Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Here Luke is foreshadowing Jesus’ coming sacrificial death.
Yet even though Jesus is on His way.
He stops at many small villages on the way.
Most of us if we were about to die a horrific death would not be concerned with the lives of others.
Yet, Jesus despite this terrible knowledge continues to minister to people in these obscure places.
It was in one of these small villages that someone in the crowd asked Jesus this question publicly.
I.
A Public Question
This is an interesting question.
A question many have been puzzled by since the gospel has been preached.
How many people will be saved?
We know that in other passages of scripture like Matthew 7:14 “14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”
Jesus seems to allude to this fact.
Yet Jesus seems to redirect his focus.
II.
A Personal Answer
Luke 13:24 (CSB)
24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door...”
This is an imperative statement with an understood “you”.
In other words, Jesus is saying “you” make every effort.
He turned this man’s speculative question or concern about the number of those who would be saved into a personal charge.
Jesus is saying don’t worry about the number but rather make sure that you are one of those that enter into the kingdom.
The word translated “make every effort” comes from the Greek word “agonizomai” as I am sure you have already heard it in the word, it means to agonize.
Jesus is not saying that one must work hard in order to get the narrow door to open.
Rather He is saying in order for one to enter by it he must agonize over it or make it His/her top priority.
The salvation of our soul should bring us fear and trembling.
No one will enter into heaven that first hasn’t had agony over the state of their unrepentant heart and the fear of God’s wrath.
The gospel message will create in the not yet repentant agony or an internal conflict.
We see this example in the
Rich Young Ruler - he couldn’t exchange his love for earthly riches for eternal reward.
It created agony.
We saw it in the man who cried out from the crowd.
I will follow you.
Yet when hearing that Jesus had no place to lay his head.
He no longer followed.
It created agony or conflict.
In each of these scenarios these men didn’t make entering into the narrow gate their top priority instead the cares of this world seemed to valuable to give up and so they went away from Jesus lost.
The agony of earthly loss was to much for them.
But listen to Paul who after meeting Christ on the road to Damascus dedicated himself to Christ.
This is not a toil of outer works but rather of the Heart.
Jesus is saying to His audience to agonize over the condition of thier heart and to surrender it to Christ.
However, we know that not everyone will heed this instruction.
So Jesus gives a stern warning to those who put of this decision.
III.
A Stern Warning
So what does this passage mean?
Two possibilities
#1.
Ultimate rejection of the Gospel by an individual.
We read in Romans 1 where a person can resist God for so long that God will eventually turn him over to his own destruction.
This person is known as a reprobate.
A person who has ultimately rejected.
How can this happen?
Scriptures tell us in John 6:44
If an individuals heart becomes so hard that they will not respond to the drawing of the Father than God may stop drawing them.
If they are given over to a reprobate mind there will be no convincing them to come.
They will not have a desire to be saved.
While I believe this is a true teaching, there is a second option that seems to fit this passage better.
If we turn to Genesis 7:13-17
In this account of Noah and the Ark we see some similar statements and ideas.
The ark is a symbol of salvation and all those that entered into it were saved from the flood, the great judgement of the Lord.
We see in this passage that once the animals, Noah, and His family entered into the Ark.
The Lord shut them in.
The Lord shut the door.
There was no longer any opportunity for repentance.
Time was up.
The judgement had been decreed and all those who waited to see if the judgement truly would come were lost.
In the same way we see this type of imagery in our text found in Luke
The master arises at the proper time and shuts the door.
God in his mercy in wisdom decreed that for a period of time man would have the opportunity to repent.
There is a deadline.
If this seems to hard for you to accept I will bring to you many examples of God’s deadlines.
Our first is Noah and the Ark
Jonah and Nineveh
Sodom and Gomorrah
The nation of Israel completely annihilating cities including every man, woman, and child because the people in these cities had become reprobate.
They would not repent.
While God’s endurance and patience is long with this world.
He tells us their is a day approaching where he will shut the door and all those who waited or rejected will suffer his eternal judgement and wrath.
It will be two late.
We don’t know the day or the hour but we do know that it is quickly approaching.
If you have been playing the church came while refusing the gift of salvation you will suffer like the rest.
In fact look at the reactions of those who are on the outside when the door is finally shut.
There are going to be people who hung out with Jesus and his people.
But no amount of church attendance.
No amount of listening to His teaching will replace your need to repent and turn to Christ while there is still time before you are cast into the place of despair and torment.
His patience and longsuffering are great, Yet Jesus came to warn us of his sin, God’s perfect standard, and his coming judgement.
Do not put off the opportunity that may not come again tomorrow.
Repent and turn to Christ while there is still time.
So who can be saved?
Anyone that will repent and turn to Christ.
Jesus made it clear that peoples from all nations will turn to him before it is too late.
Isn’t God good that he did not come for only one people group or even those who are considered by this worlds standards as good.
People from anywhere who have done anything can be saved.
To those who are certain of their repentance and salvation:
Are you warning those of the coming judgement?
Are you expressing through both your life and words the gospel message?
To those who have neglected the salvation of the Lord:
There is coming a day when it will be too late and you will find yourself knocking at the door
Luke 13:25 (CSB)
Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’
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