09/06/2026
Hey, I don't normally send a sermon, but wanted to speak about an issue--so put up with me please, thanks.
A lot has been shared about Dolly Parton’s faith over the last few weeks since she passed away. She appears to have been a kind and generous person, and God seems to have been in her thoughts—but her public testimony is that she believed there were “many ways to God.” This is an error and if she believed this, then we must question her faith. ----One of the religious concepts alive and well in the time of Christ, and even today, was a concept that there are many ways to get to the kingdom of God (eternal life, Heaven). And that concept was challenged by the words that Jesus was the ‘only’ way. The people did not want to hear the truth. So, Jesus explains by using the example of 2 gates.
TWO PATHS—One goes through the DOOR—JESUS; one does not. (Food for thought)
John 10:9 “ I am the Door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him; I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 For ye are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of yourselves, It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast
Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter in at the strait gate. For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
WORD STUDY: (using Strong’s Concordance—and Strong’s Expanded Dictionary
STRIVE: (Strong’s 75) is not translated as “work”—you can never ‘work’ for eternal life. The Greek word was “agonizomai” and is where we get the word ‘agony’ from. It is also translated as ‘fight” and “laboring fervently”-- and denotes an intense emotional struggle or endeavor. Salvation does not happen by accident—but if you do not have any emotional agony or spiritual longing to know what the right way is—you won’t find Jesus--It just won’t be that important to you. The other way sounds better (easier).
STRAIT (Strong’s 4728 “stenos”) The word ‘stenos’ is never translated in KJV Bible as ‘narrow, narrowed, narrowly, nor straight, nor straightway. It’s related words: 4727-stenazo, means to make or be in straits: and is translated as “groanings” in Romans 8:26 (depicting those things that the Holy Spirit does in our soul which we cannot do for ourselves. (See whole chapter on work of the Holy Spirit Romans 8:1-26.) Without the Holy Spirit’s work, we cannot call on Jesus (the Door). If we do not have the Holy Spirit—we do not have Jesus. And it is the Holy Spirit testifying within our own soul with our Spirit that we ‘are’ the children of God that provides for assurance of salvation. If you don’t know that you belong to God, you will spend a whole lifetime trying to be ‘religious’—and at the end—none of that will matter because you were never trusted Jesus.
Many will seek to enter the gate, after it has been closed. After God closes the gate, you also have no access to the gate/door (Christ). The importance of your soul’s destination should be something you agonize about.
NOT ABLE: this is an interesting phrase, because we might simply look over it.. However, it is the reason that these religious people cannot enter.
They do not have the ability. The word for “ABLE” is the Greek word (Strong’s 2480 “Ischuo”). The word itself means to “have force, strength, or efficacy”. In this case, they are “not ischuo”. This word is where we get our word “ischemic” from and refers to a condition where the blood is stopped or restrained-as in ischemic stroke. Spiritually speaking—they do not have the Blood of Jesus applied to them—so they have no “power”—no efficacy-- to enter the kingdom.
The other path is not restricting in the way that there is only one door. It tends to be easier because it has been made so simple that the Holy Spirit is not involved at all. It’s all done by human power. The other path is described in Matthew 7:13 “Enter 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.”
WIDE: The first thing about the other gate is that it is “wide”. Greek word (4116 platus)—meaning spread out, flat, (4115) meaning to widen, make larger, enlarge. Related word (4111 Plasso) and (4112 plastos) . This is where we get the word “plastic, plasticity, and plate” from.
Platus is a primary verb which means to: “mold, shape, and fabricate.” In the Bible it is translated twice as the word “Form”. It also means “Fictitious, false, and feigned and fabricated.”
Of course this is not the right path—it is fabricated—it can be anything you want it to be. We used to call this ‘smorgasboard’ religion.
It is also ‘broad’ (Greek word 2149 euruchorus) It is listed as having the meaning of “good or large spacious place”—but there may be another element in the word. In Greek “eu” means good or well. This is where we get the gospel –the “Good news” , and “chorus” has meanings that had to do with religious teachings and dancing on platforms for performance in Greek society. Large spacious spaces for dancing and for the Chorus to act upon were built. Like “music to the ears” the Greek chorus was used to transmit religious doctrines (pagan) to the society at large. You might think the idea of the Broad way, is like Broadway in New York. , εὐρύχωρος is a versatile adjective meaning “broad” or “spacious,” used both in biblical and classical contexts to describe physical space or, metaphorically, the ease and openness of a path. Its etymology and forms reflect both literal and poetic uses in Greek. A Greek chorus is a group of performers in ancient Greek theater who comment collectively on the action of a play, providing moral, social, and emotional context for the audience. Cultural Significance---Beyond theatrical function, the chorus reflected the values, fears, and hopes of the polis (the city and its population) , serving as a collective voice of the community. Its combination of song, dance, and speech created a powerful spectacle that was both entertaining and morally instructive, reinforcing the connection between theater, religion, and civic life in ancient Greece. In short, Greek hymns are more than music—they are living traditions that embody the cultural, religious, and artistic soul of Greece for millennia...
MANY: enter into this door. The Greek word Jesus used is (4183 polus) means great, many and much.
EXAMINE THE DOOR you are going through. Jesus or not. The problem is that we might not know the difference because we are never challenged to examine our belief systems.
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