The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
February 12, 2006
In
This Issue:
Are
There Few Who Are Saved?
by
Steve Klein
But
A Faithful Man Who Can Find?
by
C. R. Sutton
"Are There Few Who are Saved?"
And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and
journeying toward Jerusalem.
Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" (Luke
13:22-23).
There are not many people in this world who could give the correct answer to the question Jesus was asked on this occasion. I doubt that very many know the answer Jesus gave, and many of those who know it won't accept it.
Of course, Jesus knew the right answer to the question. After all, He is not only the Savior, He is also the Judge who will sit on His throne and determine who will be saved and who will be lost (Matthew 25:31-33). So, He is best qualified to answer whether or not there are few who are saved.
What was His answer? He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able" (Luke 13:24). Elsewhere He said, "narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14). And on more than one occasion He declared that "many are called but few are chosen" (Matthew 20:16; 22:14). Clearly, few will be saved.
How many does it take to make up "a few"? In Noah's day, "a few, that is, eight souls, were save through water" (1 Peter 3:20). That's not many. It's not most. It's certainly not all.
It is false comfort to go through life believing that everyone we know -- all our friends, neighbors and relatives and all of their friends, neighbors and relatives, along with our favorite celebrities, politicians and football coaches -- will be saved. We wish they would be. So does God. He "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4). But it is not going to happen.
Accepting the fact that there are few who are saved will help us in a couple of important ways.
-
First, we will make a better effort to be among the few who are saved. Jesus commanded us to strive to enter through the narrow gate. When we see just how narrow it is, and perceive just how few will find it, we will give even more diligence to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10).
- Second, we will be more fervent in persuading others to obey the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 5:11 the apostle Paul said, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." If few are saved, many are lost. Only the gospel can save them. We must share it!
-- Steve Klein
Solomon said: "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6).
It seems that some people think that nearly all men are faithful while others think that no man is faithful. Although Solomon declared that most men will proclaim their own good, he suggests, by asking the question ("But a faithful man who can find"), that there are not many faithful men.
Similarly, another Proverb (31:10) says: "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." Likewise, this proverb suggests that there are not many virtuous women.
There are some virtuous women and there are some faithful men, but relatively speaking, there are few. Please consider the following:
I. Some examples of faithful men.
A. Abraham - In Galatians 3:9, Paul said, "So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Abraham was a man of faith and prompt obedience. (See Hebrews 11:8-10; 11:17-19).
B. Moses - Speaking to Aaron and Miriam, the Lord said: "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house" (Num. 12:7). Also see Heb. 3:2 & 11:24-26.
C. David - In I Samuel 22:14, we read: "And Ahimelech answered the king and said, 'And who is so faithful among thy servants as David&ldots;?'" He was a man after God's own heart according to Paul in Acts 13:22.
D. Hananiah - We learn from Nehemiah 7:2 that "he was a faithful man and feared God above many."
E. Daniel - We learn from Daniel 6:4 that Daniel was faithful.
F. Timothy - Paul tells us in I Corinthians 4:17 that Timothy was "faithful in the Lord."
G. Tychicus - In Ephesians 6:21, he is spoken of as a "faithful minister in the Lord."
H. Epaphras - In Colossian 1:7, he is spoken of as a "faithful minister of Christ."
I. Onesimus - He was "a faithful and beloved brother" (Col. 4:9).
J. Antipas - We learn from Revelation 2:13 that Antipas was "a faithful martyr."
The afore mentioned men are spoken of as being righteous. Other were righteous that are not specifically mentioned as such.
II. Some characteristics of faithful men (in addition to the characteristics mentioned in connection with the men listed above). Faithful men:
A. Will not lie - Proverbs 14:5 says: "A faithful witness will not lie." You can depend upon a faithful man to tell the truth. He will not lie!
B. Will teach others - Paul said to Timothy: "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Tim. 2:2). NOTE: Men who are faithful to the Lord will endeavor to teach others the truth.
C. Will be faithful in small things - Luke 16:10 says: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much&ldots;" (Also read Matt. 25:21, 23; III John 5).
D. Will abound with blessings - Solomon said: "A faithful man shall abound with blessings&ldots;" (Proverbs 28:20). In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things (food, drink, clothing - CRS) shall be added unto you."
To be a Christian and faithfully serve the Lord, one must have enough faith in God to obey His Word. (See James 2:14-26; Heb. 5:9; Rev. 2:10).
Are you a faithful man (or woman)? If you are not, you can be. Do you want to be a faithful person? If so, begin today to learn and obey!
C. R. Sutton
Via The Instructor, Volume 37, Number 4