Truth Magazine

By Frank Himmel

Are you headed for heaven? In November, 1990, the Gallup organization surveyed Americans’ thoughts on heaven and hell. The results were published in the March 25, 1991 issue of U.S. News & World Report. Seventy-eight per-cent of those responding believe there is a heaven. When asked if they thought they had an “excellent or good chance of going there,” guess how many said yes? That’s right, seventy-eight percent. In other words, just about everyone who believes there is a heaven thinks he is going there. (In contrast, sixty percent of those surveyed said they believed in hell, but only four percent thought they were going there.) Will the majority be saved? What does the Bible say?

Few Will Be Saved

If the majority go to heaven it will be a stark reversal of conditions on earth. Here God’s people are always a decided minority. In fact, the only time since Eden when they have constituted the majority was immediately after the flood. The righteous are so few that they are often called a “remnant,” a small part, a trace. God had only a remnant in Old Testament times. “In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s choice of grace” (Rom. 11:5).

The Savior himself often indicated that few will be saved. In the well-known parable of the sower (Lk. 8:4-15), Jesus likened hearers of the gospel to different kinds of soil. Only one, the good soil, brought forth fruit to maturity. While the story is not intended to establish ratios, it is interesting to note that there are three times as many unacceptable hearts as acceptable ones. The parable of the wedding feast (Matt. 22:1-14) also argues against the notion that most will be saved. Many in that story turned down the summons to the feast. Others tried to attend while ignoring the terms of the invitation. Jesus concluded, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

“And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, `Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?’ And He said to them, `Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able”‘ (Lk. 13:22-24). Perhaps that declaration of doom “rang a bell” with Jesus’ disciples. He had sounded the same theme earlier in the Sermon on the Mount. “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Matt. 7:13,14).

Why Few Will Be Saved

God wants all men to be saved. Christ died for all. The gospel invitation is open to all. Nevertheless, these passages affirm that only few will be saved. Jesus’ roads and gates illustration helps us understand why. The routes to heaven and hell are as different as a mountain trail through backwoods West Virginia and an interstate highway through Kansas.

First, consider the wide road. Hills, rivers, rocks, and trees can confine the width of a road. They constitute restrictions. The wide road to hell knows no such limits. It is an unrestricted way. There is room on it for every opinion and practice. Folks going that way can believe whatever they like and live however they please. It is also an undisciplined way. Driving on narrow mountain roads tenses us up. We sit up. Both hands grip the wheel. We watch carefully, knowing there is little room for error. Mistakes could be tragic. The highway to hell is not like that. It is more reminiscent of an eight-lane turnpike. You turn on the cruise control, lean back, and steer with one finger. Alertness and self-discipline are not required in the wide way. You may do what you will.

No wonder that Jesus described this as the popular way. It is the easy way, full of travelers just following the crowd. There is little concern among them whether God approves this or that. Sadly, it is also the destructive way. William Barclay calls it a thoughtless way since those on it have not thought through their course. What benefit is there in taking the easy route if it goes the wrong direction? Perhaps we could call it the short-sighted way.

Now compare that to the heavenly highway. It is a narrow, restricted way. Truth restricts it. Truth by nature is always narrower than error. For example, there is only one right answer to the math problem 2 + 2 = but an infinite number of wrong answers. Similarly there are many ways to displease God, but only one way to please Him. There are many errors one might believe, but only one body of truth. It is the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), God’s word (Jn. 17:17). Realizing this, those walking the narrow way must be vigilant. Every New Testament book warns Christians against being caught up in error and thus turning aside from the way.

The broad way requires no investigation, no search. To travel it you can literally do nothing. The narrow way is not like that. It must be sought. Though it is never very far away (Acts 17:27), Jesus said, “Few are those who find it.” Why so few?

To begin with, some are not looking for it. They really do not care. Others are looking, but in the wrong place. The directions to heaven are not on human road maps. Nevertheless, people seek answers in philosophy, psychology, and science.

They look for guidance in them-selves, the majority, society, their preacher — everywhere but the Bible. That is as futile as trying to discover the way from Boston to Chicago using a Florida map.

Some are not looking for the heavenly highway because they falsely assume they are already on it. Who has not made this mistake on a trip? You are cruising down the highway, making good time, feeling great, only to discover later that all the while you have been going the wrong way. That may well describe one’s spiritual condition. He is sincere. He feels good about his direction. He is going as hard as he can. He thinks heaven is just around the corner. Yet he is completely off track. Sincerity and zeal are commendable, but on the wrong road they will no more get us to heaven than they will to an earthly destination.

How can we prevent this common pitfall? Constantly check the signs and mileage markers. God’s Bible map is full of indicators marking the way. He describes individually and collectively what those on the right road are thinking, saying, and doing. If his description does not match my life, I must change directions. (Note: Just asking other people for directions will not do. In the verses that follow Jesus warns us of those who pretend to know the way but in fact will lead us astray. We must consult the map.)

Finally, there are those who find the narrow way but refuse to walk in it. They consider its constraints too limiting, its requirements too exacting.

What Few Will Be Saved

Based on merit no one would be saved. All make false steps from time to time (Rom. 3:23). However, God has graciously offered us salvation as a gift. To whom is salvation given? Not to everyone: we have learned that only few are saved. Not to everyone who is religious: we have learned that it is possible to be religious but walking a route that is not God’s way. Not even to everyone who professes Christ. A few verses after the roads illustration Jesus said, “Not every one who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Who are the saved? Both Peter and Paul quoted Joel who wrote, “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13). “Calling on the Lord” is certainly more than crying out, “Lord, Lord.” It is not inviting Jesus into your heart, accepting him as your personal Savior, making a decision for Jesus, or praying the sinner’s prayer. No one in the New Testament was ever told to do such things. Peter explained that it is acknowledging Jesus’ lordship by repenting of sins and being baptized in his name for forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:36-38). Ananias said the same thing (Acts 22:16). It is doing the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21).

Thus added to Christ, we are reconciled to God through Jesus’ blood, and will be presented before him “holy and blameless and beyond reproach — if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and stead-fast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Col. 1:19-23). Are you on the right track?

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 3, p. 14
February 4, 1993

By Jim Deason

David said it this way, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psa. 127:1). Jesus said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13). Either way the meaning is the same — if it doesn’t begin with the Lord it begins in the wrong place.

The religious systems of men with their attendant doctrines have one critical flaw: they didn’t originate from within the mind of God. The authority for their existence came from some other source than Scripture. This being so, their message is corrupt, their mission is vain and their destiny is destruction. For ourselves, we must avoid their influence at all costs. For others, we must devote our lives to the work of rescuing them.

Jesus’ statement in Matthew 15:13 was made in a context where men had elevated human tradition into the position of divine law. The noxious plant of human doctrine had been placed by human hands into the fertile soil of human hearts and, as a result, a religious system was born. Not from God did the seeds of Phariseeism spring but from the determined will of men bound to make burdensome the simple way of righteousness by exalting themselves and their petty interpretations over others while unwilling to live by their own code. Jesus despised this process and reserved his sternest rebukes for the hypocritical Pharisees (Matt. 23).

At the very root of the Pharisees’ traditions, and the Pharisaic system itself, lay hearts unwilling to yield to God’s simple plan. These were hearts determined to make their own rules; rules which to them were in addition to, in the place of, and more attractive than the statutes of God. This was the seed from which the plant of Phariseeism grew. This was the plant which God the Son promised would be rooted up.

Likewise, this dissatisfaction with God’s way is the seed from which all modern day denominationalism has grown. From Catholicism in the sixth century through the Protestant Reformation to the present, the plants of denominationalism with their corresponding and often contradictory dogmas have flourished. The division represented by these denominational systems is deplorable (Jn. 17:20,21; 1 Cor. 1:10). They serve only to confuse honest hearts and to prejudice otherwise sincere seekers against the truth. These noxious plants shall indeed be rooted up.

To be sure, most all denominations teach some truth. There are, without doubt, moral people and good neighbors within all of these systems. But while they may claim the name of Christ they are unknown to him (Matt. 7:21-23) and their worship is worthless (Matt. 15:9). They are known as Christians to the rest of the world but not to Christ. To be a Christian is to belong to Christ and to submit in all things to his head-ship. Denominationalism and its members fail on both counts.

This makes the appeal of first century Christianity unique and powerful. You don’t have to belong to a denominational system. You can lay all doctrines and practices of men aside and follow the simple, pure New Testament pattern. To do so will make you a Christian, a follower of Christ, and nothing more. Your allegiance will not be to a man-made system governed by man-made rules, but to Jesus Christ and the New Testament as your guide for daily living. You will enjoy a relationship with others who have the sameallegiance as do you in a local congregation (Phil. 1:1). With them you will be able to work and worship as God has given direction. Any question about practice and procedure can be settled by an appeal, not to a denominational council or creed book, but to the New Testament (2 Tim. 3:16,17). There is no invitation more inviting, no plan more powerful, than that contained in the word of God (Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 1:16).

Every plant which God did not plant, whose roots are not found running deep into the Book, will be destroyed. This means that every denominational system and every denominational doctrine, having had their beginning in the will of man, will be uprooted. They will not stand in the judgment day (Jn. 12:48).

I can’t conscientiously close this article without making another observation. Even among the Lord’s people problems arise from time to time over man-made dogmas. Today ominous clouds loom on the horizon that threaten the peace and unity of the people of God. Issues concerning divorce are a constant menace. I am appalled at what I hear some teaching regarding the nature of Jesus and his divinity which threaten the very foundation of all that we have believed and held dear. Strange things are being said about fellowship which is strained. The list is endless but the answer is not. To some it may sound trite but we must get back to a “thus saith the Lord.” We must get back to basic preaching!

Let all who read these words remember that every man-made doctrine or system will be uprooted. Even those concocted by brethren. We are not immune to the influence of denominationalism among us. Of this we must be aware and fore-warned.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 3, p. 18
February 4, 1993