Luke 13:23–24
“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
When someone asked Jesus the question, “Lord, are there few that be saved?” the Lord did not respond by giving a number. Instead, He gave a warning and an instruction: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.”
The word strive comes from the Greek word agonizomai, which means to struggle, to contend, or to exert earnest effort. Jesus was teaching that entering the Kingdom of God is not something casual or careless. It requires sincerity of heart and a genuine response to God.
In another place Jesus used similar language when He said, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it” (Luke 16:16). Both passages present the same picture: the Kingdom of God is open and being preached, but those who enter must respond with sincerity and determination.
These words of Jesus stand in contrast to the common idea that entering the Kingdom is easy or requires little response from us. The Lord’s own teaching shows that it involves a sincere heart that is willing to pursue God and respond to His truth in obedience.
The invitation of the Gospel is open, but Jesus did not present the Kingdom as something to drift into. He called people to press toward it with sincerity, humility, and faith.
This is also a theme I explore more deeply in my book Faith Unto Salvation: Is It a Confession or an Experience?, where the Scriptures are examined to understand what the New Testament truly teaches about being Born-Again.