I have been listening back through the Antioch Bible Church multimedia archive, and one title stopped me: “Why Few Christians Are Saved – Matt. 7:13-14”, preached by Tim Cantrell on 3 April 2022.

A quick word of honesty before I go further. The archive page has the audio but no transcript or summary. What follows is therefore not a summary of what was said in the sermon. These are my own reflections on the text and on the title. Please listen to the sermon itself to hear how it was actually preached. And of course, I write as a member, not on behalf of the church.

The text

“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. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, NASB 1995).

Why the title stopped me

Look at the title again: not “Why Few People Are Saved,” but “Why Few Christians Are Saved.” That is unsettling, and I think it is meant to be. Jesus is not speaking to pagans in Matthew 7. He is speaking to crowds who knew the Scriptures, attended synagogue and believed in God. And He follows these verses with a warning about false prophets and then the chilling words of verses 21-23, about many who will say “Lord, Lord” and be turned away.

In South Africa, the overwhelming majority of people call themselves Christian. That is a blessing in many ways. But it is also a danger, because it is possible to wear the label, attend a church and even feel religious, while walking the broad road. The title presses that question home in a way that a comfortable sermon would not.

Reflections on the text

There are only two gates and two roads. Jesus allows no third option. Every person is on one road or the other, heading for destruction or for life. Our culture prefers a spectrum, but Jesus speaks in terms of a clear division.

The broad way is easy, and that is the problem. No one has to look for the broad way; you are on it by default. It accepts any belief and any lifestyle, as long as you don’t take Jesus too seriously. It is crowded, and crowds feel safe.

The narrow gate is a person. The gate is narrow because there is only one way in: through Christ alone, by faith alone, with nothing in your hands. You cannot bring your self-righteousness, your religious record or your sin through that gate. Elsewhere Jesus says it plainly: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, NASB 1995).

The narrow way is a life, not only a moment. Jesus speaks of a gate and a way. Entering the gate is conversion. Walking the way is the life of a disciple: repentance, obedience, cross-bearing and perseverance. A profession that never leads to the narrow way was never entrance through the narrow gate.

Jesus commands us to enter. The passage is not a statistic to discuss but a command to obey: “Enter.” In Luke’s parallel, the urgency is even stronger: “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24, NASB 1995).

What I am taking away

This passage does not call true believers to constant fear, as if assurance were impossible. Christ’s sheep are secure in His hand. But it does call every professing Christian to examine himself honestly. Am I trusting Christ alone? Is there evidence, however imperfect, that I am walking the narrow way? Do I love Him and want to obey Him?

It also calls me to evangelism. If the road to destruction is broad and crowded, then my neighbours, colleagues and even churchgoing family members may be on it. Love does not keep quiet about the gate.

Learn – Grow – Change

• Learn: Read Matthew 7:13-27 as one unit. Notice the repeated pairs: two gates, two trees, two professions, two builders.
• Grow: Take 2 Corinthians 13:5 seriously this week, and examine yourself in the light of Christ’s grace, not your performance.
• Change: Pray by name for someone you know who calls themselves a Christian but shows no sign of the narrow way, and ask God for an opportunity to speak.

You can find the sermon, along with many others, in the Antioch Bible Church archive.