Will Only a Few Be Saved?

Once when Jesus was traveling “throughout towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem,” the Bible says, “Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’” (Luke 13:22-23 NET). It’s impossible from the details we’re given to identify the tone of this question or to read much if anything into the motivation behind it. We don’t even know if this “someone” who asked was a disciple or not. Was it asked in exasperation by a sinner who felt salvation was beyond his reach? Was it asked by a disciple who was frustrated with what he’d seen in the “towns and villages” as people responded (or didn’t) to Jesus’ teaching? Was it asked by a scribe or a Pharisee who felt he already knew the answer (that being few) and wanted to see if Jesus knew it as well? Or was it simply someone asking out of curiosity?
 
Whatever was involved in the question, Jesus didn’t answer it, at least not in the way that the inquirer intended. We’ll say more about that later, but first, let’s ask a question of our own: what does the rest of the Bible say about how many will be saved? There are certainly a lot of ideas surrounding the number of the saved, with numbers stretching from one extreme (e.g., a minority who believe that heaven-bound salvation is limited to “the number of the sealed, 144,000” of Revelation 7:4) to another (e.g., those who believe in the universal salvation of all of mankind). As with all questions, it’s important to turn to the Bible and consider all of its evidence before reaching a conclusion.

The Bible does reveal that it is the will of God that everyone would be saved. Paul encourages Timothy and by extension us to pray “for all men,” noting that “this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4). Peter likewise affirms, “The Lord is… not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). So if an omnipotent, sovereign God desires everyone to be saved, they will be, right?

Sadly, this is simply not consistent with what the rest of the Bible reveals about man. When God made man, He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). Whatever else might be intended by these words, at the very least man’s likeness to God includes his ability to freely exercise his will. Time and time again in Scripture, God affirms man’s ability to choose. He also frequently states with these affirmations that man’s choices have consequences. Though God desires our salvation and though He and His servants plead, “Choose life,” the reality is that two options exist: “life and death, blessing and cursing” (Deuteronomy 30:19). When the Bible says that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), it means that every accountable individual has on at least one occasion chosen “death… and cursing,” not “life and… blessing.”

If man’s choices for sin were all made in isolation, the answer to the question of Luke 13:23 would be really depressing: “No, not one” (cf. Psalm 14:3; 53:3; Romans 3:10).  Thankfully, the bad news of Romans 3:23 is surrounded by some beautiful truths: “…the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed… to all and on all… being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:21-22, 24). Indeed, “Jesus… was made a little lower than the angels… that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Those words – “all” and “everyone” – sound pretty inclusive. So, is the answer really that simple: all and everyone?

On another occasion, Jesus does make a comment on the number of the saved: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). According to Jesus, while the choice of “death… and cursing” might be made in ignorance, the choice for life never will be. It is a “narrow… and difficult… way” that “few… find.” “Many” never do.

So how “few” is “few”? I often jokingly say that biblically speaking, the answer is eight (after all, Peter did say, “a few, that is, eight souls” were saved on the ark – 1 Peter 3:20). Really, I have no idea. No one besides God does, and God is content to reveal to us that the majority will never “choose life” without letting us know the exact number of those who will. You might have noticed when I quoted Romans 3:21-22 above that I left out a key detail: God’s “righteousness… is revealed… to all and on all who believe” (Romans 3:22). Belief is a key difference between the few and the many.

There’s another key difference though that Jesus’ answer to the question in Luke 13:23 helps us to grasp. It even helps us to understand something that a lot of people miss when they read the word “believe” in Romans 3:22 and other passages. Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24).

Instead of answering “how many,” Jesus answers the question “who,” and gives the questioner a crucial command: “strive.” The Greek word used here is etymologically related to the word “agonize.” It speaks of so much more than a passing interest or even a well thought out decision or commitment. Jesus says that salvation isn’t simply for those who make a choice or acknowledge a belief; it’s for those who pursue their belief with blood, sweat, and tears. Without this crucial action, this total commitment, “many… will not be able” to enter the gate that leads to salvation.  

Jesus' hard teaching helps to bring balance to the good news surrounding Romans 3:23. Yes, salvation is accomplished “freely by His grace,” (Romans 3:24), but Jesus reminds us that what is free is not cheap. It’s not cheap in terms of what it cost Jesus, so why should it be in terms of what it costs us?

Don’t let Jesus’ answer discourage you though. While Jesus goes on to drive complacency from the heart of the questioner who approached Him that day with reminders that acquaintanceship is not discipleship (Luke 13:25-27) and that hell is a real place (Luke 13:28), He affirms for him and for us, “They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29). Salvation isn’t impossible. God clearly desires our salvation; He’s said as much and proved it with the death of His Son. Some people will be saved.

How many will be saved? A simple answer might be: less than there should be and always less than the majority, but more than you might be tempted to think, a number possibly including… you. Dedicate your life to claiming the life that Jesus gave His life to provide.

-Patrick Swayne  
patrick@tftw.org