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How do you reconcile John 3:16 with Matthew 7:13-14?
John 3:16
English Standard Version
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 7:13-14
English Standard Version
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Anti-individualistic, the Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State...
- Benito Mussolini
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I see no need to reconcile either, neither steps on the other.
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One says believe and you're "in"! The other seems to imply that belief isn't enough, that we must travel the "narrow" path.
Anti-individualistic, the Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State...
- Benito Mussolini
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The NT in Romans clearly shows that faith in Gods extended grace and mercy is the key that unlocks restored relationship with God. James, also is clear, as are other passages, that faith without works is dead. Works do not save you, can not save you, but works are a clear indicator and result of your faith.
So, John 3:16 is correct, whosoever believes on Jesus Christ will be saved. The thief on the cross had no time for works with his “deathbed confessionâ€, but was with Christ that day in heaven……yet as Matthew teaches, once one places belief/faith in Christ, there is a necessity of change. Of different result….which is where the works come in. BECAUSE OF Gods working of grace in my life, because of my faith linking with that grace, my life MuST be different. A different path……and as a result, many turn back from the faith. Because as Christ said in the gospels, there is a price for that path.
No longer GroupThink 'woke'. but it was fun while it lasted.
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AB is right on here.
Essentially the two are the same. In John 3 in context it speaks of Christâ€s Crucifixion in verses 14-15
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.â€
â€â€John‬ â€3:14-15‬ â€ESV‬‬
Matthew 7 is an allegory for a walk of Faith in Christ.
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Thanks
Anti-individualistic, the Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State...
- Benito Mussolini