30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 13 22-30 The narrow door 05 Perfected by the Spirit and not by the flesh
📖 Luke 13:22-30
18Oct19 - *Perfected by the Spirit and not by the flesh* - _Luke 13:22-30_ - Bible reading: _Galatians 3:1-3_
_Luke 13:23-24 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, (24) “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able._
We have seen two preparations so far for us to enter into His kingdom, for many will seek to enter but will not be able. Trusting God and not the material is the first preparation and faith in Jesus demonstrated by doing His will, is the second preparation.
Let us now look at the third preparation. We see another parable that Jesus taught in Matthew 22. A king had fixed the wedding of his son and sent out invitations to the guests. Those invited were not willing to come, made light of the invitation and also spitefully killed the servants of the king, who had been sent to invite them. The king was furious and destroyed them. He then sent out his servants to invite all, both good and bad for the wedding. The king came to meet the guests and there was this man, who had not worn a wedding garment. The king commanded that he be thrown into outer darkness.
Then the Lord gave the principle, _Matthew 22: 14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."_ What do we learn here?
Yesterday, we saw that the Jews were the first to be invited but largely, they chose not to follow God. It is then that the invitation was given to us, Gentiles, to come to the marriage of God’s Son. The marriage of the Son with the church is the fulfillment and fullness of God’s kingdom.
What is the wedding garment all about? We entered into a relationship with Jesus by faith through His Spirit. Now that we have entered in, we have to continue to live by faith in Jesus and by the enablement of His Spirit. We cannot now seek to please God by the flesh, by our own effort. This is what many of us Christians are trying to do. We entered in by faith and by the enablement of His Spirit but now we are trying to please God by the flesh. If we do so, we will be thrown out. This is why many are called but few are chosen.
Are you trying to please God by you own sincere effort? Please be certain, by the flesh, we cannot please God.
_Romans 8:7-11 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you._
This was the problem of the Galatian Christians. _Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? (2) This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?_
*Thought to ponder*