When somebody dies people usually say "They're in a better place". But, are they? Matthew 7:14 says ... strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.
It doesn't say WIDE is the gate and MANY people find it. It says the way to salvation is narrow. It says FEW people find it. Most people think salvation is something they do or a belief in somebody else... or a combination something they do AND a belief in Jesus. Salvation is just faith in Jesus.
The world's population is about 7.9 billion people. About 2/3 or 5.25 billion people are non-Christians. That's the majority of the world going to hell right now. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Atheists, etc... all going to hell.
That leaves about 2.65 billion people who say they are Christians... Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Orthodox, etc. Is 2.65 billion people a 'FEW' people? No. Why is that?
The bible says Few there be that find it. But, it also says not every one that says to me Lord, Lord will make it into heaven. It further says MANY will say Lord, Lord did we not do many wonderful WORKS in THY name and Jesus will say unto them Depart from Me for I NEVER knew you.
FEW find it and MANY will be told to Depart from Me.
You may say, well the few that find it are the 2.65 billion Christians. No. Non-Christians won't be the ones saying Lord, Lord did we not do many wonderful works in THY name? It's the 'Christians' who say WE did many wonderful works in THY name who will be told to depart.
The MANY who are told to depart are the one's who THINK they are saved. That's the sad reality. Who are these people? Well, Matthew tells us. It is the ones who prophesied, the one's who cast out devils, the one's who did many wonderful WORKS all in the name of Jesus thinking they did something that helped get themselves saved.
Who thinks you need works to be saved? Catholics, Protestants, Calvinists, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Orthodox and many more, including Baptists. There used to be a time when I would say Southern Baptists do not believe you need to have works to be saved. That time has come and gone. Not only is the Southern Baptist Convention now Calvinists but, the SBC Statement of Faith now states teaches a works based salvation...
Article IV Salvation
A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.
Anytime you see the words: Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. You know you have a Calvinist.
Notice how they say Regeneration first? That is also Calvinism. They are saying that God must first choose you & make you elect then he must regenerate you, make your soul alive, quicken your spirit, and then give you irresistible grace so you have no choice but to CHOOSE to believe in Jesus. They are saying you must do the WORKS of repenting of your sins, turn from your evil ways towards God, to be saved.
The majority of Southern Baptists now qualify for Matthew 7 and will be standing before Jesus saying... Lord, Lord... did we not do many wonderful works... like repenting of our sins to be saved?
That leads me to one final question... How many people will be alive and gathered up when Jesus returns?
We already know at least 5.25 billion people will be left behind. But, the majority of the 2.65 billion 'Christians' will left behind as well. Why do I say that? Most 'Christians' today believe their works play some part in their salvation. Works do not contribute to your salvation at all.
Remember Noah and the flood? Nobody knows what the population of the earth was back then but, we do know God saved only 8 people. That means if the population was 250,000 then God destroyed 249,992 people. At best God only saved 0.004% of the world. What is 0.004% of 7.9 billion people? About 300,000 people. So, Yes, it is entirely possible that only 300,000 believers will be alive when Jesus returns... and 7,899,700,000 will be left behind to face God's wrath.
BUT... lots of people will be killed during the Tribulation and Great Tribulation. So, that means fewer than 300,000 believers & fewer than 7,899,700 unbelievers could be left on earth when Jesus returns.
Let me reword the SBC Statement of Faith and fix their definition of Salvation.
Article IV Salvation
A good tree produces good fruit. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
The Gospel is:
1. Christ died for our sins
2. Christ was buried
3. Christ rose again on the third day
For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. WHOSOEVER believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. You are saved by Grace through Faith and there's nothing you can do to help save yourself. You are NOT saved by works otherwise you would have something to boast about before Jesus.
Call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.
Case closed.
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