Why We Must Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Door

In Luke 13:24 Jesus said, "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." There is probably an obvious question you are asking. It's the question I was asking when I read these verses and I looked forward to studying them to learn the answer. Jesus says we are supposed to strive to enter through the narrow door, so does that mean we get to heaven by trying hard enough?

It almost sounds like:
• If we put forth enough effort we will be saved
• If we don't put forth enough effort we will go to hell.

But this isn't true because we know we are saved by grace through faith not by works. No matter how hard we try we could never save ourselves. So how do we explain this? Why is striving required to enter through the narrow door? Check out this message for the answer.