Matthew 7:13-14
¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Jesus is the strait gate. There is no salvation without Jesus, and no one will enter heaven without Jesus. This is the simple fact of the Gospel. We are not saved by works, if that were even possible, then Jesus would not have needed to lay down his life, so we could be saved. Where some get it wrong however is in this next bit… you must continue in Jesus to be saved. Now, some will say that if we do anything to hold onto our salvation through Jesus, that constitutes “works”. This is a false conclusion. Let’s look at the following verses.

Matthew 7:15-29
¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.|
¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

From this verse right here, you can see that receiving Jesus is more than just a prayer… and it involves an action on your part. You have to do the will of the Father in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

At this point in time in the scripture, Jesus is judging people. He has been revealed as the SON OF GOD, JESUS the SAVIOR….LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS. No matter how much of a con artist a person is on this earth and no matter how much manipulation and gaslighting they have gotten away with, I doubt anyone will be so bold as to look the Savior Jesus in his eye and lie about their works….so these people who claim to have given prophecies in Jesus name, cast out devils in Jesus name and done good works in Jesus name , all actually believe they have done these things. And are worthy of heaven. So these people here are all professing CHRISTIANS… and yet, look what Jesus tells them.

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I know the Lord is merciful and because he is, I know he tried their entire lives to get them to come to repentance and truly connect with Jesus and building an intimate relationship ( gathering oil for their Lamps). This is what it’s going to take to actually be saved. Receiving Jesus is not some prayer ritual a person says once. Receiving Jesus is RECEIVING HIS LIFE INSIDE OF YOU….. and that means you surrender your life to him and follow him. If you never read the bible or pray… do you really even love the Lord? When I fell in love with my husband I could not get enough of talking to him and learning all about him… and as our relationship grew my love for him guided me to live my life to complement his… I became his helpmate, we became one. Becoming one is marriage. (Genesis 2:18) Looking at what Jesus is called in Matthew 25:1-13.
¹Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
—–The 5 wise virgins took the time to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus… so when he came back, he knew them and they were taken into the marriage. The 5 foolish virgins, virgins signify Christians, never developed the oil of intimacy. They knew of him, but they didn’t know him. The bridegroom is looking for the ones who love him enough to really know him…. to know his nature….and that endeavor to live a life that honors him as the bridegroom. The foolish virgins were not committed to this level of intimacy. Here is the thing….2 Timothy 2:15 ¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
—We are always to be on guard against the loss of intimacy, against being taken out by false teachers, being taken out by things that seek to replace sound doctrine or anything that takes God’s time away.

²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

There is a time of testing and trials coming that will put everyone’s faith to the test… unless you are in the Lord… and have a deep relationship, you will not make it…you are going to need that oil of intimacy to endure the night while waiting on the Bridegroom.

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
²⁸ And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
²⁹ For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.