The gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it - by Mike Ratliff

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The author has what he thinks is insight regarding a familiar passage. It takes him awhile to get to that discussion, with a few odd theological pitstops on the way.

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12 “Therefore, in all things, whatever you want people to do for you, so do for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:12-14 (LSB)

Our Lord Jesus Christ set before us the way of Righteousness. Yes, He lived a perfect life and died on a cruel cross to pay the penalty and price for the sins of those whom He came to save. (He did not pay for our sins. No Bible verse says this. He paid for us: 

1Co. 6:20 you were bought at a price. 

1Co. 7:23 You were bought at a price...

The author is not off to an auspicious start.)

However, He also taught us both in word and deed how the truly Righteous should live. Those whom God has saved are regenerated (Irritating Reformist terminology. What's wrong with "born again?")

so that they can believe and repent and receive salvation by grace through faith. ("...regenerated so that they can believe and repent and receive salvation..." The author makes this list purposefully. Advocates of Reformist doctrine have created an ordo salutus, the order of salvation. The full list is 

1) election/predestination (in Christ),
2) Atonement
3) gospel call
4) inward call
5) regeneration,
6) conversion (faith & repentance),
7) justification,
8) sanctification, and
9) glorification.

The ordo is a series of steps whereby God accomplishes our salvation. Though Reformists insist the ordo is not a linear sequence, the clear intent is to lay out the procedure God follows to save a man. Which suggests that being regenerated PRECEDES salvation. There is nothing in the Bible which lays out this process, but this sort of systemization is typical in Reformist doctrine.)

However, this regeneration does not kill or do away with our sin nature. (Undocumented, and false claim: 

Col. 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Our carnal nature died with Jesus' crucifixion [Ro. 6:6, Col. 2:11] and our new man rose with Him [Col. 2:12]. However, we still entertain the works of our dead flesh [Ga. 5:19-21], but we are called to abandon them [Ro. 8:13])

God uses our sin nature, which battles us in every step in our spiritual growth, for His own purposes. (Undocumented claim number two. God doesn't use our sin nature, He wants us to abandon its works: 

Col. 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.)

These purposes include keeping us humble as we see how unrighteous we really are because of our battles against our own flesh. (Undocumented claim number three. First, there is no Scripture that tells us God uses our sin nature to keep us humble. Second, we are not unrighteous, we have obtained righteousness by faith [Ro. 9:30]. Third, we do not battle our flesh, we are to put it to death [Ro. 7:5-6].)

Yes, we still sin. In fact we will never be free of these battles against our flesh until we are taken home to be with our Lord.

The great tragedy of the church in our age is that the vast majority of professing Christians are slaves to their own flesh. Their sin nature dominates them. Their minds and hearts are bound to ways of the world and men. The “Compromised Church” is full of people who are there because the churches they are in are designed to nurture their flesh rather than disciple them so they can learn to deny it. They never hear of sin, repentance, hell, and the real purpose of Christ’s coming.

Look at the passage I placed at the top of this article. (Finally he arrives at the topic...)

Verse 12 is often called the Golden Rule. However, most people never read vv13-14 in context with v12. If we read these words of our Saviour in context don’t they tell us something much different than what we have come to accept by reading scripture that has been surgically incised from the whole? In context, we see that those who enter the narrow gate whose way is hard that leads to life, are those whose way of living this life is patterned after treating others as they would prefer to be treated. Jesus also says that few find it and enter thereby. He also tell us that those who go by the broad way, which leads to destruction, are the many. Their lives are not patterned after treating others as they wish to be treated. The Golden Rule in this passage is a marker that is an expression of innate humility in the character of those who are genuine Christians. (The author thinks verse 12 and verse 13 connect but we don't see evidence for that. Rather, verse 12 actually sums up the previous thought about the Father giving good gifts. We see the word "so" in verse 12 which a connector to a conclusion based on what was previously written. It seems clear that the golden rule verse belongs with the previous story, not the following story.

Further, this passage is from the sermon on the mount, which began in chapter five and lasts until the end of chapter seven. Jesus spoke on many issues in this passage, so we think Matthew 7:7-12 is one of the many spiritual lessons, and Matthew 7:13-14 is simply another one.

Though the author makes a big deal out of his interpretation, this is not a doctrinal hill to die on, however. There is absolutely no crucial Bible principal at stake.)

Those whose interactions and relationships with others is governed by a humble heart will also not judge others hypocritically. Those who hold others to a higher standard of behaviour than they hold themselves are hypocrites and are not living as one who has entered the narrow gate. These two extremes are not what saves those who are humble and condemns those who aren’t. Instead, they are markers or fruit that flow from either a regenerate, humble heart or an unregenerate, prideful heart. What is so confusing for many of us though is that we do struggle with our sin nature, our flesh, in huge battles over living godly lives or pursuing the ways of the world. Many of us lived for many years as professing Christians who seemed to have few, if any, victories over our fleshly hearts.

Spiritual growth is not instantaneous. We can’t take a pill and wake up the next day fully spiritually mature. It takes time. It takes cooperation between us and God as we surrender to the Lordship of our Saviour as the idols in our hearts come under full attack. All in Christ have the Holy Spirit. We must cooperate with Him in this battle. If we don’t then we serve our idols, which causes spiritual blindness to increase. Many Christians are devastated most of the time because they can’t seem to lives lives of victory over besetting sins that seem to cling so close to them that they can never even run one lap in the race that God has set before them before they stumble and fall out. If their spiritual blindness is severe, they can live as friends of the world in defeat for years as they seek fulfillment from their flesh because their walk before their Lord is in shambles.

How do we break this cycle of defeat? Is it something we can do ourselves? I believe that it starts with God. He puts in our hearts a deep desire to be free of our wicked sin nature. When we respond by seeking Him with a repentant heart doesn’t He draw near to us?

1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have, so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world sets himself as an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7 Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and cry. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:1-10 (LSB)

This passage was instrumental in my own restoration. God used this and many other scripture passages to reveal to this old heart what my problem really was. What was it? I was a friend of the world. My idolatrous heart was energized by pride. I had little if any godliness because I never asked for it even though I did deeply desire it. When I prayed for it, it was always for God to change me, but I put no effort in doing anything to bring it about. In 2004 God got hold of me. He drew me into a period of 9 months or so of a closer walk with Him. I spent more and more time praying, worshipping and studying the Bible. What was I doing during that time? Wasn’t I drawing near unto God? What did He do in return? He drew near unto me. What was the result? I repented and God granted me that repentance. He changed me. He demolished my idols and cut the callous from my heart. My spiritual blindness was taken away by my dear Heavenly Father. I am still so grateful that my heart breaks when I think of the good work He has done there.

Since that time, I have not become perfect at all. I still struggle with sin, but now I recognize that each test or trial is an opportunity to express humility, delight in God, and treat others as I would like them to treat me. I no longer have to win. In fact, I rejoice as I submit to other people’s will even when I could easily force my will on them and be seen as in the right by most people. What is more important, to do the will of God in humility or to get my way in all things? The world says I should look out for number one. Jesus says that those who enter the narrow gate treat others as they would prefer to be treated. How can we do this? Only the Spirit-led can do this. (Hmm. Let's requote the author's cited passage: 

13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Now let's quote the parallel passage in Luke: 

Lk. 13:24-30 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, "Sir, open the door for us." But he will answer, "I don’t know you or where you come from."

26 Then you will say, "We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets." 27 But he will reply, "I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!" 

28 There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.

It seems clear the author's interpretation doesn't line up with the similar [and expanded] story in Luke. We are therefore inclined to reject the author's interpretation.)

They are Christians who are not in bondage to their flesh. They deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Jesus. They follow His example of Righteousness by treating others as they want to be treated. However, they may not be treated in kind. In fact, they may be treated horribly by those with depraved hearts and minds. That doesn’t change anything. In fact, the call to be meek and humble in face of persecution is the pinnacle of Christlikeness.

Soli Deo Gloria!