A few thoughts on the strait gate

While this note is not copied it was influenced by my recent reading of John Bunyan's work, The Strait Gate.  May the Lord bless this scripture and these thoughts.    cb



Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.   Luke 13:23-24


Think about this strait gate, spoken of by the Lord Jesus.

• It is wide enough to allow the regenerated soul in but narrow enough to keep the unregenerate out.
• It is wide enough to let the justified in but narrow enough to keep the unjustified soul out.
• The sanctified soul may pass through this gate but the unsanctified will be commanded to depart!
• The soul who has a "form of godliness" will be denied but the soul who who is "sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" will gladly enter in!
• The soul who has the faith of devils will tremble and be turned away while the soul that received the gift of faith from God will enter in.
• They who through the faith of Christ are found to have "the righteousness of God by faith" will enter in and they who "being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness" will be commanded to depart!
• Those who come seeking to enter this gate by being "justified by the works of the law" shall be turned away but those "who according to His mercy" received "the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost" will enter rejoicing! 
• Those in whom the "love of God" has been shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost will be let in the strait gate but those who are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" will be rejected.
• Whoever "will save his life" will lose it at the strait gate but whoever "loses his life" for Christ's sake and the gospel's the same will enter in to the kingdom!
• Those who are washed from their sins by the blood of Jesus will enter into the strait gate but,"there shall in no wise enter into it (gate) any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination or makes a lie!