NORTH YORK CHURCH OF CHRIST

Pastor Roger Marcos
August 13, 2017
Delivered at North York Church of Christ

Introduction:

The Bible Says Our Time will Be like Noah and Lot's Time

According to the story in the Bible, God sent two angels to Sodom to warn the people of His plan to destroy the city, but instead of accepting the warning, the citizens tried to attack the angels. Lot protected them, and they spent the night with him and his family.

The next morning, they hurried Lot and his family out of the city just before it was destroyed. Again, we see that God gave a warning and provided a way of escape, but the people refused to accept it. Because of Lot’s relationship to Abraham, the angels took him and his family out of the city almost against their will.

The lesson on the story of the two Cities BY GIVNG YOU A SIMPLE TEST of Bible Knowledge. True or False. Here, Do you think Abraham prayed for the destruction of the two City?

The answer, of course, is false. Abraham prayed that God would spare Sodom. The Bible says that Abraham approached God and said, “‘Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing-to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ The Lord said, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake’ ” Genesis 18:23-26

Imagine, just one family saved when God burn, and destroyed the two Cities. The godly righteous man was Lot’s and his two daughter.-His wife was not counted.

The question: Lord Are There Few Who Are Saved?

In the days of Noah there were only eight people saved in the whole world and they were all from Noah's family. Only one person, Noah was recorded as being a godly person. The Bible says that it will be similar in our time to the days of Noah and Lot.

"Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. ²⁷ They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. ²⁸ Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded ²⁹ But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. ³⁰ Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." This verse may be also referring to the percentage of people saved. If so, almost all of the people who think that they are Christians are in for a shock.

Text: “Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’” “And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able’” Lk. 13:23-24.

This solemn question will be alarming to anyone! Are there Few to Be Save?

When the preceding question was asked of Christ by His disciples, He answered with what has become one of the most sobering warnings found in the Bible. He said: ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able’”

Strive = “Agonize” manifesting, suffering, or characterized by great physical or mental pain.

Strive: Make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. To try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties:

To Struggle With Difficulties and Dangers.

1 Cor. 9:25- Competes-²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Col. 4:12- laboring fervently. READ

Many Seek to Enter But Are Not Able. “And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able’

Apostle Paul said:

"EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Cor. 13:5

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. ²⁷ They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

“When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from. Luke 13:25

Fellow Brethren, WE must strive because of the limited time to enter.

Those who wait too long are not known by the Lord.

There will be a time when no one can enter. We need to appreciate. As of today, there is still time to enter but we cannot guarantee beyond the present!

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’”

²⁶Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’²⁷ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU WORKERS OF INIQUITY. Luke 13:26-27

How Many Are Here But Not Here? There’s a saying physically presence but mentally absence. Fellow brethren, we are here during the worship but where are we? When the welcome song are going on where are You?

• Striving “to Know Him”. Phil. 3:10
• “Fellowship” and an Obedient Member of His body.

Mk. 3:33-35 But he answered them, saying, WHO IS MY MOTHER, OR MY BROTHERS? 34 He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him and said, HEREARE MY MOTHER; OR MY BROTHERS? 35For whoever does the Will of God, is my brother, and my sister and mother?

Will we be of those who attend off and on but never commit to the work of the Lord? Jesus recognizes no idle acquaintances we are either his brother and sister or we are strangers Mk. 3:33-35 He will not recognize anything less than an obedient relationship.

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’”

²⁷“Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ ²⁸There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out” Lk. 13:27-28

“Are There Few Who Are Saved?” Answer Yes!

There Were Few Saved: “who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” 1 Pet. 3:20

Why Will There Be Few Saved?

• Because Many Do Not Believe. Lk. 8:11, 12- those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then THE DEVIL COMES AND TAKE AWAY THE WORD OUT OF THEIR HEARTS, LEST THEY SHOULD BELIEVE AND BE SAVED.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is.” Heb. 11:6

• Because Many Do Not Diligently Seek Him.

“.and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” Heb. 11:6

1. They Do Not Seek Him Whole Heartedly. Jer. 29:13And you will Seek Me, and find Me, When you search for Me With All Your Heart.
2. Because Many Do Not Remain Faithful. Rev. 2:10

Conclusion:

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16

To Be Saved

• Seek the Lord whole heartedly.
• Be A Part of the original church which Jesus built. (JERUSALEM)
• Obey the Pure Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Remain faithful.

Despite the lure of worldliness, the trial of temptation and the threat of persecution.

¹³ "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.
¹⁴ "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

IF WE ARE to die today, are WE SURE WE would go to Heaven? The Bible says YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).