By: Robert Serreyn

Question? Was Jesus indicating works for salvation in Luke 13:24?

(Luke 13:24) Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Answer: NO,

At first glance, Luke 13:24 would appear to that Jesus was suggesting works plus faith, but this is NOT SO.

The word STRIVE is the Greek Word AGOMIGOMAI and it means TO STRUGGLE, or FIGHT, and the same meaning of the word is used in 1 Corinthians 9:25, Colossians 4:12, and 1 Timothy 6:12.

With that in mind, it begs the question What did Jesus really mean by: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate”?

The Answer to this is, Jesus was simply stating that in order to enter heaven (the strait gate) a person must Fight or Struggle (strive) to prevent the addition of human merit or good works to the Gospel and simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” – Acts 16:31

Jesus further explained in V24 THAT MANY will seek to enter in, and SHALL NOT be allowed entrance,

Question: WHY???

Answer: Matthew 7: 22 & 23

(Matthew 7:22,23) 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? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

TAKE NOTE of the words Have we not in thy name done many wonderful works?

Instead of Trusting Christ as their saviour, these people OFFERED UP their Self Righteouness, Human Merits and Good Works to the Lord as a means to try to gain salvation, Cain tried this also and God REJECTED his offering as well.

(Genesis 4:3 – 5) And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. (4) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: (5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Salvation IS NEVER obtained by our human merits, or by Faith PLUS our works The Lord ONLY GIVES eternal Life to those who will simply BELIEVE that he died and shed his blood on the cross and three days later resurrected from the dead as the COMPLETE PAYMENT for all their sins.

In Conclusion:

We MUST COMBAT against the many FALSE WORKS BASED GOSPELS that satan HAS INJECTED into the minds of people through his army of FALSE CHURCHES, PREACHERS and Religions.

We must STRIVE (fight and Stuggle) to keep the GOSPEL CLEAR and SIMPLE so that we and others may enter into the strait gate (heaven).

(1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

(John 3:16,17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him (Jesus Christ) might be saved.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH