Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:23-24 KJV)

Have you ever considered how seldom Jesus actually answered people’s questions? On the suface, at least, he seemed not to. Instead, Jesus answered people according to the proverb, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly; answer a fool according to his folly.” This tells us something about this particular question, doesn’t it? What business is it of ours concerning who shall be saved? Salvation in general is the LORD’s business, not ours, and salvation in particular, that is, the salvation of Joe Blow is between the LORD and Joe Blow. Perhaps we spend too much time considering whether or not some, many, or all shall be saved. Each of us should be concerned about our own salvation.

 Jesus then continues answering the unnamed man, this time in parable:

When 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: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There 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. And 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. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. (Luke 13:25-30 KJV)

Many believe they can act and do as they please after they believe in Jesus.  Afterall, Jesus has forgiven their sins, hasn’t he?  They believe they are “once saved, always saved.”  Others believe that all men are saved and nothing special is really required of them.  Still others believe that God consigns the masses to eternal hell and that only the select few of their little club (church) is saved.  But, Jesus tells us to be concerned about ourselves.  Each one of us must strive to enter through the narrow gate.

Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his teachings: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:13-29 KJ2000)

Who, then, shall be saved?  Only he who does the will of Jesus, the Father in heaven.