CONTINUED FROM PART II...

     So if we look at each of these three stages in more detail:

What does it mean to “enter the narrow gate”? Entering the narrow gate represents our entering into salvation through the “gift of life” which enters man through the deposit of the seed of Christ received upon salvation. For does a man not enter the narrow gate of a woman to deposit his seed of life as a “gift of life” that, thereafter, it may produce the ”miracle of life” that is a brand new creation? At the same time, “entering the narrow gate” of salvation is also patterned by entering the narrow gate of the Red Sea waters crossing that we may escape the slavery to Egypt that is our slavery to sin. For was the Red Sea crossing not entering a “narrow gate”? And was it not by a narrow margin that they escaped pursuing Egypt? Entering the waters of the Red Sea symbolises the covering of the Blood of the Lamb received upon water baptism and repentance. For what is repentance other than turning our backs on our old life and ways? And did Israel not turn their back on Egypt and enter the Red Sea? Entering the narrow gate of repentance and baptism unto water are the minimum “entrance requirement” for salvation from sin. For is the mandatory requirement of “by repentance only” not a “narrow gate”? And is salvation “by the blood of Jesus only” not a narrow gate? Which is also the first part of the requirements of a disciple of Matthew 16:24. Which is that if any man desires to come after Me (which means be a disciple), let him firstly "deny himself". Is denying ourself not turning our back on our own desires and will? Which is the call of repentance unto salvation? For when we repent, do we not deny ourselves by turning our back and walking the other way? And did Israel not turn their back on Egypt and walk the other way?

Secondly, “the difficult way” refers to the difficult way of the wilderness crossing that followed after entering entering the Red Sea — which is the difficult way of the second part of Matthew 16:24 that follows after the entrance of the seed of Christ. Which is difficult way that is “to take up our cross and die to self”. Which is the difficult way because it requires taking up our cross and dying to the three things by which we all fall found in 1 John 2:16. Which is to die to (1) the lusts of the flesh, (2) the lusts of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life. Which is a slow process. Just like the death on the cross is a slow and painful process. Which also is why the wilderness journey took so long. Which is why according to the three salvations of 1 Thessalonians 5:23 of the spirit, soul and body, the salvation of the spirit is at an instant in time. Which is upon the instant of receiving the deposit of the seed. And which is why the salvation of the body is in a flash. For doesn’t the word of God say, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, this mortal will take on the immortal, and this perishable, the imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:52-53). But why the soul takes long to save. Because the whilst the spirit and the body belong to God, the soul belongs to man because it’s the realm of free will. So dying to our self requires the engagement of our free will. Which is why it's a difficult way and a slow process. Just like dying on the cross is a slow and difficult process. Because dying to self that we may save our souls is a slow process because it involves our will. Which is also why you only ever see in the Bible the term to save our souls, not save our spirit. And as we can see from the example of Jesus, it was only after Jesus had slowly died and then finally breathed His last, which is to die completely to Himself, that He was resurrected. Which is why it is called the difficult way. For not only is dying to the three things that make us fall a difficult way, dying on the cross is also a difficult way to die. For was the wilderness crossing not also difficult for all the Israelites? Did they not have to learn to die to trusting themselves and come alive to trusting by faith in God for absolutely everything? To trust in God to safely lead them from Egypt all the way to the promised land? And did they not have to trust by faith that the promised land would give them the promise or the prize of a “new life”. Which is a life, when compared to the life of Egypt, is the new creation of a brand new life? Which, as for the natural seed of man, is the difficult way of the wilderness crossing of pregnancy. For is pregnancy not a difficult way? For is it not a wilderness experience of entering the complete unknown and of trusting by faith?

And thirdly, “the life that few find”, represented by entering into and taking possession of the promised land of Canaan, is the life that few find. Because whilst all of Israel got there, only two made it to enter and possess their inheritance. Which is the prize of those who finish the race. Being Joshua and Caleb. Where Joshua is a type of Jesus entering the promised land of the glorified life first. There were twelve who were to enter, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Which represents the whole house of God. Which represents all who are saved. But like Matthew 7:14 says that the difficult way of discipleship leads to the life, but that few find it, only two out of all twelve found it. So just like in life, not all seeds carry to term, but many miscarry, so too do many of those who are saved. Which is what Matthew 22:14 means when it says many are called, but few are chosen. Not just because they miscarried, but when He comes as a thief in the night, just like the foolish virgins were not ready, Jesus comes to receive unto Him only those who are ready. Being the wise virgins. Being the few that are chosen in "the many are called but few are chosen" message. Which is not to say that the foolish virgins are not on the road, but they are not far enough down the road. For just like there are three trimesters in the womb of life called pregnancy, in the womb of life of the spirit, there are three stages of a Christian. Mark 4:20 tells us that these are the 30-fold, 60-fold, 100-fold Christians. Being the the three stages of the seed of Christ of the 30-fold (saved); the 60-fold (disciples); the 100-fold (manifest sons). Many are called as disciples, but only a few get chosen to manifest the glory of God. Being only the 100-fold seed of Christ. Being only those who let the seed of Christ finish its race. And just like Canaan is the promise land, being the land of the prize of milk and honey for all eternity, the prize of the promised land is the prize of the upward call of God in Christ. Which is the promise of “long life” for those who honour their parents of Exodus 20:12. Which is the prize of the long life of the glorified body. Which we can also reference the parable of Joseph and his brothers. There were twelve brothers, just like with the twelve called to enter the promised land. Which again represents the twelve tribes of Israel, or all who are saved. But only Joseph got the multi-coloured coat from Jacob. And who does Jacob represent? As the father of Israel, He represents the Father. And was his name not changed to Israel. And who does Jospeh represent? Jesus. For just like a rainbow is the seven colours of white light, where seven represents perfect light or pure light, Joseph received a multicoloured coat, and none of his brothers. Are we not all borthers? Which represents the few that get the prize of the garment of glory of the seven colours of white light that represents the glorified body. For was he not first humbled, and then in due time God exalted him? Which is the same story we see in the prodigal son. Where he receives a coat from his father before entering the house of his father. For was he not first humbled, and then in due time he was exalted by his father? Who before all his servants declared "This IS my son". And did Jacob not bless both Josephs son’s being Ephraim and Manasseh. Being the firstborn and the second born. Which are the two sons of Jesus, representing the firstborn of the natural Jewish people of Israel and the second born of the spiritual Jewish people of the gentiles. And by blessing them, means they are both saved. And just like many of the natural Jewish sons of God have miscarried, this means whilst many are called, few are chosen.

2. So just like Matthew 7:14 and Matthew 16:24 have three stages to it, and just like dying to self has three stages to it according to 1 John 2:16, so too does pregnancy have three stages to it. And not all finish the race. So the second scripture that proves it is Matthew 22:14: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Just like in Isaiah 6:8, the voice of the Lord says who will go for me, and only Isaiah said, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

3. The third scripture is Matthew 7:21, "not everyone who says to Me, "LORD, LORD" shall enter the kingdom of heaven. But He who does the will of My Father." What is the will of the Father? To prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. And how does this tie back to Matthew 7:14? It’s the good will of God that all be saved. It’s the acceptable service of all those who are saved to die to self. And it's the perfect will of God that all should be made perfect unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

     Which brings us to our last point of a disciple. Which is to the heart and the spirit of a disciple. The calling OUT as a disciple is to BE a disciple. And the calling TO that is the great commission is to go and make disciples. So the call to discipleship is a two-fold calling. The heart and spirit of a disciple is one that holds nothing back. Paul says, “I kept nothing back that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly "from house to house" (Acts 20:20). And what happened to Ananias and Sapphira when they held something back? Was it a happy ending for them? (Acts 5:1-11). In Isaiah 54:2, we read, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”. And it’s also a heart that does not look back. Luke 9:62 says, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”. To put your hand to the plough means to be saved. Which are many. To not be fit for the kingdom of God is to not be chosen. Which means few find it.

      Which means it’s a heart and spirit that doesn’t hold back from being a disciple, or hold back from making disciples of others, but it’s a heart and spirit that finishes the race. Which by not turning back in finishing our own race, and not holding back in making disciples of all nations, we prove another thing. Which is to prove the two greatest commandments of all. By not holding back on our own journey of becoming a disciple, we prove that we love the Lord our God with all our heart and all our mind and all our soul (Matthew 22:37). And by, just like Paul, not holding back in sharing "all that we learn" by being a disciple of Christ in making disciples of all nations, we prove that we love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Which also means that by honouring the call to discipleship, and in so doing, honouring God our Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, we also fulfil "all the law and prophets" (Matthew 22:40).