The Narrow Way^(A)

^13 (B)“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. ^14 [a]Because narrow is the gate and ^[b]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits^(C)

^15 (D)“Beware of false prophets, ^(E)who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ^16 (F)You will know them by their fruits. ^(G)Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, ^(H)every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ^19 (I)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

I Never Knew You^(J)

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ^(K)‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who ^(L)does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we ^(M)not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

¹⁷ For the time has come ^(A)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, ^(B)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

9 I ^(A)tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, ^2 (B)that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. ³ For ^(C)I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my ^[a]countrymen according to the flesh, ⁴ who are Israelites, ^(D)to whom pertain the adoption, ^(E)the glory, ^(F)the covenants, ^(G)the giving of the law, ^(H)the service of God, and ^(I)the promises; ^5 (J)of whom are the fathers and from ^(K)whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, ^(L)who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Israel’s Rejection and God’s Purpose^(M)

^6 (N)But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For ^(O)they are not all Israel who are of Israel, ^7 (P)nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ^(Q)“In Isaac your seed shall be called.” ⁸ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but ^(R)the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

²⁷ Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:

⁴ But what does the divine response say to him? ^(A)“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ^5 (B)Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

The Wickedness of Judah

Light Bearers

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(A)as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, ^(B)work out your own salvation with ^(C)fear and trembling; ¹³ for ^(D)it is God who works in you both to will and to do ^(E)for His good pleasure.