Greetings in the name of our Risen Savior Jesus Christ!
My beloved brethren in Christ, I write to you to remind you of this promise that is in the sacred scriptures! That we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
I decided to study it a little and share what I have found with you all.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”(Acts 14:21-22)
I was reading the definition given in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and the definition given for tribulation in the New Testament was this: The Greek is θλίψις, thlípsis, a “pressing together” (as of grapes), squeezing or pinching (from verb θλίβω, thlíbō); used figuratively for “distress,” “tribulation”.
So I started to meditate on this and it reminded me of this scripture:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.”
(Matthew 7:13-14, Amplified Bible)
This scripture reminded me of a teaching a certain preacher had, he gave a vivid illustration of how we ought to enter into the Kingdom of God, that we must enter in only through the one and only way, the narrow gate and how we must agonize to enter in. We have to squeeze in. For the gate is so, so narrow. It is a lot like that definition I just gave. It is a gate that is so compressed, we must be pressed together, as how grapes are to get it’s juice, squeezed and pinched! It is not the easy road. It is not a lazy road, that you can just walk through with out a drop of sweat. It is a tight, squeeze. Much agonizing and force is needed to enter into this glorious Kingdom! I like what the Amplified bible says in Matthew 11:12, “…the kingdom of Heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [As a precious prize– a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with much ardent zeal and intense exertion].” We need to be men and women of valor, we must take it by force! I write to you my beloved, that you grow not weary in doing good! "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13)
Keep pressing on, may your eyes be fixed on our Risen Savior, remember His afflictions that He needed to endure before the time He was glorified. We too must go through many trials and endure till the end.
Here are a few short commentaries on this scripture.
John Gill:
and exhorting them to continue in the faith: in the exercise of the grace of faith, and in the doctrine of faith, and in the profession of both, whatever they might meet with on the account thereof, and which they were to expect:
and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God either into a Gospel church state, which is sometimes so called, there being much trouble often attending an entrance into it, both from within, from the corruption and unbelief of the heart, and from without, from the temptations of Satan, and from the revilings and insults of men, and even from friends and relations; or into the heavenly glory, the way to that lying through many tribulations; and which, though a rough, is a right way: so it "must" be, there is a necessity of it, partly on account of the decrees of God, who has appointed afflictions for his people, and them to afflictions; and partly on account of the predictions of Christ, who foretold his disciples, that in the world they should have tribulation; as also, that there might be a conformity to him, that as he the head must, and did suffer many things, and enter into his glory, so must they his members: as well as likewise for the trial and exercise of the several graces of the Spirit, and to make the saints meet for heaven, and to make that the sweeter to them.
Matthew Henry:
(2.) They exhorted them to continue in the faith; or, as it may be read, they encouraged them. They told them it was both their duty and interest to persevere; to abide in the belief of Christ's being the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world. Note, Those that are in the faith are concerned to continue in the faith, notwithstanding all the temptations they may be under to desert it, from the smiles or frowns of this world. And it is requisite that they should often be exhorted to do so. Those that are continually surrounded with temptations to apostasy have need to be continually attended with pressing exhortations to perseverance.
(3.) That which they insisted most upon was that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Not only they must, but we must; it must be counted upon that all who will go to heaven must expect tribulation and persecution in their way thither. But is this the way to confirm the souls of the disciples, and to engage them to continue in the faith? One would think it would rather shock them, and make them weary. No, as the matter is fairly stated and taken entire, it will help to confirm them, and fix them for Christ. It is true they will meet with tribulation, with much tribulation; that is the worst of it: but then, [1.] It is so appointed. They must undergo it, there is no remedy, the matter is already fixed, and cannot be altered. He that has the sovereign disposal of us has determined it to be our lot that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus should suffer persecution; and he that has the sovereign command over us has determined this to be our duty, that all that will be Christ's disciples must take up their cross. When we gave up our names to Jesus Christ it was what we agreed to; when we sat down and counted the cost, if we reckoned aright, it was what we counted upon; so that if tribulation and persecution arise because of the word it is but what we had notice of before, it must be so: he performeth the thing that is appointed for us. The matter is fixed unalterably; and shall the rock be for us removed out of its place? [2.] It is the lot of the leaders in Christ's army, as well as of the soldiers. It is not only you, but we, that (if it be thought a hardship) are subject to it; therefore, as your own sufferings must not be a stumbling-block to you, so neither must ours; see 1Th_3:3. Let none be moved by our afflictions, for you yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. As Christ did not put the apostles upon any harder service than what he underwent before them, so neither did the apostles put the ordinary Christians. [3.] It is true we must count upon much tribulation, but this is encouraging, that we shall get through it; we shall not be lost and perish in it. It is a Red Sea, but the Lord has opened a way through it, for the redeemed of the Lord to pass over. We must go down to trouble, but we shall come up again. [4.] We shall not only get through it, but get through it into the kingdom of God; and the joy and glory of the end will make abundant amends for all the difficulties and hardships we may meet with in the way. It is true we must go by the cross, but it is as true that if we keep in the way, and do not turn aside nor turn back, we shall go to the crown, and the believing prospect of this will make the tribulation easy and pleasant.
In the love of Christ,
Lina Urban