what makes the broad path broad

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

There are innumerable ways to do a thing wrong, but very few ways to do it right.  As God is the author of righteousness and the righteous judge, declaring to us what is and what is not, His way is the only way.  Not only has He declared the end from the beginning, so also has He determined what will be the only means to that end.  His Son has said to us, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” It is very plain and simple, but even then though, men (especially those only appearing righteous) twist His words to justify their own means, but this too is just another step on the broad path to destruction.  To be specific, some teach a doctrine of substitution to explain God’s means to eternal life; that Jesus died in your/my place to cover our sins for all time, past/present/future, and so if we accept the free gift, then we’re in; that’s that; once saved, always saved. Though it is true, a doctrine of eternal security, it is certainly not by that principle.  Men and organizations that teach such a doctrine of substitution teach a “cheap grace” that is not grace at all, but a counterfeit that serves as a license to sin.  Jesus death served as an exchange to reconcile (καταλλαγη) His brethren to God, to restore them to an upright state before a just God (Romans 5:11).  By His new life, His siblings are made alive through the given Holy Spirit that they would continue in new life eternally by practicing righteousness in following His example, even to a temporary death.

The will of God is not to get as many people “saved” as are willing before the time is up, for many will say to the Lord in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and dome many wonders in Your name?” And then He will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” The will of God is to conform as many as He has preordained according to His purpose to the image of His Son, Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-29).  The way of God to accomplish this was demonstrated to us by His Son that we would also do what He did, how He did it; that we would walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6).  This is consistent with the apostle’s doctrine which makes clear that “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17)  We are first to be conformed to the likeness of His death, suffering in this life for righteousness’ sake, and later to be conformed by Him to the glorious image of His incorruptible body at His coming (1 John 3:2-3).  For “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

Paul writes, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)  And also, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which learned, and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:17-18)  And again, “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us…and if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him that he may be ashamed.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14)  So why the emphasis on doctrine and practice?  Jesus says, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent me.  If anyone wills to do His will he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority.” And to them that are unwilling to follow His doctrine, “If God were your Father, you would love Me for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.  Why do you not understand my speech?  Because you are not able to listen to My word.  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do…He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear because you are not of God.” The doctrine that a person receives and obeys is a direct indication of whom they serve.  The apostles taught the same word which they received from Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23, for example), which He received from His Father.  Jesus said, “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.”

The broad path is broad because there are many ways to not be like Jesus.  The broad path consists of everything that the Lord has not said, including those things that are perversions of what he has instructed.  The narrow path is so very narrow as it consists of very specific, non-amendable commands that can only be obeyed in a very certain way.  The disciples of Jesus were regarded as followers of “The Way” (Acts 9:1-2) and were persecuted for their manner of conduct according to that “Way”.  When their persecutors went from town to town to search them out, they identified the disciples not by some different appearance wrought by a mystical substitutionary sacrifice, but by the doctrine they adhered to and practiced.  They were easily spotted because in their practice, they looked just like the One who was hated originally by the persecutors, Jesus.  Those who walked with Jesus also walked as He walked, saying the things that He said and doing the things He did, just as He did them.  A successful apprentice is not one who learns from his master and then innovates the master’s technique.  Rather, the apprentice who is judged successful is the one who learns to precisely imitate his master’s technique.  The way He lived is the way we must live if we ever expect to enter His kingdom.  He is the Way, not by substitution but by example.  We can expect to receive everlasting life by the word of promise if we continue to abide in Him as followers of the Way, keeping the commands He has delivered to us in the way He demonstrated that we ought to keep them (1 John 3:24).  That is the only way, the difficult path that leads to life.