“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. . . .”1 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”2
Ever since man opted for a king, knowingly rejecting God as King,3 it had become habitual for man to do what is in his heart or do as he wishes. A mindset has taken over–to do in his opinion what seems good.4 Thus, Jesus was boldly going against the grain and reminding man that he is the way. 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.5 Notice his choice of repeated contrast to stress his point: Narrow vs. Wide; Hard vs. Easy; and Few vs. Many!
It is no wonder that God chose to put his Moral Law in writing for clarity. But the evil one brings confusion. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. . . .”6 There is a process of seeking truth, a desire to know, an intentionality to learn, a decision to stop and to lean one’s ear to hear, and a resolve to obey. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.7 God’s words had been collated and compiled as Scripture. It is a Father’s love letter to his children. How do you read a love letter, in tidbits or in its entirety? Do you disdain and dread it or is it a delight?
The more we take time to study, meditate, and digest the Bible, all the more his words become a delight. Ultimately, God knows who are saved. Although he had disclosed his will and had revealed the means to salvation through the gospel. As Paul mentioned, the mystery was made known to him by revelation, as he has written through his epistles. When you read them, you can perceive his insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.8
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.10 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, . . . let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, . . .11
Notes:
1. John 14:1-4
2. John 14:6-7
3. 1 Samuel 8:7-8
4. 1 Samuel 14:7, 36b, 40b
5. Matthew 7:13-14
6. John 10:7-18
7. John 17:17
8. Ephesians 3:1-6
9. John 17:3
10. Ephesians 2:8-9
11. Hebrews 10:19-25
