Are There Many That Be Saved?

Luke 13:22-24, “And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

Jesus went through the cities and villages, teaching the people, making His way toward Jerusalem. Then someone asked Him a really good question: “Are there few that be saved?” That is interesting! I would have asked the question a different way: “Are there many that be saved?” Whoever that person was, they already had a predisposition to think that “FEW” people are saved. It seems logical to me that not many people took heed to the things Jesus taught. Why else would some ask if there are “FEW” that be saved. This also tells me that Jesus was preaching the Gospel, trying to get people saved, which is likely why someone asked this question at all. Jesus was going soulwinning! 

Let's continue reading:

Luke 13:25-28 “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”

These are startling words from out LORD. In eternity MANY people will try to enter into Heaven. They will attempt to justify entrance through the Pearly Gates because they followed Jesus as their “Lord.” Literally, they will say: “LORD, LORD!” Matthew 7:23-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” This is a very enlightening passage of Scripture, which teaches us that being religious WON'T get anybody into the Kingdom of God. Jesus plainly said in John 3:1-7 that, “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN”! There are no exceptions.

If you think the Coronavirus is causing fear and panic in people today, just wait until everybody dies and enters into eternity! Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Everybody and their dog is going to try to enter into the heavenly city, but “SHALL NOT BE ABLE” (Luke 13:24b). Many will mention that they sat eating and drinking with the Lord, but Jesus will tell them He never knew them! 

Others will say that they preached (prophesied) in Jesus' name, did MANY WONDERFUL WORKS in Jesus' name, and even cast out devils in Jesus' name. Notice in Matthew 7:22-23 that they keep mentioning the fact that they did everything IN JESUS' NAME. Yet, it wasn't acceptable to the LORD! You don't get to Heaven by doing good deeds in Jesus' name. You cannot please God in the flesh! There are literally millions of so-called “ministries” around the world today, that do what they do “IN JESUS NAME.” Search the internet and you'll find everything from boating ministries to fishing ministries. I'm not kidding! There's even a bicycle ministry! I could mention thousands more so-called “ministries.” But dear friend, it is not a “ministry” unless the Gospel of free grace is being preached, and people are being led to the blessed Savior! I triple-dog dare you to go visit all those so-called “ministries” and look for a Gospel presentation on their websites. You very likely won't find anything telling you how to be saved, because they aren't even saved!

Why aren't all these dedicated people who think they serve God going to Heaven? Why are there “FEW” that be saved? Jesus tells us the answer in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” There's our answer—the Father's “WILL” is to see the Son as He is (the Christ), and BELIEVE on Him to save us! Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt of sin we could not pay. That is God's G.R.A.C.E. (God's Riches At Christ's Expense). 

We are all guilty sinners in the sight of a holy God (Romans 3:10-23). According to the Word of God, we all justly deserve to burn in the literal fires of Hell to pay for our own sins (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). If you dear sinner will receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, believing that He resurrected after being buried and dead for three days (1st Corinthians 15:1-4), YOU ARE SAVED! John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 11:25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” We receive the new birth in Jesus Christ, by simply BELIEVING on Him as our SAVIOR! 

Are there “FEW” that be saved?, asked one to Jesus. The Lord's answer was an affirmative, “YES!” There are indeed “FEW” that be saved, far and few between around the planet. When all is said and done “they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29). All around the world today there are born-again Christians scattered about—a little here, and a little there. 

Notice Verse 30, “And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” Everyone thinks that the Catholic Pope is going to Heaven, but he has an everlasting reservation in the Lake of Fire! Jesus said that many publicans (tax cheats) and harlots are going to Heaven, but the religious Pharisees aren't (Matthew 21:31). That is simply because being religious, good, dedicated, devout, moral or following Jesus as one's LORD, does not produce the second birth! You MUST realize that you are a guilty sinner under the condemnation of God's law (Romans 3:19-20). Otherwise why would you need a Savior? You must realize your need for redemption. If you will come to Jesus Christ as a needy sinner, He will not turn you away. You have His solemn promise in John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” We don't believe because God chose us; God chose us because we believe! That is we believers are called “the elect” in the Bible. 

Today, there are counterfeit churches everywhere, filled with unsaved people. These false churches include: Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, Episcopalian, Church of England, to name but a few. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. That is exactly what happened to the people in Matthew 7:22-23. You don't get to Heaven by serving Christ, nor by following Jesus as your “LORD,” nor by surrendering to Him, nor by inviting Jesus into your life, nor by turning away from your sins; you get saved by completely RESTING in Christ's finished work of redemption. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.