The Narrow Gate
5/5
()
About this ebook
This is extremely important during the "Great Falling Away"
This book is direct and to the point. In it we share a word the church does not want to hear in this modern age of political correctness. But we really need to consider the implications.
"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." [Matthew 7:13–14 NLT]
We must start with the narrowness. Many people are made nervous by this. It is obvious that most pastors and priests are. How can you build a church by telling the people things like this? It is not good to talk about exclusiveness. This is certainly part of the narrowness of the gate. In modern America this is where we get into trouble very quickly from the PC media police.
Jesus could not have made it more clear. This aspect of the narrowness is made clear by many things he said. If you are into the words of Jesus typeset in red ink—these are in red. He lays it out boldly—in a way that cannot be ignored.
"Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved." [John 10:9 NLT]
However, it is obvious to us all that today many local church pastors have trouble saying that Jesus is the gate, the door to the life abundant. It is commonly not preached because the whole approach sounds a bit narrow-minded. But it is much stronger than that.
As you will see in this book, many powerful, active church members will find themselves outside with no way to enter heaven.
You need to read this book.
David Bergsland
For me, my early life culminated with the great rebellion of the sixties. Ending up as a fine artist and heavy user of pot and acid, I needed help. I met Jesus in 1974, and my life began, for real. The Lord gave me an amazing Godly woman for my wife in 1976. I became a graphic designer, font designer, and desktop publisher. In 1991, I began teaching printing and digital publishing. That resulted in writing dozens of books and booklets about the practical processes, using InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. In 2009, I began the transformation into an author of fiction. By the end of 2022, I had 17 novels in five series, as I have developed my craft. This book is #20, and is the third book of the sixth series. I’m using Christian contemporary speculative fiction with some Biblical romance to share stories about the reality of how Jesus touches our day-to-day lives, while being strongly focused upon Biblical truth. I put the stereotypical Bible quoters in the same category as robo-callers. I attempt to reveal Jesus within a realistic world sharing my experiences. The goal is to reveal Jesus as a loving Creator building people into what they are designed to be. I currently assume time is running short, and the final harvest is here.
Read more from David Bergsland
Book Publishing With InDesign CC: Using Desktop Publishing Power To Self-Publish Your Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGodly Leadership & Power Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPractical Font Design With FontLab 5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGraphics In InDesign Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tapping Into Christian Power Daily Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLearning to walk in freedom: a verse-by-verse study of Galatians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Teach the Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat's Next? This Is Training For New believers: Pearls For Lambs and Sheep; Not For Swine Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHere Comes King Jesus! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWriting During the Last Days Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFour Epistles and How to Teach the Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wife of Jesus: No. It's not Mary Magdalene Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUsing Graphics In Books: The Reflowable Edition Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Ejection Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWriting In Holiness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Spiritual System For Rating Books Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFinding the Power to Believe: a study in Philippians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Training Place of Mankind: God's Creation Explained For Normal Folk Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvulsion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Righteous Perish Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Live in Daily Deliverance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Teach Prophecy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInvasion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDaily Christian Life & Practical Spiritual Warfare Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Narrow Gate
Related ebooks
For the Sake of the Children (Conduct, Order and Doctrine for Young People) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Narrow Way Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Narrow Gate Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Battle: Let the Lord Fight Your Battle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParables of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAddicted to Christ: Prayers, Petitions, and Praises Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOnly Believe: Drawing Closer to God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Continue the Christian Life: Following Jesus in All You Do Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSustaining the Fires of Revival: Turning God's Visitation Into a Habitation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEternal Rewards Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParables of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCan a Believer in Christ Go to Hell? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuick Guide: The Blessings of Believer's Baptism in Water Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLaying up Treasures in Heaven Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Pray Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhere the Spirit of the Lord Is Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5365 Golden Bible Thoughts: God's Heart to Yours: Touching God, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe A.R.T of Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrepare for the Harvest! Confidence in God's End-Time Promises: Faith to Live By, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnleash the Power of the Prayer of Agreement: Win The War Room Battle!: Win the War Room Prayer Battle Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Don’t Change the Formula: Trusting God’s Wisdom in Every Challenge: Trusting God’s Wisdom in Every Challenge Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLord, Help Me to Stay Saved! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlive in Christ a Devotional Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecrets, Suspects, Seeds & Soil: Re-Examining the Parable of the Sower Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRevisiting the Foundations: Building Our Lives on Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWe Win Now Let’s Battle: Be Equipped with God’s Tools for Battle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Journey with Christ: A True Story of How Our Lord Jesus Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Create In Me a Servant's Heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJESUS IS HE COMING BACK? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLooking Up: Living in Anticipation of Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Holy Bible (World English Bible, Easy Navigation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind... Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Narrow Gate
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
The Narrow Gate - David Bergsland
Jesus is seen as a wide, obvious gate
The way that the church teaches, the gate is not very narrow. There are several common practices in the modern church that seem to provide a wide open gate. But it is an illusion. That gate is very narrow. Let’s take a look at some of the practices which can confuse church members. We need to be very careful to help them understand the truth.
Salvation through baptism is a very wide gate
In some denominations, we see this in the doctrine of salvation through baptism. This teaching suggests that simple baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will do what is necessary for us to have eternal salvation.
My wife was taught in one of her seminary classes that baptizing an unconscious man at a car accident, just before he died, would save him. Maybe. But there is no scriptural evidence for this. In fact, scripture says that you must repent and be baptized. Baptism is not a magic act of power. It is the result of an adult decision.
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brothers, what shall we do?
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [Acts 2:37–38 esv]
We find the same in the Gospels
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. [mark 16:16]
Here we see that belief is what is required. In reading the following verses from Paul about the requirements for salvation, we see that baptism is not even mentioned.
if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [romans 10:9 esv]
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.
[Acts 16:31 esv]
Baptism is certainly important. Jesus told John the Baptist that He needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. But there is no evidence that baptism provides salvation, it is a ceremonial event of public proclamation and a ritual of cleansing. It can be a wonderful way for new believers to cement their relationship in the kingdom.
Be careful of doctrines
Wrangling about doctrines is not something we want to do. I’ve talked in other books about the essential nature of baptism and my lack of scriptural certainty about the method of that baptism. All that is clear is that you must be baptized after you believe. It’s an exercise in obedience.
If you have any personal concerns about whether your baptism was real or not, get dunked—as in fully immersed—as an adult. But I know many true believers who only have a baby sprinkling—and I have seen everything in between those limits.
What is clear is that a belief in Jesus is essential. We must believe He is who He said He is. But we must be talking about something more than that also. What do we do with a scripture like this?
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. [James 2:19 niv]
The key to this confusion seems to be in a portion of the Romans verse we quoted above—if you confess with your mouth. Demons may believe it, but they will certainly never confess it as truth (unless forced to do so). But then that is problematical also. Some people are saved in the privacy of their home with no one there but the