WILL THOSE WHO ARE SAVED BE FEW?

Jacobus Dion

One day someone asked Jesus Christ, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" Jesus did not give a direct answer.  Instead he made an important remark for our contemplation: "Strive to enter the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.  When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you came from"' (Lk 13:23-25).

It is not for us to speculate on the number of people who are saved, but we must first clarify the concept of "being saved," and also who will be among those who are saved.  Salvation does not take place at the moment when a person feels convicted, or determines to become a Christian by confessing the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Master.  Repentance is not a "born again" experience in the Biblical sense.  Mere verbal acknowledgment and belief in the heart (Rom 10:9) is only part of the general truth for acquisition of salvation.  The Lord Jesus and the apostles have prescribed the necessary steps for salvation: To see and enter the kingdom of God, one must believe, repent, be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, receive the Holy Spirit, and keep the commandments of God (Jn 3:5, Acts 2:38, Tit 3:5, Mt 7:21-23).  In so doing, the person is able to prevail over sin in this life, and he, as an obedient child of God, will be delivered to the kingdom of heaven for eternal life (2 Tim 4:18).

From the time of creation Satan has harbored distaste for the people to receive the knowledge of the truth.  He maliciously put the world to paganism and spiritual darkness.  In Christendom he misguides the people to a very easy and broad way: the evil heart of unbelief (Hebrew 3:12), deviation from the apostolic message (1 Tim 4:1,2 Cor 11:4, Gal 1:6-9) or spiritual ignorance, poverty, and nakedness (Rev 3:14-17).

What one must be concerned about the question of salvation is this: Can you be admitted to the narrow door and receive the eternal salvation?  The Lord Jesus' warning deserves our careful consideration.  If the householder (i.e. the Heavenly Father) shuts the door, can you get a chance and be admitted (cf. Mt 25:1-12)?  Will you be among those worthy few who are born again from water and the Spirit, worship God in spirit and truth, and keep the word of God?  Will you be willing to be not only called but also chosen by the Lord Jesus?