouraging conversations with brothers and sisters. Bless you all and hope you all have awesome days, love stu.
15 hours ago · Like · 1 person
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