“NARROW GATE” Christianity
Authentic Christianity is “narrow gate” Christianity—a life marked by daily, unwavering loyalty and devotion to Him.
Following Jesus
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares a profound truth about what it means to follow Him:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
The Meaning of True Discipleship
Being a Christian means being a disciple of Jesus Christ—living in obedience to His commands and shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and relationships with God after His example. While the first disciples had the unique privilege of physically following Jesus, Christians today and in the years to come follow Him by living lives of holiness, devotion, and moral integrity, patterned after His.
The Challenges
However, as Jesus Himself warned, the path to eternal life is not easy. It requires a daily and deliberate choice to resist temptations and distractions that pull us away from a life of faithful loyalty to Him. Jesus’s teaching about the narrow gate highlights the reality that following Him involves personal and moral sacrifice. It is not a casual or convenient lifestyle but one that demands commitment, perseverance, and a willingness to stand apart from the crowd.
False Prophets
This call to walk the narrow path was given in the context of Jesus warning against false prophets—those who say the right things but live contrary to God’s truth. Such individuals might present an attractive, easy version of Christianity, but their lives do not bear the testimony of Christ. Not only that, but Christ indicated that the vast majority of people who “claim” allegiance to Christ would live like this and in the end plunge into hell and destruction.
Bearing Fruit
Jesus’s words challenge us not to be deceived by appearances or hollow declarations of faith. Instead, He calls us to measure our lives and others by the fruit of true devotion and holy living to the Lord—a life that bears the fruit that testifies of true repentance that has taken place (Matthew 3:8).
A Life Without Shortcuts
Choosing the narrow gate means embracing a life without shortcuts—a life focused solely on pleasing the Lord. It may come at the cost of being misunderstood, marginalized, or even unpopular, particularly among those who claim to be righteous but lack true allegiance to Christ. Yet, it is through this path of intentional obedience and unwavering loyalty that we find the abundant life God has promised.
The Eternal Reward
The way is difficult, but the reward is eternal. Let us daily choose to follow the narrow path, knowing that it leads to life in its truest and most everlasting form.
