“Lord, are only a few be saved?” (Luke 13:23). It is a very interesting questions that Jesus Christ did not answer. Instead, He urged his listeners to strive to “enter by the narrow gate” and He pointed out that some, who took their salvation for granted, would not be saved, because they were “workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27).
While the question of eternal salvation is such a vital concern of everyone, still, perhaps out of respect for the individual conscience, Christ did not want to make any explicit answer to the question.
He wanted to channel that curiosity of the questioner to something more practical.
It is idle to know whether many or few will be saved. The important thing is that you try to make sure of your salvation—after all, being such a personal matter, no one can substitute for you in your place.
What Jesus is telling us is that we should not take salvation for granted—it is an important matter, and it is no easy one.
“Enter the narrow gate.” In another passage, He elaborates, “For wise is the way that leads to destruction.”
The Christian life has often been compared to a journey. When we are going to a certain destination, obviously the right road is fewer than the wrong ones.
To live a Christian life and, therefore, achieve our eternal salvation, we need to follow the road set out for us by the fulfilment of our ordinary Christian duties.
At the same time, there is no denying that along the way, we may be tempted by many other things, and then be deviated from our path.
How do we know if we are on the right path? How do we know if we are on the way to salvation?
Martin Luther enunciated the principle that salvation comes with faith alone. I am saved because I believe in Jesus Christ, full stop.
Modern day fundamentalists express this by the phrase: “Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.” Then you know that you are saved.
With all respect for that position, we must nevertheless say that Jesus’s teaching does not agree with that. Faith alone is not enough. It has to be accompanied by works.
Faith without works is not authentic. Accepting Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Saviour needs to be accompanied by an effective change in one’s life and in one’s self.
The gospel of today points out how some people who had “accepted” Christ in their midst, did not achieve salvation. Although Christ was present, their deeds did not correspond with this presence. They were cast out as “workers of iniquity,” their works continued to be evil in spite of Christ’s presence.
Let us, therefore, be concerned for our eternal salvation. And let us work for this salvation by accepting Christ into our lives and transforming our lives by acting and working according to Christ’s teachings.