A Sure Sign of True Salvation – Luke 13:22-24

One of the things we gain from the Bible is the ability to see that God is personal—He communicates with us and reveals Himself to us. The Bible is deeply intellectual, and through it, we are able to learn who God is. Often in Scripture, God—or someone else—asks a question and then answers it. For example, in Matthew 16:15–16, Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus frequently responded to questions or accusations from His enemies with questions of His own.

In today’s passage, we’re presented with a great question—one that comes from a disciple who is genuinely curious about salvation and desires to be saved himself: “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” Or, put another way: How many will be saved? How hard is it to be saved?

In Jesus’ day, there was a common belief that when the Messiah came, all Jews would be saved simply based on their ancestry. It was a form of spiritual universalism. That same attitude exists today—many people assume they’re saved simply because they grew up in church, were raised in a Christian home, or live a generally moral life. But we must ask ourselves: Are we saved? How many of us are actually saved?

When we look at history, the numbers appear to be few. In Noah’s day, only eight people were saved from the flood. In Sodom and Gomorrah, only Lot and his family escaped. Out of all his family and community, Abraham alone was called out by God. In Romans 9:6–8, Paul reminds us that not all physical descendants of Israel are truly Israel. Only a remnant will be saved. Jesus calls His followers a “little flock.” R.C. Sproul and Leonard Ravenhill have observed that many who profess faith are not actually saved.

At the time of this question, Jesus was traveling from city to village—from large crowds to small little villages. He was spreading the gospel wherever He could, no matter how few people were there, He traveled His own way to Jerusalem, the place where He would be crucified. He was proclaiming the gospel while fulfilling it.

It was on the way when Jesus was asked, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” Jesus doesn’t directly answer how many will be saved or the steps to be saved. Instead, He gives a command: “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” (Luke 13:24) This is not how to be saved but how to know who are saved.

The key word in Jesus’ response is not narrow door—it’s strive. Your attitude and effort determine which door you will enter. Without striving, you will naturally drift toward the wide and easy door. So the question becomes: Are you striving? What is Striving?

To strive means to devote serious energy or effort, to struggle, to labor. The language carries the idea of agonizing. Christians are called to strive from the beginning and continue striving throughout life. The Apostle Paul compares it to running a race for a prize—requiring great self-control and discipline. Jacob wrestled with God at the river Jabbok until he received a blessing. Jesus agonized on the cross until He declared, “It is finished.” Christians strive. We cannot lose this intention.

What do we strive For? This striving is not for our salvation, as if we could earn it. Salvation is by grace through faith. But we strive because we are saved. We pursue a goal.

1. Strive Against Sin and For Repentance – We sin every day, so we must repent every day. Striving means hating sin, fighting it without compromise, even at great personal cost.
   • Hebrews 12:4: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
   • Jesus said it is better to lose an eye or a hand than to be thrown into hell. That’s how seriously we are to fight sin.
2. Strive for God’s Glory – “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Whatever happens—loss or gain, health or sickness—we glorify God. The apostles sang hymns in prison. We honor God in all things because He is always present and worthy.
3. Strive to Seek God’s Kingdom – Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and He commands us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We are not just citizens—we are servants and heirs. This kingdom is our inheritance, our future home, and our greatest treasure.
4. Strive to Pray – Prayer is not natural, it requires discipline. In Colossians 4:12: Epaphras was one who “struggled in prayer” for others.Prayer is dependence, just as a slave cannot do anything without the command of their master. It is humility. It is crying out for help even when we are weak. (Psalm 107:6). We are the byproduct of our prayers. God works through prayer. His promises are available to us in prayer. Strive to pray.
5. Strive to Preach the Gospel – Why did God choose and save us? In heaven, we will still worship and fellowship. But evangelism is for now. It’s part of our mission on earth. We often fail to evangelize because we fear man and desire his approval. But Jesus strived to share the gospel, and so must we.

How Do We Strive?

• Self-Denial – Matthew 16:24: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” George Müller said he had to die to himself, to the world, and to the opinions of others. In Matthew 16:22, Peter tried to rebuke Jesus because of his own desires and ideas. But self-denial is the way of Jesus.
• Be Born Again – Self-denial is impossible unless we are born again. We cannot truly strive unless we have new life. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
• Be Filled with the Holy Spirit – 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says we are saved through sanctification by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes Jesus real to us. He turns knowledge into obedience and empowers us to reveal Jesus to the world. (Acts 4:13)
• Have Real Saving Faith – We are saved by faith alone. But real faith always strives. It doesn’t need anything else—money, comfort, blessings—because Jesus is the treasure. True faith is more precious than diamonds. Don’t be like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:20, who walked away from salvation for his wealth. Strive to have the kind of faith that sees Jesus as the only treasure worth having.

What Hinders Our Striving? Worldliness. 1 John 2:16 warns that if we live by the world’s values, we are not striving. You can’t serve two masters. Striving for heaven and the world leads to ruin.

What Is the Narrow Door? The narrow door is difficult. Don’t believe the lie that the Christian life is easy. Jesus said we must count the cost. From the very beginning, the path of following Jesus is a path of the cross. The narrow door also means suffering. Jesus, though perfect, suffered. We should expect the same. Acts 14:22: “Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ whole life was one of striving and suffering. His purpose was to suffer and die for the lost. He is the door of the sheep. Matthew 11:12: “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” This is the holy war. Those who strive against sin and for righteousness will take the kingdom.

Are You Striving? This is not a call to works-based righteousness. It is a call to take your salvation seriously. To examine yourself. To press on. To run the race with endurance. Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” Will you strive? Will you repent daily, glorify God in all things, seek His kingdom, pray persistently, and proclaim His gospel? Will you take up your cross and follow Him? The door is narrow. The way is hard. But if you strive then you have true salvation in Jesus Christ and eternal life.