I wanted to start a different thread but it has not been posted yet
Enter through the narrow gate:
As I start this thread I ask Gods blessing up each and every one that takes part in it.
My hope is that this thread will be a place where we can put aside the doctrine of men that make void the word of God and just study His word in the manor He instructed us.
Acts 17:10-12
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming
thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12.Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
The Berean's received the word with all readiness of mind: They were open to the word that Paul and Silas taught but they did not stop there they searched, they examine and investigate the scriptures;The Old Testament. To make sure that this new teaching was true.
Isaiah 28:9-13
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?
them that are weaned from the milk,
and drawn from the breasts.
10For precept
must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
and there a little:
11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12To whom he said, This
is the rest
wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this
is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
1st Corinthians 3:1-4
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal,
even as unto babes in Christ.
2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able
to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas
there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I
am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Hebrews 5:11-14
11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which
be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13For every one that useth milk
is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,
even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
What do all of these passages have in common? They all let us know that we need to study The Word of God, we need to see growth in our christian life and in our knowledge of Gods word. So lets be like the Berean's lets get into Gods word chapter by chapter and verse by verse so that we can come to a clearer understanding of Gods word, and grow as Christians.
Lets try and keep it respectful; backup what you say with scripture and remember that it is our Father who is in charge.
Lets start with some of Jesus basic teachings
Matthew 7:13&14
13.Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14.Because strait
is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Luke 13:22-30
22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all
ye workers of iniquity.
28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you
yourselves thrust out.
29And they shall come from the east, and
from the west, and from the north, and
from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Isaiah 35:8
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it
shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
therein.
New Testament Old Testament God word is the same. We do not just hap hazardously make our way into Heaven.
We will pick this back up with Luke 13.