When someone asked Jesus if there would be many who are saved, He did not answer the question directly but said: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Luke 13:24. From this we understand that those who are saved are the ones who have gone in through the narrow gate.
But what is this narrow gate? It is to give up everything of this world and to hate my own life (my own will) in this world. We can read about this in Luke 14:26-33 and John 12:25.
False prophets and the wide gate
Jesus also speaks about this narrow gate in Matthew 7:13-14. There He speaks of two gates and two ways: The narrow gate and the difficult way that leads to life, and the wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction. Many believe that the broad way is the world, and that those who walk upon it are unbelievers. But it is clear that Jesus is talking to people who are seeking to enter the kingdom of Heaven: “Go in through the narrow gate,” He says in Matthew 7:13 (CEB). And in verse 15 He warns us to watch out for false prophets.
The false prophets invite people to go in through the wide gate, where you don’t need to give up everything to be saved. They want you to believe that it is possible to serve both God and mammon (which is money, riches), but Jesus makes it very clear that this is not possible (Matthew 6:24), and so the end is destruction.
We need to take Jesus’ warning about false prophets seriously to heart, for the fact is that there have always been many false prophets, and only few true prophets. When king Jehoshaphat wanted to know if they should go to battle or not, there were 400 false prophets and only one true prophet (2 Chronicles 18).
And Paul testified, “A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God's message. But we are God's sincere messengers.” 2 Corinthians 2:17 (CEV.) These people are seeking their own benefit, so it is important for them to make the gate wide and the way broad so they can get as many people as possible into their assemblies and churches.
Be saved by going in through the narrow gate
I must make every effort to go in through the narrow gate, because according to my human nature I would like to keep my life, do my own will, in this world and still be a Christian. I must make every effort to keep Jesus’ commandments. When I do that, I see how corrupt my human nature is that makes it impossible for me to keep Jesus’ commandments; and then I start hating it, then I “hate my own life”.
When I have gone in through the narrow gate, there is only one thing I want and that is do God’s will and to please Him. I hate my own life and will in this world, and I am finished with this world. It has nothing to offer me anymore and I want nothing of it.
Then I can go forward on the narrow way and say together with Paul: “The one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” Philippians 3:13-14 (GNT). When I have this attitude of mind, then I can be sure that I am saved.
