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Luke 13:23-30
Someone asked him,“ Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied,“ Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading,‘ Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply,‘ I don’t know you or where you come from.’Then you will say,‘ But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’And he will reply,‘ I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’“ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.And people will come from all over the world— from east and west, north and south— to take their places in the Kingdom of God.And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”
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Matthew 22:14
“ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
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Mark 8:34
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,“ If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
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Romans 12:2
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
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Isaiah 35:8
And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.
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Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to his disciples,“ If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
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Isaiah 30:21
Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say,“ This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
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Proverbs 8:20
I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.
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John 15:18-20
“ If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.Do you remember what I told you?‘ A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
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John 16:33
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
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Acts 14:22
where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
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Ephesians 2:2-3
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil— the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
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Romans 11:5-6
It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace— his undeserved kindness in choosing them.And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is— free and undeserved.
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Matthew 25:1-12
“ Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.“ At midnight they were roused by the shout,‘ Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’“ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.Then the five foolish ones asked the others,‘ Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’“ But the others replied,‘ We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’“ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling,‘ Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’“ But he called back,‘ Believe me, I don’t know you!’
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Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the Lord says:“ Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply,‘ No, that’s not the road we want!’
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Romans 9:27-29
And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,“ Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved.For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth quickly and with finality.”And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:“ If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of our children, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”
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1 Peter 3 20-1 Peter 3 21
those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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1 Thessalonians 3 2-1 Thessalonians 3 5
and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come— and they did, as you well know.That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
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Isaiah 57:14
God says,“ Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.”
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Luke 12:32
“ So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
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Proverbs 4:26-27
Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
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John 16:2
For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.
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Matthew 20:16
“ So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
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Romans 9:32
Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.