2 Corinthians 11:2; For I Am Jealous Over You with Godly Jealousy
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Jesus warned His disciples to follow Him and Him only in Matthew 7:13-19 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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
“Enter the Strait Gate” is God’s call to men throughout the ages to a life with God. The word “strait” means narrow, restrictive, expressing the difficulty to enter. What is the strait gate? It is the gate of salvation. It is the gate of conversion and regeneration. This entrance through the strait gate describes the beginning of this blessed life.
As an illustration of life in the broadway, Jesus gives an account, found in Luke 16, of a certain rich man. This rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen. He fared sumptuously every day of his life. But he did not know Christ, he was an unbeliever. He walked through the wide gate and trod the broadway. When he died, the Bible recorded that he was buried. He ended up in hell from where he lifted his eyes and cried for mercy that he might receive some water to cool his tongue because he was tormented by the flames of hellfire and there was no escape for him. This passage tells us the reality of hell and that there is a gulf fixed between heaven and hell and death is the separation. This is the end destruction that began deceptively at the wide gate and from which led into the broadway.
The Apostle Paul is God’s messenger to point men and women to salvation in Jesus Christ. Christ is the Husband and the believers in the church of Christ, the bride, a chaste virgin. He will guard the bride to keep her pure and unadulterated by evil men who sought to defile her by falsehoods. He guards the Corinth believers with godly jealousy, a holy zeal, to faithfulness. He identifies the corrupt tree by the evidence of evil fruit and a good tree by good fruit.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward iswith me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Amen.