"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
God has, throughout all of human history, reserved for Himself a
remnant. At the flood, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the calling of Abram, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the rescue of Lot, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the establishment of Joseph, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the anointing of David, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the exile of Israel and Judah, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the calling of His Church, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. And now, in this day, is God suddenly given to change? No! For the scriptures declare that He does not change [Malachi 3:6]. Then how is it that some are given over to the deception that all will be saved? For God, by His sovereign mercy, has not condemned all to their just punishment, but has saved some.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' " Matthew 7:21-23
And if not all are saved, who are you to boast of your faith? Instead, boast - in faith - of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Indeed, how can we boast unless we know and are known by our Redeemer? Therefore, as Peter commends the brethren to "be even more diligent to make your call and election sure" let us, who are called, seek to know the fruit of our calling, that we may be confident in the work of Christ.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13
If then we are called to fear and trembling; of what do we fear? But as Solomon taught his son "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." And do we fear without reason, as one cowering before an empty shadow at night? But what does Jesus Himself say; "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Therefore there is a judgement and not all will be judged faithful. Know your salvation, that in that day you may enter as a son and an heir, and not as an enemy; unknown to God.
"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
How can we receive a blessing, and not the rightful curse of death, unless we bear good fruit? But good fruit only comes through the indwelling of the Spirit and the work of the Son. For no one, apart from faith, can do anything good deserving of blessing. How much more then are we incapable of earning our own salvation! But the fruit of salvation is good works. What comes first? The root or the fruit? It is the root which is established first and only after that grow the branches which then produce fruit. Therefore if we are not rooted in Christ we are unable to bear fruit. And if we do not produce good fruit then the work of Christ has had effect in us.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:5-6
We know this then; that God has saved a remnant, that we are called to examine our salvation to know if we are part of that remnant, that we are to do so in reverent fear of the just Judge and that we are to know true salvation by the fruit it produces.
Done.
*Jaiqu
