Jesus tells us that few will find the narrow way, we know many will try to enter and be unable. Why is it so hard to find the narrow way? Largely because of false prophets, which he just warned us about in the preceding verses. These false prophets deny that you must lose you life to find it, that we must suffer like him to reign with him, that we must take up our cross of self-denial daily to follow him — but since Jesus commanded it, we know it is possible. Possible, providing: 1) we have faith that God exists, that he rewards those who diligently seek him, 2) we at least believe in the name of Jesus, 3) we know how to seek him and know how to carry our cross. To read the details on how to seek God and carry your cross, see How to Receive the Changing Power of God.
From the Word of the Lord within: "Narrow, indeed, is the way. Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Few will find it. Men have stopped trying. They have plunged themselves into iniquity."
From the last chapter of Miguel de Molinos' The Spiritual Guide:
O we children of men, how long shall we follow after lying and vanity? Who is it that has thus deceived us, that we should forsake God, our greatest good? Who is it that speaks the most truth to us? Who is it that loves us most? Who defends us most? Who is it that does more to show himself a friend, who more tender to show himself a spouse, and more good to be a Father that our blindness should be so great, that we should all forsake this greatest and infinite goodness?
O divine Lord! What a few souls are there in the world, which do serve you with perfection! How small is the number of those, who are willing to suffer, that they may follow Christ crucified, that they may embrace the cross, that they may deny and condemn themselves! O what a scarcity of souls is there, which are disinterested and totally naked! How few are those souls which are dead to themselves and alive to God, which are totally resigned to his divine good pleasure! How few those, who are adorned with simple obedience, profound knowledge of themselves; and true humility! How few those, which with an entire indifference give up themselves into the hands of God, to do what he pleases with them! How few are there of those pure souls which be of a simple and disinterested heart, and which, putting off their own understanding, knowledge, desire and will, do long for self-denial and spiritual death! O what a scarcity of souls is there which are willing to let the divine creator work in them a mind to suffer, that they may not suffer, and to die, that they may not die! How few are the souls which are willing to forget themselves, to free their hearts from their own affections, their own desires, their own satisfactions, their own love and judgments! That are willing to be led by the highway of self-denial and the internal way! That are willing to be annihilated, dying to themselves and their senses! That are willing to let themselves be emptied, purified and unclothed, that God may fill and clothe and perfect them! In a word, how small, O Lord, is the number of those souls which are blind, deaf and dumb and perfectly silent!
O the shame of us the children of Adam! who, for a thing of mere vileness, do despise true felicity, and hinder our greatest good, the rich treasure and infinite goodness! Great reason has heaven to lament, that there are so few souls to follow its precious pathway. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts; all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Lam. 1:4
7 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Jesus said the false prophets would come. John said the antichrists had come. Peter saw the false teachers had come. Paul saw the false apostles had come, and warned the brothers night and day for three years of more coming. And in Revelation, John saw where the whole world was to go after the false prophets and the false church, which occurred shortly afterwards. The false church is Revelation's whore of Babylon, riding the beast of many names [30,000 sects in Christendom], with horns like a lamb [resembles the true church], but who speaks like a dragon instead of speaking words supplied by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus and the Apostles did.
Many people think prophets only fortell the future, but Paul tells us, "he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, and exhortation, and comfort." 1 Cor 14:3. All preachers and teachers prophesy. If they have not been sent by God and if they do not speak the words God has told them to speak, they are false prophets: I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran [to you]. I have not spoken to them, yet they have prophesied. Jer 23:21. "The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I did not send them, neither have I commanded them, nor spoken to them. Jer 14:14. The false prophet(s) are the ministers of Christendom, not taught by the Lord's voice and light, not perfected by the Lord, not gifted with an authorized ministry, not sent by the Lord, and not speaking words from the Spirit of the Lord; rather they speak from their carnal minds, the nature of death, and preach their vain opinions from the imagination of their evil hearts.
8 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but [only] he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. You must obey Jesus to do the will of the Father. And how is one to do the will of the Father, and thus to go to heaven? Then there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One or My Beloved; listen to and yield to and obey Him!” Luke 9:35. Listen to and obey my voice; and I will by your God, and you will be my people;and walk completely in the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well to you. Jer 7:23.
9 I never knew you, though they called him 'Lord;' prophesied, drove out demons, and performed miracles in his name.
John says: we are coming to know Him: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commands).
The only way you can keep his commands is to listen to his voice, hear, and obey - until the sinful nature within you has been crucified. For you cannot love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, until you have been given a new heart and mind by the love of God, received from Him over time, as you abide in his Word and Light, with obedience.
Depart from me, you workers of iniquity!
Jesus rejected the people who thought they were Christians, because they still sinned. They did not obey him.
But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do [practice, obey] the things which I say? Luke 6:46. I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. John 8:34. If we are a slave to sin, he can't be our Lord. We cannot serve two masters. Mat 16:24 Luke 16:13. You are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that is to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness. Rom 6:16. Jesus said these so-called-Christians with great faith to perform miracles will be rejected because they were still sinning; they had not crucified the sinful nature on the cross, which is necessary to belong to Christ Jesus. Gal 5:24.
The Lord is warning those who think they are Christians and still sin: 1) he doesn't know you, and 2) he will cast you into outer darkness, banned from heaven at judgment. The Lord only knows those who hear his voice and follow him. John 10:27. To hear you must dedicate yourself to silent listening to hear his voice, and then you must obey. If you listen and obey the word of God in your heart, your soul is purified by obedience to the truth, 1 Peter 1:22; and your heart is purified by faith that obeys. Acts 15:9. Jesus said: There is only one thing needed. Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her - to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear his word. Luke 10:39-42. Surely he loves the people; all your holy ones are in your power. And they sit at your feet, each receiving your words. Deu 33:3. Christendom tells their members they can remain in sin and enter heaven when they die, but this is a lie and shows Christendom is Babylon; come out of her my people.
10 Jesus concludes the greatest sermon ever preached with a critical warning! Do not disregard his teachings! You must obey them all to be saved. If you fail to obey, great will be your ruin and destruction. Only those who do the will of the Father enter the Kingdom of heaven. Mat 7:21. Jesus said he only did as he was commanded, not his will; Jesus only did the will of the Father. The will of the Father is obedience to his commands. You must Seek, listen, obey..seek, listen, obey....seek, listen, obey to ever be able to do the will of the Father instead of your own will.
To confess (say) Jesus is Lord is not enough. Jesus said he would reject many who claim to be saved Christians; many who called him Lord, who had prophesied, and even performed miracles in his name. So here are people who call Jesus Lord and do miracles in his name. They claim he is their Lord and think they are in Christ. But he told them he never knew them because they had never come to him to learn and be changed by him directly; instead they read the Bible, and listened to their blind-guide preacher. Yet he warns us: You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life. John 5:39-40. See Jesus Wants to Teach You Himself for more on this failing. Confess means to acknowledge that Jesus is in control of your mind, mouth, and actions; you confess him as your Lord in thought, word, and deed. Paul shows that believing Jesus to be Lord or God is not salvation, writing to churches of believers:
1. now is our salvation nearer than when we believed, Rom 13:11,
2. continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil 2:12,
3. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 1 Thes 5:8, and
4. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor 1:18. While in the inward cross of self-denial, you will see the sin slowly disappear from your life until you are free of sin.
5. godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation, 2 Cor 7:10.
6. do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed to the day of redemption [future happening]. Eph 4:30.
(Paul is speaking to believers in the church who have not yet been redeemed.)
7. For we are the sweet aroma of Christ unto God, to those who are being saved. 2 Cor 2:15
8. we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold firm the beginning of our confidence to the end. Heb 3:14
9. we desire that every one of you show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope to the end.
So that you are not slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:11-12.
And Peter echoes the same message that salvation is not just believing or faith, rather salvation is the end of faith's obedient journey:
Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a time, if necessary, you may have to suffer griefs through many trials, So that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,
Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Pet 1:5-9.
