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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.

Luke 16:16

Jesus made a statement that challenges the casual approach many people have toward the things of God.

“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

Notice the wording the Lord used. He did not say the Kingdom would be entered casually or by simple agreement. He said that men must press into it.

The word “press” speaks of effort, determination, and desire. It paints the picture of someone who sees something valuable ahead of them and refuses to remain where they are.

The Words of Jesus Challenge Casual Belief

In our modern religious culture, many have been taught that salvation requires little more than confession — a simple verbal acknowledgement of belief. Yet when we read the words of Jesus, we see a very different picture.

The Pursuit of the Kingdom

In fact, the Lord spoke often about seeking, knocking, striving, and entering in. These words therefore describe an active pursuit of God.

This is why the message of the Gospel always carries with it a call to transformation.

As a result, when a person truly begins to seek the Kingdom of God, something begins to happen within them.. Their heart changes. Their desires begin to shift. What once satisfied them no longer does. They begin to hunger for righteousness and truth.

This pressing is not about human effort earning salvation. Rather, it is the response of a heart that has seen the value of the Kingdom.

Jesus illustrated this in another place when He spoke of a man who found treasure hidden in a field. When the man realized the value of what he had discovered, he sold everything he had in order to obtain that field.

That is what happens when someone truly sees the Kingdom of God.

The question we must each ask ourselves is simple:

A Question for Our Hearts

How deeply do we desire the Kingdom of God?

Is our pursuit of God something casual and occasional? Or have we begun to press toward Him with a sincere heart?

“The words of Jesus remind us that the Kingdom is not something we drift into. It is something we pursue with faith, humility, purpose, and a heart that longs for truth.”

And the beautiful promise of Scripture is that those who truly seek Him will not seek in vain.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” — Matthew 5:6

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Jesus said the Kingdom of God must be pressed into. What did He mean by pressing into the Kingdom of God?

Read more Scripture insights

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In many circles today, salvation is often reduced to a moment.

A prayer prayed.
A hand raised.
A confession spoken.

But is that how Scripture presents the new birth?

This is not a question meant to criticize sincere believers. It is a question meant to bring clarity. Because if we misunderstand salvation, we misunderstand the very foundation of the Christian life.

Jesus did not tell Nicodemus, “You must confess correctly.”
He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

A birth is not merely a statement. It is a transformation.

When Jesus spoke of being born again, He described something spiritual, inward, and life-altering. Birth implies beginning. It implies change. It implies that something new has come into existence that was not there before.

Yet modern language sometimes reduces salvation to a transaction — a moment of verbal acknowledgment — rather than a supernatural work of God within the heart, and within our life.

In Acts 2:38, Peter did not present salvation as a simple formula. He declared, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Repentance is not mere regret.
Baptism is not symbolic ritual alone.
Receiving the Holy Ghost is not emotional excitement.

Each of these speaks of participation in a transforming work of God.

The early Church did not preach casual conversion. They preached new life.

This does not mean that words are unimportant. Confession matters. Faith must be expressed. Scripture tells us that we confess with the mouth and believe in the heart (Romans 10:9–10).

But confession without transformation leaves something incomplete.

If a man claims to be born again yet remains untouched inwardly — unchanged in desire, unchanged in direction, unchanged in allegiance, and unchanged in lifestyle — should we not carefully examine what Scripture means by new birth?

Salvation is not behavior modification.
It is not moral improvement.
It is not religious affiliation.

It is like uncovering a well in dry ground. The digging does not create the water — it simply removes what blocks it. When the living water flows, it refreshes the weary heart in a way no human effort ever could.

When a person is truly born again, something shifts. The heart is awakened. The conscience is stirred. The love of sin is challenged. Our love for Christ begins to grow.

The Christian life is not built upon a sentence spoken once. It is built upon a life made new.

This gentle reminder is not meant to unsettle sincere believers, but to encourage deeper reflection. The foundation of our faith must be strong. If it is shallow, the structure built upon it will struggle.

Salvation, according to Scripture, is not less than confession. But it is certainly more.

It is transformation.

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This topic is explored further in Faith Unto Salvation.
Learn more at AnchorOfHopePublication.com.

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