By Shane Kastler
When this present world is over, will there be many who are saved? Or will there be few? Of course most people assume that they will be saved, yet the Bible teaches that many are deceived. Rather than asking people their opinion of salvation, we should search the Scriptures and see what they say.
Jesus was once asked this question. Here is the account: “And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.’” (Luke 13:22-24 NASB) Jesus teaches that salvation is only attained by entering through the “narrow door.” In other words, salvation is not universal, it is exclusive. Only those who are “born again” by the Spirit (John 3:3) and submit to Christ in repentant faith will be saved. And few truly do that. Salvation is by grace, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:9-10), in Christ alone. He is the only way to salvation. All other roads lead to eternal misery.
Yet, even though “few” are saved in one sense; it is also true that “multitudes” will be saved in another sense. From the perspective of the current world population, “few” are saved. But over the course of the entire history of man, many are saved. The book of Revelation says: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (Revelation 7:9-10)
So are there “few” who are saved, or are there “multitudes?” It depends on what you are comparing things to. Out of the five billion people currently on the planet, few are saved. If you are looking at the sheer number of the redeemed over the course of human history, there are many. In either regard, are you a part of this group?
Salvation comes by Christ alone. He declared himself to be, “The way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Trust in Christ and be a member of the “few” that are saved, who are also a part of a multitude no man can count.
Comments