August 21, 2010 — Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
“The Narrow Door” — Pastor Lassman
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My Fellow Redeemed in Christ,
In our Gospel lesson someone in the crowd asked Jesus if only a few people are going to be saved. Why would such a question be asked? What’s the point in asking that question? What difference does it make it whether a few or many are going to be saved? I know from being a teacher of God’s word that people like to question God’s word or even sit in judgment of God. If Jesus had told the man “Yes, only a few are going to be saved” maybe the man would have said: “Well, that’s not fair.” Why are only a few saved? Why can’t everyone be saved?” For those of you who have been in my Bible classes, remember how often we have talked about predestination? And remember how easy it is to question God’s word and his fairness? In our sinful arrogance we sometimes think that we are more loving and fair than God! But did you notice that Jesus refuses to play such an academic game? Jesus does not get involved in some kind of abstract
theological discussion. He basically told the person who asked the question that who was saved and who was not saved was none of his business...that was God’s business. Then Jesus made the conversation very personal and practical...and it’s the same answer he gives to us this morning: “Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Door.”
I. In other words, rather than speculating about how many people are going to be saved. You’d better make sure that you are saved. But saved from what? Hell and damnation.
A. These days we don’t hear a lot about hell and damnation. Goodness sakes...that’s much too negative. “Tell us something pleasant, Pastor...tell us how good we are. Tell us how we can live a better life. Tell us how we can succeed in life.” But what do such things have to do with being saved from hell and damnation? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Whether it’s popular or not...there will be a judgment day where every human being will have to give an account to god for everything he has thought, said, and done. As we confess this every Sunday in the creed: “And he will come to judge the living and the dead.” So God has given us Jesus and the church with the means of grace, the word and the sacraments so that we can be ready for that day on that day and be saved for eternal life. Jesus says that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the Old Testament prophets will be there, for they trusted in the coming of Jesus. They were saved by faith just like us. And
joining them will be people from all over the world: from east and west, north and south; people of all different races, colors and nationalities who will also trust in Jesus. And they will all, “recline at table in the kingdom of God”, which is a poetic way of saying that they will live in the very presence of God in a sinless world of joy and peace that will last forever. This is the “new heavens and new earth” that Isaiah speaks about in our first lesson. But there’s more to the story...and this is the unpopular part: other people will not share in the bliss of eternal life. They will be told “depart from me, all you workers of evil” they will be damned forever in hell where Jesus says there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
B. So what’s the difference between those who will enter the kingdom of God and those who will not? The narrow door. And what is the narrow door? Jesus, just as he says in John’s Gospel “I am the door. Whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John 10:9, NIV) Jesus, the word made flesh, came into our world to save us from hell and damnation. He had to do this because we cannot save ourselves. Try living just one day without some kind of sin of thought, word, or deed. If we could save ourselves we wouldn’t need Jesus. Jesus saves us because he did what we could not do: live a sinless holy life that was completely pleasing to God---and he did it for us. And he did what we would never want to do: be punished by God for our sins. With his sinless life and innocent suffering and death Jesus Christ reconciled all of humanity to God. Our debt of sin is canceled, forgiven. And his resurrection is the proof that this is all true. So then, he is the door to
eternal life on the day of the resurrection. And he is a narrow door in the sense that he is the only way as he says also in John’s Gospel: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV) Of course not everyone believes this. People argue about whether Jesus is the only way or not. But on the judgment day there will be no arguing...only the weeping and gnashing of teeth. And those who thought they were first will be last.
II. Will only a few be saved? Well, that’s really none of our business. Instead of engaging in idle speculation about how many will be saved Jesus says “Strive to enter through the narrow door.”
A. “To enter the narrow door” means that we believe God when he tells us that we are sinners who deserve nothing but his wrath and condemnation. It means to confess to God that we are guilty as charged. No excuses, no “ifs and or buts”. God is right. We are guilty. We have broken his law. We are sinners. But to enter the narrow door also means to believe the wonderful good news that we are forgiven and have peace with God and eternal life...all because of Jesus Christ. The Greek word that is translated as “strive” gives us our English word “agonize.” To agonize over something means to have intense feelings that flow from deep concerns, commitments and desires. If we found ourselves in a building that was on fire we would “agonize”, we would strive to find the best way out to safety. And so it is with Christ. To “strive to enter through the narrow door” means that we live every day of our lives remembering the judgment day and that only Jesus Christ will make the difference between eternal life and eternal damnation. It means to live each day of our lives repenting of our sins and confessing them to God...and every day believing that for the sake of Jesus Christ all our sins are forgiven and we have peace with God. It means that every day our hearts and minds are on Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus Christ is not just a part of our lives...he is our life. To “strive to enter through the narrow door” also means that we want to live a life worthy of his death on the cross. We don’t want to live for ourselves and what pleases us; we want to live for him and what pleases him. Now does anyone do this perfectly? Of course not. But instead of giving up or making excuses we enter through the narrow door and daily trust in God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Our whole life is a life of repenting and trusting in God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ. And where do we find God’s forgiveness in Jesus
Christ? In God’s word, our baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. And this is why the church is so important to those who “strive to enter through the narrow door.” For it is at church that we receive Christ, God’s forgiveness and eternal life. That’s why we are here this morning.
B. Why is it so important to live each day like this? Why should we “strive to enter through the narrow door?” Because Jesus says that you never know when that door...will be closed. The door will be closed when we die. Our eternal destiny is sealed with our death and there are no second chances after death. And the door is also closed when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead. There are no second chances, no “do-overs”, on the judgment day either. Jesus says: “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from...depart from me.’” The judgment day is too late to take Jesus seriously. On that day there will be some Jews from Jesus day who will say: “We ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets.” But during their life they didn’t take Jesus
seriously. They didn’t “strive to enter through the narrow door” And Jesus will tell them “I do not know where you come from...depart from me.” And there is no doubt. There will be some who were raised in the Christian church who will say “Hey Jesus remember me? I was baptized and confirmed. I even came to church on Christmas and Easter. Surely you remember me.” But they didn’t really believe in Jesus. They didn’t take him seriously. During their lives they didn’t “strive to enter through the narrow door” for they were more concerned about other things than Jesus and his church. And Jesus will say to them “I do not know where you come from...depart from me.”
Conclusion: “Are only a few being saved?” Probably. But why do we ask? Why do we want to know? What difference does it make if it’s few or many? Here is the more important question: “Will I be saved? What does Jesus Christ mean to me? Jesus Christ has restored our relationship to God by dying for our sins. He has opened to the door to eternal life. And as long as we are alive the door is always open....and we enter that door every day by repenting of our sins and trusting that for the sake of Jesus Christ they are all forgiven. There is no other way. And those who strive to enter through the narrow door know that nothing in all of life is as important or precious as Jesus Christ. And that will be clear on the day that Jesus returns and when all who have trusted in him will “recline at table in the kingdom of God.” Amen.
